Member You - Business

Why Did You Go Into Business?
If you answered, to make money, you’ve got it all wrong. That may be one of your reasons, but it shouldn’t be the main goal. You might think I’m crazy, but hear me out. To begin with, you be wondering what makes me qualified to judge your business? Fine, I’ll tell you.As a professional marketing consultant with a degree in advertising, I’ve been advising businesses since opening my own advertising agency in 1976. That adds up to three decades and about 7000 businesses. During that time, I learned what it takes to keep a company running. Therefore, with those credentials under my belt, please allow me to pass on a few words of wisdom.The purpose of business

ublicity for your business.

1. Carefully target journalists. Since you are courting them to use your story, don't put them off by sending bulk emails to practically all the journalists you know, no matter how totally unrelated your story is to their beat. Identify the kinds of publication that may be interested in your story, and know who in the publication does your kind of stories. Make a list of the newspapers, TV and radio programs that would be appropriate outlets. Then identify the specific reporter or producer interested in your kind of story. If you want publicity for your bonsai business, for example, send yo

Would You Give Away Your Business?
A Business Exit Plan can have a number of different connotations. You may hear it referred to as a Succession Plan.At Superb Coaching we have taken a deliberate stance in focussing on the ‘EXIT’ because we are dealing with the business owner’s plan to remove themselves from the business. Yes, there are issues around succession management that we address however we feel that the Exit Plan needs to address more than just succession.Your Business Exit Plan should deliver the following objectives:1) To maximising the capital realisation from the transfer of ownership2) To achieve this realisation in a reasonable time frame3)

Your business is only as good as the number of people who knows about it. For your venture to grow, you need to start spreading the word about your business. You may have the best products your field, but you cannot expect your business to breach the million-dollar mark in sales if only the people in your street know about it. Some entrepreneurs start doing promotions only when their businesses are up and running, while some market their business even before the products or services are fully launched.

There are two ways to get your business noticed: through paid advertising and through public relations. In advertising, you pay to have your message placed in a newspaper, radio or television spot, or your banners displayed in a Web site. In public relations, on the other hand, the article or show that features your story or business is not paid for. Rather, the writer may have come across your story or business through research or references. The writer or media person deems it worthy to mention you or your business to bolster his or her arguments.

Hence, publicity can oftentimes be more effective than advertising. Not only is it cost-effective (oftentimes you are paying for nothing), but also people are apt to remember an article about your business rather than advertising. People find a write-up or special feature about a business more credible and objective than a paid advertising. Publicity also reaches a wider audience: if you are lucky, the national media might even pick up your story.

Even in the online world, free exposure in the traditional media - television, radio or print - can be far more effective than other online marketing strategies. Nina Munk of urbanhound.com wrote in Fuse Magazine that her site saw a dramatic increase in traffic when NBC's Today show mentioned her site - much more than the links from other web sites or postings from message boards. As she wrote in the article, "Forget the power of the Internet: it's television that counts."

Since media has a "herd mentality," once a program features your business or your story, expect other publications and shows to pick it up and use you for their own stories. The mention of urbanhound.com at the Today show led to mentions in Newsday, Forbes and Ladies' Home Journal. Without paying a single cent, Munk's site was able to reach a wider audience that his business needs.

How do you attract the journalists to use your story? Here are five ways you can do to succeed in generating free publicity for your business.

Managers Must Choose Their Battles Carefully
The most difficult choices you’ll ever have to make as a manager are in choosing your battles. You need to answer three questions:1.) Which battles can be won? 2.) Which battles do I have to win? 3.) Which battles are best not to fight?You can’t win all battles. For example, you shouldn’t resist if a mugger sticks a gun in your back and demands your money. Other battles can be won but the price of winning is too high. Taking a customer to small claims court over an unpaid $20 invoice is unwise when the court cost is $75.An example often brought up by managers is employees who smoke. Smoking in the office was acceptable thirty years ago. Allo

g, you pay to have your message placed in a newspaper, radio or television spot, or your banners displayed in a Web site. In public relations, on the other hand, the article or show that features your story or business is not paid for. Rather, the writer may have come across your story or business through research or references. The writer or media person deems it worthy to mention you or your business to bolster his or her arguments.

How do you attract the journalists to use your story? Here are five ways you can do to succeed in generating free publicity for your business.

My Competitor Has a Better Product
The topic of this issue's article is a response to a question submitted by one of my newsletter readers. QUESTION - "At the moment, my competitor's have a far better product/deal, due to circumstances out of my control. However, customers go to the competitor and then come to me to compare. How do I go about convincing the customer that our service/product is better even though on paper it isn't???" ANSWER - Thanks for the question. I'm going to answer this to the extent that I can without knowing what it is that you or your competitor sell. I believe that this is a common experience for many of us in sales. Customers use us for free for all kinds

about your business rather than advertising. People find a write-up or special feature about a business more credible and objective than a paid advertising. Publicity also reaches a wider audience: if you are lucky, the national media might even pick up your story.

How do you attract the journalists to use your story? Here are five ways you can do to succeed in generating free publicity for your business.

Being an Entrepreneur
I have never been the conventional type. I always did something different from everybody else. I joined controversial groups and was constantly looking for an adventure. Being an entrepreneur can give you that. Working for an employer was not my cup of tea. I always felt trapped and stuck in a rut.If I stayed for more than one year with an employer it was because I either really loved my work or was forced to earn a certain minimum amount of money a year. I never gave up looking for the right opportunity for me and my family.I finally settled with Network Marketing after many years of trying different ventures. Network Marketing is a great opportunity to cr

ngs from message boards. As she wrote in the article, "Forget the power of the Internet: it's television that counts."

How do you attract the journalists to use your story? Here are five ways you can do to succeed in generating free publicity for your business.

What Are Car Boot Sales?
If you live in England then you will already be familiar with car boot sales but I will still offer some valuable tips on how you can make money or find a bargain. However, if you are a resident of any other country then you are unlikely to know what car boot sales are and I hope to enlighten you as to these weekly events.Firstly, a car boot is the same as a car trunk. So, car boot sales involve selling items from the back of your car. Well, that is how they began. Car boot sales used to be a small gathering of people who filled the back of their cars with goods that they wanted to dispose of and set up a trading stall in the hope that they could make a few pennies

ublicity for your business.

2. Invest time and energy contacting local newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations. While avoiding becoming pushy, be persistent. Convince the journalists that you are an expert in your field or your story is newsworthy. In the event that their editorial calendar does not include a story such as yours, offer your help to them and let them know that you are available when they need your expertise. Journalists always want a good, well-researched story and will always use every resource available to them. Remember, though, that not everyone will be interested. If your story idea is turned down, try to ask why and use that information to bolster your next story pitch.

3. Make sure that you really have a good story to tell. Do not waste a reporter's time. Few journalists will care if you are hiring a temporary worker, or whether you bought a new modular furniture system. Make a list of story pitches that you can offer to your chosen media outlet. Brainstorm with your family, business partners or friends to help you come up with good stories about you and your business. Sometimes, what may be "normal" for us may be inspiring for other people.

4. Have a good angle. Journalists always look for fresh, provocative story ideas. Develop story angles that you yourself would want to read in a newspaper or watch on television. If you are a caterer, for example, one angle could be the increasing number of customers who wants catered food instead of going out to restaurants. If you are a home-based travel agent, you can pitch a story on the preferences of seniors when traveling abroad.

5. Make your pitch. Write down your story angle and send it to the journalist in a "pitch letter." Your letter may start with a question or interesting fact about your business that could interest your target media's audience. This is called your "hook." Then develop your story idea, stressing how it could benefit their audience. Make your sales pitch no longer than one page, and be sure to include your contact numbers.

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It is the attacker who have to spend more time and money that the defender. Because friction favor the defender.

Advertising plays a very important role in building a strong bond between the good and the consumer. It is due to advertisements that a lay person comes to know about the existence of a particular good and then only arises the issue of purchase.

Are you considering putting in a fundraising application to a grant-making Trust or Foundation? It's important to send in a well-written application and complete any application forms fully. Here's a few simple pointers about what to do and what NOT to do

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