First Step Marketing

This is a popular way to get into business and can be highly successful, as it shortcuts much of the difficult start-up process. Businesses are sold by word of mouth, and advertised in local newspapers and specialist publications. Shop sales are also handled by business transfer agents. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a quick list of pointers to help you create a top-notch performance-measurement feedback system.

Begin with your service strategy

If it’s well designed, you will find a number of measurable premises in it. A company with a ‘zero-defect forty-eight hour turnaround on all orders’ has a strategy that is eminently measurable. Read the rest of this entry »

Get out there!

There are many gardening experts, but for more than two decades, one has stood out head and shoulders above the rest — Keith Kirsten. He has become a household name, both as a gardening authority and a much sought after celebrity. What is it that made him different? There were horticulturists as good and possibly even better than he was — but he’s the one who became Mr. Gardening. Read the rest of this entry »

Advice from an Agent

“You must be reliable. The agent and shop owner are working on trust. Don’t let them down. So you must be geared up for producing quantities. Read the rest of this entry »

Some of the small-business ideas which follow, are familiar businesses which can be differentiated in innovative ways. Others are new ideas which have not been subject to thorough investigation. The intention of this listing is not to provide ready-made business ideas, but to set you thinking; ideas breed new ideas. Read the rest of this entry »

Creative thought does not end once a good business opportunity has been identified. For as long as the business operates, it will be faced with problems and opportunities that force creative thinking. Unfortunately, it is very easy to get into a rut and grow complacent. If this happens, good opportunities may be missed and many setbacks, which could have been avoided with some creative problem solving, could occur. Read the rest of this entry »

Christmas, my friend bought me a video camera. I haven’t tried to use to record anything. But my sister seemed more interested than me.

She was quite creative with my new gift. She recorded the whole stuff of my family, my mom, my dad, my tot, even my dog.

Recently, she sent me some email about her recordings. I was impressed.

Out of my expectation, she has putted several different records online.

My colleague was surprised “look at these video, the photographer must be a genius”. Later I found out, that video my colleague talked about was my sister’s idea. It was a sort record of my tot and my dog.

To be honest, that was amazing. The click rate is quite high.

I have talked to my sister about her talent on video. She agreed with me. She has been trying to work on her videos. We made a decision to get her talent turning into business. Read the rest of this entry »

How will you know if your business is growing not only at a pace you can handle but at a reasonable pace that will let you reach the goals you’ve set for yourself? Read the rest of this entry »

Entrepreneurs know to employ a variety of marketing techniques because it’s impossible to predict how effective any one method will be until time and money has been spent. A marketing plan will help you to keep track of the various marketing methods and should be considered to be as essential to the success of your business as developing the business plan. Read the rest of this entry »

A surprisingly large number of entrepreneurs raise at least part of the capital for start-up and operating expenses by asking friends and family and previous business colleagues to lend a monetary hand. Though some may ask for partial ownership in your fledgling firm, most will be satisfied by your personal guarantee of a payback date— usually with interest. Though you may be the most enthusiastic person in the world when it comes to your business, many people will want to know about your own financial commitment before they invest anything. To some it may not matter; but most people will want to know that you’re willing to risk some of your own assets before they will provide your business with the capital you desperately need. Read the rest of this entry »