Years and years ago it was quite common for banks to cater to one particular industry, such as manufacturing or farming; and some of these banks still exist, although most have expanded their markets. Now thought of as high risk, there are still some banks that do what is known as specialty lending. And the… Continue reading Specialty Lending Helps Niche Companies Obtain Business Loans
Category: Strategic Business Planning
Marketing Blunder: Is This Any Way To Market Your Business?
I often talk about the importance of keeping your message about “them” (your ideal clients), and not focus on “you”. Prospective clients are much more interested in themselves and their problems than they are in reading about how great you are. But some people take this a little too far… The other day I received… Continue reading Marketing Blunder: Is This Any Way To Market Your Business?
Want Business Success? Please Step Out Of (Your own) Way
Randy is a one man show. He started his architectural practice about 2 years ago after being laid off when his former employer went under. He’s managed to stay quite busy with a few clients that followed him, but never took the time to develop a real plan of what he wanted his business to… Continue reading Want Business Success? Please Step Out Of (Your own) Way
Small Business Funding | Are there really new rules?
How to get a small business loan is a question that millions of business owners and would be business owners grapple with everyday. It’s no secret that many small businesses are underfunded. Many small companies start by utilizing bootstrapping techniques instead of owner capital, and when the money starts to flow in, either out of need or greed, most… Continue reading Small Business Funding | Are there really new rules?
Strategic Marketing Plan | Does Emotion Motivate Buying?
A recent post on copyblogger about emotion based selling, reminded me about a client I’ll call Stan. Stan is the managing partner of a mid-sized, general practice law firm in the south. Like many professional service providers, Stan’s firm had been side-tracked by the economy and decided to take some action in the form of advertising to help increase… Continue reading Strategic Marketing Plan | Does Emotion Motivate Buying?
Unique Selling Proposition: Professional Services or Chocolate?
The importance of a unique selling proposition or USP as part of your marketing message can’t be overlooked even when selling something as simple as chocolate. Case in point, as Andy Sernovitz points out on his “Damn I wish I’d thought of that” blog, “Must’s chocolatiers select different origins of cacao to create the perfect… Continue reading Unique Selling Proposition: Professional Services or Chocolate?
Business Innovation | Join me for a strategic innovation pep talk
Please join me on the afternoon of May 15th, right here, for a blog action sponsored by The Board of Innovation entitled “My half time pep talk for 2009″, which is part of their 24 hours of Innovation event. I’ll be joining bloggers world wide to share views on what’s happened in innovation so far this… Continue reading Business Innovation | Join me for a strategic innovation pep talk
Are you managing your business, or just flying by the seat of your pants?
The other day I wrote about the importance of accountability in business. Today, I’ll expand on this a bit by relating a story about Jim, a client I worked with a year or so ago… Jim is a highly creative interior designer. He has built a solid reputation on his ability to create zen-like rooms that truly helped… Continue reading Are you managing your business, or just flying by the seat of your pants?
Business Coaching: Accountability, delivered
Accountability has long been a problem for many business owners. Without a boss standing over your head, and with lots of different situations pulling at you all simultaneously, it’s often difficult to maintain focus and keep plugging ahead. John Janitch of Duct Tape Marketing has a great post today on the different ways for business… Continue reading Business Coaching: Accountability, delivered
Business Coaching: More on how to thrive in the recession
As President Elect Obama stated today, we’re in a recession that may be with us for quite some time. But don’t let that news get to you, because as a business owner or someone who works independently, look on the bright side. You’re in a unique postion. If you worked for someone else, you’d probably… Continue reading Business Coaching: More on how to thrive in the recession