How popular is online shopping? And is there room for improvement? Let's check out some pros and cons of automated shopping and see. Digital carts offer convenience for people around the globe 24 hours a day. Yet an estimated 4 percent of shoppers make purchases, up from 3.5 percent in 2003, reported by DoubleClick, an online marketing company. And approximately 30 percent of shopping carts are abandoned, according to recent surveys by...more
Are people interested in ebooks? And if so, what are the best ways to sell them? The following statistics reported by the Open eBook Forum, a non-profit organization for the electronic book publishing industry, definitely show an interest in ebooks. Note the Forum boasts members like Microsoft Corporation, Adobe Systems, McGraw-Hill, Random House, Simon & Schuster and other top companies. GROWTH IN CUSTOMER BASE* Random House, Inc.'s eBook...more
Some day-to-day work issues can turn into big headaches for small businesses. For example, not having enough help during a busy season or new promotion can hurt production, sales and customer relations in the fulfillment of orders and customer service. A quick glance at the following stats reported by the US. Small Business Administration, shows that small businesses are not small potatoes in today's economy. In fact, the number of small businesses multiplied by the number of large problems equals the need for a lot of solutions. Small firms*: Total approximately 23 million in the United States, with roughly 75 percent of the firms having no employees. Represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms. Employ half of all private sector employees. Pay 44.3 percent of the total U.S. private payroll. Generate 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs annually. Create more than 50 percent of non-farm, private gross-domestic product (GDP). Are employers of 39 percent of high tech workers (such as scientists, engineers, and computer workers). Made up 97 percent of all identified exporters and produced 29 percent of the known export value in FY 2001. How can small business handle big issues?...more
Last month I was invited to participate in a charity golf tournament in Las Vegas to celebrate the life of the late dancing legend Gregory Hines. The event was held to raise funds and awareness of the tragic disease that took this entertainer's life. Although we were focusing on this serious matter, it was a true pleasure to meet all the...more
It's Friday night, you're sitting at a restaurant, and as your meal arrives, the server says, "Now, don't touch that plate. It's hot." What's the first thing you do?Well, 99% of the time you're going to touch that plate, right?I call it the 99% rule. It's closer to 100%, but I give myself a little "out" for those who wish to find a loophole in...more
Staying ahead of the marketing curve seems to be a never-ending quest. Marketing doesn't have to be as complex as some people make it out to be. It's simply a matter of understanding who you are marketing to - your ideal customers - and then coming up with a system that keeps your name in front of them. A huge part of the system is creating enough value for your customers that they want to hear from you. Another aspect of marketing is knowing how to continually reach and increase your market in the most cost effective manner possible. One way to increase reach and do so cost effectively is to find other businesses who share a similar market. These can be complimentary businesses and even competitors. What better way to get your foot in the door of a new market than with the endorsement that comes from a joint venture?Solo marketing efforts are no longer as effective as they were in the past. True strength lies in utilizing the power of joint ventures. It is probably one of the most compelling marketing strategies you can implement. With so many people competing in any given industry, an appropriate joint venture can stretch your marketing dollars and increase your market reach....more
No matter how great your idea is, if the market isn't ready for it, or if it's already saturated, you just won't profit from it, at least not at the moment. So how do you know if it's just another great idea or a money tree ripe for the picking? How...more
The complete article together with preactical excersises and Coaching tips can be found at www.my1stBusiness.com.Getting on the radio can be a great tactical move as part of your overall publicity effort, but you do need to have a story idea or an...more
Defining a long-term investment in the stock market.For some "long term" would mean holding a stock position over the weekend. For others, it may mean holding a security for at least 1 year for the purpose of declaring a long-term capital gain, thus...more
Leaving school, getting a new job, or even a raise at your current one, has most people considering their next great purchase. Few think about the affect this could have on their future. Rather than pay down the debt they carry, many...more
You know the game, don't you? Someone invites you to help them solve a big problem and every great suggestion you make is met with, "Yeah, but that won't work becauseĀ ." Frustrated and defeated, you finally give up. Next time someone tells you about...more
Credit Card Management Services, Inc. is a fully licensed 501(c)(3), non-profit, credit counseling agency whose mission is to provide compassionate, professional debt management counseling and education in an ethical manner with efficient, timely and...more