For years now, small business marketing on the web was all about getting a high ranking on Google. But as always with the net, times are changing. The new measure of web marketing success is counted in how many back links you can get on Facebook. Many polls show that more websites are being discovered via Facebook than any other means. This is remarkable news, as this is the first time that anyone has ever come close to competing with Google...more
Two circumstances have given rise to a number of "cash for gold" scams. First, the economy has slowed. Millions of people have lost their jobs, and millions more are barely making ends meet. Bills are piling up. As a result, they are more motivated than ever to earn extra funds. One of quickest and easiest ways to do that is to turn their old jewelry and scrap gold into cash.The second circumstance involves the recent price of gold. Though the...more
Business working capital financing may, or may not have to come from your bank it might even come from yourself which we will also explain.Canadian business owners and financial managers are looking for real alternatives when it comes to working capital financing for cash flow, profits and growth. The reality is that business prospects in 2010 are getting better and better it seems and feels, while business financing availability isn't necessarily reflecting that, as most firms have experienced. If you are a start up firm then the overall financing challenge is even more pronounced. Is it possible to get a working capital or operating credit line from a Canadian chartered bank? Is there an alternative to that type of financing? Our answers are a resounding 'yes '! For both questions.Canadian chartered banks offer working capital and revolving credit facilities that are based on both the overall assets financed i.e. receivables and inventory however there is a significant amount of emphasis placed on balance sheet and income statement rations, covenants, external collateral, and personal guarantees. If you can get past those then clearly more often than not you have a solid...more
In this age of cut-throat competition, simply designing and hosting a website will not help your small business. As a small business owner, you must use the Internet marketing strategies that will give maximum visibility to your business and will help you advertise your products/services right across to your target audience. If you wish to get the...more
When it comes to the most utilized marketing tool in the market nowadays, direct mail postcards is on top of all other marketing tools. Postcard is one of the most popular marketing tools or strategy that is now used especially by small businesses because of its functionality and ease of creation. Creating and printing a postcard does not take a...more
Not all customers are ideal customers. The truth is there are customers who are costing you time and money. There are other customers that are profitable. When making the decision on where to spend marketing dollars, to the extent possible, you want to focus on contacts that fit the ideal customer profile.This is an investment. So make the smartest investment and look to attract customers who value your products, services and expertise. These are the customers who do repeat business with you. These are the customers who readily refer your business.One of the pitfalls of trying to be all things to all people is that when you talk about your business, the message has to work with the lowest common denominator. As a result your message becomes vague and generic, failing to capture the imagination of anyone. You want a message that resonates with particular clarity to the recipient. The message tells them that you understand them and can deliver what they need.Unfortunately the fear among many small business owners is that if they don't cast the net wide, they may not get any inquiries from their marketing. I've seen people invest in large campaigns thinking that if they only...more
Entrepreneurship is popular today and more people are encouraged to have a business as it can provide great earnings to them. If you have the knowledge of being into business you will surely get successful. There are a lot of factors that you should...more
There are a amazing number of business people who have never heard of the business financing program called Merchant Cash Advances. This sort of business "loan" is actually becoming more and more admired as local banks are sewing up their pockets and...more
An increasing number of people are dissatisfied with a traditional job and would like to start their own business. However starting your own business is often very costly and comes with a higher risk of failure. One way to limit the chance of failure...more
Starting a caramel popcorn business is a great way to make extra money, no matter what the economic climate is like! If you would like to start a caramel popcorn concession business, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. You can also...more
Whether you are in business for yourself or running a business for someone else, there are often a lot of decisions to be made. Important decisions that help to determine whether or not the business remains profitable are often the hardest choices to...more
Unavoidably in the life of a company, there are times when there is a strong need for some sudden funds. Merchant cash advances can come from a selection of resources, but they are positively not all of like value. Understanding the differences...more