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Top 10 Business Plan Tips to Help Grow a Strong Business!

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Top 10 Business Plan Tips to Help Grow a Strong Business!business plan tips

By Thomas R. Reich

While many business owners recognize that a business plan is important, they don’t often realize just how important it is. While having a business plan cannot guarantee success, for some businesses it can make the difference between business plan success and failure.

To make sure that you get the most out of your business plan, here is a Top 10 list of business plan tips that can help you determine the real value of a comprehensive business plan. In some cases, a condensed version of a solid business plan is all that you’ll need. For start-ups, however, a solid business plan can help build the foundation for a successful future.

1)      The bottom line of business is to make money. Business plans are designed to help express this purpose in financial and analytic ways, and to show prospective business partners and investors how their money will be spent and when to expect a return on their investment. If convincing investors is a necessary part of the success of your businesses, don’t skimp on this essential element.
successful business plans2)      Well-written business plans can help forecast future financial needs. While nothing is certain, knowing at least where to take your business for it to be successful is a good start in the right direction.

 

3)      Resources, especially when economies are tight, may be few and far between. Knowing how best to spend scarce resources is important for the longevity of any business. Business plans can help to outline essential spending needs when money is tight.

 

4)      Poor planning often causes the death of many great ideas. In order to ensure that your business ideas do not result in failure, a business plan can help keep a business on target and ensure that you’re spending money efficiently to keep things moving. A business plan can also help you delineate ideas and work through some of the potential pitfalls before you or others make big investments of time and money.

 

5)      For start-ups, a business plan is absolutely necessary. Most funding sources won’t even consider making an investment these days without one. The reasons for this are clear – businesses that take the time to build a solid
big business plans made small business plan are more apt to stay on target and spend wisely while money is tight as the business grows. There is plenty of time later for fancy upgrades and improvements; when starting out, it is best to think small and grow large.

 

6)      While a business plan may be a necessary component of success for many businesses, don’t think of it as only a one-time affair. Business plans should be re-addressed annually and updated based on new circumstances and fiscal realities. Using a business plan as an organizational road map helps ensure long-term business success and keep leaders focused on the mission, goals and long-term growth goals of the business.

 

7)      A comprehensive business plan includes marketing projections. Research data can help leaders identify and focus on target markets and the best ways to reach them. Businesses should keep a keen eye on demographic changes and update their business plans regularly to keep up with changes.

 

tips on business plans8)      A business plan can help to channel resources, in terms of both time and money. This focused direction helps ensure success by helping leaders capitalize on expenses to meet long-term goals.

 

9)      Don’t forget to consider a business plan as an indispensible business tool for future product and service plans. Business plans help leaders stay focused on the best decisions for today, tomorrow and well into the future.

 

10)   Having a formal business plan says a lot about how seriously a company takes its business. For investors, consumers and potential business partners, this means that business leaders recognize the company’s potential for success and are serious about fostering an environment that will help it to grow. Consider these players when developing a business plan for a complete and rounded business approach.

Whether your company sells products, services or both will determine to what extent you will need to build and maintain a business plan. The type of business products or services you provide will also determine how your plan is structured and how much content it should include.

In general, a good business plan will not succeed or fail based on the information provided in a business plan; however, a business plan can help ideas, products and services become successful through focused planning and good business plansforethought.

Join us this Wednesday June 20, 2012 for a free webinar:

Business Plan Development

With Thomas R. Reich

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm online from BizCentralUSA
Key Note Speaker: Thomas R. Reich, Marketing Coordinator

Join Tom Reich for a fun free webinar and workshop on developing a business plan.  Running and growing a successful business requires a great deal of preparation.  There are many important decisions to make and many rules and procedures that must be addressed. From Biz Certs to incorporating, from website development to finding a niche and many other points in between. After you have these steps down, you must implement a strategy to grow your business.

To do this we recommend a good business plan, through this webinar we will show you the key elements needed to build a business plan.  A good business plan can keep you on target, enable you to get a loan, attract investors and a number of other benefits.

business plan classWe invite you to spend a valuable hour with BizCentral USA learning key strategies to implement and help get your small business off on the right foot and towards a feasible plan that will help grow your business.

You will benefit greatly from the knowledge if only to enlighten you on what may be available for your company.  As usual, this fact filled webinar is FREE.

Can you afford to miss a learning opportunity like this?  As always this webinar is free!
Feel free to contact Tom Reich with any questions at tom@bizcentralusa.com.

Please Register for this information – packed Webinar, even if you can not attend at the listed time, we will send all registrants a link to the recorded version of the live event the following day.

Your One Stop Shop for all of your Business Needs,      
BizCentralUSA.com
(407) 857-9002

n Tips to Help Grow a Strong Business!business plan tips

By Thomas R. Reich

While many business owners recognize that a business plan is important, they don’t often realize just how important it is. While having a business plan cannot guarantee success, for some businesses it can make the difference between business plan success and failure.

To make sure that you get the most out of your business plan, here is a Top 10 list of business plan tips that can help you determine the real value of a comprehensive business plan. In some cases, a condensed version of a solid business plan is all that you’ll need. For start-ups, however, a solid business plan can help build the foundation for a successful future.

1)      The bottom line of business is to make money. Business plans are designed to help express this purpose in financial and analytic ways, and to show prospective business partners and investors how their money will be spent and when to expect a return on their investment. If convincing investors is a necessary part of the success of your businesses, don’t skimp on this essential element.
successful business plans2)      Well-written business plans can help forecast future financial needs. While nothing is certain, knowing at least where to take your business for it to be successful is a good start in the right direction.

 

3)      Resources, especially when economies are tight, may be few and far between. Knowing how best to spend scarce resources is important for the longevity of any business. Business plans can help to outline essential spending needs when money is tight.

 

4)      Poor planning often causes the death of many great ideas. In order to ensure that your business ideas do not result in failure, a business plan can help keep a business on target and ensure that you’re spending money efficiently to keep things moving. A business plan can also help you delineate ideas and work through some of the potential pitfalls before you or others make big investments of time and money.

 

5)      For start-ups, a business plan is absolutely necessary. Most funding sources won’t even consider making an investment these days without one. The reasons for this are clear – businesses that take the time to build a solid
big business plans made small business plan are more apt to stay on target and spend wisely while money is tight as the business grows. There is plenty of time later for fancy upgrades and improvements; when starting out, it is best to think small and grow large.

 

6)      While a business plan may be a necessary component of success for many businesses, don’t think of it as only a one-time affair. Business plans should be re-addressed annually and updated based on new circumstances and fiscal realities. Using a business plan as an organizational road map helps ensure long-term business success and keep leaders focused on the mission, goals and long-term growth goals of the business.

 

7)      A comprehensive business plan includes marketing projections. Research data can help leaders identify and focus on target markets and the best ways to reach them. Businesses should keep a keen eye on demographic changes and update their business plans regularly to keep up with changes.

 

tips on business plans8)      A business plan can help to channel resources, in terms of both time and money. This focused direction helps ensure success by helping leaders capitalize on expenses to meet long-term goals.

 

9)      Don’t forget to consider a business plan as an indispensible business tool for future product and service plans. Business plans help leaders stay focused on the best decisions for today, tomorrow and well into the future.

 

10)   Having a formal business plan says a lot about how seriously a company takes its business. For investors, consumers and potential business partners, this means that business leaders recognize the company’s potential for success and are serious about fostering an environment that will help it to grow. Consider these players when developing a business plan for a complete and rounded business approach.

Whether your company sells products, services or both will determine to what extent you will need to build and maintain a business plan. The type of business products or services you provide will also determine how your plan is structured and how much content it should include.

In general, a good business plan will not succeed or fail based on the information provided in a business plan; however, a business plan can help ideas, products and services become successful through focused planning and good business plansforethought.

Join us this Wednesday June 20, 2012 for a free webinar:

Business Plan Development

With Thomas R. Reich

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm online from BizCentralUSA
Key Note Speaker: Thomas R. Reich, Marketing Coordinator

Join Tom Reich for a fun free webinar and workshop on developing a business plan.  Running and growing a successful business requires a great deal of preparation.  There are many important decisions to make and many rules and procedures that must be addressed. From Biz Certs to incorporating, from website development to finding a niche and many other points in between. After you have these steps down, you must implement a strategy to grow your business.

To do this we recommend a good business plan, through this webinar we will show you the key elements needed to build a business plan.  A good business plan can keep you on target, enable you to get a loan, attract investors and a number of other benefits.

business plan classWe invite you to spend a valuable hour with BizCentral USA learning key strategies to implement and help get your small business off on the right foot and towards a feasible plan that will help grow your business.

You will benefit greatly from the knowledge if only to enlighten you on what may be available for your company.  As usual, this fact filled webinar is FREE.

Can you afford to miss a learning opportunity like this?  As always this webinar is free!
Feel free to contact Tom Reich with any questions at tom@bizcentralusa.com.

Please Register for this information – packed Webinar, even if you can not attend at the listed time, we will send all registrants a link to the recorded version of the live event the following day.

Your One Stop Shop for all of your Business Needs,      
BizCentralUSA.com
(407) 857-9002

Related Blogs

    BE PREPARED WITH SMALL BUSINESS LAW IN 2012

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    BE PREPARED WITH BUSINESS LAW IN 2012

     

    By Thomas R. Reich

     

     

    1)      Lack of or Poor Organizational Documents! A good understanding of small business law will tell you that you must create and maintain the right organizational documents, to prepare your small business for interaction with the real world.  You must first determine what type of structure you want your small business to operate under.  Small Business Law dictates that it does not stop there; there are annual filing requirements and documents that must be maintained.  Don’t be a casualty, do your paperwork, it is even more important with Small Business Law!

    2)      Lack of Proper Corporate Records! If you say “we are a small business, Ill remember the records and do them later” you will fail.  Keeping up with records is a must to be prepared in Smal Business law and takes little time if you make it an ongoing process!

    3)      Accepting Money from Investors Without Understanding Securities Business Laws!  There are ways to accept investment,  into your new small business, that are legal and this is the only way they should be accepted.  Consult a lawyer first if you are unsure of Small Business Law. This is the rule of thumb; make sure you and your investors are protected before you get yourself in hot water.

    4)      Failing to have Founders and Employees Non-Compete Agreements! If you or your new employees have come from a similar business and are now competing with an old employer, make sure there is not aNon-Compete agreement enforce.  By the same token protect yourself under small business law if what you are doing is of a unique nature.

    5)      Weak or Non-Existent Vendor/Client Written Agreements. If you go into your new business on a handshake agreement to provide services or products to a friend or acquaintance, this is very risky.  Having a simple contract, one with terms and a time period assures that your demand will still be there when you take the plunge and open your doors.  Without a written agreement, one using Small Business Law, you may find the promised small business does not materialize and you have no legal recourse.

    6)      Litigation! Pure and simple, many new small business owners feel they are in the cat bird seat now and they “Aren’t going to take this anymore!”  You must avoid all litigation if possible, work out problems without filing suit.  Litigation is very expensive and at the small business law level, it can bankrupt a company from the preparation of just one law suit, this is Small Business Law fact!.  Collections are another matter, but there are professionals for that,STAY AWAY FROM LITIGATION IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN!

    7)      Collections! Collections can be a problem in many small businesses, and it is tempting to take things personally.  First; work directly with the customer, sometimes a personal call and request for payment of promised funds from the CEO does the trick.  Second; never threaten or harass the customer quoting small business law, you could cross a line that puts them in the driver’s seat legally.  When the account can’t be salvaged with sugar, find good collections groups that work on a percentage and let them sow the vinegar, they are much more likely to be an expert in Small Business Law, and much more likely to collect!

    8)      Non-Performance Alleged Against Your Business! It is most advisable that you do your level best to go overboard and fix non-performance allegations against you.  As a new business, you do not want negative statements on services like “Rip off Report” or the BBB.  Offer a refund or the bend over backwards to fix the problem.  Defending against a law suit is both unproductive and expensive, avoid if you can, this is the case with all Small Business Law, avoid litigation if you can.

    9)      Non-Performance of Other Service Providers to Your Small Business! Same rules apply; avoid Litigation if you possibly can.  A call from your CEO or Director may do the trick, be cool calm and consolatory.  Remember they do not want negative reports on “Rip off Report” or the BBB either.  Again, Litigation when dealing with small business law is very expensive, so do you level best to work out difference civilly, but calmly and reserve the right to do what is necessary to receive services or products you have paid for.  Remember how you handled the other side of this issue, and use that experience to look at the other company’s point of view.  Never loose site of your rights under Small Business Law, but keep your eyes clearly on Public Relations and you image in the community!.

    10)  No Internal Controls, Guidelines, Manuals, etc! It is important to have written rules and regulations to govern your business on a daily basis.  Internal Controls, Guidelines and Manuals are welcome by your employees, it lets them know exactly where they stand.  You will find that if rules are in place, you employees will not only follow what is expected of them but be thankful for knowing how to operate within guidelines.  You will be secure in the knowledge that you have done what you can to prepare your company under Small Business Law.

    Related Blogs

      Top 15 Nonprofit Social Media Network Tips;

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      Top 15 Nonprofit Social Media Network Tips;

      Help your Messages Help the World!

       

      By Thomas R. Reich

      Nonprofit social media network tips to help you help the world.  How can your messages be more effective and reach more people in the nonprofit social media network?  We researched and found some tips you may have heard of, but we believe this list will present tips that work for nonprofits in a unique way.

      1)      Follow the 70-20-10 rule:

      A)     70% of the time it’s important to share content that adds value to the community as a whole.

      B)     20% of the time engage your immediate community and your cause with questions and advice.

      C)     10% of the time blatantly self-promote your cause.

      2)      Set goals and keep to strategies:

      A)     Set aside time to manage your nonprofit social media tools, post at set times of the day and week and keep to that schedule

      B)     Create a content calendar, decide what your over all message is and when it will be most effective and keep to that schedule

      C)     Reach out to others in your community by commenting, sharing and re-Tweeting, then ask them to do the same for your nonprofit social media network.

      D)     Build awareness by encouraging relationships with the classic  media, actively engage with them, and even feature their content at times.

      3)     Nonprofit  Social Media Networks can be an integral influence in your marketing strategy if used those resources as they were intended, play by nonprofit social media rules.  Nonprofit social media networks can raise awareness, build loyalty, increase credibility, impact reputation, inform audiences, address concerns, influence media interest and strengthen relationships with supporters.  However, nonprofit social media networks do not work well as direct sales or direct donation request vehicles.

      4)      Research others with a similar cause to yours; see what similar organizations are doing to get ideas for your organization.

      5)      Get help – Find a professional organization you can trust that can help you with nonprofit social media network, often re-inventing the wheel is more expensive than simply asking for a little help!

      6)      Use the nonprofit social media tools that most benefit your nonprofit organization, we recommend:

      A)     Facebook

      B)     LinkedIn

      C)    Twitter

      D)     YouTube

      E)      Website

      F)      Blog

      7)      Encourage your staff, volunteers and supporters to join each and every one of your nonprofit social media network nodes.  If they do not have, for instance, a Twitter account, hold a class on how to set up their own Twitter account.  This way your nonprofit social media network is expanded to all your associates social media networks, and their friends become part of your nonprofit social media network.

      8)      Reach out to Influencers – Start conversations with bloggers that support a similar cause to yours, see if they will include mention of your charity or your activities in their blog, offer to do the same for them.  Also, exchange information, follow each other, and add them to your nonprofit social media network.

      9)      Provide relevant content – Only send tweets and messages that fit your cause, your nonprofit social mrdia network should be exclusive to your cause, do not use your social media as a personal site.  Engage with content that will attract and retain fans, followers and supporters.

      10)      Evolve – Change your strategy as social media and your organization changes.  Chat about the latest trends in your cause, your latest drive, something one of your volunteers has done that deserves mention.  Always be on the lookout for new trends and tips that can increase your nonprofit social media network exposure.

      11)      Be helpful – if a supporter or a new face asks a question or comments, respond quickly, and give thought to the answer.  Remember for everyone who sends a question, 100 probably thought about asking, and did not reply, they will read the answer carefully!   When people take the time to reach out and share, return the favor with a helpful and thoughtful response!

      12)      Provide value – From the links and content you share, to the questions you ask of followers, always ask yourself “would this be something your supporters would find of value”.

      13)      Don’t forget donations either – From time to time at appropriate junctures, like when others mention your good works, you may remind them of the need for donations and always provide a link to your donations page in your website and links to all of your nonprofit social media network nodes as well!

      14)      Drive traffic to your official website – Helpful links placed in appropriate locations within blog posts, and occasionally in Tweets can drive quality potential donors to your official website where you can encourage donations more stringently.

      15)      Use discussions and questions to learn more about your supporters, volunteers and donors – Remember, the more you know about your most supportive people the more they can help you to your goals and to build your nonprofit social media network and in so doing move closer to engaging in your cause!

      Related Blogs

        SEO for small business: Top Tips for Using Keyword Strategy

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        TOP TIPS FOR USING KEYWORD STRATEGY

        by Thomas R. Reich

        SEO for Small Business? Blogs, Directory Listings, Social Media, Link building, the list goes on and on. How does any of this make your small business Blog and Web Site better? What does a Keyword and a Search Engine have to do with the creative substance of the article and the message your business wants to get across?

        The answer is simple: nothing and everything! SEO for Small Business – Keyword Strategy or Search Engine Optimization and the use of Keywords, H1 tags and URLs have little or nothing to do with your creative content. However, they are all part of the process and when the article is published in a blog and as part of your website on the broader blogosphere and a potential customer is looking for that information through a search engine, that article, your blog and your web site will never be found without the proficient use of SEO for Business – Keyword Strategy (search Engine Optimization), H1 tags, URLs and the rest of the package so often over looked by small businesses.

        To play in today’s Web Arena, you need to learn the tricks and follow the rules. On one hand, your business can now publish an article and haveitviewed by millions of people without ever being “Published” in the traditional sense. In the old days, you would need to make the kind of news that interested business journals or industry rags. To do this you would have to smooze the writers, perhaps hire a Public Relations Agent familiar with your target market, maybe place adds in the target publication and hope the article would be “spun” positively in the direction of the message you were trying to convey. Even if all went as planned, even if the article was a great big add for your key product, even if your company name appeared over and over, the readership or “Unique Impressions” may have only been 80,000 and of that, how many unique readers of that publication actually read your specific article? How many would even know that that article withjust the information the potential customer needed to know, was there?

        Today the rules have changed, but the game is the essentially the same! An innovative company must get an article featuring a unique product or service read by as many “Unique Impressions”, who are actually looking for that product or service, as possible. However, today the Public Relations agent and the hard copy publication salesman is replaced with Search Engines and SEO for

        Business – Keyword Strategy! If Keywords are used correctly and SEO for Business – Keyword Strategy, Search Engine Optimization, is maximized, that same article can be picked up by thousands of unique on line blogs and publications allowing it to be exposed to millions of “unique Impressions”. It takes work, expertise and investment to do this correctly, but like I said “the rules have changed, but the game is the same”. We are going to deal with Keywords in part one of this series on SEO. You, as a company must ask “Who is this company?”, “What what does the

        SEO for small business tips to keep

        company really do?” What unique service does this company provide?” SEO for Small Business – Keyword Strategy or Search Engine Optimization revolves around Keywords and Key phrases. Decide who you are as a business and what your target market is. Who is your target audience and what “Keywords” will “Find” that audience. In future articles we will deal with Keyword Placement, SEO for Business – Keyword Strategy and URL utilization to maximize search engine results. In the final segment we will reveal super secret tricks to take what you’ve learned and truly maximize your exposure!

         

         

        Finding the ideal Keywords is a process, one your company must master! Let’s have some fun with a Keyword list. First open a Word Document and record every word or phrase that you think fully explains your business, the services or products you provide and that

        special element that makes you “Unique”. Keyword = A word or phrase that pinpoints what you are uniquely about. Additional Keywords = a word or phrase that targets your industry or

        SEO for small business must but kept simple

        market segment. Here comes one of those tricks I promised! Go to Google while visiting the Internet through Internet Explorer. Search for your key competitors within the industry you operate (Local, National and International). Go to the home page of one of the web sites of a respected and top rated competitor. On the right side or “Ribbon” of that Web Site Home Page, Right Click your mouse, a menu will appear, highlight and then Left Click on “VIEW SOURCE” about half way down on the pop up menu. You will bring up a new page, you are looking at the actual HTML code of you competitors Web Site, don’t worry it is OK!

         

        Look for Part 2 to find out what you can do to Maximize your SEO for Small Business.

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          Small Businesss Local Resources

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          LIST OF LISTS!

           

          By: Thomas R. Reich

          Small Business Local Resources

          In the jungle of 2012, Small Business Local Resources are hard to come by.  Today let’s look at several lists of FREE Small Business Local Resources.  Let me be clear, these are national small business local resources available to local small businesses anywhere in the US.

          Let’s start with the companies that are the ten best local search marketing companies based on a meticulous evaluation of their history of quality services, customer satisfaction, and a dedication to providing SEO services which reach local markets and provide small business local resources:

          1)      Performics Inc.

          2)      SoVi Digital

          3)      TopHatRank.comLLC

          4)      HigherVisibility

          5)      Marketable Media

          6)      Crexendo, Inc.

          7)      Web Ranking SEO

          8)      Get Found Local

          9)      Reach Local

          10)  eLocal Listing

           

           

          Top 5 Small Business Local Resources to help build your building:

          1)      Google.  Google offers a few cool options for locally based small businesses;

          a)      Google Places (Formerly known as Google Local Business Center)  Listing your information in Google Places allows online searchers to                       find your local business listing within the search engine results making it a Small Business Local Resource to be investigated!

          b)      Google Maps.  Google Maps works with Google Places to get your customers to your front door.

          c)      Google Latitude. Google’s latest foray into local deals and couponing.

           

          2)      Yahoo Local.  On the heels of Google, there is Yahoo Local.  This services is a business directory organized by category and geographic                       location.

          3)      YellowPages.com. Much like the Yellow Pages of old, this Small Business Local Resource draws a crowd of users seeking basic information on local retailers and service providers.  The most basic sign up is free, but you must sign up to be listed.

          4)      Ask City.  This Small Business Local Resource is provided by Ask.com and culls user reviews and editorials from several popular search                      and business review sites  including CitySearch, Yelp.com, and Insiderpages.  The 5 star Ask City ratings system is taken from the Best of                    Citysearch listings, which are in turn based on user reviews.  You can see more information about these ratings at CitySearch.com.

          5)      Windows Live Local.  Microsoft’s entry in the online local search arena combines Bing Maps and Google Maps with bird’s –eye imagery,                      traffic conditions, and driving directions, with the Yellow Pages and other local search tools.  You can also view and get directions to local                businesses making it one of the best new Small Business Local Resources.

          Enough lists for now, but we will add more in coming weeks.  Check out these Small Business Local Resources, you will find, when building a small business, Free is always good!

          Related Blogs

            Getting Maximum Publicity with Social Media Networking

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            SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK; MAKEING IT WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESS

            By Thomas R. Reich

            Why do Businesses Fail?SEO

            1) Not enough people know they exist, little or no social media networkingusinesses Fail?

            2)   They did not do enough to get the word out

            3)   Did not work hard enough for brand recognition

            4)   Did not remind the customer daily through social media why the business matters

            A successful business must have a daily promotion habit, do at least one of the following each day:

            1)   Write or post a new blog

            2)   Tweet a timely question

            3)   Do a radio interview

            4)   Do a webcast

            5)   Post on LinkedInseo

            6)   Write a letter to the editor

            7)   Link and share pictures on Facebook page

            8) Do at least one thing that will publicize your product each day through social media networking

            Other things to do on a regular basis:

            1)   Contact 5 people a day that could help you publicize your product

            seo2)   Give the social media network a hook to use to grab their audience (in the end you and your product do not matter to that media outlet, to the organization giving you the publicity, it’s how you can add interest to their show or blog, even their tweet stream, remember this!)

            3)   Research what various factions of the social media network can put in their heading or intro;

            “Coming up________” that will help their audience to stay tuned in or check back.  What about you or your product would cause this reaction think of catchy phrases, make it easy to promote you or your product.

            4)   Again, you need to come up with hooks, what makes this social media network member or blogger or interviewer’s audience tune in to his or her show or blog.  If it pushes you or your product at the same time, that makes it a win win, that is what we are looking for!

            5)   Hook = “Could you go to jail for linking the wrong website?” or “have you checked your Facebook picture for malware, XYZ co knows why you should” or “Is your health drink, healthy?”

             

            5 Ways to Create a Hook for the Social Media Network

            First: create interest

            1)   How to do; “How do you Tweet a Question?”

            2)   Counter a Myth; “Parents want a quick fix to poor study habits-could drugs be the wrong answer?”seo for small business

            3)   Make a prediction; “Why the US will soon experience dramatic food shortages” –or—“Why food prices will continue to rise”

            4)   Ask a Question, “Can you give the media a question they can use?” or “What are cats thinking?”

            5)   Give them a timely hook, a reason they need to have information about your product now; Tax advice at tax time, new business start up advice in January, new kind of tomato plant in the spring

             

            seo for small businessCreate an effective publicity plan

            1)   Who is your core audience

            2)   What does that core audience read or watch

            3)   When will your topic be timely; time of year, anniversary, create a holiday around your product, look in the book Chase’s Calendar of Events for listing of 10,000 holidays

            4)   Is there a predictable news event that can be spun to your product and sent to the social media network, release of a movie, elections, release of monthly employment figures or farm reports

             

            Avoid the “I’ll wait till it comes out to publicize the product” approach

            1)   When a new or updated product is released, the publicity must already be in place, The Social Media Network; Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn announcements kicking for weeks before the product hits the street.

            2)   Again do interviews blogs and email blasts, and consistent social media network exposure before the release date as well, to create anticipation of the new or improved product.

            3)   Listen to your core interest group, you may find improvements or hooks you never thought of before the product even comes out.

             

             

            soe for small businessYou want the influential bloggers

            Get publicity and exposure on blogs that reach your core audience, not just your personal blog. The top 500 bloggers sites have over 100,000 visits per month, this is a resource you need to tap into!

             

            Main ways to get valuable coverage on blogs:

            1)   Offer to write an article, this is called a “guest Post” free.

            2)   Offer the blogger the opportunity to interview you

            3)   Offer the blogger mention or a posting on your blog

            4)   Offer the blogger a free product so they can review it

            5)   Offer to run a free advice column in their blog

            6)   Offer copies of your product as prizes

             

            seo for small businessFind blogs that get a lot of traffic

            1)   Give them timely hooks

            2)   Always get a plug in return for the appearance

            3)   www.technorati.com to find blogs to contact in your field

             

            seo for small businessYou Need a YouTube Strategy

            You must have a strategy, YouTube should part of any social media networking plan

            1)   What could your core audience be looking for?

            2)   How can you set up your video so your core audience can find you?

            3)   Video must be no longer than 2 min.

            4)   Better to have 40 videos, each 90 second tips than to have 6 videos, each 15 min speeches.

            The YouTube videos should contain:

            1)   Hi I am _____________

            2)   I am important to you because _______________seo for small business

            3)   Here is what we are doing for you

            4)   End with find me here and follow me on twitter

            5)   Ask for a response from them through your social media network

             

            If this seems like too many questions for you to answer alone, we can help.  T Roblin Reich Company now offers a full range of Marketing services, beyond our normal business serves.  We can help set up your social media network and blog to work with your Website.  We can even help with videos and building a digital image.

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              FREE Small Business Local Resources

              , , , , , , , , , , ,

              List of Lists!

               

              By: Thomas R. Reich

              Small Business Local Resources

              In the jungle of 2012, Small Business Local Resources are hard to come by.  Today let’s look at several lists of FREE Small Business Local Resources.  Let me be clear, these are national small business local resources available to local small businesses anywhere in the US.

              Let’s start with the companies that are the ten best local search marketing companies based on a meticulous evaluation of their history of quality services, customer satisfaction, and a dedication to providing SEO services which reach local markets and provide small business local resources:

              1)      Performics Inc.

              2)      SoVi Digital

              3)      TopHatRank.comLLC

              4)      HigherVisibility

              5)      Marketable Media

              6)      Crexendo, Inc.

              7)      Web Ranking SEO

              8)      Get Found Local

              9)      Reach Local

              10)  eLocal Listing

               

               

              Top 5 Small Business Local Resources to help build your building:

              1)      Google.  Google offers a few cool options for locally based small businesses;

              a)      Google Places (Formerly known as Google Local Business Center)  Listing your information in Google Places allows online searchers to                       find your local business listing within the search engine results making it a Small Business Local Resource to be investigated!

              b)      Google Maps.  Google Maps works with Google Places to get your customers to your front door.

              c)      Google Latitude. Google’s latest foray into local deals and couponing.

               

              2)      Yahoo Local.  On the heels of Google, there is Yahoo Local.  This services is a business directory organized by category and geographic                       location.

              3)      YellowPages.com. Much like the Yellow Pages of old, this Small Business Local Resource draws a crowd of users seeking basic information on local retailers and service providers.  The most basic sign up is free, but you must sign up to be listed.

              4)      Ask City.  This Small Business Local Resource is provided by Ask.com and culls user reviews and editorials from several popular search                      and business review sites  including CitySearch, Yelp.com, and Insiderpages.  The 5 star Ask City ratings system is taken from the Best of                    Citysearch listings, which are in turn based on user reviews.  You can see more information about these ratings at CitySearch.com.

              5)      Windows Live Local.  Microsoft’s entry in the online local search arena combines Bing Maps and Google Maps with bird’s –eye imagery,                      traffic conditions, and driving directions, with the Yellow Pages and other local search tools.  You can alsoFree Resources view and get directions to local                businesses making it one of the best new Small Business Local Resources.

              Enough lists for now, but we will add more in coming weeks.  Check out these Small Business Local Resources, you will find, when building a small business, Free is always good!  Help us help you CLICK HERE to add to the Free Small Business Resource List!

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