Monday, April 25, 2011

Blue Redbox box – Brilliance or Bad Marketing

Walmart now has blue Redbox boxes – seriously. So the question is of course WHY? What is the reason that they switched away from the basic red box?

blue redbox walmart blockbuster ddvd rental

They are mostly located at Wal-mart Supercenters, but the boxes are not red like everywhere else, they are blue.

My first guess was maybe that Redbox was making some crazy decisions about focusing more on Blueray and the blue was a wordplay off of that. But after investigating, it appears that Wal-mart had it changed to blend in better and match their corporate colors.

There are other rumors about the color change, like other companies actually taking Redbox headers and applying them to their own boxes. Or stories like Redbox thinking Blockbusters boxes are nicer looking so they are testing a change in colors.

If Redbox does in deed change all of their colors to anything other than red, it would be a crazy move and would be insane. One of the things they have achieved is that people are forwarding and texting pictures of the blue redboxes. That has to be valuable marketing and exposure.

Have you seen any blue redboxes anywhere other than walmart?

 

It is a bad marketing move to disaccosiate one of the primary branding methods that the whole company is revolved around? After all it tells people what to look for, and they have created something that now everyone in the country knows and most people have used and enjoyed. The cost saving came at a super time. People were tired of paying the high prices at Blockbuster and the other brick and mortar video rental outlets and redbox cashed in.

Can Redbox keep up with Cloud computing no matter what color their boxes are? What happens when Amazon offers movies to download or Netflix has movies online? What if these companies can develop a way to actually distribute new releases streaming or download and people don’t have a need to go get physical media?

Hopefully Redbox will keep ahead of the game and figure out how the market wants to use media and it wouldn’t surprise me if they come out with memberships and online access.

 

 

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Understanding Statistics – presidential budget cut

Understanding statistics can be a tricky thing. Also, when we hear big numbers we have a hard time connecting or visualizing what they really mean. This clip takes the mystery out of the big numbers and uses a method that we can all understand to explain how statistics can be used in politics to get us to believe action is being taken, when there virtually is none.

 

As soon as we understand the basic math and the amount of zeros that are being worked with, it makes it incredibly clear that we did not really understand what was being said. We heard big numbers and even bigger numbers, but they really didn’t sink in until now. Now there’s some outrage. Not only at the politicians who are doing this, but even at ourselves for not really understanding what is happening.

 

 

Friday, April 15, 2011

Extremely Creative Home Based Business Ideas

Here are some really crazy home based business ideas from an intense brain storming session.  We came up with 133 non-traditional ideas that you can take and use to make some money from home. Some of them are really small and designed to give just a little bit of a an income boost. Others are designed so that you could quit your day job and focus on something from home. Even if you are unemployed, then these home based business ideas are right up your alley.

 

1000 Home Business Ideas – OK, not really 1,000 – just 133

  1. Homemade tea
  2. Grow make soap
  3. Crème soda
  4. Breed dogs
  5. Write book
  6. Editor
  7. Book unusual recipes
  8. Home cooking
  9. Mold figurines
  10. Crafts
  11. Necklaces
  12. Playground equipment
  13. Stained glass
  14. Recycle glass into wind chimes
  15. Pottery
  16. Tutoring
  17. Lawn and landscaping
  18. Babysitting
  19. Knit
  20. Sew
  21. Mend
  22. Ironing
  23. Organic home remedies
  24. House cleaning
  25. Laundry
  26. Pet sitting
  27. Animal grooming
  28. CD music lessons
  29. Designated driver
  30. Doll houses and furniture
  31. Simply roses
  32. Baskets
  33. Cookie mix in a jar
  34. Quilts
  35. Weave reeds
  36. Make ink
  37. Cut braid style hair
  38. Dried herbs
  39. Organic make up
  40. Goat cheese
  41. House painting
  42. Kangaroo court
  43. Only child experience a family
  44. Foster care
  45. Respite care
  46. Hippo therapy
  47. Bees
  48. Gluten free bakery
  49. Companion service
  50. Greeting cards
  51. Roasting coffee
  52. Lavender water
  53. Micro heating bags
  54. Truck produce to Midwest
  55. Wild rice to SC
  56. Candy
  57. Candles
  58. Sheep
  59. Yarn
  60. Homeless care packages
  61. Chickens eggs
  62. Compost
  63. Gray water conversion
  64. Kid seminars
  65. Art contest
  66. Raffle
  67. Decorating
  68. Family game night
  69. Activity center
  70. Calligraphy
  71. Photography
  72. Xmas cookies
  73. Ice cream social
  74. Corner bio diesel
  75. Eco pimp
  76. Car washes
  77. Dumpster diving salvage
  78. Whoopee cushions
  79. Scrap booking parties
  80. Sell this list
  81. Demo DVDs
  82. Family DJ
  83. Mascots
  84. Clown
  85. Mystery shopper
  86. Mystery sleeper
  87. Grocery delivery
  88. My girl Thursday
  89. Research
  90. Virtual assistant
  91. Movie critic
  92. Music critic
  93. Teach kid dancing
  94. Barn dance
  95. Home made popcorn
  96. Crop sharing gardens
  97. PI
  98. Scan pics to digi album
  99. Renaissance clothing
  100. Movie extra
  101. Tea parties
  102. Listening café
  103. Framing mounting
  104. Homemade tofu
  105. House blessing
  106. Holiday decorating
  107. Hats
  108. Bird houses
  109. X country camper delivery
  110. Spices
  111. Farmers markets
  112. Chimney sweep
  113. Vending machines
  114. Simple living magazine
  115. Acting troop
  116. Puppet shows
  117. Christian gypsy tour
  118. KOA work
  119. Migrant work
  120. Revive Mystery Space Theater 3000
  121. Cell phone play by play
  122. Mosquito counting
  123. Swim lessons
  124. Day camp
  125. Collect recycling
  126. Edible games (scrabble)
  127. Singing telegrams
  128. Balloons
  129. Bean bag chairs
  130. Make calendars
  131. Web designs
  132. Yard vases
  133. Foreign exchange student

You want to add some more… Please!

 

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Small Business Marketing In a Small Community

Here are some quick helpful hints provided by Starmaker Marketing that will help you market better when you are in a small community.

1. Present your self as an expert

You can write a newspaper column, publish a newsletter and offer community classes that will help portray you as an expert. Being an expert in your particular field will help you offer great advice to your clients.

2. Consistent Marketing & Presence

In a small town, rumors fly and when you cancel an ad in a newspaper or flier, people notice and when you make a change. keep your advertising very consistent and don’t make too many rapid changes. If you start investing in a media, make sure you can maintain it.

3. Participation in Community Events

Participate in all kinds of community events. Small communities often have parades, fairs and many other community activities that every business should participate and get involved in.

4. High Value on established Name & reputation

Even more so than in a big city, your name and reputation is your life blood. In a big city, there are almost always new prospects you can reach, so when you don’t maintain your name and reputation, it is simpler to stay in business. In a small community it doesn’t work that way. The prospects are

5. Planned Word of Mouth

Everywhere you are doing marketing, you need positive word of mouth. It is not as random as it may appear. Some people feel that word of mouth is just what happens when a customer talks about the great experiences they have had. But really you need to give them talking points so they have something beneficial to talk about. Consult your marketing firm about ways you can contribute and instigate the word of mouth for your business.

 

 

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Commission Hijack Review – Top Clickbank programs

Commission Hijack is currently one of the most popular Clickbank programs available. People are promoting it, buying it and using it and it’s the hot ticket right now.  It is being promoted as a low risk, low work opportunity that is both simple to use and simple to earn money from. No articles to write, no facebook Ads to promote or fanpages to make and manage, no complicated SEO, no google adwords and no ppc, ppv or cpa. Anything one can do to avoid bowing to the google empire, it a good thing. If you can find a system that does not include using all of their options and instead making a much more streamlined approach you’re ahead of the game.

image

Click Here!

Check out these income shots:image

image

image

 

And anytime you can show a vague chart that doesn’t really mean anything, but looks like people are making money and send a more subtle.

Online Business Opportunity Marketing Programs Reviewed

Here are some of the products reviewed: Do your research before investing in any online business, and find the one that is best fit for you and makes the most sense based on your needs.

Product Name Type of Business Price
1. “BASW” Buying And Selling Websites Gold Membership $297
2. Kevin Trudeau Home Based Business Site Discounted to $347
3. Simple Sites Big Profits MLMWEAPONS $797 or special financing options
4. Sky High Auctions Making Money from Ebay Sales Reduced to $267
     

 

1. Buying & Selling Websites “BASW” from buyingandsellingwebsites.com

image

Buying & Selling Websites has 3 different membership programs that they mention, however then the actual promoted membership level is the gold membership which is priced at $297.

They have letters of recommendation from all over the world. It’s hard to know if letters like that are legitimate or not, although these seem to hit the mark.

image

The program will teach you how to builds sites, which products to promote and sell as well as many other tips about the process of starting an online business. Sharing information on Product Sites, Affiliate Sites, and Membership/Content Sites.  There’s some good free advice about selling your websites on the promotional pages. Don’t forget to take advantage of the information that is being offered.

 

2. Kevin Trudeau’s Home Bases Business

Learn how to master the art of influence, build your business beyond belief, avoid the top 3 mistakes in Network Marketing and quit your day job in a year!

kevin trudeau home based business

the best of kevin trudeau

 

3. simple sites big profits

Now Paying $150 Plus $50 Per Month Commissions! Killer Conversion Rate And Tons Of Affiliate Tools. Free Videos Reveal The Secrets! Your Students Will Learn how you can make simple little websites for big profits. Check out the methods offered by “Simple Sites Big Profits” and see if you can use this format to start earning a generous amount of commissions each and every month on their program.

simple sites big profits

4. Sky High Auctions

From Sky High Auctions, you can learn as the teach you from 15 Ebay PowerSellers How They Raked In Over $11,726,200 Last Year Alone And How You Can Explode Your Business Following Their Every Move Using Our Step By Step Course.  AND for those of you who already own an online business, you'll discover how to use the power of eBay to rake in piles of hot leads to your websites! If you are already selling on ebay you’ll learn lots more tips and tricks. If you want to get started and do it right, sky high auctions can help you avoid pitfalls that others normally make.

sky high auctions

 

 

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Go Stay Comeback – Small Business Website Marketing and SEO

GO! STAY! COME BACK!

Index

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Purpose of Your Website

Chapter 2 The Marketing of your Website

Chapter 3 The Content of Your Website

Chapter 4 The Design of Your Website

Chapter 5 The Benefits of Your Website

Chapter 6 The Value of Your Website

Chapter 7 Bringing it into perspective: REFFERALS

Appendix A

© Copyright 2006 VP Etc, Inc . All Rights Reserved. This work may not be distributed, copied, or reproduced, in whole or part, without prior written permission from the authors. Paid e-Books owners must be registered with the publisher and are allowed one printed copy for personal use only. Intellectual property rights and copyright laws apply for the protection of the author. Substantial legal penalties are applicable and will be enforced in the event of misuse of this license.

INTRODUCTION

This isn’t about training your dog or any other pet. It has nothing to do with animals whatsoever. Well, maybe it does have to do with dogs. What if we were to suppose that we treated our prospective clients and customers like dogs? If we look at a dogs behavior there are of characteristics that we would really like to have in our clients. Loyalty, friendliness, happiness to see us. I never had a dog growing up. I’m not so sure I really ever wanted a dog, but if you think about how a dog can become a friend for life, who wouldn’t want that?

Back to the title. The title says it all if you look at it in the right context. What we all really want is simple. And really we need to take the time to express our goals in the proper setting. This is the motto and goal for every website owner. The objective every web marketer, website owner, and internet entrepreneur is to have people do exactly what the title says: GO to their website, STAY there and benefit from the features of the website and then see the value of their site and actually COME BACK. Return customers are the most valuable assets a business has. It is cheaper to retain a customer than to find and sell another.

We are all to ready to pay for people to come to our site. Yes, I agree that’s important. Actually it’s very important. If no one ever gets there it really doesn’t matter what it looks like, because you won’t make any money off of it. Even the most inexperienced business person knows that. No prospects equals no clients. No clients equals no money. And that’s a problem. You will not be in business very long if you aren’t making money.


GO

Chapter 1

The Purpose of Your Website

To start off with we need people, and let’s face it qualified people to go to our website. It doesn’t matter how awesome the product or service is, or how cool your website looks, we need prospects. I receive just about ever piece of junk email that I think exists. I typically get well over 100 emails every day that have virtually no value to me, or at least they were unsolicited. I don’t mind so much because I want to learn from them. Analyze them. See what they do well, and see what they do poorly. Most of them fit into the later segment.

Let’s start with some marketing basics. The most basic and fundamental marketing need is for you to have a position. A clearly defined position. This is more important you’re your name or even your product line. Al Ries & Jack Trout have several awesome books about marketing. Their book entitle POSITIONING is simple mind-boggling. An entire book about how to set up the position you want to obtain in your clients mind. I hope you’ll find a copy and study it carefully. They don’t focus on online businesses in that book, but rather a global look at all kinds of companies. As Mr. Ries & Trout start out, I guess I need to clarify what the position is and what it means. “INSERT QUOTES HERE FROM POSITIONING BOOK”

Basic marketing philosophy of positioning, and clearly defining ones position

Have a clear objective of what you want the visitor to do

If You’re selling something – ask for the sale – don’t assume they know what you want them to do next. People don’t assume what you want them to. You need to make a sensible process. From the point at which they enter, to the point where they can make a decision, has to be streamlined and flow well. They have to be asked to make a purchase. I don’t mean hard selling; I mean they have to be given the opportunity to make a purchase. They have to be given the choice, the option to take advantage of what you have to offer. And every time they are asked or given an opportunity, you need to make sure that it is NOT a yes or no decision. You are after all not trying to make them leave or say no. You want them to choose between Yes, I want to order now, and I need some more information before I go ahead with the transaction. Don’t let them start thinking they can say no. Let them decide what information they need, offer it to them and then offer the transaction again. This may happen several times. They might need to reconsider the information they’ve been given. And every time you give them more information it might need to be clarified, or might raise a new question.

If You’re Informing them, make sure they understand

Not every website is geared towards making a ‘sale’. Many non-profit companies or service companies are using their websites as informational tools and as a tool to help their face-to-face selling.

When you design your website, you make certain assumptions. Often we assume that the visitor knows what we know. They don’t. You know a lot about your business. You know more than anyone else (or at least you should). Let’s assume that you do. You need to tell them why they are at your website and what information it is that you can offer them. You need to have links to places they can get additional information if you don’t happen to offer it.

Sneaking in banner ads and other sales like information is dangerous. You can seriously side track a prospect. Many websites post banners from other companies in order to gain income from click-throughs or pay per click ads. This is OKK, but you have probably just given your client away to the company placing the banner ad.

I think banner ads are great. If you have the option to put them on other people websites, DO IT. It’s worth it. Especially if you set up a pay per click fee structure, you can’t loose. Even if only a low percentage of visitors can be turned into clients, it makes a lot of sense. If you’d want to put my banners on your site, please let me know, but I wouldn’t suggest it to be a good move.

Alright you might be able to find an exception to the rule and that’s OK. If a big company like Microsoft wanted to put a banner on my site, I’d think about it. Having them associated with my company might do well for my image. If I lost some click throughs, I could figure that out after a while by keeping an eye on my hits and entry and exit points. If suddenly too many people are exiting via the Microsoft banner, I’d know it was time to pull it and put my own attract banner in its place.

Chapter 2

The Marketing of your Website

Online Marketing

There are a lot of online venues for marketing your site. Obviously you need to adapt the list to fit your needs. Your business will have some special features that make it distinctive from other companies, but of course you already know that.

Here’s a helpful list to start with. You should keep a log of every ad you submit and monitor hits after you try something new. This will help gauge the effectiveness of each campaign. “Someone once said that 50% of all advertising is a complete waste. The hard part is that no one knows which 50%.” Monitoring your campaign especially at first will help you avoid spending time and money on those items that don’t have the pull they should.

1) Banners

2) Ebay

3) Directories

4) Search Engine Submission

5) Email Campaigns

a. Mass

b. Targeted

6) Newsgroups

7)

And this is only a start. When you start promoting your website, you find all kinds of fun ways to spread the word. Some of the best ideas come by looking at your competition. First of all, knowing who your competition is will put you several steps ahead of your competition. Most businesses don’t have a firm grasp on who their competition really is. They might have a vague idea about other businesses in the industry, but they don’t really know whom their clients would buy from if they decided not to come back.

Offline Marketing

PLEASE don’t think you can just market your website online. Please don’t make that mistake. Unless you have some special niche business that only targets online clients, where you don’t want other publicity, you need to pursue offline marketing. Just about the only online businesses that would fit into this category are the online adult websites.

As an owner of Starmaker Marketing, I have developed the most comprehensive guide of marketing methods. I only give this list to actual clients, and most of them only see the parts that I recommend to their company. We’ve studied all the books – even the creative ones like Guerilla Marketing, Marketing for Dummies, and more. I’ve looked at their lists and when someone has to put items like stationary as separate category, then they are trying to make a long list, and not offer quality advice. Of course by saying that I obligate myself to say that your stationary/letterhead is important. It should match your business cards, your website and other printing. All of your printed material should look like it is from the same company. If you lay it on a table and some of it clashes, then I think you’ve discovered something that should be changed pretty quick. That is called Cross Collateral Uniformity. It is very important.

Let’s look at some basic concepts of offline advertising

Here are some of the most basic categories that you should consider:

1) Print –

a. Magazines

b. Flyers offering or pointing primarily to site

2) Audio/Visual – TV, Radio, Cable, Infomercial etc

3) Identity – Use existing media and ad pointing to site


STAY

Chapter 3

The Content of Your Website

Fun, interesting, usable,

Pictures, the information they are looking for,

You need some time to convince a visitor that they’re:

1) At the right place,

2) You can help them, and

3) They should let you help them

I ran a marketing campaign on my website, and was later examining the results. I could tell how many people came to visit, which pages they looked at and how long they stayed. I realized that I had not hit the right equation because they only looked at the first page and only stayed for less than 10 seconds. It almost seemed like they saw the page and before being able to understand what the site was about, they left. Although I got a lot of hits I did not benefit substantially from them or get many leads out of that campaign.

Keeping it up to date and current

Chapter 4

The Design of Your Website

Logo, clean, easy to navigate

Some interactivity or animation – not overdone

Standards such as staying within common buttons, terminology, header and side panel

Some exceptions are k1010.com – look at how awesome that is

I think a good term for those websites that are over crowded would be web-sty. Just like a pigs sty.

Have pages look consistent

Don’t overdo it – Like the old adage – KISS Keep it Simple Sweetie – well some of course have substituted the meaning of the last S with the word Stupid. Simple doesn’t mean boring and too plain. It means easy on the eye, understandable. Don’t think for a minute that simple is a contrast to classy, or that it would contradict having you website look attractive and professional. No simple means well put together, all parts fit well and are simply well organized. The background should be white or a simple color that doesn’t detract from the content. I’ve seen people use high color pictures or collages of pictures for the background, and you can hardly tell what the text says. I’ve seen other sites with this amazing graphic 3D animation in the background with moving parts, spinning wheels and so much action, that the load time was horrible, the overall effect was clutter and it suddenly looked like someone had opened a new piece of software and was playing with every option. Have you ever seen videos that a friend has shot just after he got the video camera? They zoom in and out quickly, have to use the fade in and out several times, have text pop up and every other option the camera has. If you compare that with a professional program, you notice that they use very few of the add-ons. They zoom in and out very methodically and have a game plan for each shot. That’s what we want to achieve with the website. Have a systematic approach to the design. If you do not have experience designing pages, then you need to get someone good that can create the product you’d like.

COME BACK

Chapter 5

The Benefits of Your Website

What are the benefits of your website? You need to have a list that is as long as possible. You need to be personally convinced that there is a benefit to them. As you compile this list it will become apparent that some benefits will appeal to different types of prospects. For example, if you sell to various age groups and education levels, making the website extremely simple to use might be a super benefit to some, but might be to simple or slow to navigate through for someone whose been using the internet for years. That’s OK. You can not have a website that appeals to every one. I’ve listed some examples of great websites, but each of them targets only a certain market segment and they know that. They are not trying to fool themselves or you. www.K1010.com is not targeting everyone in the world. My kids love to visit the website and I enjoy it from time to time. I would not got back there every day, and I don’t even have it book marked, but I think it is extremely well done and presented properly to their target.

So what are some benefits people might see in a website?

In our next chapter we’ll cover value which means if they are spending money or making a commitment of any kind that they need to know the product or service they receive is worth what they are paying.

Chapter 6

The Value of your website

Probably the number one benefit people would want from a website is value. INSERT WEBSTERS DEFINITION OF VALUE HERE

People do not want a great deal, because people are learning more and more that there is never a real deal. There’s always a catch. So don’t try to fool them with hype. If you do have a great offer that will entice them, do it in a real way. Don’t try to cover up if you have a little catch in the program. Use that to prove that you will be honest. When people see that you are willing to point out even one possible flaw or problem with the deal you’ve just gained their trust. Their Confidence. Their Respect. That’s how you get a customer that understands the reality of value.

The Close

Chapter 7

Bringing it into perspective: REFFERALS

A referral based sale is almost as easy to close as an existing customer. Sometimes it could be easier. They come in with the extreme readiness to buy. They have already heard some of the benefits, and have a predisposition that heavily favors you. They are very likely to become a Come Back customer themselves and recommend others.

How does a Company Generate Referrals on the Internet? Can they be tracked?

Profit

The basic idea of work and our lives is to profit. Everything we do should be geared towards making a profit. Buy low, sell high is sound stock market advice that you’ll here as an old cliché.

For us as entrepreneurs and business owners, it’s about actually getting paid. For a long time I thought is was about being in business. Having your doors open to the public and the lights on. I now know I wasted so much time being ‘in business’ rather than making a profit. I was too anxious to keep my clients coming back, that I would under-price my services. I would always tell my self that the profit would come on the next project, or that if they would order a lot, then I would make more money. Of course more of not much, still is not much. SO not so much later I found myself having no more money than when I started. That’s pretty silly we’d all agree, however too often we live that way without realizing it.

It’s about making a profit consistently. Not just once in a while. It’s about finding a method. I’ve heard it referred to as finding your black box. Someone spent time teaching me this simple process. He drew a little box and told me this: “Find a method, system, company or structure of any kind. You put money in on one end and more than you put in comes out the other. That’s what business is about.” That sure makes more sense than just trying to stay in business. Marketing is one of the best ways to insure that there will be a consistent flow of orders and customers to your black box. Marketing may not pay off immediately, however it will pay off. No matter what marketing you do, do it, and do a lot of it. It will be the main reason for your survival.

Credits – Websites listed as examples – K1010

Marketing & Advertising Dictionary

A

a∙gen∙cy (ā’jən sē) n., pl. –cies [ < L. agere, to act] 1. action; power 2. means 3. a firm, etc. empowered to act for another 4. an administrative government division

5. a company that you can use to generate creativity, media buying services and advertising concepts/campaigns

a∙ware’ness (ə wer’ nəs) n. [ < OE. wær, cautious ] 1. to know; to realize; to be conscious

2. create public or targeted visibility and name recognition

3. to use a variety of to exposure options to make prospects aware of your company’s existence as well as your product line or service offerings

B

ben∙e∙fits (ben’ə fits) n. [ < L. bene, well ] 1. anything contributing to improvement; advantage 2. payments made by an insurance company, public agency, etc., as during sickness or retirement or for death

brand∙ing (brand’iņ) v. [OE. < biernan, to burn] 1. to burn or partially burn with a stick 2. to burn a mark on the skin, formerly used to punish criminals, now used on cattle to show ownership 3. to put a stigma on 4. a) to identify with a mark or label b) the making of a commodity c) to make a special kind

budg∙et (buj’it) n. [ < L. bulga, bag] 1. a stock of items 2. a plan adjusting expenses to income 3. estimated cost of living, operating, etc. –vt. 1. to put on a budget 2. to plan [budget your time]

buzz (buz) vi. [echoic] 1. to hum like a bee 2. to gossip 3. to be filled with noisy activity or talk ---vt. To fly an airplane low over –n. a sound like a bee’s hum

C

call∙to∙ac∙tion (kôl tə ak’ shən) v. [ < ON. kalla] 1. to say in a loud tone to do something; shout to do something 2. to summon to do something; to invite to do something 3. to awaken in order to get something done 4. to give orders to get something done

com∙merce (käm’ərs) n. [ < L. com-, together + merx, merchandise] trade on a large scale, as between countries

com∙mu’ni∙ca’tion (kə myōō’nə kā’ shən) n. [ < L. communicare] 1. a transmitting 2. a) a giving or exchanging of information, messages, etc. b) a message, letter, etc. 3. [often pl.] a means of communicating

com∙pe∙ti∙tion (käm’ pə tish’ən) n. 1. a competing; rivalry, esp. in business 2. a contest; match

co-op (kō’äp) n. a cooperative

cross∙col∙lat∙er∙al∙u’ni∙form’i∙ty (krôs kə lat’ ər əl yōō’ nə fôr’mə tē)

D

deal (dēl) vt. [ OE. dælen] 1. to portion out or distribute 2. to give; administer (a blow, etc.) --vi. 1. to have to do (with) 2. to conduct oneself 3. to do business; trade --n. 1. the distributing of playing cards 2. a business transaction 3. an agreement, esp. when secret 4. treatment

den∙o∙graph∙ic (den ō graf’ik) --need to insert definition

de∙sire (di zīr’) vt. [ < L. desiderare] 1. to long for; crave 2. to ask for --vi. to have a desire --n. 1. a wish; craving 2. sexual appetite 3. a request 4. thing desired

di∙ver∙si∙fy (də vur’ sə fī’) vt. to make diverse; vary

E

e∙co∙nom∙ic (ē’ kə näm’ik) adj. 1. of the management of income, expenditures, etc. 2. of economics 3. of the satisfaction of the material needs of people

el’e∙va’tor∙speech (el’ə vāt’er spēch) n. need to insert definition

en∙ter∙prise (en’tər prīz’) n. [ ult. < L. inter, in + prehendere, take ] 1. an undertaking, esp. a big, bold, or difficult one 2. energy and initiative

en∙tre∙prise∙mar∙ket∙ing (en’trə prīz’ mär’kit iņ) Starmaker defines entreprise as an entrepreneurial business endeavor with a commitment to attaining success. This commitment s evidenced by a forward-thinking resolution to capitalize on all available opportunities and resources for the betterment of the company

ex∙it∙strat∙e∙gy (eg’zit strat’ə jē) n. need to insert definition

ex∙po∙sure (ik spō’zhər) n. 1. an exposing or being exposed 2. facing position of a house, etc. 3. frequent appearance before the public 4. the time during which photographic film is exposed 5. a section of film for one picture

F

fea∙tures (fē’chərz) n. [ < L. facere, make] 1. (a) facial forms or appearances (b) any of the parts of the face 2. distinct or outstanding parts or qualities of something 3. special attractions, sale items, newspaper articles, etc. 4. full-length motion pictures

fo∙cus (fō’kəs) n. [ L., hearth] 1. the point where rays of light, heat, etc. come together; specif., the point where rays of reflected or refracted light meet 2. an adjustment of length to make a clear image 3. any center of activity, attention, etc.

fol∙low-up (fäl’ō up) n. a letter, visit, etc. that follows as a review or addition

fre∙quen∙cy (frē’kwən sē) n. 1. frequent occurrence 2. the number of times any event recurs in a given period 3. Physics the number of oscillations or cycles per unit of time

G

ge∙ner∙ic (jə ner’ik) adj. [ < L. genus, race, kind ] 1. of a whole class, kind, or group; inclusive 2. that is not a trademark 3. of or characteristic of a genus –n. a product without a brand name

ge∙o∙graph∙ic (jē ō graf’ik) adj. [ < Gr. gē, earth + graphein, write] 1. describing the earth’s surface, continents, climates, plants, animals, resources, etc. 2. describing the physical features of a region

goals (gōlz) n. [ ME. Gol, boundary] 1. the places at which a race, trip, etc. is ended 2. an end that one strives to attain 3. in some games (a) the place over or into which the ball or puck must go to score (b) the score made

H

heart∙at∙tack∙mar∙ket∙ing (hart ə tak’ mär’kit iņ)

hon’es∙ty (än’əst ē) n. [ < L. honor, honor] 1. truthfulness; trustworthiness 2. a) sincerity or genuiness b) gained by fair means 3. frankness and openness

hook (hơok) n. [OE. hoc] 1. a bent piece of metal, etc. used to catch, hold, or pull something 2. a fishhook 3. something shaped like a hook 4. a strike, blow, etc. in which a curving motion is involved --vt. 1. to catch, fasten, throw, hit, etc. with a hook 2. to be fastened or caught with a hook

hu∙mor (hyōō’mər) n. [ < L. humor, fluid: after former belief in four body fluids (humors) held responsible for one’s disposition] 1. mood; state of mind 2. whim; caprice 3. a comical quality 4. a) the ability to appreciate or express what is funny, amusing, etc. b) the expression of this –vt. to comply with the mood or whim of; indulge

hype (hīp) n. [slang] 1. same as HYPODERMIC 2. a drug addict 3. deception, esp. exaggerated promotion --vt. 1. to stimulate, excite, etc. as by a drug injection 2. to promote in a sensational way

I

i∙con (ī’kän) n. [ < Gr. eikōn, image] 1. an image; figure 2. Orthodox Eastern Ch. a sacred image or picture of Jesus, Mary, etc.

im∙age (im’ij) n. [ < L. imago] 1. a representation of a person or thing; esp., a statue 2. the visual impression of something in a lens, mirror, etc. 3. a copy; likeness 4. a) a mental picture; idea b) the concpt of a person, product, etc. held by the general public 5. a metaphor or simile

im’ple-men∙ta’tion∙∙cal∙en∙dar (im’plə mən tā shən kal’ən dər)

im∙pres∙sions (im presh’ənz) n. 1. an impressing 2. a) a mark, imprint, etc. b) an effect producedon the mind 3. a vague notion 4. an amusing impersonation; mimicking

in∙teg∙ri∙ty (in teg’rə tē) n. [ L., whole] 1. completeness; wholeness 2. unimpaired condition; soundness 3. honesty, sincerity, etc.

J

jin∙gle (jin’g’l) vi. [echoic] to make light, ringing sounds, as small bells --vt. to cause to jingle --n. 1. a jingling sound 2. a catchy verse or song with easy rhythm, simple rhymes, etc.

joint∙ven∙ture (joint ven’chər) n. a risky undertaking, as in business, that is shared with someone

K

k.i.s.s. (kēp it sim’p’l stōō’pid)

L

lev’er∙age∙con∙nec∙tion (lev’ər ij kə nek’shən)

line∙ex∙ten’sion (līn ik sten’shən)

log∙o∙rec∙og∙ni∙tion (lō’gō rek’əg nish’ən)

loy’al∙ty (loi’əl tē) n. quality of being faithful to one’s country, friends, ideals, etc.

M

mar∙a∙thon∙mar∙ket∙ing (mar’ə than mär’kit iņ)

mar∙ket∙ing∙plan (mär’kit iņ’ plan)

(M.Q.) mar∙ket∙ing∙quo∙tient (mär’kit iņ’ kwō’shənt)

(M.Q.I.D) per’son∙al∙mar∙ket∙ing∙quo∙tient (pur’s’n əl mär’kit iņ’ kwō’shənt) n. creating an unique brand that is YOU!!

me∙di∙a (mē’dē ə) n. alt. Pl. of MEDIUM --any means, agency, etc.; specif., a means of communication that reaches the general public

me∙di∙a∙bet (mē’dē ə bet)

mis∙sion∙state’ment (mish’ən stāt’ mənt)

N

name∙rec∙og∙ni∙tion (nām rek’əg nish’ən) n. [OE. nama] 1. a name that is recognized or being recognized 2. a name that is used to identify a person or thing as having been known to one

O

op’er∙a’tions (äp’ə rā shənz) [ < L. operari, to work] n. 1. the act or method of operating 2. a being in action or at work 3. any of a series of procedures in some work or plan, as in industry, warfare, etc. 4. any surgical procedure to remedy a physical ailment

op∙por∙tu∙ni∙ties (äp’ ər tōō’nə tēz) [ < L. opportunus, lit., before the port] n. 1. a combination of circumstances favorable for the purpose 2. a good chance

P

plan (plan) n. [Fr., plan, foundation] 1. a diagram showing the arrangement of a structure, piece of ground, etc. 2. a scheme for making, doing or arranging something 3. any outline or sketch

po∙si∙tion∙ing (pə zish’ən iņ) v. [ < L. ponere, to place] 1. to place or arrange a person or thing 2. to have an attitude or opinion 3. to place or locate 4. to put in the usual or proper place 5. to rank

pro∙mo’tion∙al (prə mō’ shən’l) adj. [ < L. pro-, forward + movere, to move] 1. something used to raise to a higher rank or position 2. something used to further the growth, establishment, sales, etc. of

pros∙pects (präs’pekts) n. [ < L. pro-, forward + specere, look] 1. broad views; scenes 2. viewpoints; outlooks 3. anticipation 4. a) something expected b) apparent chance for success 5. likely customers, candidates, etc.

psy∙cho∙graph∙ic (sī’kō graf’ik)

(PR) pub∙lic∙re∙la’tions (pub’lik ri lā’ shənz) relations of an organization, etc. with the general public as through publicity

Q

qual∙i∙ty∙as∙sur∙ance (kwäl’ə tē ə shoor’əns) n. [ < L. quails, of what kind + securus, secure] an assuring or being assured of the degree of excellence of a thing

ques∙tions (kwes’chənz) n. 1. something asked 2. doubts; uncertainties 3. to dispute; challenge

R

re∙fer∙rals (ri fur’əlz) n. 1. a referring or being referred 2. a person who is referred to another person

re∙la’tion∙ships (ri lā’shən ships) n. 1. the connections between or among persons, nations, etc 2. connections, as in thought, meaning, etc.

re∙or∙ders (rē ôr’dərz) n. [ < L. ordo, straight row] 1. to request something to be supplied again 2. the items being supplied again

rep∙u∙ta∙tion (rep’yoo tā’shən) n. 1. estimation in which a person or thing is commonly held 2. favorable estimation 3. fame

re∙ten∙tion (ri ten’shən) n. 1. a retaining or being retained 2. capacity for retaining

(R.O.I.) re∙turn∙on∙in∙vest∙ment (ri turn on in vest’mənt)

S

seg∙ments (seg’mənts) n. any of the parts into which something is separated; section

slo∙gan (slō’gən) n. [ < Gael. Sluagh, a host + gairm, a call: orig., a battle cry] 1. a catchword or motto associated with a political party, etc. 2. a catchphrase used in advertising

so∙lu∙tion (sə lōō’ shən) n. [ < L. se-, apart + luere, let go] 1. the solving of a problem 2. an answer; explanation, etc. 3. the dispersion of one substance in another, usually a liquid, so as to form a homogeneous mixture 4. the mixture so produced

star∙mak’er∙mar∙ket∙ing (star māk’ər mär’kit iņ) n.

strat∙e∙gy (strat’ə jē) n. 1. the science of planning and directing military operations 2. skill in managing or planning, esp. by using stratagems 3. a stratagem, plan, etc.

sus∙pects (sə spekt’s) n. [ < L. sus-, under + pendere, hang] one suspected of a crime, etc.

S.W.O.T.

T

tar∙get∙mar∙ket∙ing (tär’git mär’kit iņ) n. [ < MFr. targe, a shield]

test∙run (test run) (80-10-10)

threats (threts) n. [OE. threat, pressure] 1. an expression of intention to hurt, destroy, punish, etc. 2. an indication of, or a source of, imminent danger

U

u’ni∙form’i∙ty (yōō’ nə fôr’mə tē) n. [ < L. unus, one + -formis, -FORM] a quality in which others in the same class do not vary in form, rate, degree, etc.

V

val∙ue (val’yōō) n. [ < L. valere, be worth] 1. the worth of a thing in money or goods 2. estimated worth 3. purchasing power 4. that quality of a thing which makes it more or less desirable, useful, etc. 5. a thing or quality having intrinsic worth

W

war∙fare (wôr’fer’) n. 1. the action of waging war 2. conflict of any kind

warm∙lead (worm lēd)

weak’ness n. 1. a being weak 2. a weak point; fault 3. an unreasonable fondness (for something)

X

Y

Z

zip∙code∙tar∙get∙ing (zip kōd mär’kit iņ) n.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Cash Flow


Cash flow is very important to small businesses of all sizes. Not having the proper amount of cash flowing through your business each day can actually put you out of business. Some simple ways small business owners chose to deal with this ongoing situation is credit cards. Sometimes one can get maxed out and need another strategy too. If you have a big order coming and need some cash to cover purchasing inventory or supplies, then you need to be ready with sources. Don't tap out your friends and family, but instead, consider some simple options like A Plus Payday Loan and their payday loans they offer. That way you can get an advance on your pay check and your small business can survive yet another day!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Proud to be a Micro Business

Most people don’t want to admit that their business is a micro business. Micro seems tiny and it’s hard enough to admit that we are running a small business. When we tell someone we have a small business it’s humbling enough. But telling them it’s a home based business or micro business is just painful. So what’s wrong with calling it a small business? Well really nothing. It’s not a problem to be a small business, but maybe it has more to do with us and what we tell ourselves, than what we tell others.We struggle everyday to keep the bills paid, keep new customers coming in and of course with all of the regular challenges of running a solid business.

Micro business has tons of benefits
If we can get past the stereotype of a micro business, then it actually has a bunch of benefits. First of all, a micro business has less overhead and problems than a small business. Running a small business means having a couple of part time employees maybe, renting a facility and many other hassles that a micro business can avoid.

Government Definition of a micro business
There is not a clear definition distinction between a large small business with 400 employees and a small business with 1 employee.

Scott Shane, a professor of entrepreneurial studies at Case Western Reserve University, seems to agree. Writing for Businessweek.com, Shane argues the “the term ’small business’ is virtually meaningless.” And he’s right.

Scott suggests the following to redefine and classify small businesses:

If we are going to forge meaningful domestic economic policy, we need to break small businesses into different size categories. Based on what the data shows, I would propose defining businesses as non-employer businesses, micro businesses (1 to 9 employees), small businesses (10 to 24 employees), medium-sized businesses (25 to 99 employees), and large small businesses (100 to 499 employees).