small business strategy Archives

Finding Value Relationships for Small Businesses

A friend and business partner recently said to me, “There’s nothing better than doing business with someone with common values.” An interesting and valid perspective, for sure. It’s certainly better than doing business with someone whose values don’t align with your own. Finding value relationships is probably more important in business-to-business or long-lead/long-term relationship businesses. For […]

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The Big Hurdle in Social Media for Small Business

Small Business Marketing

There’s a big hurdle to get over or around in social media for small business. It’s a counterintuitive step we all have to take to prove to our audience that we’re in it for them and not for us. But it’s a confusing and painful step for many business owners to take. The big hurdle

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The Small Business Gut-Check Guide to Mixing Personal Opinions in Social Media

Small Business Marketing

A reader asked if she should reveal that she is behind a political-focused Twitter account. She isn’t doing anything subversive – just poking a little fun at politicians. But the gag account wound up on a listing of “accounts you should follow,” and her follower list exploded. Because some media outlets like to quote or

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5 Steps to Make Digital Marketing Drive Foot Traffic for Small Business

Small Business Marketing

Many small businesses need foot traffic more than they need leads. For them, digital marketing seems like an bother more than a necessity. Your business may not need digital marketing to open its doors and operate. But at some point the flow of Relationship, Referral and ‘Round here customers will dwindle. What then? Digital marketing

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Why Your Small Business Should Have a Vision Statement

Small Business Marketing

A vision statement is as important to a small business as the products you sell. The vision statement serves as a simple guide for you, your employees and even your customers. Vision statements tell the world what you stand for. If well-defined they can be the trigger that makes people want to do business with

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What digital value proposition can your small business provide?

Small Business Marketing

We’ve started talking about how small businesses can make a transition from a referral based business to a lead-generation business and we’ve focused on the website as the starting point. But now let’s start to take our strategic thinking for our small business forward and build out the next step in the process, which is

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Small business success starts with your website

Small Business Marketing

For you to be successful with digital marketing as a small business, you still have to start with your small business website. Certainly, it is possible to make waves without. Social media sites give you free (except for the time commitment) and easy access to potentially reach a lot of people. But for customers to

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How small businesses can use social sharing to build their networks

Content Marketing

A mortgage broker called me yesterday to ask for some advice on social sharing after hearing me speak at a recent event. She works for a bank in a small central Kentucky town and wanted help with the technical end of sharing good content. Her basic issue was she didn’t know where to find the good

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