The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Dell have teamed up with a new series of videos to help entrepreneurs grow their companies.
Dubbed Strategies for Growth, the videos are aimed at existing business owners and seek to answer questions such as how can I build my team, market my products, contract with the federal government or prepare for disaster? Viewers will see stories from real small-business owners (all of them award-winning entrepreneurs) who share the growth strategies that worked for them. They’ll also see experts offer advice.
For instance, in the Technology and Growth video, you can watch several successful entrepreneurs talking about how to look ahead and make sure your building is equipped for the technology you’ll need as your company grows. An engineering company founder explains how his company uses VOiP services such as Skype and Web-based training for remote users to keep clients all over the world happy. Another entrepreneur explains how webinars and online surveys help his company attract and keep clients, and how to use a Web site to automate the initial stages of the sales process and get more information about prospects before making in-person contact. You’ll also find out what technology best practices can systematize workflow and keep tabs on all aspects of your business, from customer service to accounting.
In the Technology and Growth: Advice from an Expert video, an SBDC consultant discusses when to change manual processes to automated ones, why technology matters to your customer service and whether to handle technology in-house or outsource it.
Within the Technology and Growth Short Cuts videos, you’ll learn why every business needs a Web site, what you can use your Web site for and how to decide what technology to invest in.
Watch to the end of the video clips for “Take-Away Tips” that summarize the main points.
Throughout each video, you’ll be referred to specific areas within the SBA or to SBA resource partners, such as SCORE, the Small Business Development Centers or Export Assistance Centers, that can help you with each component of growth. You’ll also be referred to Dell’s Take Your Own Path microsite, where you can find additional articles and resources to help you grow your business, interviews with successful entrepreneurs and solutions from Dell.
Strategies for Growth covers seven topics: preparing for growth, team building, technology and growth, marketing, federal contracting, exporting opportunities and disaster recovery. An eighth segment includes profiles of some successful business owners.
