Small Business Trends

Small Business News: So You Want To Start A Business

Small Business NewsJuly 30, 2010By Small Business News

Starting a business need not be scary and you don’t need to be a seasoned entrepreneur to get on the right road to success. In fact, for the most successful entrepreneurs, the key has been simply experimenting to find out what works and then letting the right market find them. Of course, advice from other small business leaders is also important. We’ve collected some for you in this latest update of Small Business Trends business roundup.

Branding & Marketing

How do you build your brand? An important part of distinguishing yourself from competitors and helping customers remember your name and what your business can provide when they have a need is creating a solid brand. Creating a brand for your business, especially a new business, can be truly challenging if you’re new to the process. Not everything will work but the key is to keep trying and monitor your results in the process. In Part 1 of Rik Savoia’s interview with Lisa Hendrickson of Call That Girl, a computer support and repair company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we hear how a new business owner with little or no experience built her brand and set herself apart. The Force Field

How do you market your business? No matter what your field, in the end bringing in clients and customers is what will make or break your small business. But many small business owners, especially those starting out, may know little or nothing about the marketing process or how to go about reaching people in need of your products or services. In Part 2 or Rik Savoia’s interview with Lisa Hendrickson of Call That Girl, a computer support and repair company in Minneapolis, Minn., we learn about the “big seven” in social media marketing and other tips and tricks for gaining referrals. The Force Field

How to simplify what you do. From branding to marketing to creating your products and services, simplicity is the key. How easy is it for you to explain to others what you can do for them? Do you feel like you’re dumbing things down by simplifying your great concept or innovation? Think again. If customers and clients can’t understand what you do, how will they know if they need your help? Check out John Jantsch’s plea for simplicity in everything you do. Then start redefining your business. Duct Tape Marketing

Operations

The secrets of succeeding at your startup. Every business starts somewhere and most start small and grow. Inc.com interviewed six successful companies in a wide range of fields to discover what they felt was the key to their success. Similar approaches may help you in moving your business forward no matter how small. In the beginning, consider a wide range of tips and see which ones work for you. Inc.com

Finding your business. Though it certainly may not be for everyone, Matt Paxton’s business, Clutter Cleaner, a service for extreme hoarders, is proof that businesses sometimes start where no one even knows there is a market. Matt originally started his business as a service to help relocate senior citizens. But a more unusual market, and a cable television series in which his business is featured, found him. WSJ

Finance

Media complains about lack of lobbying for small business lending. Though we’re not sure more federal spending in the name of more debt for small businesses is a good idea to pull us out of recession, the mainstream media seems to be worried that there aren’t more lobbyists in Washington pushing for it. The only thing that may raise questions is why so many lobbyists, including groups that supposedly support small business, were in favor of the original 2008 bank bailout. Maybe they’ve finally wised up? Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Credit Unions could be key to business lending. Forget about a $30 billion lending package from the federal government. Bill Cheney, president and chief executive officer of the Credit Union National Association, argues credit unions could be a natural resource for small business, if Congress would raise their lending limits. In either case, small businesses, especially those starting out, should think long and hard before incurring large amounts of debt and focus instead on ways to generate cash flow to help them grow, creating less financial burden for a newly launched venture. Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Startup

Want to start a business? You may want to begin with a business plan. Small business blogger Martin Lindeskog will be taking you through the process in some coming posts as he explores creation of a business plan for his own venture TeaParty.nu. Join Martin for a close up look at putting together a real business plan for a real venture and be sure to keep following along on his blog for the posts to come. Ego Journal

When starting a business, forget the office. Obviously, some businesses require a place for customers and clients to visit or to purchase products or services. But if you can get away with working at home, try to do it and let your staff do it too. A recent report shows just how much money businesses can save by not having people come into work. Smallbiztechnology.com

Using blogging to start your business. Let’s face it. When starting a business in today’s rough economy it’s best to begin with as little cost as possible. Undoubtedly, one of the easiest ways to promote what you do or offer is by creating a blog. Talking about the problems in your market and offering solutions to them will make you the expert prospects will seek out. Of course, blogs are not and should not be mere advertisements for your business and what you do. Check out this article from Ben Cathers to figure out what your blog should look like in order to create the branding you need for your business. Personal Branding Blog

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About Small Business Trends

Send us news Tips! sbtips@gmail.com

CEO & Editor in Chief

Anita Campbell

Operations Manager

Staci Wood

Editors

Research: Dr. Scott Shane

Books: Ivana Taylor

Community Promotions: Joel Libava

Green biz: Kelly Spors

Legislative: Rieva Lesonsky

Product Reviews: TJ McCue

Social Media: Lisa Barone

 

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