Marketing | ISBDC

Classic Business Errors – the Race to the Back of the Pack

Monty Henderson – One of my favorite slides in presentations that I make is entitled “Classic Errors.” With hundreds of clients and years of experience as an entrepreneur, I have discovered that many business owners are interested in learning what “not to do” as much as they are in ascertaining “what to do.” Since I [...]

Hoosier Heartland ISBDC / May 7, 2013

Business Differentiation Through “Little Things”

Larry White – I will often ask clients how they will be different from their competition. What will make you stand out from other businesses that offer similar products and services? Their knee-jerk reaction is often “I will be priced less than my competition”, but a low price strategy by itself is generally not a sustainable competitive advantage [...]

ISBDC / April 17, 2013

Hiccups in Government Contracting

Bobbi Carlton – Getting involved in government contracting can be overwhelming for many suppliers, but, with helpful tips and tools, it can be an easier process if you have the right information. You can spend hours researching how to get involved in government contracting and potentially not get very far. Knowing where to start is [...]

ISBDC / April 10, 2013

The Fourth Commandment of Business: Thou shall know thy customer and cater onto his needs, wants and desires.

Tom Steiner – Thousands of articles have been written on this subject, seminars held everywhere, the internet wants you to purchase online books about it, consultants want you to spend a lot of money for their expertise about it, and they all tell you the same thing differently. There are as many ways to learn about [...]

East Central ISBDC / February 20, 2013

Generating New Customer Leads With a Limited Budget

Ryan Himmel - Getting new customer leads is a common problem that many new and existing businesses face. They may have a great product or service, but not the right marketing plan and process in place. There are many different ways to generate leads. The most notable ways include word of mouth referrals, advertising, forming alliances, [...]

ISBDC / January 11, 2013

Know, Like, and Trust

Peggy Cenova – Know, Like, and Trust Three simple words are all it takes to attract and keep a customer base. Stop and think for a moment about your own purchasing choices of goods and services. From something as inexpensive as a haircut to a major purchase, knowing, liking and trusting the product and service [...]

ISBDC / January 10, 2013

How Well Do You Understand Your Business?

Tran Chau – A small or medium business (“SMB”) today faces many competitive challenges. In the retail industry for example, not only are consumers shopping more online, but big box retailers are also becoming more commonplace. Consumers are drawn to these alternative shopping outlets for time-savings and lower prices. To compete amidst challenges such as [...]

ISBDC / January 7, 2013

Using “Squiggly Little Boxes” in Marketing Your Business

Ron Gifford – Ever wonder what those little black boxes with a bunch of squiggly lines are that you see everywhere lately? Driving down the street recently, I noticed a large billboard with a very large picture of one of these boxes, which I later learned is a QR Code, the letters standing for Quick Response. Presumably, [...]

Northwest ISBDC / January 3, 2013