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
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
Are You Speaking My Language?
Vicki Hollanders – Establishing a relationship with your clients and customers begins the instant you meet - a handshake and a smile. How quickly can you size up the personality of another? Are you dealing with someone who is an extrovert or an introvert? Are you dealing with someone who enjoys casual conversation or one who prefers [...]
ISBDC / November 16, 2012
Your Emails and Text Messages Say a Lot About You!
Joe Ubben – As technology continues to change the way in which we communicate, it doesn’t change the fact that we are judged by these messages. Some of my clients who are in the 20 – 30 year old age group seem to think that it’s OK to alter the English Language with abbreviations, misspellings [...]
Northwest ISBDC / August 28, 2012
Is Your Plate Full?
Larry White – Is your plate full? In our fast paced business world, many entrepreneurs simply don’t have enough time in the day to get everything done. Unless we are extremely organized, it is often difficult for the typical business owner to really focus on what is most important every day in the life of [...]
Central ISBDC / June 4, 2012
“Make New Friends, But Keep the Old”
Kevin Jones – There’s an old song whose lyrics are “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” Sound advice for our personal lives to be certain. But it’s also a good strategy for small businesses. Many small business marketing strategies focus on increasing sales by adding new customers [...]
ISBDC / May 2, 2012
Do You Have All the Customers You Need?
Jan Fye – As salespeople, you have many choices available to you when deciding how to find new customers. Not every method works in all situations but when you have several options from which to choose, it makes it easier to find what works best in your line of work. Once you have a complete [...]
North Central ISBDC / March 12, 2012
