DIY Web Design
Eric Kranz – Regardless of the business you run, the industry you are in or the customers you target the simple fact is that you need a web presence. Hiring a web design firm to create and maintain a professional web site can be a daunting expense for entrepreneurs and often falls by the wayside. [...]
Southeast ISBDC / February 27, 2012
What It Takes To Turn Technology In To A Business
Susan Davis – It all begins with a great technology. So, how does one find a great technology? Let’s say, for example, that you are a true entrepreneur and have a great management background. If you were to put the word out that you are looking for a technology to commercialize, you will likely end [...]
ISBDC / October 7, 2011
Using ISBDC Demographic Reports to Grow Your Business
Paul Simacek – Keen understanding of your target market is a critical success factor both for starting a new business and growing an existing business. Demographics information such as age, income, family composition and consumer spending habits are important pieces of information that can help define and focus your target market and to help you [...]
West Central ISBDC / August 22, 2011
Grant Funding for Developing Technology: Learn the Ins and Outs of SBIRs
Is your business trying to obtain funding to develop and commercialize innovative technology? The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program provides competitive grants to businesses conducting research which will ultimately lead to commercialized products and services. In order to pursue funding, applicants are required to submit detailed proposals to participating federal agencies. These agencies make [...]
ISBDC / June 22, 2011
The Best Market Research for Indiana Entrepreneurs. Period.
Jacob Schpok – I have yet to find a private or public organization across the state that offers a better collection of market research databases for business owners than the Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC). Every day, our resources give Indiana entrepreneurs the tools to compete against big box stores and their in-house market [...]
ISBDC / June 3, 2011
Your Business and Google’s +1
Jacob Schpok – On March 30, Google announced they are testing a new feature called +1 (Plus One) their (unofficial) version of Facebook’s “Like”. Businesses who take the time to understand this new feature have an opportunity to leapfrog competitors with little time and money spent. For years technology publications have been wondering when Facebook [...]
ISBDC / March 31, 2011
Non-Traditional Marketing for Small Businesses
Alan Steele - For many small businesses, thinking about marketing has meant thinking about traditional advertising platforms such as television, radio, billboards, magazines and newspapers. These well established alternatives can be expensive, especially in larger cities, and may not be highly effective in reaching today’s consumer. Many credible sources claim that Americans receive more than [...]
North Central ISBDC / March 28, 2011
Trends in Entrepreneurship: Single. Women. Entrepreneurs.
Dr. Erin Albert recently released her sixth book, Single. Women. Entrepreneurs., and found some interesting trends related to business in America. For more on the author, logon to her writing website at: www.erinalbert.com, or her company’s website, www.yuspie.com. She provides today’s guest blog post, discussing trends she found while writing her latest book. The book [...]
ISBDC / March 8, 2011
Work Smarter: Productivity Tools Entrepreneurs Need to Know
Jacob Schpok – I’m a self-proclaimed computer geek bent on using technology to improve productivity. For me, everything needs to be electronic. The only filing cabinet I have in my office is currently used to store a few notebooks, three bags of coffee, and a plastic cup I use for change. The files that were [...]
ISBDC / February 22, 2011
Our Thoughts on Using Technology to Grow Your Business
Using the internet for marketing and productivity is no longer voluntary for small businesses. It is necessary. Fifty eight percent of Americans say they research products and services online before buying; a 9% increase from 2004. (source) If you follow us on Twitter (@indiana_sbdc), you know we frequently post about low cost and free online [...]
ISBDC / October 1, 2010