Sweet Success Online
Words from Bill
Manufacturing America Needs It
Jul 1st
To create more jobs getting everyone working across all sectors – small towns, large towns, lower wages, middle wages, and other wage brackets – giving entrepreneurs the incentive to start manufacturing plants we need less tax.
There was an article in the Wall Street Journal 6 June 2011 by Nick Schultz titled ‘Great Again’.
The article talked about how difficult it has become to start capital intensive enterprises.
American now has the highest corporate tax rate in the world with the exception of Japan.
Banks would rather lend money to China and let them do the manufacturing and not our own companies. What has happened to our lenders? Where is there heart in helping young entrepreneurs to expand in American?
Washington keeps talking about needing more jobs but refuse to lower the tax rate so we can become great again. They (public sector) government workers receive the highest pay and better benefits then the private sector. Why should they lower taxes? We need less taxes and less government. Please vote out anyone who votes for more taxes and greater government. This concerns me very much. We may lose our incentive to new start ups and new manufacturing. We want to put America back to work. Washington is not helping you can help by not voting for anyone wanting more tax and larger government.
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Need a Web Site now need to know SEO what’s next?
Jun 21st
Lots of information about web sites and enhancing with SEO information. But what is right especially if I am on a limited budget?
Let’s look at SEO that is optimizing your web site.
How often do you put new information (content) on your site?
What, I had it designed paid for it and I thought I was finished! No!
Everyday look at your site to see how you can update your site, such as, pictures, blogs, newsletters, and other vehicles.
Looking at and designing the blogs, pictures, and newsletters for your customers and then for potential customers.
Analysis – look at other sites in your field, what are they doing different or the same, look for phrases, words on how it drives people to a site.
Use Google Analytics
Are you driving customers away from your site or attracting them to your site?
Ask yourself who are your customers, young people or baby boomers, the color you chose might be bright a great for young people but too bright for the boomers.
Font size can be different and small for young people but not too small for the baby boomers.
Again Google analytics can help you understand key words, how many pages they turn before leaving your site, etc.
Too Much Information – Know your customer – not for everyone.
Getting from the first click, the journey, make it easy.
Always update. Check your competitors.
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Do you need new products in your store? Yes!
Jun 14th
Creating excitement in your store is very important. Mundane will drive customers away. So how do you do it? One way is with new products or a new product.
You want new customers. So first of all are you talking to new customers. You may have to go get them outside of your four walls. So, what do you say. Well having a new product to talk about is always a plus. Read below:
Talk to at least 5 new customers a week about your new product.
Get use to hearing the new saying or the ring in your ear by saying it over and over.
Give out samples. Take them with you and even in your store make sure all your customers receive a sample. Cheapest advertising you can do.
Hang a ceiling danglers. Not very expensive catches the eye and creates newness and excitement in your store. The dangler talks about the new product.
You might say I am not creative, you don’t have to be, take two products and make one package out of it. Say an entree and a dessert to take home.
If you are in the food business already have many recipes develop a cook book over time. Wow, in print a cookbook your customers can have in their homes seeing your name on it.
Just a few ways to create excitement and newness in your shop without a lot of expense. Very important to periodically have something new.
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Can I Compete Against the Big Boxes with a Small Store Front?
Jun 10th
Reason one of the biggest expenses for any business is the square footage they are leasing or paying.
Big Box stores have huge square footage overheads.
So with less square footage and using the internet for fulfillment your overhead will be significantly less. Keeping more of your revenue in your pocket and not the landlord.
The fulfillment center with a small store frontage will more than likely be the future.
This will allow many small businesses to spring out and compete straight up with the big boxes.
You may even be a great attraction for some of these strip centers needing new and different small businesses.
Yes the small business can compete with the big box because they have less square footage overhead with using the internet and fulfillment center off main street.
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Good Service Is Not Good Enough
Jun 6th
What? Isn’t good service enough. Article written by Karen Stoeckley in ‘The Independent Restaurateur’ wrote about customers are not getting great service so they expect just good service. So to increase your business you have to give great service, using the ‘Wow’ factor as a response. The best way to increase customers to your business is by word of mouth. giving them good service a customer normally won’t even mention your business. However, if they receive great service they will tell neighbors, friends, family and business associates. Great service doesn’t cost you anything but your time.You have to continually train, train, train. Handling repeat customers a little different than new customers. Remembering their name, drinks, and seating preference are three ways to make them feel important. They will come back and increase the tips for that wait staff. Listen you will enjoy.
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Building a Customer Database for your business
May 27th
Building a Customer Database for your business
Article in Independent Restaurateur magazine by Michael Attias discusses the importance of building a customer base and keeping it current.
The article said a sale feeds you today, but a good customer feeds you and your staff for a life time.
Have to give good service, have a clean store, and good product.
So how do you bring in new customers.
1 – Birthday Club
2 – New resident mailing list of new folks moving into your community
3 – Newsletter to new customers with a coupon not to often but at least once a month
4 – Make sure you get the customers name, address, fone number, and e-mail address.
5 – Follow up with a thank you when you receive a card
6 – People are creators of habit and want to come back to the same service station, super market, drug store, and of course now your store
7 – remember the most important date in a year for a customer is their birthdate, don’t forget it
8 – Be persistent and consistent in building your customer database
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Using your Website as a Marketing Tool
May 6th
Most websites are for informational purposes only.
How do you convert more website traffic coming to your website into customers.
Basic SEO
Directory Submissions
Content Creation
Social Media
Paid Search – ad words
Email marketing – newsletters
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Building America with small businesses and lower taxes
Apr 27th
Why is North Dakota Booming – article in the Wall Street Journal by Joel Kotkin
North Dakota is a farming community. But they didn’t stop there they went after high tech, oil drillers, and other businesses. How did they do it lower taxes, right to work state. There unemployment is at 3.8%.
How: vote in politicians that
Want lower taxes
Pro small businesses, small businesses hire over 50% of all employees. Small business can solve the unemployment problem in America.
Want term limitations on congress. 12 years maximum. 2 terms in the Senate and 6 terms in Congress.
Have the guts to cut programs.
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Becoming a Business Owner
Apr 22nd
It can be risky but also very worthwhile.
Must be motivated.
Passion will carry you through the tough times.
Multitasker, you are not just a marketer or operations manager you are all of the business.
Most of your time at first will be dedicated to marketing.
You have to sell your product.
Devote long hours.
Loneliness can set in.
No benefits.
No steady paycheck.
However, most entrepreneurs are not willing to give up. Once they have tasted having control over their lives – they almost never go back to working for someone.
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Branding on a dime or without spending a fortune.
Apr 14th
Branding is so important in helping you position your product or service. Only you know your brand and what it should say to the public. Take time to do the following:
Do your homework – know your product, your competition, and industry.
Use web tools such as, Facebook and Linkedin. Many others know how to use them properly.
Develop three lists of work to be done. Most important to least and work the most important first.
Building customers know your customers interests besides business. Newsletters on what you are doing.
Co-brand great way to build lists of customers without any cost.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate especially if you have to hire some of your branding work. Try the barter system or give a % of your increase in sales.
Bottom line be creative and informed. Know your brand, it’s strengths, it’s weaknesses, your strategy, and it will take you a long way without a lot of expense.
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