Kutztown University SBDC Blog

Social media security

2012-03-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Social media is open to the full power of the internet. This is not something that is under the control of one individual or group. It can move and flow in many different directions. Sometimes not in the way that it was intended. There are entire pages dedicated to how images, words and video online can go in a direction that no one ever anticipated.

Unfortunately, some people work to take control of content. This is not as blatant as hacking a website so that they have full control of everything, this is creating comments which lead to undesirable sites. The last thing you want a link on your blog to link to is a con. Most of the time, if you choose to moderate comments you can get ahead of these problems. This blog itself is comment moderated to make sure that even responses which are positive are not there to promote another site with questionable content. It is impossible to be prepared for everything that could happen, but being more informed can help.

Read the entire article, Social Media Con Artists a Rising Problem at Entrepreneur.com.

Ideas for your business

2012-03-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

A venn diagram

Typically when you come up with an idea it comes to you in a flash. The light goes on, the sum adds up, lighting crashes and you have it. When you are trying to come up with new ideas for a business, you do not have the time to wait for your inspiration. You have to take steps to come to it, it will not come to you.

To assist in this process, Alex Bruton of the Mount Royal University has created an 'idea sketch pad' to help his students, and everyone else, start to formulate ideas for business. This is the preliminary thinking that is helpful for later writing a business plan.

The toolkit uses venn diagrams (see post picture) and honest self-assessments to see how small ideas can lead to bigger ones. This could be helpful to start a business or re-imagine your business into something new. Take a look at it to see how working through your ideas can lead to more ideas.

Bruton has all of his tools free on his website.

Deep Breath

2012-03-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Think of how much easier it will be for you to get a loan than him.

There could be a app for that

2012-03-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Smartphones have proliferated everywhere. The rallying call of: "There's an app for that." has led developers to create apps that are useful for everyday life to apps that just waste time. Finding ones that work for small business is hard sometimes, as the lines between what is work and what is for fun sometimes run together.

This is where AppDirect has chosen to try to help out. One of the problems with having so many apps is that there may only be a few on your phone which really do what you need them to. AppDirect is working towards being the site where small businesses can come get apps that are relevant towards them. Better timekeeping, scheduling, payroll, customer databases, all of these are possible. While not only providing a place to get new apps, they are working towards developing their own.

Need to contact suppliers and schedule a meeting? Well, there could be an app for that.

Click here to read the full article from FoxBusiness.com.

From Mashable, 5 apps for small business.

Pinterest-ing

2012-02-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Last week, we posted a question of 'What social media outlet would you like to know more about?' on Facebook. After tallying the results, users wanted to know more about Pinterest. So here is a basic idea of what you can expect from using the site. Be sure to Like us on Facebook to get involved in the next Direct the Discussion.

Pinterest is a social media site designed to use images from around the internet to fill out a user's 'pinboard'. There is really no limit on what kinds of images appear on the site. There are stock photos, candid shots but most of all there are images of a home or household nature.

I am going to describe some of what I saw on the site on first arrival. There are pictures of flower-decorated cupcakes; a few images describing how to make doily lamps; craft supplies; new storage options for appliances; window decorations; kittens basking in the sun; this is why I used the term 'home or household nature' previously.

At this time, there is no way to create an account by simply going to the site, so it differs from other social media. An article from Inc.com says that the site targets the female demographic. From examining the images which come up when you visit the site, I can see the pattern. Many of the images are simple in nature. That does not mean that they are lacking composition. Most of the images are of a single item. Since sites have been using Pinterest as a virtual catalog, you would not want to have several things in an image that could confuse someone looking at it. The last thing that you would want to have happen is someone looks at it and thinks that the wrong prop in a photo is not for sale.

When visiting the site, there are options to
look for different themes and ideas.
You can search for them, but if you want
people to find items easily, you put it
in a place they would expect to find it.

Many of the images look as though they are from a household magazine, i.e. Better Homes and Gardens, Good Housekeeping and the like. This is how the site is being used. Flash and flair. These images are designed to catch the eyes. Colorful images, things that could be considered cute, it has to have an attraction. The same Inc.com article suggests that images should be simple. There is not really any space to put a full description, so you would want another user to click to be sent back to your site rather than commenting and moving on. This could simply be for the opening page, there seems to be a few images involving Star Wars just on the homepage, but the site puts its target directly out front.

This is the same way that a site could be targeted at men. When designing a sports website, many use the model of 're-live the glory' (if you type those words into Google, you get 3 million hits on those words alone). Items on the sports site are typically, alcohol, outdoors, attractive women. The site plays off of those major interests to make sales and attract new business. Pinterest does the same thing, with very little cost to them.

Uploading to Pinterest

Users have to post or link new images on their own and other users comment or re-post and it expands outward in the usual way. The more friends or users they are watching the more they will see. An article on Dynamicbusiness.com says that this can be the dangerous part about selling items and having them on Pinterest. Users are there to say that they like things and share them. The community is interested in creative and interesting images, not a catalog price that says that their dreams of owning a particular item will only come to fruition with $5,000 or a magic lamp.

A very useful blog article by Asif Iqbal on SearchEnabler.com goes into the specifics of working on Pinterest. As with many sites, the business application of social media is not to be blunt. When people go to a site like Amazon.com, they go to buy or browse things to buy, when people go to Pinterest they go to comment and send to their friends.

This site could be useful to a small business, if it fits your demographic and arranged in the right fashion. For example, a business of plumbers that works mostly on houses probably would not get many people interested on Pinterest with pictures of ripped-up walls to show how they install the pipes. Instead, the company could focus on the finished bathroom or kitchen, a design team or on particular features that the company focuses on. If they are the leading installer of specialty tubs, then they probably should be posting images of people using them, relaxing in them and enjoying them. It is all about the presentation, then you lead them back to where they can get it.

The button.

Also, an article on USAToday.com recommends that sites that are trying to get people to buy and are interested in using Pinterest, should add the Pinterest button to their sites and even their emails. The 'Pin it' button will allow people who visit their websites to post images on their own. For some of the technical aspects to getting a 'Pin it' or 'Repin' buttons to websites and blogs, take a look at an article from TheBlogStylist.com.

This is a catalog or showcase of items and products; you can show future clients what your business can do for them.

For additional information, please follow the links throughout the posting, as well as an eBook from Hubspot.com.

New Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Panama and Columbia

2012-02-28T13:41:00.000-05:00

The US-South Korean Trade Agreement

This is the first of three articles on how these new free trade agreements can benefit Pennsylvania companies. On March 15, 2012, the new US–Korea free trade agreement becomes effective.

Of particular interest to Pennsylvania manufacturers are the agreements regarding computers and electronic products, primary metals and agriculture. Manufacturing exports will benefit by eliminating non-tariff barriers, such as discriminatory standards, technical regulations and addressing the enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). Such industrial sectors like automotive manufacturing; consumer goods; electrical/electronic goods; metals; shipping and transportation equipment; will gain duty-free access to the Korean market within 3 years.

In addition, U.S. manufacturing firms will receive access to the Korean government procurement market, which makes KORUS FTA more appealing for small businesses.

According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S.-Korea trade agreement is expected to expand U.S. exports of grain, oilseeds, fibers, fruits, vegetables, and livestock products. Previously, beef and produce exports were subject to both high tariffs and onerous inspection procedures. Under the new agreement these products should be easier to export. The tariffs on US beef will be phased out over the next 15 years. For pork products, Korea’s most consumed meat, 30% duties will be eliminated by 2014.

The free trade agreement significantly opens up opportunities for increased services exports by establishing greater transparency involving Korea’s regulatory processes and enabling financial firms to establish branches, offer electronic commerce and legal services.

For more information, please visit the US Government Trade site.

Click here to watch a video from U.S. Representative Glenn Thompson,on the benefits of 3 new agreements for Pennsylvania on C-Span.

For PA agriculture benefits & contact details for agriculture products related questions view this PDF.

To read more state-by-state information and industries overview visit the Korea-U.S. Trade Partnership website.

Also, for additional small business information visit the Office of the United States Trade Representative on KORUS.

The 5 letter word that no one wants to hear: Taxes

2012-02-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

While having to work to keep a business afloat can be taxing in many other ways, there is always the expectation that eventually it will become easier to handle. Having to pay for the privilege of running a business may never become that way.

Learning to deal with it and live with the idea that some of the money which you work so hard to get is going to be leaving just after it came in the door is heartbreaking, but it should not be the final breaking point of your business. Working to make a plan to pay taxes, be it property, sales or payroll taxes can be hard to do on your own. This is where it can be important to hire in additional help. There are qualities or specialties which you do not possess and hiring another person to take care of them means that you have more time to run your business, instead of trying to hold up the back end.

Read this article from the New York Times, about how important it is to plan for taxes. They've come before, they will come soon, and they will come again. It is better to be prepared than not.

Deep breath

2012-02-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

Let it not be said that we take ourselves too seriously. The entire point behind having a small business is to do something which you feel worthwhile doing. It can be hard, but ultimately we hope that it will be rewarding.

What's in a name?

2012-02-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

Having a name for your business can direct a lot of attention either favorably or not. You have to be sure that the name that you give your future venture is something that people can remember, relate to and even spell!

Taking the time to pick a name may involve more than your surname and 's before what you do. It has to be a unique name which stands out to allow people to drive by a sign, see it online and have some sense of the professional nature that you bring to your business.

Taking time to imagine how the name will be used may affect what it turns out to be. If you get it on a business card, a bag, even a coffee cup, will a 15 word name fit? If you choose a name that is clever pun or inside joke, will people get it or will they ignore it because it does not make sense to them?

Consider all of these possibilities and for additional help check out this article on Entrepreneur.com.

SBDC Graduate Assistant Profiled on Kutztown University Website

2012-02-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

The Kutztown Small Business Development Center is supported in part by the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Many of the staff who put in hours to help small business owners with their plans for the future are drawn from the students at the University. In addition to taking graduate or undergraduate classes, each works in the office to expand not only their knowledge and experience but to help local business thrive.

We are proud to have one of our graduate assistants, James Rodriguez, be chosen as a student profile on the Kutztown University homepage. James has worked at the SBDC since August 2011, primarily at the Reading office of the KU SBDC, helping clients in not only English but Spanish as well.

Scott Schaeffer, James' supervisor had this to say about his work at the Reading office of the SBDC, "James is a huge asset to the Jump Start Incubator and KU SBDC. He shows great initiative and is very proactive when working on projects. ...If I give him an overview of a project's main objectives, he will formulate a plan to achieve the desired results. In my opinion, this is a sign of leadership which will serve him and any organization he is affiliated with well into the future."

To see James' profile click here and to view the other showcased students at Kutztown University visit the KU hompage here.

Don't forget the website

2012-02-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

Usually you can think of social media as a wave. The constant ebb and flow of information and to get more out of it than you put in, it is almost like being at the crest of a wave. More often than not, that wave comes crashing down and you have to start all over again. It is just the way social media moves as new information replaces the old online and interests change.

All of that means that you need something to fall back onto. An online presence that may not be set in stone but at the very least should be a bit stronger and able to stand on its own. That is what a webpage is. It may not need to be updated every week, watched throughout the day, usually you build it with information that does not change and a couple well-placed features that update automatically (a Twitter feed, Facebook likes and current 'likers', etc.).

That does not mean that it has to be boring. You still want to interest as many people as possible, and then send them out to show them what is current and up-to-date with you business.

Take a look at the full article: Four low cost ways to turbo charge your website.

Obama’s newest cabinet member visits local business

2012-02-20T09:52:00.002-05:00

Karen Mills, administrator of the Small Business Association recently toured a local business to promote the Small Business Association’s 504 lending program on January 25, the day after President Obama’s State of the Union speech.

According to Mills’ personal blog post, Always Bagels, located in Lebanon, Pa., has been in business for 20 years and now produces 400,000 bagels a day. Mills was able to tour the manufacturing facilities that allow Always Bagels to produce 5% of the bagels sold in the Pa. market.

The company took advantage of the 504 lending program to expand and build a second plant. An article from the Lebanon Daily News reports that Always Bagels now employs nearly 100 people.

Lebanon Daily News also reported that company president Tony Pariti said that SBA was “instrumental in bringing the plant to Lebanon Country.” Lending has allowed the company, originally started in Port Jefferson, N.Y., to expand into Lebanon. With continued success Always Bagels has possible plans to expand further into nearby Norfolk.

On her blog post Mills spoke of Obama’s State of the Union speech, saying that his proposed tools to help small business grow and prosper will help rebuild the economy.

“Always Bagels is exactly the kind of manufacturing facility President Obama was talking about in his State of the Union,” Mills said in her blog post.

The director of the Kutztown Small Business Development Center Ernie Post and Andrea Lewis, also of the Kutztown SBDC, accompanied Administrator Mills on her tour of Always Bagels at the invitation of District Director Dave Dickson.

Read the entire article from the Lebanon Daily News here.

Read Karen Mills’ blog posting about her visit to Always Bagels here.

Jamie Pariti of Always Bagels, plant manager and son of the company’s founder,

explains product production to SBA Administrator Karen Mills.

Up for all to see, Pinterest

2012-02-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

Days ago, you would pick a picture from a magazine and rip it out and stick it to your wall. That is essentially what Pinterest has taken up online. Each person has an electronic 'board' which they can pin things to. Boards are mostly images linked back to their sources and to others to like it, to allow friends to login and comment.

Businesses can take it further. A virtual catalog of the products that your business sells, displayed so people can take one and run with it.

Check out this article:

How Pinterest is becoming the next big thing in social media for business

New cabinet member Karen Mills speaks on radio

2012-02-15T10:08:00.002-05:00

On January 13, Karen Mills, the 23rd administrator of the Small Business Association (SBA) was given a seat in President Obama's cabinet. This is the first time that the SBA has had a direct line of communication with the president of the United States.

Aside from her new duties, Mills has taken the time to speak on WNYC radio on February 9 as a guest on the Brian Lehrer Show to talk about future opportunities for small business.

“Small business really is the backbone of the economy, half of the people who work in this country either work or own a small business and 2 out of every 3 jobs are created.” Mills said in response to a question from the radio host asking what the responsibility of the government is to small business.

Mill continued, “In the role of government our job is to put the wind at the back of small businesses, [the] government doesn’t make the jobs, the small businesses do…”

After speaking with the host, Mills responded to several call-ins to the show from listeners and their particular concerns about small business. Mills urged anyone looking to start a small business to contact their local SBA for assistance.

When asked about her posting to the cabinet Mills responded, “…President Obama understands small business…it is one of the reasons we at the SBA have been able to be so effective putting help in the hands of small business. It is a great honor.”

Click here to listen to the interview with Karen Mills on the Brian Lehrer Show.

For more information about Karen Mills click here to visit the SBA website.

Tweeting - Hashtag style

2012-02-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

Random tweets appear from nearly every user. Retweets, links, pics, comments, everything flies across Twitter. Getting people to see what you are trying to say and making a way to keep track of it is the problem when making it part of a social media plan.

Using a hashtag to create a trackable, noticeable way to create tweets has its advantages and disadvantages. Hijacking, choosing the wrong term and learning to watch what is happening to your hashtag can help to make a marketing campaign work better when using Twitter.

Read the article, Hashtag Marketing: 9 Ways to Avert Disaster.

Spreadsheets

2012-02-13T09:00:00.005-05:00

Having a financial forecast is one of the steps in running a small business. Conveying that information takes time. Personal shorthand and quotes kept in your head do not always translate to another person. To get around this, using a spreadsheet program to display information is helpful to communicate with other people. Especially investors.

You want to have a document which displays the information which you have compiled in a simple, positive light. If it is confusing to follow or has gaps in details, it is more likely they will take their money elsewhere. By taking the time to learn a spreadsheet program, you can display financial information in a simple straightforward way or choose to add some flair in colorful charts and graphs.

Getting an investor interested does not have to be limited to just what you are selling, you are selling yourself as well.

Read more on using a spreadsheet like Excel to display information at: How to Create an Enchanting Financial Forecast.

Juggling the finances, between business and personal

2012-02-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

Managing money can make or break a business. Money can make or break most things. You do not want your first step into the self-employed world to turn into a stumble.

There will be a point when you will have to decide what will be profit from your business and what will be for yourself. It is an inevitable decision, but there are ways to help plan out what to do.

Peter Sander, author of Ultimate Guide to Persona Finance for Entrepreneurs, describes in as a triangle. Business operation, business finances and personal finances, these three points of a triangle have to be managed to decide how to proceed.

Check out an excerpt from his book at Entrepreneur.com.

Incoterms - Understanding Trade Terms

2012-02-08T13:51:00.001-05:00

Whether you are quoting a prospect overseas or working with your freight forwarder, the International Commercial terms (Incoterms) are internationally standard. These terms are periodically updated abbreviations and are published by the International Chamber of Commerce based in Paris. The terms are to help global partners clarify the most commonly used transit terms in international trade.

For example, US companies in particular avoid using the term "FOB" since it has a different meaning than the Incoterms definition. Instead, companies should use "Ex-Works, (the location of your plant), state, USA". This will clearly indicate to your overseas customer that the quoted cost for the product at your plant warehouse and its US location.

For more information check:

Incoterms 2010

International Logistics

Social media wallflower

2012-02-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

Not everyone is comfortable networking with other people. It can be hard to work to cultivate an image, to connect with other people in a way that they will remember. In business, having connections to other businesses and to customers is essential to growth, but it does not mean that it is easy.

Fighting the urge to stay isolated when the opportunity to meet other people and gain a foothold on a new relationship is another milestone to be reached in any business. This can be hard for anyone to conquer, that does not mean the urge to avoid meeting new people will simply go away on its own.

Lisa Petrilli takes the time to explain her own feelings on meeting new people and how to alleviate some of the stress overcoming her own problems. Getting used to networking is not going to happen overnight, but the first step can be talking to others and relating the problem. No one is born to perfectly communicate with others, it is a skill to be learned like anything else.

Read the full article: An Introvert's Guide to Networking.

Anyone can make the wrong choice

2012-02-06T09:00:00.003-05:00

While small business does not have the support or the foothold of a larger company, it does not mean that there is any less of a chance that an action could be taken in the wrong direction. Social media will not replace every aspect of an advertising plan, but it still can be a part of it. If it is free, used by millions, so taking advantage of it to get a foothold can be a start to something larger.

P & G decided to not take advantage of social media options, like advertising on Facebook. This is after spending $10 billion on their annual advertising budget, up 24% in the past 2 years. This is on the heels of delaying the release of a new product, long enough that competitors have been able to create similar products.

Read the full article: P & G to lay off 1,600 after discovering it's free to advertise on Facebook.

Sales, not just a % off

2012-02-03T09:00:00.005-05:00

Selling products, services and support are the basics of an business. Directing time and energy to completing that goal can be hard if there is no clear direction to get there. To tackle this issue Howard Stevenson to lays out the basics of sales in several questions designed to help a business optimize how the sales strategy is used.

You know what you are selling, perhaps looking at how would be helpful.

Read the full article, 'To Sell More, Answer These Questions'.

Tips for the 'Tube

2012-02-01T09:00:00.003-05:00

Getting customers in the door, on your website or calling on the phone is what every business wants. Sometimes that is not possible with time constraints or when customers are just outside of driving distance. That does not mean that they cannot see what your business has to offer. There are plenty of websites that can help you show people what happens at your workplace or what you have to sell.

One of the ways is to use YouTube. Now, a customer can be shown how something works before they buy it, how you handle their product before they get it and most important of all, show viewers that they are doing business with someone who cares about their customers.

Top 10 YouTube Tips for Small Business has a few pointers for how to moderate and contribute with a sense of professionalism while making the most out of the medium.

You may not have your foot in their door, but you can have it in their computer.

Read the full article, Top 10 YouTube Tips for Small Business.

Small businesses should be more like whom?

2012-01-30T09:00:00.008-05:00

If there was ever going to be an example of what a small business should be more like, the Beatles probably would not appear on the list. While a band is not the same as running a small business, the effort to make it successful and well-known is the goal that they both strive for. By using the same tactics and outlook that made the Beatles succeed with a meteoric rise, a small business can set a foundation that a future can be built on.

The author, John Greathouse, speaks of several ways that improving how a business is built from the ground up can affect how it will eventually succeed. Greathouse says that first of all, a drive to succeed within realistic goals can allow for future exploration of what can be done with a business. Second, assembling a varied group of individuals to start from will allow the business to thrive, with everyone working on the same aspect in the same manner can be harmful. Greathouse continues with several other key points that could help a small business owner make a structured plan for the future, with the foundation to continue building success.

Note*

Screaming hordes of fans may or may not follow.

Read the full article, Be the Beatles, Not a Flock of Seagulls.

12 Tips to Selling to a Global Market

2012-01-27T06:50:00.001-05:00

Ever consider selling your product or service to an international market? Maybe you should. In fact, according to the Department of Commerce, only 27% of online shoppers speak English. Many of the viewers of this blog use Google Translate to read these articles, and we appreciate every visitor. Regardless, there is a lot of effort that has to go into global marketing, and if not done correctly, can be a collossal waste of time. Do your research! Is there a need for your product overseas? Have you done research on any competition? Do you know which markets are stable right now, thus making it easier to sell to that nation? Always plan ahead!

For all 12 tips on selling to a global market, click here: http://www.copyblogger.com/global-marketing/

26 Tips for Writing Great Blog Posts

2012-01-25T07:00:00.003-05:00

For whatever reason, Socialmediaexaminer.com really loves the number 26 for the tips with social media. We at the SBDC do as well, as it brings many insights forth that we didn't think of, and as we are constantly seeking to improving, implement a lot of these blog strategies into our own blog posts. The article lists simple things, such as having an eye-catching title, watching word count, supplying an image, and tagging your posts with keywords. Other creative tips include having a 'Editorial Calendar' to track the posts you are using as well as the keywords, providing your name and role at the institution within the post, and including outbound hyperlinks. All of these have shown better overall metrics for your blog. Start by trying to implement 2 or 3 of these tips, and go from there. Happy blogging!

For all 26 tips for writing great blog posts, click here: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/26-tips-for-writing-great-blog-posts/#more-13667

Why SOPA is bad for small business?

2012-01-23T17:21:00.002-05:00

If you tried to go on wikipedia.org a few days ago, you probably saw a home page that asked you for an e-mail address, protesting SOPA, or the Stop Online Piracy Act. SOPA would make it impossible to advertise or conduct business with any website that infringes on the bill’s guidelines. Additionally, SOPA could make it possible to ban internet service providers from hosting websites that do not comply. Why is this bad for small business? Quite simply, the internet has been a great equlizer for small business. Small startups can compete with big players on the internet. However, With such strict guidelines and harsh penalties, creativity would be stifled. Individuals may start to fear that any move they make on the internet may be infringing on someone else’s intellectual property, and therefore not participate.

To view the entire article from Forbes Magazine, click here:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/thesba/2012/01/23/sopa-is-bad-for-small-business/

EBook: Data Proves that Social Media Brings More Leads

2012-01-20T08:00:00.004-05:00

In the recent social media marketing industry report, many businesses were polled on the advantages that social media has had in their company's marketing plan. The top three reasons all had to do with engaging the customer: using social media to perform customer service and giving incentives to existing customers. Although 'Generating Leads' fell to the bottom of the list, it was still seen as an advantage at 43%. But if you are debating whether or not to use social media strictly to generate leads, there is still hope. This compact and quick e-book by hubspot polled 4,000 businesses and took the data from the traffic generated through social media. Some of the facts?

-People who blogged 16 to 20 times per month saw 3 times more leads than those who didn't blog.
-Businesses with 301-1,000 followers had 5 times more traffic with those with 1 to 25 followers.

-Businesses with 500-1,000 fans had 4 times more leads than those with 1 to 25 fans.

These facts enforce a growing opinion that these social media outlets can ultimately 'lead' to leads and have a positive ROI.

To view the entire report, download the free e-book here: http://www.hubspot.com/Portals/53/docs/ebooks/lead-generation-lessons-from-4000-businesses-final.pdf

4 Tips to Keep your Website Ahead of the Curve in 2012

2012-01-18T10:29:00.001-05:00

With tight budgets, small businesses are having to get more and more creative when handling their website design and interface. Company websites still remain one of the most important aspects of e-commerce. Even with a small budget, there are different and sometimes even free ways to create and innovate a website. This article offers some nice tips on how to get the most out of your website. Don't be afraid to be bold when creating your website, without a face to face meeting it is often the first impression that someone will have of your company. Be careful of where you put your social media widgets. You want people to follow or like your social media pages, but be careful about where these are listed on your homepage. Also note that when people go to your website through a search engine, they may not be led to your homepage. Type in different keywords with your company to see which of your pages comes up the most. Consider getting Google Analytics, a free web analytics tool, to help you gather these stats.

For the entire article on keeping your website up to date in 2012, click here:

http://mashable.com/2012/01/15/tips-and-trends-web-2012/

Start a Business for Under $500

2012-01-17T13:19:00.001-05:00

Starting a business, regardless of how small, is a great way to get your feet wet as an entrepreneur. Starting small scale will often mean a smaller loss if the business fails, but will stil provide you with the intricacies and issues that are apropo with starting a business. As this Fox Small Business article states, some small businesses can be started for less than $500. "The best way to start a business for less than $500 is to figure out how to get paid for what you love to do," says Clyde Anderson, a financial lifestyle coach and CNN contributor in Atlanta. From bakers to personal trainers, social media marketers to jewelry designers, this article lays out how you can turn your passion into profit, for little start-up cost at all.

To view the entire article, click here:

http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/starting-a-business/2012/01/16/start-business-for-under-500/

Kutztown SBDC recognized as 'Best Free Education'

2012-01-13T10:51:00.002-05:00

Harvard. Stanford. Carnegie Mellon. Kutztown? Lifehacker.com , a popular website with the mission of 'Tricks, tips and downloads for getting things done', created a blog post about the best free education available on the web. Amongst the MIT schools listed above, the Kutztown SBDC's free online learning has been recognized under this distinction. From 'Accounting 101' to 'Crafting a Business Strategy' to 'Choosing a Legal Structure', the Kutztown SBDC's free online learning offers tons of knowledge to help you start your business. To access the list of free courses, click here:
http://www.kutztownsbdc.org/course_listing.asp

To view Kutztown as well as the other sources of free education, click here:

http://lifehacker.com/5875092/plan-your-free-online-education-at-lifehacker-u-spring-semester-2012

30 Social Media Predictions for 2012 from the pros

2012-01-13T10:36:00.001-05:00

Social Media Examiner posts over 600 articles during the year, most of which are written by social media experts. Social Media Examiner decided to interview some of their main contributing experts and ask them what predictions they had for social media in 2012. The result gave a very helpful and interesting mix of advice. The old mantra of 'Be Everywhere' has been replaced with 'Be where it matters to your business'. Businesses will use social media as a strategic business driver. Others predict that advanced analytics will be out for social media this year in order to measure ROI. In short, there are a lot of exciting possibilities this year in social media. Trying to stay ahead of the social media curve is becoming increasingly difficult, but these experts try to prepare you for the next wave. If you are apprehensive about social media, or want some ideas on how to use social media this year, check this article out!

Click here:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/30-social-media-predictions-for-2012-from-the-pros/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Pinterest -- The Hottest New Social Media Network: What can it do to for your brand?

2012-01-11T10:27:00.001-05:00

No social media network has grown more in the past year than the social network Pinterest. In a nutshell Pinterest serves as a comprehensive wish list of sorts. Users (a.k.a. Pinners) post Pins to Boards that they organize by topic or theme. For instance, a user who is planning to remodel a house may Pin interior decorating ideas to a Design Board. Or a bride-to-be can post wedding dress inspirations to a Wedding Board. This has led to many businesses using the service to improve the brand on their products.

Read the first blog article here: http://mashable.com/2012/01/08/pinterest-13-tips-and-tricks-for-cutting-edge-users/ to understand all of the unique features that Pinterest has to offer.

Then click on this article: http://mashable.com/2012/01/10/pinterest-business-consumer-engagement/ to see how business owners are using Pinterest to run contests, increase customer engagement, and showcase new products.

D.C. Gridlock seen as a Big Threat to Small Business

2012-01-09T09:57:00.001-05:00

Staying current with business news, while sometimes an arduous task, is important when looking at the economic landscape. The political gridlock in DC is one of the main points of concern in small businesses. MSNNBC business asked small businesses about this indecision and how it affects their own decision-making. “Consumer confidence moves the economy,” a small auto-retailer said. “The biggest single thing they can do (in Washington) to boost the economy is to boost confidence. And to do that, consumers have to believe that there is leadership that can get their act together to make the spending cuts on stuff we don't need.” Other concerns include hiring talented people, and the inability to offer benefits to employees. The gridlock certainly isn't instilling confidence into small business owners, so many are cutting back.

To read more about the gridlock's effect on small business, click here:
http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/19/9563940-dc-gridlock-seen-as-big-threat-to-small-business

Be a Kick-Butt Entrepreneur

2012-01-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

Many of the world's most successful entrepreneurs have been kicked down a time or two. Many of them had already tried previous ventures, which lead to failure. But that didn't stop them from succeeding. As you'll read in this article of 7 successful entrepreneurs, that success doesn't always come easy. But inspiration has to come from somewhere. Whether its the death of a loved one, the loss of an arm or the birth of a child, these entrepreneurs found it within to turn what would normally be tragic scenarios into inspirational ones. The traits of an entrepreneurs are far and vast, but without a little bit of a perseverance, they wouldn't be where they are today.

To read the stories of 7 kick-butt entrepreneurs, click here.

Workplace Wonderland - An unconventional but effective office place

2012-01-04T10:16:00.001-05:00

Are you bored of your everyday cubicle, enclosed by four white walls, with the only human contact being your boss peeking his head in to make sure you are working on your reports? Most office places, due to budgetary constraints and functionality purposes, use a grid system with cubicles, or have secluded offices to maximize production. But as you'll see in today's blog article, Davis International, Inc does things quite a bit differently. They are a company that designs and creates kitchen gadgets, toys, and other consumer products. They wanted to create a workplace that fostered innovation and creativity, and as you'll see by their office spaces in this article, they are leading by example. Ever dream of working in a pirate ship?

Read on Entrepreneur.com.

How Restaurants are using Social Media to their Advantage

2012-01-03T11:33:00.001-05:00

It's no secret that one of the big changes for 2012 is the overall increase in social media for marketing. Here at the SBDC, we would love to know what you as small business owners and entrepreneurs what you would like to know about social media marketing in particular. Your input will help for us to research and post the most relevant and helpful articles for YOU.

Today's article focuses specifically on how different restaurants use social media to their advantage. As the article states, simply amassing likes on facebook and followers on twitter won't lead to any positive ROI. It's all about engaging the customers, and creating unique and creative ways to make a consumer a customer. While the old marketing mantra used to be, 'Convince and convert', social media has turned that into 'Converse and convert'. Read this article to see how businesses such as Hoolihans and Let's YO Yogurt have used social media as testimonials to their business and increase customer engagement.

For the full article, click here.

Happy New Year!!

2011-12-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to All!

8 Things a Person's Resume Won't Tell You

2011-12-28T07:11:00.016-05:00

Even with LinkedIn, resumes are still the industry standard to review a prospective employee's skills, experience, and educational background. However, there are plenty of intangibles that a piece of paper can't tell you about an employee. Traits such as work ethic, ambition, moral integrity, and charisma are all things that have to be determined through careful interviewing.

Based on what you are looking for in your employee, it is important to cater interview questions that cater to certain personality traits. If you are looking for an employee with charisma, have them answer a question about their relationships with employers at other jobs, such as a custodian or secretary. These things are important to determine, as a resume is only one small piece of the hiring process.

To view the entire article and infographic on the 8 traits that a resume can't illustrate, click here.

How do I fire an Employee?

2011-12-26T05:32:00.001-05:00

Whether there's a lack of production with your employee, they don't live up to your company's professional standard, or their negative energy is affecting the workplace, firing an employee is one of the most unpleasant aspects of being in charge of the company.

However, it is one of the functions of your small business that you may have to do during your career, and not firing an ineffective employee can be detrimental to the company and the employee itself. Fast Company has come out with a series '30 second MBA' videos that give opinions of high profile business people of how they go about firing an employee.

Watching these videos will give you ideas of what to say, how to say it, and when enough is enough.

To watch the video series, click here: http://www.30secondmba.com/question/youre-fired-part-3

27 Entrepreneurs Business Christmas Wishes

2011-12-23T06:39:00.001-05:00

Ever wonder what entrepreneurs, just like you, are wishing they had this Christmas? Now you can find out! In this blog article, 27 entrepreneurs were asked what the number one thing on their Christmas list was this year.

The results ranged everything from a new storefront, to more social media followers, to guidance to the path to success, to have publicity that leads to a vastly increased customer base. The key note to take from this is that all entrepreneurs have different areas of importance. Take this Christmas time to evaluate your own Christmas wish, and take this New Year to make that wish a reality!

To view the 27 Entrepreneur Christmas Wishes, click here.

Are you using Social Media to your advantage?

2011-12-21T04:00:00.001-05:00

In this interview with the social marketing director of Social5150.com, Kristen Wright explains some of the nagging questions with social media. Should your business be on Google+? What are small businesses doing wrong with social media? What are they doing that is right with their use of social media? Is there a best way to listen to your customer?

To find out a professional's opinion on some of these lingering social media questions, click here.

To download the Kutztown SBDC's FREE e-book, "Solving the Social Media Puzzle", click here.

International Marketing - Taking the Plunge

2011-12-20T12:24:00.002-05:00

International trade is a curious kaleidoscope of common sense, personal relationships and practical knowledge that is completely reasonable yet incredibly illogical at times. For example, try the following quiz:

1. Where would a Chinese buyer purchase mandarin oranges?

A. From a Chinese vendor in the market.

B. Anywhere but China due to quality and health concerns

C. The Chinese don’t buy mandarin oranges

D. In the US, despite the cost of transport and the product comes from China

2. Where would an exporter ship baking potatoes?

A. Nowhere, too bulky and perishable

B. Ship them by air to high cost markets, such as Japan or the Persian Gulf

C. Russia since they eat a lot of potatoes

D. Ship French fries instead, more value added

3. A buyer is Kazakhstan wants to buy a convection oven. It is made in the Netherlands. Where does he buy it?

A. In Iran, they must have one somewhere to buy or smuggle

B. Nowhere, use some old wood in a stove

C. Obviously in the Netherlands

D. In Pokomoke, Maryland—no particular reason

Are the answers obvious?

D—Products were packed in China, exported to the US, re-exported to China, about 75 miles from the manufacturing plant!
C—Actually shipped by air to Russia—a major potato producer!
D—The oven was imported into the US and re-exported to Kazakhstan via Rotterdam, Netherlands. The manufacturer claimed it was more cost effective than shipping it directly from the Netherlands to Kazakhstan.

The answers are real because each situation was real. I know, I was the exporter in each case! Each exporter has amusing and sometimes horror stories in trade, so why bother and how to start if you are interested?

Why Bother?

The true, classic response is that import and export activities can be and frequently are profitable. The profit motive is a legitimate and real incentive in our free market, entrepreneurial country to engage in trade. In addition to profitability, consider these reasons to engage in trade:

Increase sales by selling to a larger customer base (Everyone will remind you that 93% of the consumers are outside the US.)
Smooth seasonal sales
More stability and predictable earnings through domestic recessions (such as now!)
Prestige, bragging rights and the occasional trade show (a deductible overseas vacation— not really, not even close, but it sounds good.)
Quantity discounts in purchasing raw materials & inputs
Markets for discontinued and obsolete products—not really, overseas consumers want the same products that we do. Thank the internet for that!
Longer production runs, employing capital equipment and fixed costs over more units.

The above responses are real reasons to export and explore new markets. However, a salient reason rarely mentioned is that a careful foray overseas can help you defend your domestic market by understanding the competition overseas. In reality, a well researched overseas market or trade show can make you a better company even if you never export. Why? You may be exposed to superior packaging, design, marketing or pricing that is instructive to your future business sustainability. Certainly, your competitors scout and scour the US market for product ideas and any element which they learn here or sometimes copy gives them a competitive edge. US companies should have the same advantages and knowledge by exploring overseas markets.

Finally I will mention a word about imports, sort of the inverse of exporting though somewhat different. Traditionally, importing was thought to be almost unpatriotic. After all, we manufacture everything we need in the US. Why ship our dollars overseas? The truth is that the US does not and never did manufacture or produce everything that we need. In some areas, we are just not competitive and we need to import to offer our customers what they need or for components for products we are producing. If you do not import, your competitor will. While exporting adds more value to our economy than importing, importing has been and remains a critical element of our economy to offer customers what they want and to keep costs as low as possible.

How to Start

While there is no easy or one path to international trade, there are multiple entry points for successful, profitable and sustainable business. If you already export to another market or if you have overseas inquiries (even from the internet), you already have a head start. Expanding to a second overseas market or replying to a qualified inquiry indicates overseas interest and acceptance of your products or services. Local, Pennsylvania and US service providers have many programs, seminars and resources to help a company prepare for exporting.

Even a start up, a new entrepreneur, a laid-off executive, a graduating student can and routinely do enter some aspect of international trade and succeed. While it is relatively easy to set up a business and start an international business, here are a couple concepts to consider so that you can sustain the business and be profitable:

Self-assessment—honestly evaluate your skills, where you add value, your contacts and capital needed to launch and sustain a business. This applies to any business. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) is a more structured way to assess your potential.
Business Plan—at least create a marketing plan of how and to whom you will sell your goods or services along with a budget, timeframes, obstacles and some key objectives. This sounds like a daunting task and a time waster but the reality is that a plan is your key to success. Without a plan, even flawed, you are simply reacting and not leading the business. It’s hard work and an imperfect process but valuable. How many of us would plan a vacation without making plans? Is your company less valuable than a vacation?
Network—trade is an old fashion business, depending on personal relationships to succeed. You will likely need a freight forwarder, international lawyer and trade bank to help navigate the nuances and barriers in trade. Contact potential services providers early to learn of their talents, expertise and yes, costs. Consider also forming an informal board of advisors from people you respect for input on your concept, self assessment and business plan. Finally, private consultants and public sector service providers, such as the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center, World Trade Center of South-central Pennsylvania can assist companies in understanding and accessing Pennsylvania and US government export programs.
Test the Concept—Start small, test the relationship with a modest sale and low risk. Prior to the sale, understand the overseas customers’ needs, shipping costs, tariffs, labeling, standards, product modifications, any required translation and local pricing.

Trade may be viewed as an adventure, yet a market, customer or sale may not follow the expected sequence or timeframe, even with careful planning. Sounds a lot like life! However the adventure may prove profitable and enlightening. With some planning and luck, you may also make some unexpected new friends, part of life’s unplanned adventure. Where will your next sale be?

To Learn more about International Trade, visit the KU SBDC website - International Trade.

Are you ready for government contracting?

2011-12-19T10:13:00.001-05:00

Selling your small business's product/service to the government is another popular venue to increase capital. Although billions are awarded to small businesses every year, it is important to note that being awarded a contract is a long and arduous process, one that takes a lot of determination and patience.

However, once your foot is in the door of the government, making the following sales becomes easier. But before you go and try and put a bid out on a contract, there are many things you should consider as a company. In an American Express Open Forum interview with the Kutztown SBDC's Peter Hornberger, he highlights some of the main points in order to be prepared to submit a bid in government marketing.

To view the full interview with Mr. Hornberger, click here.

Small Businesses Weigh In: The Holiday Rush

2011-12-16T04:43:00.001-05:00

As we prepare for the home stretch before Christmas day, shoppers are getting their last minute shopping done. Stats have shown that while the average spent on gifts and merchandise is slightly down, there will still be a 2.8% sales growth overall in retail. So how have small businesses been preparing for the holiday rush. Ideas such as having holiday promotions and holiday-themed packages are common during this time of year.

Also, e-commerce is becoming very popular in buying during the holiday season. Consider putting your products available for purchase online, but be prepared to charge an appropriate amount for shipping too! Also, if your small business does not offer gift cards, now would be the time to! Many times people give gifts cards if they are uncertain of a particular thing they want to buy someone.

Read the following article on how different small businesses have prepared for the holiday rush and ideas they have had to make an extra sale...and feel free to comment with some of your own suggestions!

To read the whole article, click here.

Small Business Holiday Wish List: 11 Things

2011-12-14T10:30:00.001-05:00

Tis' the season! There are many things that we wish our small businesses had: a better website, more customers, better facilities. But when it comes to better marketing, there are many things on the wish list that can obtained without spending a penny.

Things such as creating a wiki for your small business, creating an SEO strategy for your web page, and starting a blog are all marketing efforts that can be obtained with a little extra push. This article highlights 11 things that small businesses have on their wish lists, and why they can be 'must-haves' for you business. Shop small this holiday season!

For the entire article on small business holiday wish lists, click here.

'Occupy' movement: Small Business Community Divided

2011-12-12T13:55:00.001-05:00

The news has been littered with scenes of 'Occupy' movements across the country, with people from 400 cities nationwide protesting against the concentration of power among big companies in general and big banks in particular. From our standpoint, we are simply providing some of the opinions of small business owners out there. In a survey of 212 small businesses, the divide was nearly 50/50 for support and opposition.

Those who oppose it think it is an ineffective way that the protestors are trying to make their stance. Those in support of the movement agree in the fact that the bailout of big banks has not helped small business. Whether or not you agree with the movement is a personal opinion but it never hurts to be familiar with the economic and social landscape.

For the full article on the Occupy movement and Small Business Opinion, click here.

Gratitude as a Business Strategy

2011-12-09T11:16:00.001-05:00

It's the holiday season! A time for giving, for sharing, and hopefully a time where business is on the up for most companies. But did you ever wonder how simple courteousy and gratitude could help improve your business? It is easy to complain. It is easy to see something that is wrong in a plethora of things that are right.

And while it is important to address something negative, it is also helpful to focus on the positive. Something that this blogger for Fast Company calls the "Gratitude to Criticism" ratio. And by gratitude, they don't mean "To thank you for your patronage, we're giving you 10% off all XXXL purple dress shirts from now until we make our sales quota." Gratitude isn't always about making a sale. It's about the respectful acknowledgement of another human being. It should be something that is commonplace in small businesses, but that is not always the case. The shouldn't be much consideration of whether or not gratitude should be a business strategy; it should be part of human life.

To read the entire article on gratitude as a business strategy, click here.

KU Business Plan Competition

2011-12-07T10:35:00.001-05:00

Justin McCurdy, a graduate assistant at the Kuztown SBDC, played a key role in organizing the Kutztown University Business Plan competition. 11 teams pitched their ideas to a team of judges, with the winning team receiving $500.00. To learn about the competition, watch this video!

SBA Smart Phone App

2011-12-07T10:18:00.003-05:00

Are you a tech-saavy business owner looking for more resources at your fingertips? Download the SBA app on your smart phone today. The description from the SBA says:

“The mobile app will help users connect with SBA district office staff and SBA-affiliated counselors and mentors who can provide free, personalized small business assistance. The user-friendly format of the app will help answer questions such as: How do I start a business? Where can I go in my area to get free help with writing a business plan? And where do I begin finding funding for my business?

The SBA mobile app also features a built-in startup cost calculator to help estimate the costs associated with getting a business off the ground, plus an SBA partner locator to help users find SBA offices, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and SCORE.”

If this free app sounds like something your business could benefit from, download the app here!

To read the press release, click here

Video: Where do entrepreneurs get their money?

2011-12-05T08:56:00.002-05:00

In the third installation of the entrepreneurial videos of the Kauffman series, they explore where, statistically speaking, entrepreneurial start-ups get their money. To learn where over half of young companies get start-up money, where bank loans are on the ranking, and why venture capitalists are risky business, watch the entertaining yet informative video below.

Here's how people look at your Facebook Profile - Literally

2011-12-02T08:41:00.004-05:00

As small businesses, when we are creating a Facebook profile we want the consumer to see enough to where they either like the page, or stay on the page long enough to review the vital information. But we all probably question what the most important part of the page is...where do people look?

Well, thanks to a company known as EyeTrackShop, we are now able to see quite literally where people look on our social network pages. EyeTrackShop ran an eye tracking program that tracked eye movements of 30 different people during their first ten seconds upon seeing a social network page. The areas that are the reddest are the areas that garnered the most attention. So you want to make a good first impression to a new viewer of your page?

Make sure the first viewed areas (such as profile picture, content on top) are eye-catching, informative, and flawless!

To see where the consumer's eye goes on your Facebook page, click here.

Niche Social Networks Deliver Big Results for Brands

2011-11-30T10:16:00.001-05:00

Facebook. LinkedIn. Blogs. Twitter. We've certainly heard of most or all of those social networks, because quite simply, they are by far the most popular numerically speaking.

However, as with any type of marketing, social media marketing is not always measured by the number of connections, but rather the quality of the connections. Are any of the leads generating business for your company? You can have 3,000 followers on Twitter, but if you are a sandwich shop in Pennsylvania, how much good does having 50 followers in California do you?

The point is, there are plenty of lesser-known, niche social media networks. These niche communities could be just what your small business needs to generate 'quality over quantity' relationships. Keep in mind, people in these networks don't respond well to advertising messages. Rather, you should get to know the culture of the niche network and use it to leverage your brand.

For examples of these niche social networks, and how they can be used to brand your product, click here.

When Your Business Can't Repay a Bank Loan

2011-11-28T10:35:00.001-05:00

In a down economy, worrying about repaying your bank loans is one of the primary concerns of a small business owner. Sometimes, no matter the resilience and passion of an entrepreneur, the incoming capital is just not enough to satisfy the cost of running a business. But what do you do if you can't pay back a bank loan?

Many small business owners are embarrassed or disappointed that their business failed, and shut off communication with their bank. This is the worst thing you can do! Banks have difficulties in recessions just like small businesses do, so it is important that you keep them up-to-date to minimize their losses and maximize what you get for every dollar as a small business.

For the entire article on not being able to repay a bank loan, click here.

Today is Small Business Saturday!

2011-11-26T13:43:00.001-05:00

If you survived the Black Friday rush at the large retail and electronics stores, you've realized how much our nation is consumed by materialism. With Wal-Mart doing promotions such as matching ANY competitor's price, it's becoming more and more difficult for small businesses to compete.

However, it is these small businesses that are the key to getting our country's economy out of its current recession. Since last year on the day after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday is promoted in order for people to shop SMALL. In fact, 89 million people plan to shop small this Saturday. Make sure you are one of them!

For an article on Small Business Saturday, click here.

10 things small businesses can be thankful for!

2011-11-23T10:12:00.001-05:00

On the day before Thanksgiving, we at the SBDC suggest that you reflect on your small business and think about the things that you are thankful for in the business world. Perhaps you are simply thankful for the skill of entrepreneurship, a skill that requires you to constantly think on your feet and be innovative with your problem solving.

Maybe you are thankful for the loyal customer, the person that despite tough economic times, has continued to go to your small business over the large corporation for your product. This article gives you ten more things to be thankful for, whether it's the way social media is greatly decreasing the cost of marketing, or the fact that while the economy is down, the pool to hire people from is much stronger.

Take a look at these ten things, and see that even in the worst of business times, there is always something to appreciate!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

For the entire article, click here.

2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report

2011-11-21T12:02:00.001-05:00

For the past three years, the founder of socialmediaexaminer.com has conducted a social media marketing survey to receive data on what social media marketers are using, what they have questions about, what the benefits of social media are, and how much they use social media for their business.

This year, he surveyed 3,300 social media marketers to compile the data. Did you know that 80% of marketers that have had a social media presence for the past three years have seen an increase in leads generated? And that 88% of all businesses claim that social media has generated exposure for their business?

If you want to see everything with the who, why, and how of social media marketing, we recommend you read this report, filled with easy-to-read graphs, the top ten questions about social media, and helpful demographic data at Socialmediaexaminer.com

12 Marketing Predictions for 2012

2011-11-18T09:41:00.001-05:00

Want to stay ahead of the game with your company's marketing strategy? As entrepreneurs, we have to be actively looking ahead at new techniques and how the American consumer is changing in their buying ways. In the following article, we gaze into that crystal ball and make 12 predictions of how marketing will change over the next year.

With no surpise, a larger involvement in social media are a few of the primary predictions. The idea of social media widespread becoming a larger part of the advertising mix, organic search traffic, and ROI are all highlights, in addition to more location-based marketing and using the employee and customer to help with marketing. (again, back to social media) These are all predictions, so some of them may not reign true, but it's never too late to start planning ahead!

For the entire article on the 12 marketing predictions for 2012, click here.

How to Stage a Small Business Comeback

2011-11-16T10:27:00.002-05:00

In tough times like these, it is not uncommon for small business sales to be down while cash flow problems going up. However, rather than panicking and shooting from the hip, it is recommended that small business owners still try to think strategically.

Whether it's reaching out to your most frequent and loyal customers for support, or consider temporarily cutting costs while rising prices, or trying something new to stand out better in the crowd (ex. social media), there are ways to help your business make a comeback, especially in time for the holiday season!

To read the full article go to Entrepreneur.com.

20 Graduate from KU SBDC "Business Skills for Success" program!

2011-11-15T16:17:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to the 20 entrepreneurs who graduated from the "Business Skills for Success" program hosted by the Kutztown SBDC Latino Business Resource Center. We wish them all the best and that their dedication to the program results in business success in the future!

Visit the SBDC Latino Business Resource Center here.

Visit the Kutztown University SBDC webpage here.

26 Promising Social Media Stats for Small Businesses

2011-11-15T11:38:00.002-05:00

Sometimes, the numbers do tell all. As a small business owner, it is helpful to see statistics that back up a popular belief that social media is the fastest growing marketing strategy in our economy today. Luckily for us, Socialmediaexaminer.com compiled a list of 26 of these statistics; statistics that you can show any skeptic who may be resilient to change.

Did you know that 80% of Americans use a social network? How about that 98% of 18-24 year olds access Facebook monthly? The thing to take away from these stats? The market is out there, you just have to access it!

For all of the 26 social media stats, click here.

Nearly Half of Small Businesses use Social Media for Marketing

2011-11-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

At the Kutztown SBDC, we like to keep our data as updated as possible, so when we found the results of this very recent survey, we wanted to inform the small business community of the quickly growing trend of social media marketing.

Sure, we can give timely articles about helping a small business's social media presence and give ideas on how to improve, but it is the raw data about business trends that really exemplifies the growth in this sector. And to see the growth from 33% to 46% in the use of social media in marketing in a year...that's saying something!

Be sure to download the SMB survey results, as it graphs which social media outlets are most popular, as well as what functions of those different media sites are most popular. (Messages, status updates, photos, etc.)

To view the results of this survey of 1180 small businesses, click here .

InBound Marketing vs. OutBound Marketing

2011-11-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

The times, they are a-changing! Inbound marketing is becoming the preferred way to reach the customer. What is inbound marketing? It's a marketing strategy of getting found by customers. Rather than the 'beg' 'bug' and 'buy' strategy implemented by outbound marketing where materials are pushed on customers, marketers 'earn' their way into customers by providing information on a blog, special deals on twitter, etc.

With inbound marketing, communication is interactive and two-way. Customers come to you, and you seek to educate and entertain. Outbound marketing (which is also now much more expensive, as the infographic will show) often has communication as one-way, and customers are sought out via print, tv, or email ads. As the infographic will show, 61% of marketers will spend more on inbound marketing this year, all the while, it will cost 62% LESS than outbound marketing.

This change is simply something to consider as a small business. Outbound marketing still may be the most effective marketing technique for your company, but it never hurts to be aware of the other options.

Click here to view the infographic to get a better idea of the difference between the two marketing strategies and which one could most help your small business.

5 Cool Twitter Marketing Stories

2011-11-07T07:00:00.004-05:00

Want to know how to use Twitter in a creative, buzz-worthy way? Look no further than these five success stories. From fashion to fish, athletes to bookstores, it doesn't seem to matter what the industry is...thinking outside of the box with Twitter can truly help and gain huge amounts of exposure for business.

Read and learn from these peoples strategies. Make your followers feel like VIPs, get creative with giveaways, have the INCENTIVE for people to follow you. Make something that people will want to re-tweet. Watch the video below, it's amazing what Twitter can do:

Let these stories INSPIRE you! For the other success stories on Facebook marketing, click here.

Nine Reasons Your Site isn't Driving Sales

2011-11-04T11:19:00.002-04:00

Have you found that over the course of time that your company's website sales are either plateauing or declining? This happens to a lot of small business websites, but many times this trend can be reversed. This article points out some of the common mispractices of having a business website.

These include "Not having updated your website since the Bush era (even if it's the second term)", "Putting creativity before clarity", and "Failing to capilitalize on Search Engine Optimization". Often times, as a consumer, I am turned off by a website that is littered with technical jargon and essentially comes off as an in-house sales pitch.

As a human, I like to know the people I'm buying from is human too. So talk like a human on your website. Customer interaction is key for any sale. Be clear. Be professional. Make me want to buy something from you.

For the entire article on the nine reasons why your website isn't generating sales visit Entrepreneur.com

Holiday Sales Optimism Doesn't Equal Hiring

2011-11-02T10:20:00.002-04:00

Tis the season! Now that we are in the month of November, Christmas displays are going up and small businesses everywhere are trying to take advantage of this time of year, where on average sales increase by about 20%. More business equals a greater need for more employees, right?

According to this article by Fox Business news, where 800 small businesses were surveyed, that is simply not the case. A whopping 86% of small businesses said they were not going to be hiring this holiday season. Half of them said they don't need the extra help, and a third of them said they could not afford a new employee.

The survey also concluded that 75% of small businesses are using social media this year to market their holiday sales, interact with customers, etc. Make sure to check back daily to the Kutztown SBDC blog, as from now until Christmas, as the posts will be catered to helping increase sales during this holiday season!

For the entire article on the lack of holiday small business hiring, click here.

Top Ten Small Business Facebook Pages

2011-10-31T09:59:00.001-04:00

In 2011, Socialmediaexaminer.com did a contest where small businesses could be nominated for 'Best Facebook Page of the Year'. A total of 1400 Facebook business pages were judged, and ten were named supreme. Although your small business may not have the design experience or time to devote to creating an elaborate page, the important thing to take away from these winners are the comments from the experts on why they were successful.

The aesthetic sense certainly has a role to play, but as you'll see, factors such as customer engagement/interaction/involvement, simple interface, great incentive for consumer to actually like the page, and fun videos about the product or service. These are the things that any facebook page can have, and you can learn from the best in order to join those ranks!

For the entire article on the top ten small business Facebook pages, click here.

Why restaurants fail - a memoir from a NY coffee shop owner

2011-10-28T10:14:00.001-04:00

Often to understand the risk and pitfalls of owning a small business, the best way to learn is by hearing firsthand from someone who has 'been through the fire', so to speak. So was the case with Michael Idov, an entrepreneur who had a dream to build a business around a cozy Manhattan coffee shop, providing the highest quality brew for the lowest price.

The passion and love for the idea was there, but by reading this article, you will learn that the cash flow was not. Six months later, Michael's coffee shop had to close, a sad conclusion to many start-up small businesses of the world. So to supplement our previous article "Why Restaurants Fail", we are providing this first person account of a restauranteur who couldn't get his business off the ground, and ultimately nearly ended his marriage.

This is not meant to discourage any potential small business owners, but rather to provide some insights on potential pitfalls--and how to avoid them.

For the entire story, click here.

How are companies screening potential candidates using social networks?

2011-10-26T09:58:00.003-04:00

The heading of this blog post has been a pretty controversial topic within the realm of the hiring process.

Is it ethical/moral to look at someone's personal Facebook, Twitter and/or LinkedIn page as part of the hiring process? Can the candidate then turn it into a legal issue if they are not hired? If you do look at a person's profile, what things should you look for in both the positive and the negative?

Reppler did a survey of 300 questions that answers these questions and more. Perhaps the most staggering statistic is that 91% of companies did look at a prospective candidates social networking site. So perhaps if you own a small business and are looking for help, you should consider doing this too.

It's the wild west out there right now with social media, as there hasn't been groundwork laid out with these kind of topics. But if you do plan on screening a candidates profile, perhaps you should notify this before the interview process begins, just to cover your bases.

For the entire article on how companies are using social media to screen candidates Mashable.com.

The 30 Day Social Media Makeover

2011-10-24T11:25:00.002-04:00

Integrating social media into a small business marketing plan, while beneficial, can be a very stressful and time consuming undertaking. Not only that, but the organization aspect can be overwhelming, especially if your small business is including multiple outlets into it marketing strategy.

Luckily, this 30 day social media makeover article can help. It has a day by day guide of a simple task you can do to improve your social media presence.

From "Make it easier to subscribe to your blog", to "Start segmenting your Facebook Friends", this 'makeover' will help you stay organized and give you workable goals within your busy lifestyle. Included in each day of the makeover is an estimated time to complete the task and the social media benefits it will have for your company.

Not all of the days of the makeover will apply to your company's social media strategy, but select a few to start!

Why QR codes are failing

2011-10-21T10:39:00.001-04:00

A month or two, we did a post on QR codes, or quick response codes. They look like the symbol to the right, and can be scanned by any bar code scanner on a smart phone or Android. Based on the QR code, scanning them will lead the consumer to a website or provide a message.

In theory, it seems like a great tool to use...it can fit on a business card, product, newsletter, billboard, etc. However, as the following article shows, the QR code is failing. Why? Mainly because people don't know what it is! The blog author went out on the streets of San Francisco with a QR code, and if people could identify what it was, they would win a prize.

A measly 12% knew it was a QR code, and 29% new it was some kind of 'bar code thing'. Of the incorrect responses were: something written in Korean, an overhead map of San Francisco, and a secret military code. Clearly Americans (even tech-saavy ones) just don't know about QR codes. So keep in mind if you are to use these in your marketing efforts, make sure your customers know how to access them and what they do!

For the entire article on failing QR codes, click here.

What's the 'Magic Sauce' for business success?

2011-10-19T10:26:00.000-04:00

About 700,000 new businesses are started each and every year. However, failure is happening in new small business at an astonishing rate, as many as 8 out of every 10 businesses in the first five years! If the stats showed that business owners would be more certainly successful, than people would be starting more businesses, which would create jobs, and eventually get our country out of its current recession. So what is the secret to business success? What's the "Magic Sauce" for success, so to speak? Watch this Kauffman Foundation video to learn more!

What you NEED to know about social media disclosure

2011-10-17T09:30:00.003-04:00

Ever thought about putting testimonials and endorsements on your Facebook business page? They certainly can work in your favor when promoting a particular product or service, as consumers will be weary to put their money into something before somebody approves of it.

However, you are going to want to read this article before you do this. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) revised its rules and regulations for the first time in three decades. Do you know what it means to have FULL disclosure? Did you know that penalties with failure to comply can be as much as $11,000 an offense?

This article is very detailed in making sure you are compliant with all of the FTC guidelines, so make sure you read it before you begin using testimonials and endorsements on your Facebook page!

Click here for the entire article on FTC and its application to social media.

Small Business 101: How do I get a Loan?

2011-10-13T10:47:00.002-04:00

Getting a loan from a bank or a non-bank lender is one of the most important steps in whether or not a business will go from a dream to a reality. Whether you are looking for start-up funds, or trying to by a new piece of equipment, almost all of small business owners will have to get money outside of their own personal finances.

But what steps do you need to take to get a loan? Do you borrow from a bank, or a non-bank lender? Do you know your credit score? Do you know how much money you will ultimately need?

These are all questions you should ask yourself before you dive right into the loan process. The KU SBDC can help small business owner prepare and apply for loans, click on the "contact page" on how to reach us!

Read the entire article, "7 Steps to Get a Loan."

How to hire a website designer

2011-10-12T09:45:00.003-04:00

Once an entrepreneur has established a business, one of the first things they will want to do is create a website. With global reach, 24 hour access, and the possibility of eventually creating E-commerce for your business, the website is pivotal in your business's long-term success.

Things such as professional, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to navigate are the first things that come to mind when thinking about a good website. But what if you don't know anything about website design, but don't trust little cousin Eddie's minor in IT to get the job done? How do you go about hiring the right web developer.

Do you go big website firm or freelancer? How do you know what a fair price is? What do you want out of your website? These are all important questions to ask, and the following article covers these questions.

For the entire article, click here.

The Complete Twitter for Business Guide

2011-10-10T12:14:00.003-04:00

Most of you probably know about Twitter by now, it's a new media outlet that allows people and businesses to 'tweet' instantly about different aspects of their lives and business.

However, what most people don't know, is how to harness this tweeting ability to help their business market. When people are tweeting, they probably don't realize that their tweets are falling under 7 types of tweets. From off-topic tweets to promotional tweet, each message you send out has a particular purpose.

This guide does a very good job of covering the different kind of tweets, what to include in your tweets, (which can be a maximum of 140 characters) and overall advice on how to make the most of this free service to help market your business.

For the complete guide, click here.

Social Media Benefits

2011-10-08T12:24:00.004-04:00

Do you need some sort of tangible data, some sort of actual proof that social media is helping small businesses market their service or product. Everyone SAYS that social media is this and that, but where are the numbers to prove this?

Luckily for the skeptic, surveys have been done about the benefits of social media for business. In the following two surveys, small businesses were questioned on what positive benefits social media has on their business.

Not surprisingly, the number one reason is customer engagement. If you are looking to convince someone resistant to change in the company (such as adding a social media strategy) then showing him or her the following data graphs may help!

To view the graph showing research on the Benefits of Social Media, click here: here

73 tips for getting Twitter and Facebook Fans

2011-10-07T12:24:00.002-04:00

No folks, that's not a typo. Normally there are lists of 5, 10, maybe even 15 tips. But here we have 73 tips!! Normally, especially with blogs, more is not always better. But in the case of thise article, the 73 tips are compiled by marketing and social media experts, with headers such as 'Useless Chatter=Noise, Junk Content' and 'Balance interesting and interested'. Try to look at maybe 5-10 a day.

At the Kutztown SBDC, we find that many small business owners just want to know 'How do I get more followers?' or 'How do I get more likes on Facebook?'

While not all of the following tips will be applicable for every business, take two or three of the ones you find most helpful, and try to implement them in your social media strategy.

So go on, don't let the large number intimidate you, you'll thank us later!

Read the entire article at Toiletpaperentrepreneur.com

Top 10 Reasons Why Businesses Fail

2011-10-05T10:17:00.002-04:00

According to the SBA, over 50% of small businesses fail in their first five years. A poor economy is a very large part of this statistic, and it's easy to place the blame there. But there are plenty of other reasons that often aren't identified as to why businesses fail, mainly because owners fail to take responsibility for shortcomings on their own behalf.

In this 'no bones about it' article by the New York Times, they list the top ten reasons why businesses fail. If we as business owners can understand why businesses often fail, then we can learn from those things and have better planning for our own ventures so the same failure doesn't fall on our shoulders.

For the entire New York Times article, click here.

10 of the Best Social Media Sites for Entrepreneurs

2011-10-03T10:22:00.002-04:00

Like it or not, social media (also referred to as 'new media') is becoming the new way to interact with other businesses, receive feedback from clientelle, and market your own products and services.

A year ago, only about 25% of small businesses were using social media to market and network with their business. However, a recent survey found that 75% of small businesses are upping their social media usage this year.

Change is always difficult, especially in a business setting, but you may want to seriously consider using one of the following social media outlets listed in the following article. There are some you have probably heard of (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) and some you probably haven't (Monitter, Mailchimp, Basecamp) but they are all worth a look. Consider how you could potentially use each one to benefit your company.

Click here to read the article on Mashable.com

Click here to download Kutztown SBDC's free social media e-book.

Mobile Ads: Replacing the Standard Banner?

2011-09-30T10:41:00.002-04:00

In a recent study, it was reported that mobile ads are six times more effective than the traditional banner, billboard, flyer, online banner, etc. Simply put, more people are spending time on the internet, and with the growth of e-commerce, more people are buying things off of the internet.

The following article offers helpful data on which industries get the highest dwell rate, that is impressions that are intentionally engaged with by touch, interaction or click. It offers other tips for mobile banners, such as in this case, 'bigger IS better'. If mobile advertising is a venue you haven't considered, you may want to look into this growing and more effective form of advertising.

For the entire article, click here.

What does it mean to have 'Viral' content?

2011-09-28T11:43:00.002-04:00

No, we aren't talking about content that will cause the stomach flu, but rather online content (often video) that spreads like wildfire throughout the internet by peaking interest and then is shared through social media and tweeting (sometimes viral video even makes it on the homepages of MSN and Yahoo).

Imagine what creating a piece of viral content can do for your company! Consider it a form of guerilla marketing, but on the web. If a video goes 'viral', it creates a world of buzz (be it good or bad) for a certain company. However, there are a lot of very creative videos that never go viral. So what are the keys to creating something that takes off virally?

It all starts with a creative concept. Something that you can draw people to. Something you can post on a Facebook page or tweet about. It's got to peak interest--something big, something out of the box. What you title your viral video or article is important as well. Would you rather see a video entitled "Unbreakable Cell Phone test" or a video entitled "Cell Phone vs. Eighteen Wheeler".
Below is an example of a viral video:

This is a video about a musician who had his guitar broken while flying United. So, he did what a creative musician does, create a song about it. As of today, there were nearly 11 million views. Imagine what United would've paid to have 11,000,000 people view a piece of positive marketing rather than a complaint video.

Here's a silly rap video done by a owner of a flea market. It essentially is just a video of a guy singing in his store, probably low budget. Now with over 7 million views on youtube, his silly video has paid off for absolutely no marketing cost while generating tons of exposure.

For more advice on what makes content 'viral' read an article on Jmorganmarketing.com

6 Ways to Track the Impact of Social Media on Public Relations

2011-09-26T11:33:00.005-04:00

It is common thought amongst small business owners that it is very difficult to measure your return on investment for social media efforts. This is in fact a myth, as today's blog article shows. The best way to show impact is to look at how social media has affected the cost of marketing efforts.

But that's not the only way. The following article explains how you can determine ROI through features such as 'Cost per impression' and 'Cost per Click'. Tracking these numbers through an excel sheet will help establish growth. This will ultimately help you quantify your social media hours into a dollar amount.

If you own a bakery and can make $10 an hour making bread, and using social media has saved you $1,000 in marketing efforts, than you can determine the value and how much of your time is spent with social media. After all, while free in cost, social media takes up a lot of valuable time, so it's important to make sure it's worth it.

Click here for entire article on 6 ways to track the impact of Social Media on Public Relations.

For more information on Social Media ROI as well as the implementation of a social media strategy for a small business, please download our free eBook.

12 Attributes of a Truly Great Place to Work

2011-09-23T09:36:00.002-04:00

Engaging employees at work, whether its an office job or out on the field can be a very challenging things. In fact, only 20% of employees around the world report that they are fully engaged at work. And in most cases, less engagement leads to lower productivity. But how do we turn these numbers around?

This blog article offers twelve suggestions to do just that. While some of these suggestions seem like common sense, there are many costless and practical changes that a company can make, such as having a two way performance review system or a 20 minute time period in the afternoon dedicated to a nap.

Try implementing a few of these into your small business practice, and hopefully their engagement in their work will increase which will lead to stronger production and more useful work hours.

Click here for the entire article on the 12 attributes to a more engaging work environment.

7 Steps for Planning Superior Webinars

2011-09-21T10:51:00.004-04:00

In the digital age, webinars are becoming a increasingly popular way to host presentations, workshops, lectures, meetings, or seminars in real time, able to connect to others globally. But like any presentation, there are some basics needed to perfrom an effective and time-worthy webinar.

Adequate preparation, appropriate presentation times, and valuable content are all essential in putting on a webinar. The following blog article provides advice as to how to put on the best possible webinar, as well as providing tips on how much to charge for a webinar and what programs to use to host the webinar. (as most have a cost)

For the entire article on planning superior webinars, click here.

Visit the Kutztown University SBDC website for additional information.

Adult Use of Social Media Soars

2011-09-19T11:09:00.007-04:00

Reluctant to jump on the social media bandwagon? Your reluctancy could be costing you valuable marketing opportunities of clients and customers of all ages. What (social networking) started out as a phenomenom with mostly young people has grown vastly in the past five years with users of all ages. (1/3 of people over the age of 65 say they use a social network!)

Click here for more information on the demographics of the growing trends across the generations.

Wondering how you can use social media to market your business? Not sure what form of a social media to use? Download the Kutztown SBDC's free e-book, "Solving the Social Media Puzzle: A Small Business's Guide to Building Buzz, Finding your Niche, and Making your Voice Heard."

The Science of Getting People to Say 'Yes'

2011-09-16T12:50:00.002-04:00

Y-E-S.

Three beautiful letters that as small business owners and employees alike, we love to hear. Whether you're trying to sell a product, asking for a LinkedIn connection, or asking for a raise, there's no better result than hearing an emphatic 'Yes!' Believe it or not, there is scientific data that proves there are good ways to getting a 'yes' and there are ineffective ways of asking which usually end up with a discouraging N-O.

This article has some very easy tips to use when trying to get a positive response. The key is: start small. It's always easier to get a small ask rewarded then going straight for the big prize!

For the entire article on 'yes', click here.

3 Things Entrepreneurs do for our Country

2011-09-14T11:04:00.001-04:00

Ever wonder how entrepreneurs factor into the equation of our National economy? This Kauffman video explains this in a simple, aesthetic way. Check it out!

Kutztown SBDC's Lenin Agudo awarded 2011 Rising Star

2011-09-14T10:33:00.004-04:00

The Kutztown SBDC would like to congratulate Lenin Agudo on receiving the 2011 Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry Rising Star Award. The Rising Star is awarded to individuals whom consistently demonstrate leadership, are actively involved in the Greater Reading community, and make the Greater Reading area a better overall place to live. Mr. Lenin Agudo certainly models all of these things, championed by his dedication, his entrepreneurial expertise, and passion for his work at the Kutztown SBDC as the head consultant at our Latino Business Resource Center.

To read the article by BCTV, click here.

To watch a Youtube video with Lenin Agudo click here.

To read the article from the Reading Eagle visit Readingeagle.com.

21 Mistakes People Make on LinkedIn

2011-09-12T11:02:00.002-04:00

LinkedIn has become the fastest growing social network of the past year, as of August 4, 2011, the site had over 115 million professionals (a 61% growth from the year before).

It has become a professional portal for businesses and entrepreneurs alike to do business, create a professional network, and incorporate into their hiring process. In many cases, social networks like LinkedIn are becoming your first impression.

As we all know, first impressions can make or break whether or not someone will hire or do business with you. This article highlights some of the most common mistakes seen in LinkedIn profiles, whether it's a blurry photo or a lack of activity, there are many small adjustments you can make to make you and your business more marketable over this social network.

To read the entire article, click here.

What is the state of mind of small business owners?

2011-09-09T11:49:00.002-04:00

With the current recession, many wonder what the state of the small business owner is. Are more people reluctant to start a small business because of the state of the economy? Are small businesses prepared if the economy takes a turn for the worst? Are entrepreneurs positive or negative about the outlook for the country?

This survey conducted of 1,000 small businesses around the country answers these questions and more. As a country hopeful for growth but prepared for challenges, it is not a time for discouragement, but rather a chance for opportunity.

To read the entire article, click here.

What are QR codes and how can they help my small business?

2011-09-07T11:28:00.004-04:00

QR codes, or 'Quick Response' codes are becoming more and more popular in business today. They look like the picture to the right, and can be placed essentially anywhere: in magazines, on products, even on large billboards.

They are 2D barcodes that can be scanned by most smart phones. (try it with the QR code to the right, just use your smart phone bar code scanner to see!) Once scanned, landing pages, facebook pages, and websites can be brought up on the iPhone.

Essentially, it's an instant connection to drive traffic to your website. But how can these QR codes be used to your businesses advantages. Since the SBDC's next e-book will be on e-commerce, here is a blog article that is focused on using QR codes to drive e-commerce. Not only do they peak a consumer's curiosity, but they can link a buyer directly to a landing page of something they want to purchase.

For 5 useful e-commerce applications of QR codes, click here.

How to Build Your Own Facebook App

2011-09-05T11:36:00.004-04:00

Do you have a Facebook page for your small business? Does it link effectively to your website? Do you know and understand the Facebook 'environment' you are working with? Many small businesses have Facebook pages, but they fail to properly link them to their websites and drive more traffic to themselves.

This blog article from Social Media Examiner poses some interesting questions regarding advanced Facebook application. If some of the things mentioned sound foreign, than you might want to consider investing in one of the help books listed in the article.

For the entire article, click here.

Six SEO Tools Every Business Needs to Use

2011-09-02T09:56:00.002-04:00

Your business can have the most interactive, state-of-the-art website, but that can be all for nought if no one can find your website. SEO, or search engine optimization, plays a vital role in maximizing a website's online presence and giving it the visibility it deserves.

There are a lot of theories out over which techniques work and which ones don't, as many people don't know where to get the facts. But in this article, Jason Hennessy, the CEO of Everspark Interactive (a full service SEO agency) parlays what he believes to be the six best SEO tools to use.

For the full article, click here.

Groupon Doomed by Too Much by a Good Thing

2011-08-31T14:29:00.002-04:00

Most of us have probably heard of Groupon, a social media website that allows businesses to post special discounts and coupons to their restaurants. (They boast: "Save 50-90% off!) Then consumers can look up coupons based on their geographic area.

Groupon exploded onto the scene, and soon became a driving force in local business's "deals" marketing. Groupon started out with an excess in capital, a promising concept, and a good plan for profitability. So how did they post a net loss of almost 120 million?

Even with the case of a large scale company with a large budget, Groupon is a perfect example of how a business should be profitable before they become large. Think about how the same principle can apply to your company, especially if you are looking to expand.

For the entire article, click here.

Using Facebook Deals and Places for Local Business

2011-08-29T10:21:00.003-04:00

Two of the newer and lesser known features of Facebook (two features that could be especially handy for a small business) are its Facebook Deals and Facebook Places. On your business fan page, you can verify yourself as a representative for a given company, and then take full use of these new features.

With Facebook Places, you can create a 'place page' (different from the fan page) Facebook users can 'check in' to your business when they are purchasing a good or service. This update will be public to all of that user's friends so they know too that someone is checking out your business.

With Facebook Deals, you can advertise special deals and promotions, whether it is a one-time reward or a special to reward returning customers. Make sure you are up to date with the newest Facebook features designed to help small and large business alike!

Read the full article on Socialmediaexaminer.com

Top 10 Reasons Business Startups Fail

2011-08-26T11:28:00.002-04:00

In these tough economic times, it is now more pertinent than ever that people looking to start up a business be mindful of the possible tribulations associated with the financial and entrepreneurial pifalls that many small businesses fall to in their first few years.

This article from the New York Times highlights the top ten most common reasons why businesses fail--many of which can be prevented with a strong business plan, solid accountant, and an efficient and organized owner.

The Kutztown SBDC can help with these aspects, as our goal is to help small businesses "Start, Grow, and Prosper".

For more information on our free services, visit the Kutztown SBDC website.

For the entire article on why businesses fail, click here.

Using LinkedIn Mail to Connect with your Contacts

2011-08-24T13:43:00.001-04:00

Although LinkedIn mail is one of the most underused aspects of LinkedIn, there are many benefits to using it to keep in contact with your connections.

This article from Social Media Examiner explains just how valuable this feature is, and provides you tips on how to maximize the benefit of this feature. Once again, the point of social media is to be social, so consider this when you are signing up for a social media network.

Make sure there is value for YOU.

To learn more about the value of LinkedIn Mail, click here.

Social Media Promotion and the Law

2011-08-22T10:02:00.002-04:00

As a small business using social media, contests and promotions are a great way to attract new customers, brand your product, and increase traffic on your website.

However, before you can dive right in and create a contest, there are some legal aspects that you should keep in mind. While intentions for a contest or sweepstakes are usually well-intending, it is important to be mindful of the law and any legalities associated with the contest.

Did you know if the prizes value more than $600 dollars, you need to send a form 1099 to the winner for tax reasons. Did you know the official rules must always include "No Purchase Necessary"?

For the rest of this article on Social Media Promotion click this link here .

Why get LinkedIn premium?

2011-08-19T10:51:00.002-04:00

As over 100 million business owners and professionals alike have realized, LinkedIn is becoming a social media juggernaut for professional networking and recruiting.

Its tools allow you to connect with companies to conduct business with, screen resumes for candidates, have someone write a recommendation for you, and provide many other business networking related features. But LinkedIn also offers LinkedIn premium for $20.00 a month. Why should you pay for the premium? Here are some features to think about:

You will receive advanced search capabilities and the possibility to get more search results visible than with the free account, something that is great for identifying prospects or potential partners
Profile organizer, which allows you to add the equivalent of tags, but not just on my first degree contacts, to anyone on LinkedIn. This is useful for remembering prospects, or people whose profile you find interesting for any sort of reason.
Free InMails which allow me to contact any the people identified if they're not part of my network (though the number is limited and you need to pay if you want to use more than your allocation).
You become an OpenLink member, which allows anyone even outside of your network, to send you a message for free (no need to payfor an InMail). This is great for the ease of being contacted by prospects, reduce barriers to contact as much as possible.

Consider these reasons if you are looking for the potential value of Linkedin premium.

3 Common Mistakes in Digital Media Analysis

2011-08-17T13:59:00.002-04:00

As we are writing our e-book on Google Analytics, we are learning about the wealth of information this feature can supply a small business with its digital data. However, as the following article suggests, it is easy to misinterpret data such as search volume, conversion rate, and number of impressions.

Read this article to learn how to avoid these mistakes, and then check out our Google Analytics E-book with accompanying tracking sheets, coming this fall!

For the entire article, click here.