Small Business Toolbox

A library of business management info


Networking
  • Preparing for Negotiations
    06/19/2008
    Negotiating can be one of the most nerve-wracking business tasks. However, practically everyone will have to do it at some point in their lives, whether it's discussing salaries, raises, contracts, etc. Being prepared in the following four areas will not only calm your nerves but also enhance your performance.
  • How to Network at Social Events
    04/14/2008
    A social event, such as a wedding reception, birthday gathering or other celebration, may strike you as the perfect place to spread the word about your business, but if you handle it the wrong way, you'll end up alienating potential clients. Here are some dos and don'ts for promoting yourself at social events.
  • Keeping up With the World Wide Web: Determining If You Need a Web Site
    04/10/2008
    I know I am supposed to have a Web site, but since I have no plans to sell my product online I just don't see the need for a site. My business has been around forever and we have done just fine without one. Am I wrong?
  • Grow Your Business by Speaking
    03/06/2008
    If you want to grow your business and reach a lot of people quickly, consider developing your skills as a professional speaker. There are dozens of trade organizations in every major city that need speakers for their weekly or monthly meetings. As a featured speaker, you receive instant credibility and establish yourself as an expert in your field. Your event (and you!) will also be promoted to the entire membership of the organization, even if only a fraction of the members attend.
  • Networking Outside of Your Industry
    02/25/2008
    Being a part of industry associations can be a key to success for small business owners, as they serve as life lines to industry news and events and help you connect with colleagues and keep an eye on your competitor.
  • Could You Go Back to Work -- for Someone Else?
    01/25/2008
    Retirement, for many Americans, no longer means not working. For reasons ranging from combating boredom to making a little extra financial padding, you might be considering going back to work. But for former small-business owners, this situation can be tricky. After being the boss for so long, could you handle working for someone else? Ask yourself the following questions before filling out that application.
  • Choosing the Right Restaurant
    01/24/2008
    Travel or entertaining often requires choosing the right restaurant, which can be particularly tricky in unfamiliar locations. Not only do you need to know what the food is like, but you also need to discern whether the venue is suitable for dining with business associates or better for more personal events. A good strategy is to make use of a variety of sources for restaurant recommendations, since different information resources have distinct advantages.
  • Communication: How to Fit the Means to the Need
    01/15/2008
    We're told it's poor practice to answer a question with another question. But if someone asks, "What's the best way to communicate in the work setting?" we might legitimately respond with "What do you want to accomplish?" There's no single best way for communicating in business, even though hastily launched e-mail messages sometimes seem to have taken over our communication.
  • Out With the Old
    12/28/2007
    Just as in your personal life, making New Year's resolutions is a great way to get a fresh start in your business. Making new habits for the new year is always a good idea, but sometimes breaking old ones can be just as beneficial.
  • Use Your Blog as a Marketing Tool
    12/26/2007
    Do you have a blog? Ever considered starting one? According to CyberJournalist.net, as of last year, there were 50 million blogs out there in cyberspace, and blogging keeps growing as a popular method of communication, especially among young adults. As a young entrepreneur, however, you have to be more careful about how you represent yourself online than most of your fellow students do. When handled correctly, your blog could even help you increase business. Read on to find out the dos and don’ts of blogging.
  • Service Projects for Your Small-Business Team
    12/20/2007
    As an individual in today's society, there are probably causes close to your heart, such as housing the homeless, feeding the hungry or raising money for cancer research. And as a small-business owner, you employ a group of smart, energetic people who might just be willing to take up a cause with you. You wouldn't want to force your beliefs and community efforts on them, but by stressing community involvement in your small business, perhaps you could get volunteers from your team to make an even bigger difference than you could alone.
  • Simple Ways to Thank Your First Clients
    11/28/2007
    The first clients bringing business your way deserve special acknowledgment. These people took a leap of faith, perhaps even leaving other service providers, to come on board with you — though your record was largely untested. Showing your appreciation to this group of people will assure that they’ll be with you for a long time to come.
  • Promoting Podcasts
    10/10/2007
    Also known as webcasts or online broadcasting, podcasts are multimedia files that can be automatically downloaded to subscribers' personal computers or played on mobile devices such as iPods. If you prefer to communicate via the spoken word, podcasts can be a viable tool for conveying information to employees, clients or prospects. However, you will have to take certain steps to help the right people find your messages.
  • Attending and Hosting Webinars
    08/30/2007
    For many entrepreneurs, attending business seminars can be beneficial. Yet many factors like travel time and expenses can deter them from going to as many as they would wish. Likewise, holding your own seminars may be an ideal way to bring together employees and/or clients from geographically diverse locations, even though the logistics can prove challenging.
  • The Significance of E-mail Signature Lines
    08/23/2007
    Sending e-mail inevitably takes up a portion of your workday. But rather than seeing it as a chore, think of your e-mail correspondence as yet another way you can promote your small business. Promptly answering customer inquiries, sending e-newsletters and following up on recent leads are all ways that you may already be using e-mail to keep your company growing. One of the most basic ways to advance your business through e-mail, however, is also one often overlooked. A signature line attached to your outgoing mail can serve as an electronic business card, not to mention help you better brand your business and inform your customers. So before you hit send one more time, make sure your signature line says all it needs to about you and your business.
  • Five Expert Tips for a Successful Media Kit
    07/19/2007
    Do you ever wonder how newspapers and magazines choose the sources they do for articles? And do you ever ask yourself, "Hey, why didn't they call me? I would have been a perfect source for that!" If you answered yes to both questions, you probably don't realize how important a media kit can be to your business.
  • Maximize Your Chances When Responding to an RFP
    07/12/2007
    If your company becomes involved in a Request for Proposal process (RFP), there are specific issues that require careful attention, not only to maximize your chances for selection from among other candidates, but to avoid getting into a situation that could prove extremely time-consuming and costly, both before and after the selection.
  • No Matter What Your Business Is, Networking Is Key
    07/11/2007
    No matter what your business is—retail, wholesale, service or Web-based—it pays to develop a networking plan to increase your contacts and, ultimately, your business.
  • Think Globally When Marketing to Overseas Customers
    01/10/2007
    If you want to expand your market to include international customers, consider how your marketing messages will play outside of the United States. If you're accustomed to communicating exclusively with American audiences, it's easy to forget that certain messages won't work elsewhere. For example, if your send a marketing newsletter filled with references that are strictly American, you may risk alienating prospects in Europe.
  • Secret to Successful Networking: Focus on the Other Person
    01/09/2007
    The terms "networking" or "schmoozing" more often than not conjure up images of blatant self-promotion at public events or functions. Trying to adhere to this concept can leave you stressed and ready to give up on the idea. However, if you go to an event with the intent of genuinely making the people you meet feel special, you'll go a long way to easing your own discomfort and furthering your goals.
  • Five Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Conference
    11/28/2006
    You probably have a one or two business conferences you would like to attend this year. If you're like the typical conference-goer, you plan to select some lectures and workshops, maybe take some notes, learn something new, have lunch with colleagues, do a little networking and then go home.
  • Networking 101: Getting Outside Your Friends and Family Circle to Make Business Contacts
    10/25/2006
    Your roommate and your mom may very well always be your most faithful customers; but if you want your business to grow, you can't depend on them to be your only customers. To continue cultivating new business, it might be time to enter the world of networking. Here are a few places to start.
  • Overcome Your Fear of Cold Calling
    07/05/2006
    What can strike terror into the heart of even the most successful sales professional or entrepreneur? What can crush self-confidence, destroy self-esteem and leave even the most seasoned sales professional quivering with humiliation and defeat? Cold calling.
  • Impress and Inspire Others Without Saying a Word
    05/26/2006
    When you walk into a room, do you see someone who stands out from the crowd? You may have not spoken to that person, but you watch as people are drawn to his or her positive energy.
  • MyVoice: When He Talks, Lawmakers Listen
    05/25/2006
    How one business owner uses NFIB's clout to make his voice heard.
  • A Perfect Fit
    05/25/2006
    Some small businesses are getting money from large, national brands.
  • The Next Big Thing
    05/24/2006
    A college campus is a great place to make contacts, introduce new products and sell, sell, sell. Take advantage of the thriving marketplace you’ll call home for the next four years and make an impact on the consumers there. Here are some great ideas and resources to use to market to your peers.
  • Get That Discussion Going: Tips on Roundtable Participation
    05/12/2006
    If you attend an association convention, forum, summit or meeting, there's a good chance you'll encounter an increasingly popular convention activity: the roundtable discussion. Unlike traditional lectures or seminars, roundtables offer you the opportunity to freely share experiences, ask questions of other participants, and offer new ideas and information for discussion.
  • Make the Right Contact
    04/24/2006
    It’s no surprise that it takes multiple customer contacts to make a sale. So what is the magic number of contacts, and what constitutes a sales contact? Recent studies have estimated that it takes at least five progressive calls, on average, in order to get the business. However, the same study also indicated that almost all salespeople quit calling on the business after the fifth call. Successful businesses systematically prospect and build partnerships to achieve outstanding results.
  • Contracts 101
    02/06/2006
    Contract disputes usually happen when the final contract varies from what one or both parties intended. Even when both parties enter into an agreement with the best intentions, the final contract may not accurately or completely represent what they discussed and agreed upon before they wrote the contract.
  • Protecting Your Ideas When Talking With Investors, Potential Partners
    01/26/2006
    Entrepreneurs need to protect proprietary ideas when approaching investors, potential partners, new employees and others. There are two stages to assuring this protection. The first takes place before actually contacting individuals; the second involves having proper legal documentation at the time of the meeting.
  • Mastering the Business Meal
    01/24/2006
    American culture is generally informal, but following a few simple guidelines during business meals will win you points with colleagues, prospects and customers, plus increase your chances of better service when you "meet and eat."
  • A Critical NFIB Voice: Bill LaGuardia increases the clout of NFIB through Area Action Councils
    01/20/2006
    Bill LaGuardia doesn’t believe in taking a backseat approach when it comes to running his business. And he’s the same way when it comes to being a member of NFIB.
  • Was That Bob or Bill? Tips and Tricks for Remembering Names
    05/03/2005
    When it comes to the name game, not everyone’s a pro. It’s hard to match up a face and name after an intense meet-and-greet; however, part of being a good business person is remembering the people you meet.
  • What is a Business Incubator?
    04/25/2005
    I have heard about an organization in my area called a "business incubator" but don't know much more. What is a business incubator?
  • Do Your Part During National Volunteer Week and Beyond
    04/14/2005
    As a small-business owner, you realize more than most the importance of community. You build a relationship with the people of the community – they become your customers and your support system. What better way to return their kindness than to give back to the community by volunteering, and with National Volunteer Week right around the corner (April 17-23), there’s no better time to pick a project than now.
  • Understanding Supply Chain Management
    04/07/2005
    Today the process of getting a product from manufacturer to consumer can require a number of complex interactions among a chain of suppliers. As the global market becomes smaller, companies work with an increasing number of suppliers around the world. These suppliers work together closely and form a chain that requires careful attention and solid management.
  • You've Lost Your Biggest Customer. Now What?
    03/30/2005
    It is an axiom of business that no customer is guaranteed to stay with you forever. Regardless of how loyal your customer may be, there are any number of factors that could prompt them to take their business elsewhere. It may be no reflection on the quality of your product or service; a customer might be merging with another firm that uses software or hardware that isn't compatible with your product.
  • In Business Etiquette, the Devil is in the Details
    02/23/2005
    If you have ever doubted the truth of that old adage that first impressions are everything, think back to the last time you were in a crowded business setting such as an industry convention.
  • Fostering Small-Business Growth in Your Community
    02/14/2005
    I live in what once was a very vibrant economic area. But the factory that anchored so much of our small-business growth left town a dozen years ago and since then things have been tough. How do we foster more small-business growth in our community?
  • Defining an Exceptional Business
    01/24/2005
    Every large, Fortune 500 company once was a small business. So what did they do differently that allowed them to grow and profit so well? Maybe more appropriately, the question should be, what does it really take to create an exceptional business that prospers?
  • Finding a Compatible Business Partner
    02/13/2004
    Choosing the right partner can take your company to new heights, but choosing the wrong individuals can result in ongoing disagreements, confusion and lost productivity.
  • Successful Networking
    12/10/2003
    Successful networking means forming meaningful and strategic relationships with other businesses, industry experts, vendors and customers.
  • Increase Traffic to Your Trade Show Booth
    08/04/2003
    When renting a booth at a trade show, the key to success is attracting as much traffic as possible.
  • Get into Gear Months in Advance to Profit From a Trade Show
    04/25/2003
    Many companies attending shows put quite a lot of time and expense into creating highly visible, interesting booths.
  • Creating an Informal Advisory Board
    02/14/2003
    Have you ever considered establishing an informal advisory board for your small business?
  • DonÆt Just Stand There! Meet New People at a Networking Event
    02/03/2003
    The following suggestions may help ease the anxieties and uncertainties involved with meeting new people.
  • Don't Become Isolated: Seven Ways to Keep in Contact
    01/17/2003
    Here are seven practical suggestions to help keep you connected with others in your industry.
  • Finding New Work--From Your Competitors!
    01/03/2003
    It's normal to think of your competitors as the bad guys who are trying to take your customers. But a simple shift in your thinking can turn them into potential revenue sources.
  • Strategic Partnerships
    10/25/2002
    Business partnerships work when the alliance helps both businesses accomplish their goals, and they can help your business grow quicker.
  • Referrals Are a Key to Your Future
    06/05/2002
    Few things are more effective for building a business than having satisfied customers recommend your company to their friends and associates.
  • Staying Networked
    04/02/2002
    Staying networked on a regular basis will put you steps ahead of everyone else who has not remained connected when it comes time for getting the information, resources or business prospects you need.
  • Consulting With Your Non-competitive Competitors
    04/02/2002
    There are situations in which other companies in your industry aren't really direct competitors and might be interested in sharing valuable information.Today's Workshop explains.
  • Ask for Referrals -- Nothing Builds a Business Quicker
    04/02/2002
    A referral from a friend or business associate is a powerful way to introduce yourself to a prospective customer.
  • Networking Can Give Your Business a Boost
    04/02/2002
    Fans of your products or services are your best marketers, whether they know it or not -- they tell their friends and they tell their friends and they tell their friends... You know how it goes.
  • Five Specific Networking Tips
    04/02/2002
    Networking possibilities include a wide variety of professional and social events, such as social and charitable events, meetings of professional organizations, business parties and celebrations, to name a few.
  • Contact the Competition to Expand
    04/02/2002
    If you're looking for ways to expand your business, don't rule out contacting services that you would normally consider to be competitors.
  • Is Your Handshake Giving a Positive Impression?
    03/28/2002
    Some of the little things mean the most in business relationships. Shaking hands, for instance, is one of the most frequently performed business activities.
  • Comedy College
    03/28/2002
    Take my small business. Please.
  • Make the Most Out of a Speaking Engagement
    03/22/2002
    If you've set up a talk to speak about your business or to discuss your industry, pull out all the stops and make the most out of the opportunity to promote your business.