Important Business Tools
This section contains important tools to help you plan for your new business. These tools are also helpful for existing businesses to become more successful.
Startup Business Internet Guide
In today’s world, when someone is looking for a product or service the chances are they are doing some if-not-all of their shopping online. The question is not “why?” you should do business and market on the internet, but “how?” to intend to do so and make the most of it. The internet provides a highly efficient and cost-effective means for businesses.
Marketing on the Internet
Even if you are not currently selling directly on the internet, you need to be aware of competition and trends, and you need to develop an internet marketing strategy. U.S. retail e-commerce sales have been growing about 15% per year and are expected to have a compounded annual growth over the next few years at 14%. Brick and mortar sales have been relatively flat and actually on the decline.
Guidelines for Building a Website
Before you run off and hire a high-priced designer and developer, there are a few critical questions you need to ask yourself and issues you should consider to ensure your that your website design helps you in your business goals, and ends up being more than a waste of money.
Marketing Plan for Startups
No matter what era or region of the world, Marketing is one of the most integral parts of starting a new business. It involves knowing how to succeed in convincing your customer to purchase your product or service. Remember one thing above all else: whatever you do has to be specifically targeted towards the needs and wants of your customers.
Selling for Startup Businesses
Sales is a process involving both art and science. It is much more about understanding the product, the market, and the customer than the individual personality of the sales person. Creating a sales environment that appeals to your prospective customer, and emphasizing your product’s benefits for them individually is part of a winning combination to generate and build sales.
What Is a Merchandising Plan?
A good merchandising plan is essential to insure smooth and stable growth, especially when a company is young and running on slim inventory reserves. With a merchandising plan you are able to answer many questions that might arise as sales begin to grow and change. While the merchandising plan is mainly a retail or internet concept, it also should be adapted for service industries.
Creating Effective Management Practices and Excellence
Creating a company culture that promotes excellence and commitment is a critical requirement for startups. However, the term “Human Resources” frequently conjures up negative stereotypes. Human Resources should be viewed as an opportunity for a company to maximize its goals of productivity, success, employee loyalty and stability — all of which lie at the center of the culture of the organization.
Customer Service
Here is an overview of key relevant issues of customer service, with a focus on their importance to marketing sales and growth. While you need to address specific issues for your business, this guide provides a general perspective on the procedures and systems for your efforts.
How Effective Operations and Logistics Can Create Marketing Opportunities
Just as with large business, small business requires effective logistics and operations planning to produce products or services and deliver those products or services to the end user. The process starts with determining key issues, understanding tradeoffs and developing goals and standards.
