Small Business: Perserverance

Perserverance and the Year of the Ox

In Chinese astrology, 2009 is the year of the ox. It is said that the traits of the ox include hard-working and persistence; those that can stick to a task longer and harder than others. They are patient, determined and believe in themselves. And, you may have noticed these traits are common among successful small business owners. As the global economic slowdown approaches the end of its second year, now more than ever, it is time to be persistent.

According to Stocks, Futures and Options magazine (SFO), China’s economy appears to have pulled out of the downturn with miraculous speed and strength; creating 6.7 million jobs.

The evidence is overwhelmingly clear that China’s economy bottomed out in the fourth quarter [2008], says Nicholas R. Lardy, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (SFO, Nov. 2009).

With signs that the economy is slowly, but surely, gaining some momentum internationally, small business owners here in the U.S. are determined and quick to adjust their focus to take advantage of market opportunities. But, to do so first requires a clear understanding that now is the time to increase your marketing efforts. Pulling back now is not an option, nor is failure. To be first in line to capture market share, start with a thorough review of your 2010  Marketing Plan. Contact your local SCORE chapter and schedule an appointment today. Tomorrow, you’ll be glad you did.

Greg Magnus, Richmond SCORE
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Small Business: SCORE Volunteers

SCORE District Chapter Meeting

Volunteer and meet quality people helping your community.

For a change of pace, I’m providing info on our local SCORE activities. Ken Yancey, SCORE CEO, will be joining us for a regional meeting. This is one of many benefits associated with volunteering with SCORE; you get the chance to meet quality people helping your community.

The Virginia District Chapter Chairs, District Staff and volunteers are meeting in Richmond, VA at the Sheraton Richmond West Hotel on Thursday, November 12, 2009. More than forty (40) volunteers from SCORE Chapters throughout the District will be in attendance.

Mr. Ken Yancey, SCORE CEO, will personally take us through the new SCORE Business Model which will provide the framework for the strategies that will amplify our efforts to help new and existing businesses succeed in the future. A copy of the Agenda is attached for your reference.

I look forward to seeing you all at the meeting on Thursday. Thank you for all that you do for SCORE and the clients we serve.

Sincerely,
Alan Wonsowski, District Director
SCORE Virginia District

Let us know if you’re a Virginia volunteer planning to join us – thanks!

Greg Magnus, Richmond SCORE
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Small Business: Google Tools

Google Tools to Enhance Your Biz

Google offers a wide variety of free tools that help small business owners manage documents, photos, blog subscribers and the list goes on. Here are a few of the tools my company frequently uses:

1. Google Docs: Share documents on the web with your associates, clients and business partners. Instead of emailing attachments back and forth, creating multiple versions, share your documents online and everyone can edit the same document (one copy, no more hunting for the latest version).
   • Upload from and save documents to your desktop
   • Edit anytime, from anywhere
   • Pick who can access your documents
   • Share changes in real time
   • Files are stored securely online and best of all, it is free.
2. Feedburner: If you own a blog, you probably want to give your site visitors the opportunity to subscribe so they can automatically receive updates when published. Feedburner is an excellent tool for this purpose.
3. Picasa: Fast and easy photo sharing that allows you to organize and edit your digital photos and create online albums to share with business colleagues and clients, as well as your friends and family.
4. Blog Search: Keeping track of blog updates and news specific to your industry can be a real challenge. Using “blog search” helps you find news and info from just blogs.
5. GOOG-411: Google’s 411 service is free and easy to use. It allows you to find and connect with local businesses using the phone. Just dial: 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411).

Tell us about your favorites – leave your comments – thanks!

Greg Magnus, Richmond SCORE
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Technology: Free Business Software That Works

Use Open Source to Manage Your Business

If you’re a successful small business owner, you know the importance of cost control. One way many businesses are lowing their costs is Open Source software. You can learn more about the definition of Open Source here.

Here are a few business software programs available from the Open Source community (no cost, totally free software). Caution, the software is free but your time is not. Hire a firm to set it up for you if you don’t have the skills in-house. Tech savvy business owners can setup most of the software below within a few days, and in many cases, a few hours:

1. Online Shopping Cart software: osCommerce.com – osCommerce has attracted a large growing e-commerce community that consists of over 221,600 store owners and developers who support each other and extend osCommerce Online Merchant with add-ons being contributed on a daily basis. To date there are over 5,700 add-ons that are available for free to customize osCommerce Online Merchant online stores and to help increase sales.
2. Open Office: openoffice.org – OpenOffice is the leading open-source office software suite  for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages  and works on all common computers.
3. Source Forge:  sourceforge.net – Directory of free software that includes ratings, demo links, etc.

Do you use Open Source software already? Tell us about your favorites – leave your comments – thanks!

Greg Magnus, Richmond SCORE
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Service: SCORE and Your Community

SCORE Participates in Hispanic Heritage Month

Whether you’re a business owner or a retired employee, you’ll find others like yourself assisting your community. And, at SCORE giving back to the community comes natural to our volunteers.

This weekend my local chapter, Richmond SCORE, is providing several volunteers – including yours truly – to assist the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is holding its 8th annual ¿Qué Pasa? Festival on Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. The Festival is being held at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. It is held in celebration of The Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th – October 15th.). Come join us at the event if you’re in the area and by all means become a SCORE volunteer and help out your community!

Greg Magnus, Richmond SCORE
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Marketing: Online Marketing Plan

Great Marketing Plan Resources

What resources are required for online marketing plans that include social networking? Here’s a brief overview of a few things to consider:

I. Web site – Blog

For years now, we have promoted the use of blog technology over “static web sites” for small business owners. Almost any website design can be developed using blog technology, which is a better tool for content management, as well as online marketing. Blogs allow small business owners to leverage technology in several ways.

For example, most social media sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) allow you to connect your blog feed (RSS Feed) to your online profile. Therefore, when your web site/blog is updated your connections on social networking sites are notified – automated marketing and branding. The list of benefits goes on.

Resources: Human resources are necessary to run an effective web site/blog for online marketing purposes: web site hosting, IT support, graphic designers, copy writers, and marketing staff that understand social networking applications, content marketing, PR, SEO and HTML.

Business: Tools and Resources

Great Resources for Small Biz Owners

Every week I visit dozens if not hundreds of Web sites. Here’s a few that I found that offer advice and business resources to help you succeed:

Two articles published by Inc.com:

• Great No-Cost Software: Free is a lovely word; unfortunately, it’s often followed by a disappointing product. We have found 10 great free apps that will help you run your business. – By Mark Spoonauer
• Thirty Profiles of Resilience in Business: You just can’t keep an entrepreneur down, as these tales of leadership and overcoming obstacles illustrate. – By Kelly Faircloth
  .

Resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners:

• 15 Unconventional Uses of WordPress in Action: WordPress is known as one of the most powerful open-source blogging platforms, but it can be a lot more then just a blogging platform. – By the Editorial Staff at wpbeginner.com
• The Entrepreneur’s Handbook – 59 Resources For First Time Entrepreneurs: As a first time entrepreneur you probably have tons of questions.… list of 54 resources that should help you out.
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Earlier this week, I gave a presentation to the Virginia Career Network. The group assists unemployed professionals network and find new career opportunities. For those interested, I posted the presentation here.

What did you find interesting this week? Leave your comments – thanks!

Greg Magnus, Richmond SCORE
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Success: SCORE Biz Tips

Seven Tips for Biz Success

As a SCORE blogger, I often read the articles published by fellow bloggers here on Ask An Expert as well as other business blogs. With respect to SCORE, business professionals located throughout the U.S. volunteer their time and blog for SCORE. We are all following Success Tip #2 below, Surround yourself with bright, energetic, optimistic people.

Julie Brander over at SCORE’s Women’s Success blog posted these success tips, which I enjoyed reading so I’m passing them along with one of my own:

1. Passion: If you don’t love what you do then you need to seriously think about doing something else. Work never feels like work if you love your job.
2. People: Surround yourself with bright, energetic, optimistic people. Choose people who can get things done. Never work with anyone who causes you stress.
3. Planning: Always update your plan. Be aware of all aspects of your business and respond to the changes in your customer needs, the market and the finances.
4. Persistence: Continue to work your plan and never give up. Be open to change. If one thing doesn’t work try something else.
5. Personal well being: It is important to take a break, a day or two off and revitalize yourself so that you can mentally get back into the focus of the business.
6. Profits: You are in business to make a profit. Staying on top of the business and being aware of where the profits are. Know who your best customers are and nurture those relationships so that your company will continue to grow and be profitable. (From: Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE |  View other posts by Julie Brander)

And, I’ll add one of my own to Julie’s success tips to make it a lucky 7:

7. Prioritize and Delegate: In a world of endless tasks and information, quickly grasping what is or isn’t a priority is key. And, it is a common characteristic among the most successful business owners. They know what’s important and how to delegate what’s not – you can too.

Greg Magnus, Richmond SCORE
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Marketing: Planning Your 2010 Campaign

Get a Head Start on Your Competition

Traditionally, now is the time of the year marketing managers begin the planning process for the upcoming year. And, research shows that companies aggressive with marketing during and after tough economic times fair far better when the economy recovers.

To put it simply, now is an excellent time to get a head start on your competition.

The Planning Process
Following the adage, “First things first” start by preparing your “Marketing Plan” that meets the needs of your short and long-term business goals. Far too many business owners view marketing as a project here and a project there. And, they fail to integrate their activities into a cohesive marketing campaign.

Where do you start?

Target Markets – Clearly identify your target markets. This is one of the most important components of your marketing plan.

Start-Up: Resources For Entrepreneurs

Small Business Resources to Help You Succeed

With the information super highway now running at top speed, researching for the launch of a new business can be a lot like sticking your face in front of the fire hose. Too much information? Need a filter to help you find the diamonds in the rough?

1. SCORE Counselors: SCORE volunteers have been helping people launch and grow new businesses for decades. An hour on their website and an hour with a business counselor will save you time and money as well as increase your chances of success.
2. Get a mentor: Find a professional with experience in your target industry and ask them to be your mentor. In today’s social networking world, it doesn’t take long to find the right person(s).

Don’t Re-Create the Wheel

We have all heard this term but many still get caught up in the details making a simple process far too complex. Learn from others that are successful and understand what made them successful. Here are a few resources: