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10 Things You May Not Know About US Small Businesses
Are you an entrepreneur or small business owner? Are you supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses?
According to this research from the Office of Advocacy, Small Business, there are some good reasons to patronize small businesses, and there...
A Thing of The Past or The Wave of The Future?
The world of small businesses started crashing down in the recent past and continues to do so. Not long ago many home businesses were thriving, but now they're caving in to a faltering economy.
Let's take, for example, handmade crafts. While...
PR and the Small Matter of Results
As a business, non-profit and association manager, how satisfied are you when the public relations people assigned to your unit spend the bulk of their time on someone’s favorite special event, brochures, press releases and talk-show ...
Re-evaluating The Purpose Of An E-Zine
With all of the push these days to publish an E-Zine as an online marketer, deciding whether to accept articles and paid advertising is becoming nothing more than a quick second thought. As E-Zines are increasingly turning into mere tools to...
There is nothing "small" about shipping during the Holiday season
(NC)—Being a small business in Canada during the peak holiday shopping season can be challenging, especially for those that offer great gift ideas. Helping customers find the perfect gift and offering the best possible customer service is key,...
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How to Create a GREAT Web Site
Do you have a web site that hasn’t been touched in years? Or have you avoided the Internet bandwagon all together? Well, it’s time to hop aboard again – or for the first time. Here’s why:
1) Audience:
- Young adults and teens spend more time on the Internet than they do watching TV. Also, they’re more likely to use the Internet than the Yellow Pages to find a product or service.
- Engineers and other business people use the Internet as a key information source when researching a product or service.
If either group is part of your target, you need to be on the Internet.
2) Availability: A web site is available 24/7, so your information is there whenever your prospect wants it.
3) Cost-effective: Creating and maintaining a web site is relatively low cost.
To create a web site, start with the basics.
1) CONTENT -- A great web site will include:
- Description of your company –- This is basic. People need to know what you do before they’ll buy.
- Description of your products or services –- Basic stuff again. Be clear and concise. Use attractive photos.
- (Service companies) Portfolio of work or case histories -- Demonstrate what you do.
- Bios of key staff with photos –- This humanizes the site.
- Testimonials –- Proof that you’ve helped people.
- Resources – Include white papers, how to’s, other useful info. This is especially important if you want to be seen as an expert.
- Newsletter, regularly updated news or blog –- Great ways to stay in touch with clients and prospects, AND new content helps your search engine rankings.
- Contact form –- A way for visitors to reach you.
- Links –- Another resource to offer visitors, plus the right reciprocal links can build traffic.
If you don’t have it all together yet, start small and add pages later.
2) DESIGN –- A great web site grabs attention and invites the visitor in. The design should be consistent with any print materials
you use. A good web designer can give you a site that loads quickly, is easy to navigate and read, and looks professional.
3) TRAFFIC BUILDING – Now that you’ve got a web site, how do you get people to it? Here are some starter ideas:
- Search Engine Registration –- Often handled by your designer or hosting company. You’ll need to make sure it gets done.
- Reciprocal links –- Research what’s available and learn what works through trial and error.
- Register articles on Internet article banks –- If you like to write, post articles and direct readers to your site.
- Search Engine Optimization –- The real thing can be VERY expensive. If you’re starting up a retail site and need high volume traffic, hire an expert in this field. Otherwise, make sure key words are used repeatedly on your home page, and use other tactics to build traffic.
- Advertising –- There are web site banners and buttons, search engine ads (like Google AdWords) and print ad opportunities to evaluate.
- Direct mail –- Use mailings (e-mail or traditional) to let colleagues, clients and friends know about your site.
- Publicity –- Send out a news release announcing your site to as many publications as possible. Follow up with releases on additions to the site.
4) MAINTENANCE –- A great web site is not static. A website can be a nightmare to those who value completion – because a good site is always evolving. If you want return visitors, give them a reason to come back. Add new content. If you want new visitors, adding content will help your search engine rankings.
Claire Cunningham, president of Clairvoyant Communications, Inc., has 20+ years’ experience developing and implementing successful marketing and communications programs. Sign up for Claire’s monthly newsletter, Communique, at www.clairvoyantcommunications.com. Claire can be reached at 763-479-3499 (Fax: 763-479-2809, e-mail: claire@claircomm.com)
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United States Small Business Administration |
An electronic gateway of procurement information for and about small businesses. Search engine for contracting officers, marketing tool for small firms, ... |
www.sba.gov |
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SBA |
The Small Business Planner includes information and resources that will help you at any stage of the business lifecycle. ... |
www.sba.gov |
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Main Page - SmallBusiness.com - Small Business Resources |
Find Small Business plans, advice, tutorials about organization, corporations, entrepreneurship, and smallbusiness. |
www.smallbusiness.com |
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Yahoo! Small Business: Domain Names, Web Hosting, E-commerce ... |
Yahoo! Small Business provides products and services that enable you to establish and grow your business on the Internet. Services include domain name ... |
smallbusiness.yahoo.com |
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Small business advice business start up small business finance ... |
business start up small business finance start up advice. |
www.smallbusiness.co.uk |
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Smallbusiness.gov.au redirect to business.gov.au |
Business Entry Point - Helping small business in big ways. An Australian Government initiative. The content from this website has now been consolidated into ... |
www.smallbusiness.gov.au |
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Business & Small Business |
Online and print small business publication. Information to help start, grow or manage a small business. |
www.entrepreneur.com |
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Microsoft Small Business Center |
Your home for information about Microsoft's small-business products and services, tailored business advice, technology tools, and more. |
www.microsoft.com |
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The Small Business Advisor - advice for starting and operating a ... |
Advice and assistance for starting and operating a small or home based business. |
www.isquare.com |
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SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" |
A nonprofit association dedicated to encouraging the formation, growth, and success of small business nationwide through counseling and mentor programs. |
www.score.org |
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Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource |
IR-2006-2, January 3, 2006 - Temporary and proposed regulations will significantly reduce tax filing burden for nearly 950000 small business owners. ... |
www.irs.gov |
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Welcome to Small Business BC your business resource in British ... |
BC Business Services offers assistance and resources for those running or starting a business in British Columbia and Vancouver. |
www.smallbusinessbc.ca |
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Small Business Service | Home |
Provides information and advice to help small businesses realise their potential. |
www.sbs.gov.uk |
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NSW Small Business |
A site developed by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development for small businesses. Topics include management, resources, current issues and ... |
www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au |
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Business Management & Advice: Small Business Resources & Information |
Looking for business management and advice? Our website includes small business resources and information that can help you. Visit the small business ... |
www.businessweek.com |
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Small Business Lawyer, Attorney, Law, Legal Help - FindLaw for ... |
Information and legal sites relevant to small business. |
smallbusiness.findlaw.com |
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Small Business Funding Opportunities (SBIR and STTR) |
Links to Small Business Funding Opportunities and SBIR / STTR Applications. |
grants.nih.gov |
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Microsoft bCentral Small Business Directory |
Directory categorized by industry with company business card feature. |
sbd.bcentral.com |
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Our site has moved! Please update your bookmarks! |
Facilitates the sharing and exchange of information among small business development centers, the small business administration and other business-oriented ... |
sbdcnet.utsa.edu |
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Small Business Development Corporation |
Our business information services provides guidance to improve business skills and knowledge on advice on starting, buying, selling and expanding a small ... |
www.sbdc.com.au |
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