Support Your Community & Boost Your Biz

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, businesses can show their appreciation to their communities by giving back and garnering free publicity in the process. Big corporations have long recognized the advantages of giving back.  Business like Target, Tom’s Shoes, Harpo and Microsoft are very vocal about their contributions to the local and international community. It shows their committment to the people and community that supports them. It also helps to build a brand associated with altruism and philantropy.

Small Biz Guide to Giving Back

• Find out what matters most to your customers and focus your efforts.
  For example, Target donates a part of their profits to schools because a large percentage of their target market are families with school-aged children. To make the best impact, focus on the issues that matter to your client base.
• Decide what method works best for your business.
  There are many ways to contribute. Pizza Hut offers free pizzas to students who read a certain number of books. Disney offers a free pass to indivuals who volunteer with an affiliated organization. Apple offers product discounts to students and teachers. These are just a few examples of how your business might give back.
• Spread the word.
  Once your program is up and running, let the public know. Put up information on your web site, place flyers in your store and update your online networks (Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter). Most importantly, pitch the story to your local media outlets. Reporters are always looking for human interest stories. Also, contact organizations that would benefit directly from your program. Ask them to include your info in their publications and on their web sites. This is a great way to get free PR and boost your business. 
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Here are a few articles from SCORE to jump start the process.

• 5 Tips on Establishing a Presence in Your Community 
• How to Get Free Publicity for Your Small Business
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Christine Banning, SCORE
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Make a Smart Start with Your Business Idea

Small businesses start with great ideas. If you have a great idea and 2010 is your year to start a small business, then plan ahead.

Now is the time to jot down your vision of where you want to be in five years. Starting a business? What kind of sales, profits, market niche and employees do you see ahead. Paint a picture of the future.

To get started, meet with a SCORE mentor and talk about your ideas for a business. In person, ask for a copy of the workbook “How To Really Start and Structure Your Business.” This free workbook by SCORE and The Company Corporation is a great resource to help you think through a small business start.

Free for Your Business

Find SCORE and make an appointment to meet a mentor in person.
Try the online workshop on putting together your Business Plan.
Take the entrepreneur readiness quiz.

If this is the beginning of your journey, don’t go it alone. Start out by surrounding yourself with trusted advisors. SCORE advice is free and confidential. Take this opportunity to make an appointment to meet with a mentor in person. Find SCORE near you.

Christine Banning, SCORE
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Stay Current & Win!

The first 100 subscribers in November for eNews and ExpertANSWERS will win a complimentary SCORE Great Ideas notebook. Subscribe here.

SCORE eNews
Monthly tips, trends, articles and small business news.
111,000 subscribers and growing.
Read sample issue.

SCORE Expert Answers
Monthly Q&A interviews with key insights from a leading expert.
100,000 subscribers and growing.
Read sample issue with one of Oprah’s favorite financial gurus, Jean Chatzky.

Note: Winners must live in the continental United States. When subscribing, you must include your full name and mailing address in order to receive the notebook.

Christine Banning, SCORE
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Make the Connection.

Email, Blogs and social media are great. Quick info and a sense of connection.

But, when was the last time you actually talked to your 10 best customers?

The recession is easing, but the economy is still in a state of flux. Do your clients have a personal connection with you?

Set aside a day and call your top clients to find out how they are doing. No rush. No pitch. Just get feedback.

Real relationships and trust take time. The investment in picking up the phone to call can reveal emerging client needs, bring feedback on your services and can build loyalty–because you show that the client is important to you as the business owner.

Workshop: Creating Customer Loyalty
5 Tips on Customer Service
Managing Client Expectations

Christine Banning, SCORE
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What Does the Future Hold for Your Business?

Times have changed. We can look back at the last year and learn.

As a solo entrepreneur, home office biz pro, a two-person company or a firm adding staff to meet new demands, you and everyone around you is looking for the answer to this question, “Where will we be in the future?”

Your leadership, vision and dream provide the answer. However, in the flurry of day to day activity, it’s sometimes difficult to take the time to plan ahead. This is where a SCORE mentor can really help.

Mentoring & Brainstorming Help Answer Big Questions
Add a SCORE mentor to your team as a free and confidential advisor. 1) Meet for a brainstorming session to talk about your dreams for the business. 2)Then, meet a second time to talk about the dreams that have the best chance for market success. 3) Finally, meet with your mentor to put those ideas down in a one page plan of where your business is heading next. Tomorrow planning is doable.

A mentor can guide you through the process, so you can define your big success horizon.

Make an appointment to meet in person. Find a SCORE office.
Ask SCORE for advice online.

Christine Banning, SCORE
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Form a Connection. Deepen the Bond to Build Client Loyalty.

 Ben Franklin was an entrepreneur with big ideas. While money doesn’t grow on trees, getting your big idea across to clients does bring in the green.

Franklin said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

How do you involve and engage your clients, so they connect with you and your product or services? Sales success is all about forming that connection, so prospects become clients and clients become fans.

Ask a SCORE mentor online about marketing.
Read more: Ben Franklin’s advice.

Christine Banning, SCORE
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Energy, Optimisim and Good Advice

Could it really be that simple? Well, no not quite…but close.

It really is a start-up secret that entrepreneurs are optimists and see blue skies ahead. Always looking to the horizon.

The power of your ideas, energy and optimism are harnessed when you: focus, surround yourself with trusted advisors and plan for the future you want to create.  To begin your blue sky thinking and plan ahead, start here with:

Quiz: Be Your Own Boss 
How To: Business Structure 
Advisory Board: Forming an Advisory Council

It’s free and confidential. Don’t be shy, ask SCORE for advice online or in person.

Christine Banning, SCORE
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Q: Just starting off with Twitter?

A: Yes, then follow reputable sources of small biz info.

Get a steady stream of short, 140-character tweets with tips, updates and hotlinks.

Some good small biz sites: @smallbiztrends, @ducttape, @jimblasingame, @susansbtvcom, @cbanningma, @chiefhotmomma (yes, it’s a university project on small biz), @shashib, and @rieva.

Follow @scorementors of course.

On your tweet site, post news about your company and cool tips. Dip your toe in the twitter stream. Visit Twitter.

Christine Banning, SCORE
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September 24 Attend a Free Event to Grow Sales and Protect Your Biz

On September 24th in Fort Lauderdale, Florida–join us for a great event to plan, prepare and protect your business. Register.

We are still in the midst of hurricane season and now is the time to make sure you have a plan to protect your data, key documents and your biz operation.

The event also offers great insights on marketing, sales, financing and more.
SCORE and HP present this one-day event. Don’t miss out. Register now.
More events around the country.

Christine Banning, SCORE
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First Time Start-up? Webinar Sept. 10th

Get started with a great intro to small business. Join us this week for a Start-up Success Webinar. Don’t miss out. Register Now.

SCORE bloggers Julie Brander and Steve Bloom, along with The Company Corporation share secrets for putting a biz structure and start-up plan in place. Don’t miss this great chance to plan ahead for your big start. Sign up.

Pick up a free copy of the How To Really Start Your Own Business workbook, by SCORE and The Company Corporation. Visit any SCORE office to get a free copy.

Christine Banning, SCORE
View more posts by Christine