Friday, May 31, 2019
What to Buy (and Skip) in June
In June, you may have to buy gifts for Father’s Day, graduations and weddings — or at least one or two of those occasions. After all that shopping for dads, grads and newlyweds, get a deal on something for yourself, because June will deliver plenty of savings. From scooping up swimwear to saving money on...
The article What to Buy (and Skip) in June originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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What Happens If You Miss a Student Loan Payment?
If you miss a student loan payment, you’re not alone: More than 3 million borrowers were at least one month behind, or “delinquent,” on their federal Direct Loans as of December 2018, according to Federal Student Aid. Though delinquency is common, that doesn’t mean you’re not penalized for it. Credit damage and late fees are...
The article What Happens If You Miss a Student Loan Payment? originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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How to Successfully Sell Your Product to Walmart
Is your dream to sell your product to Walmart? Small business owners everywhere dream of getting their products on the shelves at Walmart—and thanks to Walmart’s commitment to American-made products, that dream can become a reality.
Back in 2013, Walmart pledged that by 2023, it would purchase approximately $250 billion in products supporting the creation of American jobs. Since then, the retailer has held an Open Call event for U.S.-manufactured products every year.
Both current Walmart suppliers hoping to expand their product mix and would-be suppliers trying to get a foot in the door attend Open Call, where they have the opportunity to meet Walmart buyers and pitch their products. In 2018, business owners from more than 450 businesses visited Open Call selling everything from sportswear to salsa. The prize for getting approved: having your American-made products on Walmart or Sam’s Club store shelves or sold on Walmart.com.
Even entrepreneurs who don’t get approved at Open Call say they learn a lot about improving their products, thanks to the advice of Walmart buyers, and many come back to try again. Attending Open Call can be a small business’s big break.
Can you pitch your product at Open Call?
Before you apply for Open Call, you have to meet certain requirements.
- The Federal Trade Commission determines whether products qualify as “Made in the USA.” Read about the FTC’s specifications for American-made products.
- Products pitched in Open Call must go through Walmart’s certification process to be certified as American made.
- Businesses that participate in Open Call must meet Walmart’s requirements for suppliers.
Preparing to sell your product to Walmart buyers
To succeed at Open Call, it’s vital to know what Walmart buyers are looking for. Of course, since low prices are Walmart’s hallmark, price is important, but it isn’t the only thing buyers consider (or even the most important). The three key attributes that Walmart buyers look for are:
- Does this product solve a key customer need?
- Does the quality of the product exceed my customers’ expectations?
- Does this product provide customers with a good value?
Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
- The Complete 35-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
- 25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business
- 50 Questions Angel Investors Will Ask Entrepreneurs
- 17 Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs Starting A Business
Here’s how to boost your odds of a successful pitch.
- Be prepared: Have samples of your product ready. If it’s a food product or an item that needs assembly, make sure you have the selling unit and the finished product at the meeting.
- Know your costs: Be ready to offer your best price upfront. This isn’t the time to haggle: If buyers think you’re trying to pitch them something that’s priced too high, they won’t trust you. Start with the lowest cost so the buyer can immediately assess the value of your product and make a decision.
- Offer a strategy: Before you pitch a Walmart buyer, you must understand the stores, the website, and how they merchandise products. Be able to explain how your product would fit into the store’s overall product mix and have ideas for where it should be placed.
- Provide insights: Can you explain why your product is important to Walmart customers? You need to show what problem it solves and provide evidence that this is a viable product that customers will buy. Demonstrating that you’ve done your homework helps convince buyers your product will sell.
- Be brief: Pitches may vary in length depending on how many items you’re pitching and how complex they are. Generally, though, most supplier meetings last about 30 minutes—and that needs to include any questions that buyers may have. Plan your presentation with that time frame in mind.
- Make it memorable: You don’t have a lot of time, so make sure your presentation includes images, costing, the history of your business, and your contact information. This helps the buyer remember you and your product after the meeting.
Open Call helps U.S. workers
Some two-thirds of Walmart’s U.S. merchandise spending is for items made, assembled, grown, or sourced in the United States. Over the life of the Open Call initiative, Walmart estimates its commitment to American-made products could create as many as 1 million new jobs.
This year’s Open Call application window has closed. If you want to learn more and get ready to apply next year, sign up to receive Open Call updates. Applications are typically accepted beginning in March.
RELATED: Go Beyond Amazon: Small Businesses Today Must Take a Multi-Site Approach to E-Commerce
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Thursday, May 30, 2019
6 Time Management Tips for the Busy Entrepreneur
By Andy Bailey
Effective time management ranks among the more challenging, and often exasperating, aspects of being a successful leader. It requires the flexibility to respond to unexpected challenges and the self-discipline to block out distractions and complete daily tasks.
In my experience as a business coach, I frequently hear leaders express frustration with how easily their well-planned days veer off course. They describe how demands from clients, colleagues, and other constituencies take away precious time from their workday.
Face it: There will never be enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to do. But if you methodically review how you spend your days and instill focus and discipline while completing daily priorities, you will soon find more time to work on the long-term success of your business. Here are six ways to do it:
1. Conduct a time audit
The first step to effective time management is to audit your calendar. Sit down and review three months of activity. The data from the analysis will show where you spent your time (which projects, tasks, and priorities demanded your attention) and with whom you collaborated to get the work done.
The audit will also reveal if the work you were doing is properly aligned with company goals and priorities. It will shed light on areas where you were distracted, where you were the most productive, and which tasks/projects took more time (or less) time than anticipated.
2. Eliminate time drains
Another significant benefit of a time audit is it will identify unimportant and noncritical activities that take up your day. These are the kinds of things that sneak up on you and steal time, and can be better put to use growing your business. Look for these time drains: not delegating tasks, not managing meetings efficiently (tip: always have an agenda!), and spending too much time writing/responding to emails.
If you’ve done your job as a leader, members of your team can handle a majority of meetings and emails. You hired great people. Now let them do their job.
3. Take control your calendar
Repeat after me, “I am the only person responsible for how I spend my time.” Remember you drive your schedule; don’t let others drive it. Block time throughout your day and guard against changing your schedule to work on tasks that are not important or urgent.
The way you allocate your time has a direct correlation to your effectiveness as a leader and, ultimately, the performance of your business. Prudent calendar management will also send a strong signal to your team that you take this seriously.
Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
- The Complete 35-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
- 25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business
- 50 Questions Angel Investors Will Ask Entrepreneurs
- 17 Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs Starting A Business
4. Plan your day
Plan every day and determine your priorities. Yes, that should be obvious, but you’d be surprised how many business leaders I’ve coached who don’t. When you know your priorities for the day you will be better prepared to reset your work schedule if the unexpected comes your way.
Once your schedule is set, block off chunks of time to work on your priorities. I recommend 90-minute blocks so you can concentrate on big-picture items or work on a group of related tasks. Stay disciplined and don’t allow yourself to go over that amount of time.
5. Limit interruptions
Now comes the hard part. Once you start working on each priority you need to remain focused. Close the door and don’t answer the phone unless it’s a critical issue. Avoid checking email. Don’t let distractions slow you down.
6. Hold yourself accountable
The final piece of the puzzle is accountability. Share your tasks, priorities, and deadlines with a colleague. Meet with that person at least monthly to review how well you managed your time. The probability of success increases when you have someone watching your progress and coaching you cross the finish line.
Time will always be a precious resource for business leaders. But if you follow these steps you’ll find more time each day that you can spend on improving operations, staying ahead of the competition, and positioning your company for future growth.
RELATED: 5 Useful Time-Tracking Apps for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
Andy Bailey is the author of No Try Only Do: Building a Business on Purpose, Alignment, and Accountability. He is CEO and head coach with the business coaching firm Petra Coach and serves in an advisory role on the Gazelles Council, the leaders of the Scale Up movement. Visit his blog at http://www.petracoach.com for more business and leadership insight.
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5 Small Business Marketing Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make
According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses that bring in under $5 million should devote 7 to 8% of their revenue to marketing. It would be a shame to waste your marketing spend on poor strategies. If you want a high marketing return on investment (ROI), you can’t afford to pour money down the drain. Make the most of your marketing budget by avoiding these common mistakes.
1. Failing to find your target audience
How you market depends on who you’re marketing to. And if you don’t know who you’re marketing to, you’ll be preaching to (and throwing money at) the wrong choir. You need to find your target audience.
Once you know who your target audience is, tailor your marketing strategy to them. Create offers that resonate with them, market on the platforms they use, and highlight why your product or service is something they need.
But again, you need to pinpoint your audience first before you can do all of that. To find your target audience, ask yourself these questions:
- Who are my potential customers?
- What do my potential customers need?
- Where are my customers located?
- When will these customers buy from me?
- Why would they buy from me?
- How do they make purchases?
When gathering target audience data, hone in on details like age, gender, and occupation. Understand how your business products or services fill a market need for these customers. Then capitalize on your target market analysis information with a marketing call to action that actually works.
2. Forgetting to emphasize your unique value proposition (UVP)
What makes your business different? Failing to call attention to what sets you apart is a marketing mistake you don’t want to make.
Whether you’re doing online or print marketing, you need to draw attention to your unique value proposition (UVP). A UVP highlights the unique benefits of a business’s products or services. If you don’t include it in your marketing materials, your target customers may opt for a seller who does.
Previously I wrote you needed to know why your target customers would buy from you. In your marketing, you need to show your customers this “why.”
3. Not setting up a website
Over one-third of small businesses don’t have a website. If you fall into this statistic, you could be making a major marketing blunder.
Small business websites build brand awareness, establish credibility, and create sales opportunities. Marketing only on social media or using traditional marketing is limiting. Consumers searching for businesses in search engines will never get the chance to know about your company if you don’t have a website.
Create a website to get in front of online consumers. Display your business’s contact information and hours of operation so customers can easily reach you.
But that’s not all. When setting up a website, consider establishing and regularly adding to a blog. Successful blogging, publishing 16 or more blog posts per month, can get you upwards of 4.5 times more leads!
Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
- The Complete 35-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
- 25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business
- 50 Questions Angel Investors Will Ask Entrepreneurs
- 17 Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs Starting A Business
4. Refusing to measure results
A successful marketing strategy is born from failed ideas. I’ve never known a company to create perfect marketing materials off the bat. Instead, businesses continually try out new ideas.
The not-so-secret sauce to effective marketing is measuring the results through key performance indicators (KPIs). However, measuring marketing results can be a challenge. According to a study by HubSpot, 40% of businesses cited “proving the ROI of marketing activities” as a marketing struggle.
Measuring the results of your online marketing efforts is generally easier than print marketing. You can measure click rate, open rate, and conversions when you send emails. And, you can gauge how many people read your blog posts or engage with your social posts.
To effectively measure the results of print marketing, include coupons or promo codes that identify how customers heard about you.
Some essential key performance indicators you should be tracking include:
- Cost of customer acquisition
- Click rates
- Open rates
- Lifetime customer value
- Social media traffic
5. Falling behind on trends
Social media took marketing by storm sometime in the early 2000s. How have you kept up?
Popular marketing trends that can help you stay ahead also include focusing on personalization and customer experiences. And, video marketing—along with the use of live videos—is also a critical trend. One retailer reported shoppers who viewed product videos were 144% more likely to make a purchase.
RELATED: How to Create High-Performing Marketing Videos for Your Business
You also need to ask yourself, What’s next on the horizon? Keep up with new technologies, like chatbots and augmented reality, to stay on top of new marketing opportunities. If you fall behind on trends, your strategies can grow stale.
What’s the key to avoiding marketing mistakes?
So, now that you’re familiar with some of the top marketing mistakes that could hurt small business revenue, you probably want to know how to avoid making them. The key to avoiding these marketing mistakes (and others not mentioned here) is to create a marketing plan. Your marketing plan should outline your:
- Marketing budget
- Target audience
- Platforms
- Content
- Goals
- Marketers
Revisit your marketing plan after you measure results, as well as when new trends emerge.
RELATED: 3 ‘Outdated’ Marketing Tactics That Still Work
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What to Buy (and Skip) in June
In June, you may have to buy gifts for Father’s Day, graduations and weddings — or at least one or two of those occasions. After all that shopping for dads, grads and newlyweds, get a deal on something for yourself, because June will deliver plenty of savings. From scooping up swimwear to saving money on...
The article What to Buy (and Skip) in June originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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14 Fun Ways to Stand Out at Your Next Trade Show
By Samuel Smith
Trade shows are a powerful marketing medium for lead generation, brand awareness, and relationship building. But they can also be mind-numbing dull, for both attendees and booth staffers.
What makes a booth boring? Nothing does. And by nothing, I mean standing around in your booth doing nothing. With no activities in your trade show booth, attendees focus their attention instead where there is movement. With no activities to host, your booth staffers retreat inside themselves or their smartphones.
It doesn’t have to be that way. You can make your booth a mecca of face-to-face engagement. You can be the fun booth. You can pull people in and get conversations started. Conversations that become leads and sales.
Here are 14 trade show booth activity ideas to help generate more booth traffic and engagement:
1. Demonstrate your products
Buyers come to trade shows to see in person the (mostly B2B) products they don’t feel comfortable buying online. So have your booth staffers demonstrate your products all through the show. You can also let the attendees get their hands on your product and try it out themselves. The best demos have movement, noise, and clearly prove your major advantages that matter to buyers. Got a small product? Consider amplifying the demo with a live video feed on large monitors.
2. Photo op
Even though almost everyone has a camera included with the smart phones in their pocket, they will still stop to get their photos taken at events. Entice attendees into your booth with fun wearable props: props they can hold, cool things or people they can pose with, or something that exemplifies the event location. Get your brand into the act with backdrop screens displaying your logo and hashtags, or oversized social media post frames. Or just use the photo op as a way to stop attendees and start a conversation.
3. Augmented and virtual reality
These technologies add a high-tech cool factor to exhibitors’ booths. Done well, they let attendees experience products in new, more memorable ways. Virtual reality puts your booth visitors in virtual places in locations and at a scale they can’t in real life. Augmented reality overlays more visual information over the product or visual prompt they see before them. Both AR and VR can help you tell stories and make benefits more explicit.
4. Trade show games
Trade show attendees like to win prizes. By offering trade show games, booth visitors learn about your products as they compete for prizes or top-dog status. Games can be old-school analog or digital interactive activities. As people get excited playing, their enthusiasm will attract even more attendees. Just be sure that attendees can figure out how to play your games quickly and your prizes don’t break any industry gift-receiving rules.
5. Time trials
Hosting a contest of skill where attendees compete against the clock or each other is a sure draw. This works especially well if your product users are motivated by ease and speed of use. Display a leaderboard with the names of the fastest competitors. Give the setting a bit of game show pizzazz. You may even have an emcee who cheers on competitors, which will attract even more people.
6. Subject matter expert talks
Attendees come to trade shows to learn. That’s why most trade shows offer many educational sessions in addition to the exhibit floor. Get in on some of that action by having your own subject matter experts or company executives host presentations. Talk about the latest trends, most wanted how-to topics, and biggest challenges your customers face. Just be sure your subject matter experts are also good presenters—if not, get a professional presenter to learn the content or to interview the expert.
7. Attendee survey
Ask attendees to share their opinions to key questions facing your typical buyers. They can share their feedback by writing on white boards, Post-It notes, texting, data-entry kiosks, touch screens, or any way you can capture and display their votes. Some attendees will be willing to share their opinions, while others will only want to see what others have said. Either way, you have attendees engaged rather than just walking by. Bonus: Their opinions are a natural starting point for a meaningful dialog.
Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
- The Complete 35-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
- 25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business
- 50 Questions Angel Investors Will Ask Entrepreneurs
- 17 Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
8. Hospitality
One of the oldest ways to bond with people is to break bread with them. Offering food and drink gets attention and gives your staffers something more productive to do with their hands than hold their smartphone. I recently read that people who receive a warm drink (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) from someone feel closer to that person. So, set up a café and hand out the treats and finger food—as long as it’s not messy! The better the aroma, the more traffic you get.
9. Entertainers
Entertainers put some of the “show” back into trade shows. Magicians, dancers, musicians, artists, performers, actors, and more can attract attendees who want to see something fun they usually don’t get to see live. You will need space to host them and perhaps extra sound amplification. You may need permission from the show if the performer or the audience will clog the aisles. Be sure to tie the entertainment to your brand or show campaign theme.
10. Donations to a cause
There are a few reasons to consider offering to attendees that you will donate to a cause or charity if they visit and interact with you in your booth. First, it’s an emotional appeal that lets them know you care about something worthwhile. Second, it can help you build stronger relationships when you choose a cause that is a good match for their demographics. And third, you build your brand by supporting causes that fit your corporate culture and personality. As people make donations, let them put up their name on a board to show they also care. This activity works even better in industries that don’t allow gifts for attendees.
11. Animals
Animals, whether they are cute or exotic, have a surprising drawing power on the human psyche. People will line up to pet a cute puppy, bunny, goat, or kitten, and even more so if you have a bunch of them. This may be harder to tie into your brand message, so it’s not for everybody. We know of one exhibitor that brought in baby goats that attendees couldn’t resist—perfect because the company sold soap made from goat milk. Exotic animals can tug on attendees’ curiosity.
12. Arts and crafts
Let your attendees explore their artistic side. Give them something to paint, draw, sculpt so that you’re not only engaging them in a fun activity, but you’re reinforcing your brand message. These activities will make your attendees happy and keep them in your booth longer. And as they sit there making art, other people will see them and want to make art, too. Then share photos of their art via social media and a hashtag to make them all easy to find.
13. Journey
Keep attendees in your booth longer and tell a more complex story by taking them on a journey through your booth. You can design your exhibit with graphics and hands-on stations where attendees learn about successive aspects of your product offerings, competitive advantages, or company history. Some exhibitors will give attendees a punch card or passport that can be redeemed for a prize after attendees visit and complete each step of the journey.
14. Experiences
Experiences help create more memorable and emotional attachments between exhibitors and attendees. Experiences appeal to multiple senses, create interaction, and get attendees emotionally involved with an exhibitor’s brand or story. Some of the other ideas in this article could quality as experiences, but do not cover every possible experience. Examples of successful experiences include an escape room or a Zen garden.
When deciding between these 14 trade show booth activity ideas or others, also consider:
- Which activities will best fit your brand?
- What activities will best attract your target demographic?
- How will you convert activity participants into leads?
- How much space do you need for the activity?
- How will you set the stage for the activity?
- If trained, can your own booth staffers host the activity or do you need professional help?
In Europe, they call a trade show booth a “stand.” But the last thing you want your booth staff to do is just stand there and do nothing! Choose a suitable activity for your trade show booth, and create motion, excitement, and engagement that brings in more visitors and generates greater results for your company at trade shows.
RELATED: Swag 101: Top 5 Tips for First-Time Trade Show Exhibitors
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Wednesday, May 29, 2019
12 Small Business Podcasts That Will Help You Sell More
Running a business is often about setting goals and putting in the long hours and hard work to achieve them. Regardless of what type of business you run, it’s likely that “selling more” has a frequent, if not long-term, place on your to-do list. It’s a goal that requires staying up to date on new techniques, honing strategies, and being in touch with the latest industry news.
The sad part? It’s difficult for small business owners, many of whom have little downtime. Podcasts, however, afford busy professionals with the opportunity to digest powerful and life-changing information while they’re commuting, working out, making dinner, or participating in any number of daily tasks that are well suited for audio media.
You can spend hours—if not days—sifting through all the many podcasts out there, but if your goal is to sell more, then these 12 podcasts can help. Plus, many of them offer valuable information for not only running a business, but living the entrepreneurial life.
1. Bowery Capital Startup Sales Podcast
Bowery Capital’s podcast is designed specifically to help businesses improve their sales, and for that reason, it’s an obvious win for this list. With industry experts hosting and joining the podcast, it’s hard not to learn something new—and ultimately valuable—to your sales and overall business strategies.
Audiences can expect a healthy mix of topics, including those focused on everything from SaaS to recruitment. There’s something for everyone, but startup founders are especially likely to find this podcast invaluable.
Listen to Bowery Capital Startup Sales Podcast.
2. B2B Growth
Does your business sell to other businesses? Hosted by James Carbary, Nikki Ivey, and Logan Lyles, this daily podcast for B2B businesses brings listeners one-on-one interviews with industry leaders who specialize in all areas of marketing strategy including content, technology, and social media.
B2B Growth is known for offering solid business advice in succinct episodes that typically don’t run over 25 minutes. For the small business owner on the run, this is the perfect way to grab some valuable knowledge while commuting, during a lunch break, or at the gym.
3. Accelerate Your Business Growth
The Accelerate Your Business Growth podcast regularly makes top podcast lists, and perhaps one reason is host Diane Helbig’s diverse yet strategic approach to business success. Avid listeners include small business owners and salespeople alike, all hoping to gain insights from Diane, who has become a well-known business advisor, sales trainer, author, and all-around growth accelerator.
Though Diane covers many aspects of business, for those seeking sales-specific advice, her interview with Stacey Brown Randall, which focuses on gaining referrals without asking for them, is well worth the time.
Listen to Accelerate Your Business Growth.
4. Sales Evangelist
Donald Kelly’s motto is “when you find something of value you should share it,” and that he does. Donald is utterly passionate about B2B sales, but his podcast is far from preachy.
As with many of the other hosts on this list, Donald brings in a solid number of high-performing guests who share their wisdom with the audience. What’s great about his show is it’s perfect for listeners at various stages of their business journey, from students just entering into sales and business to seasoned entrepreneurs looking to hone their skills.
5. Liz on Biz
Running a business isn’t just about financial decisions and market strategies—it’s a lifestyle. Liz on Biz host Liz Theresa offers a refreshing take on business that takes into account everything from lifestyle choices to online marketing, and seemingly everything in between.
Liz’s show is high-energy and fun without sacrificing content, and when engaging with her well-chosen guests, Liz offers listeners a nice pick-me-up with a healthy side of business acumen. Though any entrepreneur can benefit from this podcast, female business owners should make it a point to subscribe and listen ASAP.
6. The Marketing Book Podcast
Do you find yourself with no time to get to that list of business books you’ve been meaning to read? Douglas Burdett, host of The Marketing Book Podcast, offers interviews with best-selling authors of sales and marketing books. You’ll get actionable advice, but be warned: Your list of books to read may get a little longer!
It’s worth noting that Douglas is a stand-up comedian, making this podcast as entertaining as it is informative. If you want to end your week on an upbeat note, you’ll want to check out the new episodes that air every Friday.
Listen to The Marketing Book Podcast.
Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
- The Complete 35-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
- 25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business
- 50 Questions Angel Investors Will Ask Entrepreneurs
- 17 Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
7. AM/PM Podcast
If you’re selling on Amazon— or want to— then Manny Coats and his AM/PM Podcast may be just what you need. Manny, who started selling on Amazon in 2015, has worn many hats in his lifetime, the likes of which range from humor site founder to mobile game developer. His eclectic experience and drive for success make this podcast entertaining and informative.
On AM/PM Podcast, Manny takes a straightforward approach to Amazon FBA advice. What’s great about this podcast is that Manny discusses and guides listeners through a wide range of topics and consistently offers detailed, step-by-step, action-oriented solutions for FBA sellers at various points in their journey. One example: You can’t sell a product you can’t produce. Here Manny shared how he used creative financing from his manufacturer to launch a product without having to pay for production up front.
8. Success Unfiltered
Does selling make you feel uncomfortable? Does a “no” from a prospect make you feel like a failure? Michelle Weinstein, who goes by the moniker “The Pitch Queen” wants you to know you’re not alone. Selling doesn’t come naturally to many entrepreneurs, and whether you love it or hate it, Michelle wants to help you embrace this essential aspect of growing a successful business.
Michelle’s podcast shares stories from entrepreneurs who have experienced both success and setbacks in an effort to both inspire and educate. Her own sales experience includes selling real estate and food products, as well as raising $1 million for her most recent company. Tune in and you may just find yourself learning to love selling.
9. In the Arena
Advice that’s practice, valuable, and executable—doesn’t that sound nice? That’s what you can expect from Anthony Iannarino’s podcast, In the Arena. Anthony, who is the author of several well-received books, including The Only Sales Guide You’ll Ever Need, brings over 25 years of experience to his audience to help them increase sales and take their business to the next level.
Though Anthony brings plenty to the table on his own, listeners also get to hear from authors and industry experts, like Seth Godin, Jeffrey Gitomer, and Tiffani Bova. This healthy mix of top-notch interviews and personal experience have made In the Arena a popular podcast for both B2B and B2C professionals.
10. Growth Everywhere
Growth Everywhere is another podcast that recognizes the importance of maintaining personal and business growth in an effort to maximize sales and create a successful business. Eric Siu, CEO of the digital marketing agency Single Grain, uses his platform to impart a wealth of knowledge on everything from sales to productivity.
Growth Everywhere is an accurate title as listeners can expect to listen to everything from interviews with top industry moguls—like Tim Schmoyer, Master of YouTube— to podcasts centered on industry basics, as is the case in an episode titled “The 5 Rules for Ads that Convert.“
11. Get WealthFit!
At one point in his career Dustin Mathews traveled the country selling from the stage. His experience as a successful public speaker comes through in these fast-paced, no-fluff interviews with successful business owners and advisors.
Many Get WealthFit! episodes focus directly on sales, such as Dustin’s interviews with Susan McVea on selling to women, Kevin Harrington from the original Shark Tank cast on how to pitch to a “shark,” and his conversation with $250 million marketer Geoff Chadwick. As the name implies, some interviews focus on health and wellness for the entrepreneur, which can also have an impact on sales and income.
12. Sales Babble Podcast
“Great selling is about helping,” says Pat Helmers, host of the Sales Babble Podcast. Pat doesn’t believe you have to be sleazy or pushy to be successful in sales, and he speaks from experience: He built an inside and outside sales team for a SaaS startup that generated eight figures in revenue.
Pat interviews sales experts from a range of industries; the main focus is B2B sales, but business owners whose primary customers are consumers won’t be left out. Pat posted his top episodes for 2018, and not surprisingly the number one overall topic was cold-calling.
Listen to Sales Babble Podcast.
RELATED: 9 Must-Watch TED Talks That Will Make You a Better Entrepreneur
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8 Easy Steps to Writing a Winning Business Proposal
By Adam Hempenstall
What’s the hardest part about winning new clients? Some might say it’s lead generation, while others will say it’s prospecting. However, there is one part of the sales process that very few people like to do: write and send out sales proposals. Instead of being happy about having a new client that’s about to sign on, a lot of people stress for hours trying to write a compelling offer suited for a particular client.
Since we know how difficult writing a good business proposal can be, we have come up with tips on how to write proposals that will convert and turn prospects into customers. These insights are based on real facts we have gathered from researching how to write a business proposal, based on more than 189,000 signed proposals.
1. Don’t write from scratch every time
If it’s taking you hours to write a single business proposal because you approach it like you would be writing an essay, thinking each word and section through, you’ve made your first rookie mistake. While this may be a nice, thorough approach, it’s far from practical.
Instead, focus on creating a template that you can simply edit each time you pitch a new client. The template should contain all of the most important elements, along with a few sections (type of service, pricing, terms, etc.) that you would edit and personalize for each client. Instead of spending six hours on a proposal, you can spend half an hour editing a proposal template and send it out. Easy work.
2. Get the most important details, then write an introduction
The reason why most proposals fail to get signed is not because they are poorly written (although that happens), it’s because the salesperson does not know the client well enough and their pain points. Before sitting down and writing your proposal, have a meeting or a call with the client. Find out what makes them tick and use that knowledge to write an introduction. Here you should state who you are, what you do, and how you will solve the client’s problem. The introduction is the first and most important part of the proposal, so make sure to spend enough time on it to make it compelling.
3. Get into the details
The second part of your proposal contains detailed specifications. This is where you get into the nuts and bolts of how you will solve the client’s problem. Presumably, the introduction got them hooked, and this is where you will show them you really know how to solve their pain point.
Next, your third section should contain timelines. Too many business owners get this part wrong and end up losing the deal or fighting deadlines they can’t manage, simply because they failed to include a timeline in the proposal. Be sure to clearly state what you will be able to do and by when. This also can be beneficial later in case there are disagreements.
4. Show them you can really get the job done
What’s the best way to demonstrate to a client you can create and design a great website for their restaurant? Show them examples of restaurant websites you’ve done before. And this should be your fourth section. In your template insert examples of work you’ve done before that are similar to what you’re proposing.
5. Ask for the money (and make an offer they can’t refuse)
Pricing is the fifth section of any good proposal, and it’s the part of the proposal that gets the second most attention. Pay attention to how you name this section. While calling it “price” is nice and straightforward, it will get your clients thinking of paying, instead of investing. To avoid this, call this section “investment” or “return on investment.”
While your price is dependent on the product or service you’re selling, according to our research, up selling and options aren’t good for conversions. To reduce friction and make it easier for clients to sign, your pricing and offers should be simple and straightforward. Offering just one option is enough, and the client will have an easier time making a decision.
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- The Complete 35-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
- 25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business
- 50 Questions Angel Investors Will Ask Entrepreneurs
- 17 Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
If you want to take it up a notch, you can include a section about guarantees—simply make a promise your client won’t be able to refuse. For example: “If I can’t build your restaurant website in two weeks, I will also design your menu and calling cards.” For the guarantee to work, you need to be aware of the workload and timelines.
6. Don’t make them guess what they have to do
If you can imagine the restaurant owner at the other end, he or she is probably thinking, “I have the details. I have proof they’ve done it before. The price is right. I even have a guarantee. Let me sign and then go play some golf while I wait for my new website!”—that is, if you’ve told them exactly what to do.
In your sixth section, clearly communicate what happens next if the client chooses to do business with you. For example, it could be sign the proposal, pay the first part of the invoice, arrange a kick-off call, send in the necessary materials, etc.
7. Get the legal stuff out of the way
You may think that a “Terms and Conditions” section is unnecessary, but it’s a great way for you and the client to know what happens if things don’t go exactly as planned. Having this section won’t hurt your conversions, and it won’t require too many changes in your template.
8. Send it out ASAP
Your proposal is done, and now it’s time to have the client read it and sign it. If you’ve had the meeting and written out your proposal (which hopefully didn’t take hours), send it out as soon as possible. As our research has shown, sending out the proposal within the first 24 hours makes it 14% more likely to be signed, compared to sending it out three to four days after your meeting.
In conclusion
Proposal writing doesn’t have to be a chore. Instead of taking hours to write a proposal to win a single client, prepare a template with the sections we have mentioned and you’ll hopefully win lots of new clients.
RELATED: 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Business Writing
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Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Want Your Business to Be Successful? Behave Like the Company You Want to Become
By Chip Gallent
Is your company stuck? Have your revenues plateaued? Are your goals stagnant? It might be because your company is simply not behaving right. You are behaving exactly like the company you currently are.
Think about that statement for a minute. I believe that your results are preordained because of your behavior.
This idea came to me recently when I was sitting in on a planning day with one of our member companies. I noticed something unique about the CEO. He was leading his team like the CEO he wanted to become, not the one he is today. He set the tone by challenging his team to think bigger and better. He didn’t treat them like the company they were, but like a company 50% larger.
Think back to when Steve Jobs took the CEO job at Apple for the second time. The company was flat, their competitive edge was gone, and quite simply, they weren’t acting like the Apple we knew. Was there any question that Mr. Jobs was not going to totally revolutionize Apple? Its change was preordained because he knew how to think in the context of the company he wanted Apple to be.
Are you ready to change your company from the inside out? Here are three things that will help alter your company’s behavior:
1. Role play during your meetings
Try this the next time you’re in a planning session:
- Have everyone in the room go around and write down their favorite business leader.
- Restate the question at hand and ask the team to write down three ways the person they wrote down would solve the problem at hand.
- Have someone facilitate the information gathering and write down every idea on large sticky notes, a white board, or an easel pad. The key here is to NOT throw out any ideas yet. Get everything down.
- Once the ideas are all down have the team collectively vote on their top three solutions to the problem, and then narrow it down to the one thing you’re going to use to solve the problem.
- Go do the work.
The biggest obstacle we see in our coaching practice is the limitations that companies place upon themselves with the way they think through problems. By using this role playing technique, you remove that barrier by playing make-believe and using someone else’s context to help you solve a problem. We, and our own perceived limitations, are the barriers to our success.
2. Implement the adult agreement
This is one of the most important tools we use in our coaching practice and recite as a team before every planning session:
“WE AGREE: We are all adults. We are here for the same reasons. We act like adults. Adults do and don’t do certain things. Adults don’t shoot each other down. Adults own up and bring mistakes to the table. Adults don’t hide problems. Adults admit fault. Adults don’t argue with reality. Adults make hard decisions. Adults don’t shy away and they don’t crush one another for acting like adults.”
Are you truly acting like an adult within the walls of your organization? In most companies I have worked with in the past, people have played the blame game. Get over it. You’re supposed to all be in this together. How many times have you, yourself, reserved an insight during a meeting out of fear because you knew the team would shoot it down? That kind of continuing practice can act as a cancer within your organization.
Take this adult agreement and use it within your company. Once it takes root, you will see a massive behavioral change.
Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
- The Complete 35-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
- 25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business
- 50 Questions Angel Investors Will Ask Entrepreneurs
- 17 Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
3. Assume positive intent
Don’t you just love it when you get feedback . . . not! What most companies describe as feedback is really criticism. What are you not doing? What could you do better? What do you need to change? It all comes from a position of negativity. Turn that around using this one very simple principle.
Always assume positive intent. Whenever you receive feedback from someone, assume the person is working from a place of helpfulness, instead of maliciousness. You can also use this statement as a way to invoke positivity into the feedback you’re giving instead of receiving. Tell people you’d like to share something in order to help them learn and grow. Assuming the best of others is beneficial for everyone. Write it in big letters on your whiteboard. Paint it on your walls. These three simple words can—and have changed—people and companies.
You must behave like the company you want to become—way before your revenue or some other measurement says you are that company. By removing perceived limitations, acting like adults, and assuming the best of others, you will see an immediate culture change in your team that will allow major growth movements to take place.
RELATED: 5 Lessons I Learned About Business by Playing in a Band
Certified Petra Coach Chip Gallent has led multiple businesses across a wide variety of verticals during his 25-plus year career. He has held C-level roles at a publicly traded dot.com, a technology firm, and a leading non-profit; as an entrepreneur he ran his own technology consulting/business strategy practice. A visionary change agent, Chip excels at making companies more competitive and people more effective through operational improvement enhanced with the right technology. Contact him at chip@petracoach.com.
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Is Free-Range Sushi Really Better Sushi? Avoiding the Pitfall of False Business Claims
By Paul Weber
Living Essentials, maker of 5-Hour Energy, alleged its energy drink shot contained a synergistic combination of ingredients that made it superior to drinking coffee and that doctors recommended it. A Washington state court ruled these claims, among others, were misleading and ordered the maker to pay $4.3 million in penalties and fees.
Lumos Labs, creators of Lumosity, claimed its brain-stimulating app would help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, though no research as proof was ever presented. The company settled the charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for $2 million.
And the list of companies making false claims goes on and on.
Is it only a matter of time before a grocery store or seafood marketers tout the benefits of free-range sushi because free-range sushi is better sushi? Of course, the idea that freely swimming fish produce a better sushi is absurd, but it’s no less ridiculous than the claims made by some small businesses on a daily basis.
Let the buyer beware
Who, if anyone, is regulating small businesses’ advertising claims? The FTC doesn’t possess the resources or investigative power to monitor the vast small business landscape and regulate false or misleading claims, nor should they. The invisible hand of capitalism does a fine job regulating small business advertising claims.
The invisible hand of capitalism is a term used by Adam Smith in 1776 to describe the unintended social benefits of an individual’s self-interest. Simply put, if you lie to us, we won’t buy what you are selling and your business will fail.
In an era of declining regulation, capitalism controls the marketplace. For small businesses, the mistake of misleading customers can be devastating. We have all heard the saying caveat emptor (let the buyer beware), but for business owners who want to embellish their marketing message, the real message should be “seller beware.” Some marketers fail to heed capitalism’s invisible hand when it comes to embellishing product features and benefits in their advertising.
iSpring Water Systems of Alpharetta, Ga., claimed its water filtration systems were made in America, but many were either largely or entirely manufactured overseas. The FTC intervened, but the damage to iSpring could have gone well beyond fees and penalties. Customers might have turned away, and a major distributor like Amazon could have chosen to disassociate with a brand that had misled consumers.
In essence, any marketing claim is a promise to the customer. Break that promise and risk alienating a customer for life. Break that promise in grand fashion and risk accompanying FTC fines and failure.
Even a small business owner’s seemingly innocuous claim can cause irrevocable harm to a brand or business. A Kansas City car dealership touted its customer service superiority with the tag line “You couldn’t buy from a nicer bunch of guys.” Unfortunately, the dealership was notorious for its bait-and-switch selling and atrocious customer service. As one former customer said, “You couldn’t buy from a bigger bunch of jerks.” A claim of superiority, when not matched with a superior product or service, is worse than not making the claim at all.
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- The Complete 35-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
- 25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business
- 50 Questions Angel Investors Will Ask Entrepreneurs
- 17 Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
In the 1970s, Domino’s Pizza introduced its “30 minutes or it’s free” guarantee to gain market share in a competitive industry. Before Domino’s bold move, nobody cared if a pizza arrived in 30 minutes or 35 minutes. By making such a bold claim, Domino’s created a competitive difference on speed of delivery, but not necessarily a competitive advantage.
The company ended the guarantee after drivers were involved in crashes resulting in injuries and deaths. Whether the accidents were related to weather, bad driving habits, or intentional speeding at managers’ requests, the public perception soured on the 30-minute guarantee. Domino’s still offers a guarantee, but today it is based on quality. If you’re not satisfied with your order, they’ll remake it.
Simple rules to live by
History serves as a fair warning to millions of small business owners trying to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Yours is probably not the fastest, cheapest, most qualified, best trained, nicest, most talented business in your competitive space. Don’t make claims you can’t quantify or honor for an indefinite period of time, as they may backfire for reasons out of your control.
Simple rules to live by, to avoid the pitfalls of making false claims in your advertising:
1. Understand the definition of the word hyperbole and avoid walking the tightrope between exaggerating and telling a lie.
2. Test your claims with employees and customers. Do they believe your message to be fair and true? If not, reconsider your advertising statements.
3. Are your advertising claims quantifiable? Can you substantiate what you say about yourself in real numbers that readers will understand?
4. Do your advertising statements really matter to your customers? Remember the Domino’s story. If you make a grandiose claim and nobody cares that you deliver in 30 minutes or less, reconsider your statement.
5. Do you make false claims using the statements of others? If you want to be challenged about the effectiveness or efficacy of your product, just say it is recommended by a doctor. Doctors will come out of the woodwork to challenge your claim.
6. When rating the values most desired in a product, service, or company, customers will usually choose integrity over anything else. So if you need to embellish to sell, you jeopardize the very integrity your customers seek.
If you’re going to claim that your free-range sushi is better sushi, just make sure you can prove to the FTC or in a court of law that your fish get adequate free swim time.
RELATED: Is Your Marketing Above Board? Common Illegal Marketing Mistakes Small Businesses Make
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Monday, May 27, 2019
10 Key Steps for Building a Great Small Business Website
By Allison Bowlus
Whether you are a freelance photographer, own a hardware store, or have another type of small business, a great website is essential for your company’s success. As a webmaster who has worked on building or marketing over 100 small business websites, I know what it takes to create great and engaging business websites.
If you are looking to build a new startup website or make your current site more effective, here are 10 key steps to getting started and helping your small business website compete effectively in the online marketplace.
1. Obtain a good domain name
Your domain name, also known as your website address, is often the entry point to your site. It is important that it makes a good impression for usability purposes, as well as for search engine optimization (SEO).
Here are some tips for coming up with an optimal domain name:
- Make it easy to spell. Try not to use slang, made up, or extremely esoteric words.
- Keep it as short as possible. The shorter it is, the easier it is to remember and type correctly.
- Use the proper domain extension. Try to always make it a .com domain name (as opposed to .net, .co, etc.) unless it is more appropriate to use another extension, such as .gov, .edu, or .org.
- Avoid numbers and hyphens. They are hard to remember and less elegant and memorable than word-only domain names, and may be misunderstood when vocalizing the domain name.
- Make the address broad to facilitate future growth. For example, Amazon.com is a much broader website address than BooksOnline.com and allows Amazon to sell pretty much every type of consumer good instead of books only, as was its original purpose.
- Ensure it is memorable. With so many websites on the internet, it is important that your website name is catchy so people will remember how to access it in the future.
- Research the domain name. Google it to see if a similar website address already exists online, and search on USPTO.gov to make sure it does not contain any registered trademarks.
- Check if the price is right. Determine if you can purchase your desired website address at a reasonable price since most good domain names are taken and will need to be bought from the current owner.
- Avoid nonsensical names. Choose a name that conveys a meaning so that users will know immediately what your business is. Yahoo and Google are catchy names, but they were very expensive to brand, and your small business may not have the same budget.
- Create an SEO-friendly URL. When appropriate, try to come up with an SEO-friendly website address that includes keywords and geo-location; for example, “www.LasVegasElectrician.com.”
2. Purchase secure, scalable website hosting with good tech support
A website host (or sometimes referred to as a website hosting provider) is a company that offers the technology and services necessary for a website to be viewed on the internet. You connect your domain name to your hosting provider so that when users visit your website address, they are shown your website that you store on your hosting account.
Hosting services can cost anywhere between $2 to $100+ per month, depending on the kind of technology and support you choose. You can usually get a discount if you purchase a yearly plan as opposed to a monthly plan.
Here are some guidelines for choosing a good website hosting plan:
- Although you can get a “shared server” hosting plan for as little as $2 per month, I would typically advise against this. Shared hosting means you are sharing a server and its resources with other customers, which can make the performance of your site suffer. Also, if one of the other websites on your shared server is hacked, it is possible for your website to also be infected.
- A “dedicated server” hosting plan is the most expensive option—cost can range from around $100 to $2,000 per month—but it would make your website perform the most optimally. Having a dedicated server plan means that the physical server machine is entirely dedicated to your site; therefore, all the resources are yours and it is more secure than a shared hosting plan, as long as the technology is optimal. However, it is much more expensive than what most small businesses usually are willing to pay. Once you have a very high-performing site, this may be what you need, but it is overkill for most early stage and small businesses.
- The compromise I typically recommend is a “virtual private server” (VPS) hosting plan which offers the best of both worlds. The cost ranges from around $20 to $50 per month, which is affordable for the hosting services you will receive. A VPS is one machine that is partitioned to act as multiple machines, which gives it a similar affordability to shared hosting, with similar security and performance potential as a dedicated server hosting plan.
- Make sure your hosting company has phone and/or chat support so you can be helped quickly if you have a problem. Email support can often take too long and become frustrating when a problem needs to be resolved immediately. Phone support is best, but chatting works well, too.
- There needs to be an easy to use server interface like cPanel to access your server. You do not want to have to use terminal commands to view your server contents and make changes, unless you can afford to hire a professional server administrator to help you.
- Check to see what kind of server security is in place on the server you are considering. You will want to be able to access your server via Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). There should be daily backups being made of your server contents. There should also be an easy, one or two-click method to install Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates. Make sure the hosting company performs regular security maintenance. Ideally your hosting company has a published security protocol you can review so you know how they keep their servers safe.
Some popular website hosting companies include:
3. Prominently display a clear description of your business
It is important to let people know who you are and what you do right away so they don’t feel confused when they visit your small business website. Make sure your main homepage banner (also known as a “hero image”) and subsequent banners are visual representations of your services, and also that you have an introductory text blurb near the top of the page that describes who you are and what you do.
Additionally, make sure both your main and footer navigation menus have “About Us” page links easily accessible so people can click them and read more about your business in depth.
4. Implement the best content management system
A content management system (CMS) is a software program or application that is used to create and manage digital content. A good CMS will help you maintain your site, and you don’t need much technical knowledge to use it. You should choose a CMS that is designed for your unique needs; different systems are used for different reasons, such as user-friendliness, extensibility, and budget.
The following are some popular systems with descriptions of their strengths and weaknesses.
WordPress: WordPress is the world’s most popular CMS. It has a vast, active support community and many useful plugins to extend the functionality of your site. (And if you cannot find a plugin that does what you want, it is easy to find a WordPress developer who can make one for you!) WordPress is also free and relatively simple to install. Most website developers are familiar with it so it is not hard to find an individual or agency that can work on your site. I normally recommend that small businesses use WordPress to create their websites, due to its flexibility and extensibility.
It must be noted, however, that WordPress’s biggest weakness is security—because it is so popular, hackers target it the most. Your WordPress site needs to be regularly maintained and secured so it is not hacked. Also, it is difficult to secure every single third-party plugin, so keeping your WordPress site secure must be an ongoing commitment through various best practices (checking to see if your plugins have been updated within the past few months, making sure it is a plugin provided in the official WordPress repository, deleting unused plugins immediately, etc.).
Drupal: Drupal is another popular CMS. It offers many of the same benefits as WordPress, including flexibility, ease of use, and a large support community. Notably it is a more secure CMS than WordPress (safer from malicious activity); however, it doesn’t have as many plugin or theme options, which makes it less extensible. For many years, the White House website (Whitehouse.gov) was run with Drupal, but has since switched to WordPress, which it still uses today.
Joomla!: Another popular CMS is Joomla! Out of the box, it has better SEO, security, and multilingual capabilities than WordPress; however, with the help of a few plugins, WordPress surpasses Joomla!’s capabilities.
Squarespace: Squarespace is a service you subscribe to monthly or annually that makes website and blog creation an easy “drag and drop” experience. It includes website design, development, software maintenance, metrics, domain name with annual purchase, SSL security, 24/7 support, and unlimited bandwidth and storage hosting all in one package. It is especially suitable for creatives and provides you with top-notch design templates. If you are on a tight budget, need a simple and beautiful site, but cannot afford a website designer, this is a great service for you.
There is a much smaller learning curve with Squarespace than with WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla!, but it doesn’t have nearly as many extensibility options. However, if you have little or no technical knowledge and are looking for a quick and easy way to put up a website, Squarespace is an excellent option for you.
Wix: Wix is very similar to Squarespace, but it is a bit more user-friendly. It offers a monthly, but not annual, subscription and includes similar features. Wix is also a drag-and-drop builder—you can freely drag and drop elements anywhere on the page; in comparison, Squarespace is more structured in where you can drag and drop on the page. The learning curve to using Wix is even shorter than Squarespace, so if you need to publish a site quickly, this may be your best option.
Wix has a lot more templates than Squarespace to choose from, but once you choose a template, you must stick with it or be forced to completely rebuild your site. With Squarespace, you can change your template anytime without having to rebuild the entire site.
5. Choose a good e-commerce platform
If you plan on selling goods and/or services through your website, you will need the right technology to do so. (If you do not currently sell anything, you may want to consider doing so since e-commerce could potentially increase your profits.) If you decide to allow users to financially transact with you online, you will need to choose the right platform for your business model.
Here are some popular small business e-commerce platforms:
WooCommerce: WooCommerce is one of the world’s most popular e-commerce platforms—it can turn your WordPress website into an online store. Like WordPress, there are many plugins available, and it attaches to WordPress, which makes it extremely flexible. There are many free and premium themes pre-built for WooCommerce. (As a rule, it is better to use a premium theme from a reputable developer because it will offer better security and support.) If you are not tech-savvy, you will most likely need a WordPress developer to help you set it up and use it. WooCommerce also offers a very high amount of capabilities and scalability that your small business might need.
Shopify: Shopify is a cloud based e-commerce platform that allows you to create and customize an online store, and to manage products, inventory, payments, and shipping. It is not a WordPress extension like WooCommerce—it is a standalone platform that is hosted on the Shopify server—so if you have a main website, your e-commerce site would technically be separate from that. You can link to your Shopify account from your regular website built with WordPress, Drupal, Wix, etc., unless your main website has a Shopify integration plugin.
Features include unlimited products, unlimited bandwidth, fraud analysis, discount codes, reports, and much more. The key benefits of Shopify are that you do not need a developer to set up a store, and everything on the backend is already set up for you when you subscribe. The downside is you do not have as much control or flexibility over your store as you would with WooCommerce.
Shopify Plus: Shopify Plus is Shopify, but with a higher level of customization, more staff accounts, and international e-commerce options. It also has a higher level of support. However, all of this obviously comes with a higher subscription cost, and it still does not have all the flexibility and customization abilities as WooCommerce.
Business Squarespace: Squarespace has an e-commerce subscription option, so if you chose Squarespace to build your site and have very simple e-commerce needs, you can choose this route. Business Squarespace charges a transaction fee, but this can be bypassed by upgrading your subscription to a basic online store. It includes a free domain, SSL security, SEO, abandoned cart recovery, discounts, real-time carrier shipping, and more. However, it has been noted it is not as user-friendly as Shopify. And like Shopify, it is simply not as flexible as WooCommerce.
Wix: Wix actually has a Shopify extension which is very user friendly. You will have to upgrade your Wix account and subscribe to Shopify in order to use it.
GoDaddy Online Store: GoDaddy has a relatively new e-commerce standalone subscription platform that is relatively easy to set up and use. Very little technical knowledge is required to launch your shop with GoDaddy Online Store. The templates are simple and clean, and somewhat customizable. Features include marketing and SEO tools, social media integration, appointment booking, SSL security, rapid page loading, and more.
Other Articles From AllBusiness.com:
- The Complete 35-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
- 25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business
- 50 Questions Angel Investors Will Ask Entrepreneurs
- 17 Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business
6. Create an interesting, memorable, and engaging website user interface
Make sure your small business website interface leaves a positive impression that drives results. You can do so by implementing the following suggestions:
- Use beautiful graphics and easy-to-read fonts.
- Make sure your graphics are compressed and optimized for fast loading. If your website is slow, search engines like Google will penalize your ranking.
- Research the competition to see how they have designed and optimized their websites; implement similar components that will work for your small business website.
- Research your target audience to see what they want from your site and make it easy for them to accomplish it.
- Stay consistently on brand throughout your website design.
- Design an intuitive navigation system which allows users to get to the pages they need quickly.
- Publish easily accessible contact information.
- Incorporate obvious call-to-actions (especially “buy now” buttons).
- Create pages that are standard for small business websites, such as:
- Home
- About us
- Products/Services (with descriptions and visually appealing images)
- Sitemap (for SEO purposes)
- Management team
- Contact us
- Terms of use (the online contract governing how users can use your site)
- Privacy policy
- Additional pages relevant to your specific small business
7. Optimize your small business website for search engines
SEO is a set of practices you apply to your website to ensure search engines index and rank your website appropriately and then show it to search engine users. Once your website is “crawled” by search engines, it competes with websites that have similar content. The better your website design and content is, the higher your site will show up on search engine result pages.
SEO mainly includes the following practices:
- Keyword research and implementation
- Optimal website code
- Fast loading speed
- Being secure and having an SSL certificate installed; SSL is the standard security technology that ensures data passed between web servers and browsers remains private
- Having a mobile-friendly site
- Existence of high-quality backlinks (links on external websites with related content) that lead to your site
- Having lots of positive reviews online (Google, Yelp, Facebook, etc.)
- Using internal links throughout your site to keep people clicking and reading
- Using social media to link to your site (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.)
SEO is an extremely important ongoing process that can mean the difference between showing up on the first page of search engine results pages (resulting in large amounts of free traffic to your website) or page 300 (resulting in no traffic).
8. Regularly create and publish quality content
Both content quantity and freshness are important to search engines, so it’s important that you create a plan to publish quality articles and/or blog posts on your site and on external sites that link to your site. If you want to rank highly in search engine results and encourage people to return to your site again and again, you will have to update your website with new and relevant content as frequently as possible.
In addition to static page content and articles, a great form of content to post on your website is testimonials. Asking for testimonials from your customers and then publishing them on your website is a great way to post fresh, high-quality content on your site that makes your small business more attractive.
Make sure your content uses an appropriate, on-brand tone that people will enjoy reading.
9. Install webmaster tools
Make use of vital data to help you analyze traffic and site performance by installing Google Analytics and
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