3 Simple Steps for your New Business Starter Website

So you've just started to develop your new business; you've bought some starter business cards, started your own mini version of a website, and you're now wondering how to even find your website or business name on search engines.

My advice is usually to talk to a few website developers; particularly those versed in search engine optimization and social media strategies. They can help you find tools like blogs, social networks, google AdWords, and other website essentials to help attract clients.

However, being a realist myself, I know that your budget right now is about the size of your new start-up business--tiny! There are too few website developers and social media strategists who focus on start-ups and startup budgets.

So for the time being, you may be on your own. However, here are three simple starter tools to help you in your efforts: (keep in mind that these steps are rudimentary as a website must follow specialized and complicated methods to attract visitors)

• Google. Go to www.google.com/addurl and submit your website's URL. Google may or may not include your website; in fact this is Google's message to you: "We add and update new sites to our index each time we crawl the web, and we invite you to submit your URL here. We do not add all submitted URLs to our index, and we cannot make any predictions or guarantees about when or if they will appear." So, although Google may or may not submit your URL, you can at least try.
• Add Me. www.addme.com This site will also allow you to submit your URL to major search engines; as well as create a shopping cart or use other tools essential to gain traffic for your website.
• Coffee Cup. www.coffeecup.com This site creates software in an effort to help you create "cool websites." They have created a one-stop-shop to help you start and build a website. They also have essential tools that can search your website and offer you help in creating more awareness for your website. They can also customize reports for your particular website and business and help you with optimization.

If you're new to this, you may be thinking, how does submitting my website name to these sites help me? The answer is by doing this, you allow your website to come up when someone searches google or another site to find your business' website. Try this: type your business name into google before and after you follow these simple steps and see what happens. It make take a couple of weeks to have any effect but if your business name does not bring up your website in a major search engine right now, by following these simple steps, it should happen a few weeks after.



About the Author: Cheryl Isaac is the writer of this blog and a Startup Business Consultant & Owner of Isaac Business Services, an agency that offers startup concierge & business planning services for small businesses.

Happy 4th of July

Happy Fourth of July!! I hope that you and your family enjoy spending some quality time together. As you hang out with family, remember, you have the perfect opportunity to survey family and friends regarding your business or business idea. You will be surprised that some information you get will prove valuable. Enjoy the fireworks and free time!


About the Author: Cheryl Isaac is the writer of this blog and a Startup Business Consultant & Owner of Isaac Business Services, an agency that offers startup concierge & business planning services for small businesses.

The Economic Package & Small Business

Today I spent some time researching the Economic Recovery Package or Stimulus Package as we know it. Thanks to our government, with this bill, business owners were given a few chances to recuperate in this recession.

However, because the final decisions sometimes rest with different entities, we are beginning to see minor problems arise.

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you remember that I blogged about the ARC loan earlier. To remind you, the ARC loan is the $35,000 loan created for struggling small businesses by the government in partnership with the Small Business Administration. With this loan, the Small Business Administration guarantees the loan 100%, the business owner does not have to pay on the loan until a year after receiving, and the small business owner gets help with credit card debt, payroll, or whatever need taking precedence at the moment.

Problem One: "The Bank." The loan has to be approved through the banks and banks are still hesitant. Bankers are still awaiting "banking guidelines" and upper-level skepticism is being filtered down. Banks think, "a program where we don't get paid for a year?!" "And if a business needs this money in the first place, they must be doing something wrong to begin with. Is this who we want to lend to?" They forget that some legitimate small businesses may need cash flow for a pressing need, may not want to use the cash they have set aside to pay bills, may not be in the financial frame to pay back any cash borrowed in less than a year, so a loan with no repayment until after a year could be the tool they were awaiting to keep their business afloat.

To most banks however, this seems ludicrous. After all, banks are in the business of making money first, then perhaps finding a compromise to helping struggling small businesses.

The ARC loan however is not the only Recovery Act problem. Stimulus money has now been released to various states. Among other things, the money stems to help create jobs, enhance the green movement, help small businesses, train people for more skilled employment, help the disabled, aid veterans, and help to educate and train youth.

Problem Two: states have the ability to control the placement of these funds. So each state now establishes their criteria and if you're in a conservative state....well, the criteria is most likely stringent.

For instance, some states are targeting entities that have already been state-funded. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, the one downside is that you have the same "old" programs and methods and "change" entities may not stand a chance in receiving funding.

Also, funds are being directed to non-profit institutions or educational institutions. So a for-profit green consulting group who may want to enhance their programs to educate more people and host workshops for companies and may think that Stimulus aid could be a way to do this, will learn that they are not eligible for this money.

While you savor this thought, think that one of the number one reasons for small business failure is lack of capital. So with the credit markets being tight for small businesses, plus the Stimulus package being tightened for some small businesses....Well, I believe you get the point. If tools are not in place to help this group, we may be repeating a similar cycle.

My advice to small businesses; particularly if you are a new one, is to research the programs thoroughly and find how you can place your business to qualify.

Here are three tips to help you:

1. Know industry-definition. For example, a grant requirement could state, "business must be in the High-Growth & Emerging Industry Sector." Make sure that you understand where your particular business falls.
2. Be grant-ready. You can't expect to get a loan when you have nothing in place. Quite frankly, you should not see a grant as a tool to own a business, rather it should be a tool to help you advance your business. Most of the Stimulus-focused money gives preference to activities that can be started and completed quickly. So make sure your non-profit is 501c3 ready, you have employees or contractors on stand-by, you have a business plan and structure, and you look grant-worthy.
3. Educate yourself. You must be aware of the requirements and be ready to show how you meet those requirements. Research the proposal formatting and be ready to submit your Request for Proposal (RFP) within the allotted time. Make sure you follow all directions and are detailed enough to show why you deserve the award.

I've also listed three websites to help you:

• The Federal Recovery Act Website: Started as way to have transparency of government funds, this website brings you news and updates straight from The Obama Administration.
• Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi's website: The speaker's website keeps you updated on the latest unveiling of the funds to various states and its effect on small businesses.
• Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown's website: What I like about this website is the Guide to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Ohio that is included. You will get the most detailed information and guidance with this tool.

About the Author: Cheryl Isaac is the writer of this blog and a Startup Business Consultant & Owner of Isaac Business Services, an agency that offers startup concierge & business planning services for small businesses.

Tips for the Retail Startup; 7 Ways to Drive Traffic to your Store

If you own a retail store that is less than 3 years old, one of the questions you probably ask yourself is, "how can I get customers for my store?" Here are 7 Tips that you may find helpful as you seek to acquire new customers and get traffic to your store:

1. Seek out guest speakers, business seminars or demonstrations for your store. If you own a bakery, you may want to demonstrate some form of baking or dough-related demonstration. People are generally fascinated by this. Or a used office furniture store owner could ask an interior designer to speak at his/her store. If you own a coffee or tea shop, business professionals may be drawn to your shop if you offer coffee or tea tasting and talk about your space available for events; this way, they get to see the space in its event setup mode.
2. Hold a private sale. Customers love this and feel appreciated by it. Invite your best customers to a private sale, offer special discounts, and give them an opportunity to meet your other customers. They will appreciate the exclusivity and will appreciate you more.
3. Have a raffle or drawing. This is a very essential tool in helping you expand your mailing list. Place a fishbowl in clear sight with the gift highlighted by it. Make sure that this is an enticing gift. Ask that people leave business cards or enter their contact information on a list that you keep private. Tell them that they will have a chance at winning this priceless gift. You will be amazed at how your database can grow by holding a drawing often.
4. Don't forget to Mail or E-Mail. Customers and potential customers are reminded of your business and what you do when they get regular updates from you. Since mailing takes some time to build awareness, you want to do it often. Look for something exciting to mail. For instance, if you own a children's clothing store, send out postcards with cute kids dressed in your outfits. This will draw any parent's attention and they may make a mental note of your store. E-mail newsletters are another way to keep in touch with clients. Two popular forums that provide these email newsletters tools are Constant Contact and AWeber.
5. Start a referral program. Ask your best customers to give you names and contact information of friends and colleagues who they think would be good customers. Then reward your referring customers with a discount or gift card. Send the referrals a promotional offer they can't refuse and get ready to give them the royal treatment when they enter your store with the offer. Sometimes a great way to do this is also by having stamped-ready-to-mail postcards handy so that all you would have to do is ask your customer while they're in the store, to just write the name and address of the referral on the postcard.
6. Host parties or regular events. There's a local store close to me that I go to regularly simply because they're always hosting fun events. If you own a store, events or parties are a great way to drive traffic to your store. For instance, a shoe store may choose to have a drink-and-shop mixer. Guess what? If I were invited to this event, I will be having a girlfriend tag along. By hosting parties or events, you double the amount of guests you would have at your store and you increase your chances for potential customers.
7. Remind customers that you exist and care about them. Keep a customer database to remind yourself of dates customers visited or events they attended. Call your customers once in a while when you haven't seen them; it creates an emotional bond in that customer's mind that is directed to your store. For instance, Lucy may want to call her customer Mary who attended her last chef demonstration to "see how you're doing since we haven't seen you at the store lately" and to remind her that the next demonstration would be in a week. Or she may send her an invitation that states, "glad you attended our last event, hope to see you at the upcoming event..." Calling customers personally or sending them non-generic mailings makes them believe that you care about them and reminds them that you still have a thriving business.

About the Author: Cheryl Isaac is the writer of this blog and a Startup Business Consultant & Owner of Isaac Business Services, an agency that offers startup concierge & business planning services for small businesses.

Have you talked to your clients lately? Customer Relationship Management

Whether you are a small business with lots of cash flow to start, or a small business who lacks funding, having a client base with no client management is silly. Think about it: wouldn't you want your clients to feel loved and appreciated? How can they feel this way if you've dropped them off in a stack of paperwork or file after completing their project? Or if they have to call and remind you about to-dos or deadlines you discussed? You need a system to help you manage your customers.

Remember the guy who cut your hair last year in his small but clean barbershop? You actually liked his work a little, but where is he now? You had a great time while he cut your hair, you chatted about football and your new son on the way. You thought he was a decent guy...but what happened? Did he forget about you?

Or maybe you've thought about the lady who owns the cafe down the street from your house. You've visited her coffee shop a few times and lately, you haven't been in for about four months. Didn't she miss you? After all, you were there at least once a week....

Here's the answer: the owners of those businesses never initiated follow-up with you. They probably didn't ask for an email, an address, a phone number, asked you to sign up for a contest or invitation to events. And if they did, they probably didn't keep up with you. You were forgotten. How does that make you feel? I know, you feel insignificant.

Get a client management system! It's that simple. There is no excuse. Look for one that could fit your budget and pay for it. Quit being cheap! Your customers are your diamonds and should be treated as such.

What is a client management system? Well in simple terms: it is a way to get rid of loose paperwork. It is a method that helps you arrange your clients and their information into one database, web-oriented, easy-to-locate place for you, an assistant or virtual assistant, a business partner or employee to access together from different places and computers.

Why is it important?

• It gives you some sense of automation. You can automatically bill clients, or send emails at various dates (i.e. we haven't seen you in 3 months, here's a reminder that it's time for your treatment).
• It gives you control. You can control cash flow by controlling customer count. Imagine that.
• It Decreases workload and Increases Productivity. Your client management system acts like an automated assistant for you. You may call a potential client to schedule a meeting. Maybe the client prefers to meet at a little date. A simple click of your mouse can have your automated assistant reminding you on that date to follow-up with that client. Can you imagine how much time searching through files and sticky notes will take in comparison?
• It helps with conversion. You now can turn prospects into clients by following up with them and making them feel special. Or, you can have current clients buy different products or types of services. Sounds good right?

Well before you go looking at Customer Management database systems, here are some things to consider in your search:

• Usability. How easy is it to manage? This will vary for most. There are tech savvy people who may have higher expectations. If you're like me, you want something easy and simple that already has an interface that seems user friendly. Go for what works for you and your business.
• Business objectives. Are you using this system mostly to store information or to manage customers? Your answer to this question could help you choose the right Customer relationship management system (CRM).
• Employees or none? Most of these databases have limits on the amount of users you can have so this should be a question you ask yourself before shopping CRM systems.

How does it work? Simple: you sign online everyday, you see all of your customers listed and the to-do's you have assigned for them. You can easily click to get a contact phone number or email to contact them.

One system I've used before is called SalesForce. For a small yearly price, I would log in to a secure platform everyday and send my clients reminders, see a list of tasks, view amount in dollars coming in every week, take automated payments, send emails, etc. Salesforce goes up to $65/month and has prices around $20/month (depending on your business and its needs)

I've called prospective clients 4 months after we talked and shocked them. They would ask, "What? You remembered me?" Yes I did. You know why? It was because I felt my clients were important enough to invest in a system/accountability partner.

How do you feel about your clients?

Here are a couple of platforms and client management software systems I came across:

1. CenterBase. Starting from $39.95 a month, they offer a system to keep your client information in one place, capture all your emails sent through outlook and place them in your client's history, and they even have an option for you to host on your own server. Good news: there's a free Trial Version Download, try it and see if it works for you.
2. Essential PIM. Starting from $39.95 a month, You can organize your schedule, contacts, mail, to-do, notes, etc in one location. You can also synchronize with Outlook, Palm, IPOD, Google calendar and any Windows-based device.
3. Relenta. Starts at $25/month and gives you shared email, contacts and a way to manage tasks. Good news: they also have a 14-day Free Trial.
4. Microsoft Office Live. You can get a FREE online workspace, way to share emails and documents on clients, collaborate on documents with your essential partners or employees, and a free website. And of course, the workspace works with any Microsoft document.

There are tons of different softwares and systems that work similar to these. I suggest you try finding the one that is the best fit for your small business needs.



About the Author: Cheryl Isaac is the writer of this blog and a Startup Business Consultant & Owner of Isaac Business Services, an agency that offers startup concierge & business planning services for small businesses