Can Your Small Business Culture and Values Win You Sales?

In the United States, do we really value the culture of our people as much as we say we do? After all, this is supposed to be a country that was founded and based on a coming together of cultures, a veritable melting pot, as they say. Culture is something that we should all cherish as it makes us all stand out in one way or the other and allows us to create and diversify. As those sage spokesmen and women say again, it takes all sorts to make a world!

When it comes to marketing, why not go back to your roots and really focus on what makes you and your business different? Where do you hail from and are your standards, beliefs, approaches and values a core part of how you do business? If not, then maybe they should be. By pandering to your strengths in terms of how you essentially live and breathe each day, then you should be making yourself and your brand equity stronger and more vibrant as well.

Always remember that it is to tough to fundamentally change who or what you are and you should be very cautious if you think that you can portray layers and elements that do not really represent your true spirit. However, be free to really underline and take advantage of the things that make you tick.

Very often our small businesses are built on a solid foundation of reputation. If you are known as being a helpful and enthusiastic trigger and always go out of your way to make things happen, then capitalize on this “yes we can” popular culture and make your glass permanently half-full from a marketing perspective.

We know how important social interaction is and how people like to deal with a real, live human being, even though this is becoming more challenging in our increasingly virtual world. With customer service, make sure that your staff are all on the same page and treat the customer in a positive and happy way each day. You will be surprised how clients and prospects warm more to your organization if a genuine feeling of love is being exuded!

Pander to your strengths. If your organization is operating on the cutting edge of your particular niche and if you business is known for its ingenuity or innovation, make your marketing exciting and interesting as well. Don’t be afraid to use individual personalities if they fire when challenged and be careful before repressing any unusual or out-of-the-box ideas.

These days it is very populist to be “green” and any organization that puts the issue of sustainability ahead is sure to gain footing as we go forward. Climate related issues are not going away and as more scientific evidence becomes apparent, linking our lack of efficiency to environmental damage, an organization that operates via the culture of the environment will likely gain market share.

How do you use your culture to best effect?

Matthew Toren

Starting a Business While Still Employed

Just because you’re already employed doesn’t mean you don’t have the dream of starting up and owning your own business. But many people don’t have the luxury of being able to walk away from their “golden handcuffs” and devote themselves full time to a business. At least not right away. Many people choose to start up a small business as a part time effort while they are still working full time in a larger company. This is absolutely possible, and it is actually a great way to limit the financial risk of starting up. But there are a few things you want to keep in mind before you make the decision to go for it.

First of all, you need to have your spouse and family members behind you. The fact is that starting up a business in addition to your regular job is going to take a lot of time. Your family will need to understand why you might need to sequester yourself away on Saturday afternoon, or sacrifice taking a vacation this year. Of course, if you explain to them how important this is for everyone, they are sure to be understanding and supportive; but the key is communication. You may even be able to use their help and make the business into a family venture depending on the ages and talents of your kids. The family that works together earns together!

Another important thing to remember when starting up a small business part time is that you won’t be able to grow it as quickly as if you were running it 24/7. That means you need to have realistic goal setting and planning. On the other hand, you definitely do want to set goals—don’t just play it by ear because you have another source of income. You want to try to grown your business aggressively, even if it is a part time venture.

When you start up a business while still employed, you also need to keep in mind your current employer. This means making sure you are not under and contractual obligations that would prevent you from starting up a competitive business while still employed with them. You also want to avoid any ethical impropriety by keeping your personal business completely separate from your work. That means not checking emails or making personal business calls on company time. And don’t even think about “borrowing” supplies or equipment from your employer to use at home for your own business. The best policy is to keep your new business to yourself, even if you are not in any conflict with your company’s policies by starting it up.

Finally, don’t let yourself get so excited by preliminary success that you quit your job too soon and then find yourself in financial jeopardy. You’ll want to stay focused on the big picture and remember that you business needs to be able to not only sustain itself, but your entire family before you can devote yourself to it full time. Know exactly how much you need to be able to generate with your company before you can walk away from your 9-5 job, and be ready to hold out until you get to that point.

Small Business Grants

You’ve probably heard the hype about all the free money that the government has stashed away somewhere in a secret, undisclosed location to give away to small businesses.  Remember those commercials with Matthew Lesko, the screaming nerd in a suit covered with question marks?  He was hawking his book that was supposed to be full of resources on locating and applying for those very grants.  Most people believe that there is ‘free money’ out there to start up a business, but like most things governmental, it seems to be pretty evasive.

So what is the deal with government grants for small businesses?  Do they exist?  And if so, where are they?  The government does indeed provide grant money to small businesses, but not surprisingly it is far different than what Matthew Lesko or other people trying to sell books/programs/coaching have to say.  Many misguided folks are under the impression that they can come up with any old business idea and apply for a grant—FREE MONEY—to start that business up.

In reality, government funding is set aside for very specific purposes.  A small business than qualifies  to receive that money must fit into definitions, and even then the process for receiving a grant is a long, complicated one that is fraught with competition and lots of bureaucratic hoops.  The government requires extensive business planning, reporting, and compliance and there must be a way to specifically measure your growth.

Another issue to consider is that government grants take time.  If you’re waiting for a government grant to get your business off the ground, you have to take into consideration that these funds are often awarded annually.  The application process is tedious, and you must actually write a grant proposal that follows specific guidelines.  Any deviation or mistake can get your proposal thrown out and you are back to square one.

How do you know which government grants are available to you as a small business?  You want to go to your state’s economic development website and look there.  Federal money is given to states to develop small businesses in the specific areas where they see a need, and opportunities vary greatly from state to state.  Here is a good list of links to economic development website by state:  http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/smallbusiness/a/stategrants.htm

Another great resource is the SBA (Small Business Administration) which has a large amount of valuable information on its website.  Most communities have an SBA branch where you can talk to a representative about the funding options available from the government.  Keep in mind, however, that the SBA does not offer grants or loans itself.  Even if you are looking to borrow money, you’ll still need to work with a traditional bank which is backed by the SBA.

There is money that can be put to work in small businesses in the U.S., but contrary to popular belief, it is not sitting around in a vault somewhere just waiting for applications.  That money is set aside for very important social and community development.  The key to winning any of it is making sure your business helps to meet some of those needs, and then being able to prove it to the government.

The Toren Brothers’ List of the Top 10 Best FREE EBOOKS for Online Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners

Starting up a small business is a challenge for anyone, even the most seasoned and experienced entrepreneur. Reading is one of the keys to keeping yourself stimulated and learning new things that can help you grow your business. Thanks to the internet, we now have access to more information than we’ve ever had before—and there are hundreds of ebooks that allow you to increase your knowledge. Even better, many of these ebooks are free; and there’s not a small business owner out there who doesn’t appreciate the meaning of that word.

My brother and I have compiled our top ten list of the best ebooks for small business owners. We are certain that you will find these useful regardless of what kind of business you have, or what stage of development you’re in.

1. The Bootstrapper’s Bible
http://changethis.com/8.BootstrappersBible

The internet business and marketing guru Seth Godin offers up a fantastic book on starting up and running a business without going in over your head; a must-read for every entrepreneur in the current economic climate.

2. 50 Guerrilla Marketing Tactics You Should Be Using
http://www.bootstrappingblog.com/ebooks/50_Guerrilla_Marketing_Tactics_
You_Should_Be_Using.pdf

All’s fair in love and…marketing? You bet! This collection of fifty “guerrilla” marketing tactics is a great way to start setting your business apart from the pack by creating memorable, compelling marketing campaigns.

3. How to Start a Business Blog
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3046411/How-to-Start-a-Business-Blog

One of the most comprehensive ebooks on the subject, How to Start a Business Blog is an 82 page book that covers practically every aspect of creating and using a blog to market your business.

4. Let’s Talk: Social Media For Small Businesses
http://officeliveoffers.com/ebook/socialmedia/SocialMediaEbook.pdf

Web 2.0 and social media have been around a while, but they are just starting to catch the attention of the mainstream business owner. This is a simple but practical book that can get you started using these powerful tools.

5. Beginner’s Guide to Search Engine Optimization
http://www.seomoz.org/article/beginners-guide-to-search-engine-optimization

If you plan to do business online, the key to success is driving traffic to your site. SEO is the art of constructing your website and writing text that is search engine competitive.
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10 New Year’s Resolutions for Small Businesses

It’s that time of year again! Pop the champagne, stay up until midnight with Dick Clark, get melancholy about the past year, and make some resolutions for the one coming up. 2009 is sure to be an exciting/interesting time for small business owners, so I have a few suggestions for some New Year’s Resolutions that will keep you moving onward and upward as the months go by.

1. Keep Your Chin Up

This is one of those ‘harder than it sounds’ resolutions. Let’s face it: things are looking gloomy for a lot of businesses during the current recession, and if you have a small business, you may be holding on for dear life right now. But the reality is that no matter how hard it gets, being discouraged and panicking will only make it worse. In fact, you can literally sabotage yourself by worrying so much that you end up manifesting your fears. Instead, resolve to stay positive and keep yourself from dwelling on the ‘what ifs’.

2. Invest in your continuing education

Many of us become so engrossed in running our businesses that we may forget how important it is to continue educating ourselves in order to stay competitive. Make a commitment to periodically enroll in training, seminars, and classes that can keep you up-to-date on the rapidly changing practices and technologies in the marketplace. It may mean setting aside some time and spending a little money, but in the end it really is an investment in your business.

3. Take care of yourself

You simply cannot ignore your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and expect to be successful. Granted, hard work and dedication are essential to making a small business work, but it must also be tempered with rest and relaxation; exercise, nutrition and sleep; nurturing relationships and taking time to enjoy your family. If you find yourself unbalanced more often than not, sit down and evaluate how you can reprioritize your time to better take care of YOU.

4. Set specific, attainable goals

Goal setting is one of the most basic of business practices; but the key to reaching your goals is making sure they are both specific and attainable. Having small weekly, monthly and quarterly goals is a great way to keep yourself moving forward toward your larger annual goals; and it keeps you from being overwhelmed by the idea of attacking the big goals all at one time.

5. Celebrate Your Successes

Reaching your goals is great, but to really make them count it’s important to take the time to acknowledge and celebrate them, too. Share your successes with friends, family and employees. Reward yourself in small ways—perhaps going to dinner or taking the afternoon off to play golf—as a way to recognize your own hard work.
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