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September 27, 2010

Every Entrepreneur’s Worst Nightmare    Author: Admin

Posted in Entrepreneur | |

Gone: Customers, sales, profits. Following is a simple little tale about how it happens.

“Jones was a typical entrepreneur who worked long hours and wore many hats.

“The problem was that all the hats screamed for attention. Jones solved the problem by wearing the hat that screamed the loudest.

“Unfortunately, this was only a temporary solution since all the hats kept screaming until they were worn.

“There was, however, one hat that never screamed. It never complained, whined or whimpered, even though it was lonely. It knew it was important, whether or not it was worn. That hat was right.

“One day the customers quit coming. The other hats became quiet; they no longer were needed. It was then that Jones noticed the hat named Marketing and how little it had been worn.

“‘Why didn’t I wear the Marketing hat?’ thought Jones.

“For one thing, Marketing hadn’t screamed for attention like the other hats. The other reason was that Jones was afraid the Marketing hat was too expensive to wear and would drain profits.

“But now there were no profits; the customers were gone.

“Jones put on the Marketing hat. It was time to get the old customers back, and to get new customers, too. It was time to wear the Marketing hat regularly.

“Even the other hats perked up.”

(c) 2005 Neil Sagebiel

Posted in Small Business | |

Are you a small business owner, but one who owns a business that has a physical address, instead of an online one? If you are, you can actually be considered the owner of a locally owned and operated business. One of the many benefits to being a small business owner who runs a locally owned and operated business is that you are often well liked by the locals, as your business helps their economy. Unfortunately, being well liked by some locals isnt enough to keep your business afloat and profitable. That is why you also need to rely on marketing.

When many of us think of marketing, we often associate marketing with online businesses. What you need to remember is that even storefront businesses need to be marketed, especially if they are selling something, like a product or a service. If you are running your own storefront business, no matter what you are selling, it is important that your customers first know that you exist. This cannot be done without marketing, which is also commonly referred to as advertising. Just a few of the many ways that you can go about advertising or marketing your locally owned and operated small business are outlined below.

Perhaps, one of the best ways to go about marketing your locally owned and operated small business is by using the television. It is no secret that many individuals enjoy watching television. If you have a few local channels, you may be able to get your advertisements aired on those stations. Of course, you need to know that television advertising can be fairly expensive, but most business owners find that it does work. If you are looking for a similar marketing approach, but one that is a little bit more affordable, you may want to think about trying radio advertisements.

One marketing approach that many do not always associate with marketing, but should involves the phone book. If you run a locally owned and operated small business, you should have your business listed in the phone book. First, you will want to make sure that your business is listed in the yellow pages or the business directory section, as well as the white pages. You may also want to think about taking out an advertisement in the yellow pages. This advertisement doesnt have to be a full page ad or even a half a page one. Many times, phone book users examine all of advertisements, especially the colored ones or the ones with pictures before flipping through the actual business listings.

Although you may not necessarily think about it at the time, you should use the internet to help market your small, locally owned and operated business. There are many business owners who tend to think that this approach is ironic, due to the fact that they dont run an online business, but it could actually help to bring you a lot of business. When it comes to turning to the internet, you dont necessarily have to open up an online store, if you are selling something, like a product or service, but you may want to create an informational website about you and your small business. For instance, if you operate a tax preparation service, you could online your training and your experience, the rates that you charge, and where your business is located. It may even be a good idea to get customer testimonials from past clients; clients who were pleased with your work.

The above mentioned marketing approaches are just a few of the many ways that you can go about marketing your small locally owned and operated business. Despite what you and many others believe, there are actually just as many, if not more, ways to market a storefront business than there are to market an online business. For additional marketing approaches that you may want to try using, you may want to think about taking a small business marketing course or investing in a number of small business marketing resource guides, like books.

Posted in Small Business | |

How to Take Your Small Business Past the Next Level

As you may know, I spend a great deal of time coaching and helping others build their virtual businesses. But the one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the lack of patience 80 into 0%. I dont know – but I am going to give it a try.

The best way to begin training people is to relate a story to them they can identify with. So here goes . . . In 2003 a person (lets call her Joan) paid me to set up an online web design business for her. I had experience in setting up the web design business named YouOnLine.Net back in 1998, plus I am on the internet 10-12 hours per day so I can keep up with new developments. Therefore, Joan knew I had the expertise to do the job right.

I spent a little over two months setting up Joans business. From securing the domain name and SSL certificate to programming the HTML for the shopping cart I did it all. In fact, on the day Joan chose to open her business, it would be fully functional and making money. Joan was happy, I was happy and I went back home feeling good about a new business being birthed and born.

But three weeks later (without warning) Joan hired an attorney who sent me a letter demanding all her money be returned. What happened?

After going through weeks of litigation (where the Complaint was finally dropped) I discovered that Joan had in her mind that she was going to make at least 5,000.00 per month. But when she only made 1,200.00 within the first three weeks she freaked out and thought the business was not going to work.

But Joan knew deep down that she was to blame for this decision. How do I know? Because Joan never contacted me about the problem. If I had done something wrong, Joan would have called me in a hot New York second. Instead, she chose to take the sheepish way out, regardless of who she hurt in the process.

However, this is only one example out of thousands. Yes many people I work with and coach rarely understand the process of developing, building and growing a company. For some reason many people starting their business for the first time have this misconceived notion they will immediately make 1,000s of pounds without lifting a finger. I even had a customer call me on the phone and say: I bought your book but have not made any money. I asked her if she read the book. She replied: No. I didnt know I was supposed to read it. I just thought I had to purchase it.

Let me give you a little insider piece of wisdom: The infomercials are really giving true information. The only thing they dont tell you is that in order to make that kind of money, you must invest time, dedication and long hours building your company.

Here is a true life example of something that personally happened to me: One day I wrote a 15-page Report and converted it to PDF format. I sent out an announcement to my newsletter list and in one day, I made 6,000.00. I was shocked and overjoyed at the same time. However, I have not had that happen again. So I could go on television and say with all truthfulness I made 6,000.00 in one day. But what I dont tell you is that I had been in the web design business for over 3 years and it took me that long to build up a newsletter list of people who would buy my Report. Hopefully my story will help you to look at infomercials for the truth they are, and the truth they are not.

What a Business Really Is

A business is similar to birthing a child. You first decide to have a business, and then you decide what type of business to start. Then you spend time researching and reading everything you can find on the topic that relates to your business.

Next, you obtain training in the type of business you are going to start. You need to know your product or service before you can sell it. This means joining organizations, networking with others in your field andor working for an employer in the field so you can understand the inner workings of the business.

Next, you purchase the right computer system and internet connection to run your business, give your business a name, secure a domain name and get your entire business set up before you open.

Finally, when you do open up your business it is very rare that you will make any money within the first 4-5 months. Of course this depends on the type of business you decide to open, and if you have a customer base in place to market your product or service to. If you do not have a customer base, it can take awhile before you make any money.

Joans Mistake

Where Joan made her mistake was in not understanding these simple rules. Although I provided Joan with URLs to organizations and other free information, she did not research them. Why? Because in all actuality, Joan was not looking for this type of business. She was simply looking for a way to make money.

Unfortunately, Joan had absolutely no idea of the gold mine she actually had. I had spent two months building her a functional business. Her first month brought in 1,200.00. That is amazing!! If you ask anyone who started a business how much they made their first month, even the best of them never made 1,200.00 the first month.

What Joan did not take into consideration was that her name was unknown. People today are smart. They dont purchase from a company unless they trust them. Joan had spent no time building trust with her potential customers, yet she still made 1,200.00 her first month. I wondered what in the world Joan could be upset about. She should be celebrating. But Joan didnt look at it that way.

Are You Like Joan? If you are, you need to identify with your shortcomings right now. Then if you choose to continue being like Joan, it will be your own fault when you do not succeed in business.

One Last Thought

If you decided to become an Elementary Teacher, you would think nothing about spending money to attend college to obtain the degrees you needed. You also would not get upset if you had to start at the bottom and work for a lower salary when you begin your teaching career. Right?

If you decided to become a Paralegal, you would think nothing about spending money to enroll in a class to get your paralegal certificate. You also would think nothing about beginning your career working at the bottom until you received more on-the-job training. Right?

So if most people have the willingness to invest money and time into a career they enjoy why do most people believe starting a business is any different? Answer this: Who do you know on the planet earth who started a business from the ground-up (with less than 500) and had a thriving enterprise making 5,000 per month within the first three weeks? Realize the truth: it is impossible!

Prayer of Relief

I pray this article helps to open your eyes to the truth about starting a business and give you the encouragement you need to build your business into a successful enterprise.

September 20, 2010

Entrepreneurs May Have Irritating Syndrome SASS    Author: Admin

Posted in Entrepreneur | |

Know one of those brilliant brains that can’t have a sustained human conversation because their mind races too fast? They may suffer from a not-so-rare disorder. And you hold the cure – if you print out the following article and hand them a copy.

Entrepreneur SASS
(With permission from Utah Valley Business Q)

We may have an epidemic among us. At the next networking meeting you attend, wash your hands immediately afterward – maybe five times for good measure. Despite medical evidence to the contrary, a previously thought incommunicable disease is spreading faster than copies of Who Moved My Cheese?

The disease is Short Attention Span Syndrome, or SASS.

Perhaps someone you know and love is affected. Perhaps you yourself have noticed some of the following symptoms.

-Shifting in your seat and coughing just a little too loudly during a boring meeting.
-Saying to your significant other, I’m sorry, honey, could you repeat that? I wasn’t paying attention.
-Going to sleep while mentally rifling through a mile-long to-do list

Many with these symptoms joke, “I must have ADD!” However, only 4 to 8 percent have the genetic condition referred to as ADD – more correctly termed ADHD, – which is present from birth and, while treatable, is permanent. The dreaded disease of SASS, on the other hand, develops over time.

Symptoms begin to appear around the teenage years and slowly accelerate until they become a frenzy of activity and mental noise. SASS is viral. It passes from manager to employee, from spouse to spouse, from parents to children and from children to parents.

Most common is the passing of SASS from entrepreneurial types: business owners, risk-tasking executives, sales professionals, visionaries. Entrepreneurs develop SASS themselves, typically in the incubator of their own ever-changing minds. While most everyone has a lot to do, entrepreneurs have the tendency to pick up a lot more “To-Dos” than the average person. They then pass the virus on to those around them.

Entrepreneurs pass SASS to their employees in the form of altered objectives, multi-tasking, bold initiatives, training meetings, revised agendas, organizational restructuring, innovation after innovation, and of course, more meetings. They pass it on, unable to listen to the comments of others as they continue to create more to-dos in their mind.

Then they return to the quiet of their own homes and continue to think about more changes and more To-Do’s deep into the night. They are often oblivious to the peas and carrots on their plate and the 8-year-old wanting to play Bob the Builder.

There is hope. SASS is a curable condition. Those afflicted by SASS usually have developed an altered sense of reality. Recommended therapy is as follows.

First, have the subject look in a mirror. Ask them, How many of you are there? Sometimes, the SASSy individual thinks outside the box to the point that they insist there are two of them. In this case, have them repeat 50 times the phrase, “There is only one of me. There is only one of me.”

Second, have the subject look at a clock. At the beginning of a minute, ask the subject to count each second as it passes. At the end of the minute, as them how many seconds there were. If the number is anything other than 60, repeat this exercise 59 times. At the end of the hour, ask them how many minutes there were. If necessary, repeat this exercise another 23 times and ask them about hours in the day.

Finally, find the subjects calendar. They may have more than one calendar. Explain to them that, since there is only one timeline in the real world, they can only have only one calendar. Next, look for double-bookings. Again, explain to them in a firm but loving tone that, since there is only one of them, they can only be in one place at a time. If travel time is not properly scheduled, explain to them that, since faxing one’s self has yet to be invented, they will be unable to magically teleport from location to location.

As therapy continues, SASSy entrepreneurs will gradually overcome their delusion that their disease makes them more productive. They will come to learn the truth of the proverb, “man who chases two chickens catches none.”

There is hope for the SASSy entrepreneur. With your help and the help of professionals, they can and most often do come back to reality.

Posted in Small Business | |

A growing number of small businesses that have previously faced obstacles getting working capital now have a practical solution they can bank on. They’re taking a cash advance on future credit card receivables. This method of getting needed capital is gaining momentum, particularly in light of the inundation of Small Business Administration loan requests during recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast.

The cash advances taken by these credit-worthy businesses are called Merchant Cash Advances and are completed without the time, documentation and availability issues associated with a traditional loan.

Here’s how it works. Companies such as AdvanceMe (www.advanceme.com), the nation’s leading provider of merchant cash advances, purchase a portion of small- and mid-size businesses’ future credit card sales. These assets, which traditional lenders and investors do not value, help business owners to access capital quickly and easily without leveraging their homes or other personal assets. Businesses simply sell AdvanceMe a portion of their future credit card sales at a discount in exchange for a lump sum of working capital today.

The process has a number of advantages for merchants:

• It helps small businesses manage their cash flow throughout the year. This is especially valuable to businesses whose day-to-day operations are impacted by seasonality, such as those in small college towns. It gives them access to the cash necessary to weather the seasons, whether or not it’s their busy season.

• Often, a Merchant Cash Advance is preferred over a traditional bank loan because payment of the obligation is directly tied to the merchant’s revenue. In this way, the Merchant Cash Advance Vendor only gets paid when the business gets paid.

• It provides business owners with the capital to fund marketing and advertising campaigns, purchase equipment, train employees andor attend industry seminars, which they might otherwise not be able to do.

Posted in Small Business | |

Opening your own business can be a real big gamble. If you do not do your research well, you will wind up like most small businesses, and that is out of business in less then 6 months.

The most important thing to remember when opening up new business is the location. When doing your research for your new business you want to make sure you are the only business of your time in the area. If you are opening a video store you do not want to open near another video store. Remember if you are exclusive to the area, you will automatically get the business of those living in that area.

The next most important thing about opening a small business is you supplier. Do not have just one place to get supplies from, you should have several. By having more then one you can assure yourself that you are getting the lowest prices from them. And if they know about each other they will try to outdo each other to get your business.

Make sure that the products or services that you will be offering are desired, do not just decide to open up a store with out doing any market research is like playing craps, dangerous unless you really know what you are doing.

Advertising is important. Remember just like a casino you are trying to make money and not lose it. By spending some money on advertising you will increase your sales from your opening day. It is best to have a professional help you with your advertising rather then dong it yourself, there is no point in spending money on advertising if no one in your target demographic is going to see it. An example of this would be like using facial expressions to bluff in a poker game against blind players.

When picking your stock it is sometime better to have a better selection of items and maybe not so many of each item, this way you can see which items sell best and order more of those more popular items, and less of the less desired ones.

In business you should not try to open a business unless you already have experience running a related business. You may think you know how to, but to do it correctly you really need experience, after all if you were in a casino and looking to play poker you would not want a roulette dealer who is trying to figure out the rules as he goes would you? Chances are you would want an experienced poker dealer.

Depending on the type of business you are opening try keep your staff as small as possible, and if it is possible try to get friends and family to help you out. This will allow you to keep your costs low until you can really get a good idea of if you are making money or not. Once you are making money you can go out and hire people.

September 13, 2010

Entrepreneurs Don’t Have Average Credit Scores    Author: Admin

Posted in Entrepreneur | |

Fair Isaac, the company that develops the formula to determine credit scores looks at the average statistics of consumers and factors that into your score, called a (FICO). According to Fair Isaac the average consumer will have:

One inquiry on their personal credit report in a given year
54% of credit holders carry a balance of less then 5,000 on all debts other then a mortgage
Have access to 12,190 on all credit cards combined

Now are entrepreneurs, like you, the typical consumer? I asked one of my clients (J.G.). No., said J.G.. You will see that as an entrepreneur, we have several more credit needs then the average consumer. So when the personal credit bureaus compare us to the average consumer, our credit consumption is not normal. Which is why your credit score lowered since starting your business. That’s not fair said J.G. My reply, If you don’t understand how the system works, you’re right.

Let’s look at J.G.’s situation. He has applied several times with suppliers for various credit lines over the last year. Each inquiry will likely drop his credit score approximately 5-10 points. The credit bureaus as suppose to lump three together and only drop 5-10 for the three, we’ll see if it happens. He also has a 60,000 line of credit available and carries a balance of 42,000. Both the amount of credit and balance are more then the consumer average which can hurt his score as well. This is without looking at anything else in the business or his personal life.

If J.G. had just taken the time to develop a business credit profile and start establishing basic lines of credit in the business name and then slowly build the businesses credit over time, he may never have ended up without the ability to buy the home he and his family wanted.

This is why I have written books and developed products and services with our company, Business Credit Services, to provide an education to the entrepreneur on how to become the typical consumer again and separate your personal and business life.

How to Incorporate Your Small Business    Author: Admin

Posted in Small Business | |

If your small business is growing rapidly, you might consider incorporating the business to help it reach its full potential. To incorporate business is not difficult, but there is a process to follow. This step-by-step guide will help you get on the right track.

Prepare for Incorporation

To prepare for incorporation, first choose your primary business location. If your business operates in only one state, you will need to incorporate in that state. If your business operates in multiple states, then you have the option to choose which state to incorporate in, usually the state that’s more business friendly when it comes to taxes and laws pertaining to business.

Next, select a name for your corporation. Check with your Secretary of State to make sure the name you choose is not already taken by another company. Also, do research online to be sure the name is not taken by another business and doesn’t have a patent by another company or individual. Once you’re sure the name is free to use, you can register your company name. The name will likely need to be registered as “Doing Business As” or “DBA.”

Choose a Filing Agent

The next step is to decide who will register your corporation, receive forms for incorporation, and file your paperwork. The least expensive route is to do all paperwork yourself, but if you’re completely new to incorporation, you’ll benefit tremendously by hiring an agent. The agent must live in the state where you will incorporate the business. The agent may be an attorney who provides incorporation services or the agent can be a service that specializes in incorporation. Hiring a service is usually far less expensive than hiring an attorney.

Develop a Corporate Structure

Whether you’re the only member or shareholder of your company or you already have multiple shareholders, you should determine a corporate structure before registering the corporation. To structure the company means to determine how the stock will be spread among shareholders along with other rights such as voting rights and finances. Be sure everyone is in agreement with the structure and put everything in writing before filing your paperwork to incorporate the company.

Next, put together your corporate by-laws, or a set of rules that determine how board members will be elected, their duties, how and when board meetings are to be held, and other important details of how the corporation will be operated.

Ready to File
Now you’re ready to obtain an Employee Identification Number (EIN) and select a board of directors for your company. Once these two tasks are accomplished, check to be sure you have all necessary paperwork and check the company name availability once again to be on the safe side. Now, you’re ready to file your corporate paperwork for registration.

Forming an LLC – Know the Difference

Keep in mind that forming a corporation differs from forming an LLC (Limited-Liability Company). When you form an LLC, your business will be treated as a sole proprietorship or partnership under federal and state tax laws. You will be required to report profits and losses, income, credits, and deductions on your individual tax return.

Corporations, on the other hand, pay taxes on the company’s profits. The shareholders are treated as individual employees, and each receive their own salaries and file their personal tax returns separately. LLC formation requires less paperwork and has fewer legal issues than a corporation.

If you’re pressed for time and want to get things moving quickly with your company’s incorporation, there are websites available to help you incorporate online. These sites provide printable paperwork, state-by-state instructions, and other helpful items to make it easier than ever to incorporate your business.

September 6, 2010

Entrepreneurs – You Might Want To Drop Out Of College    Author: Admin

Posted in Entrepreneur | |

Entrepreneurs – You Might Want To Drop Out Of College

Young entrepreneurs and business owners are often times faced with the choice of which road to take. On one hand, there is the more conservative route of staying in college and getting a degree. On the other hand, many have thriving businesses that are making more money than their degree will ever get for them. Is college simply a hindrance? Or is it a valuable resource that should be continued at all costs. Many college business owners don’t even realize they have the choice of dropping out. Knowing this option is there could be vital to the success of their future business. If you are in college and are an entrepreneur or business owner you must ask your self this question: should I drop out of college?

The answer to this question often comes in many forms from many different people. I was recently at an entrepreneurial conference and had the opportunity to discuss this matter with many rich entrepreneurs. The answers I was getting from them were vastly different from those that my family had given me. On the one side I was being told that college is only useful if you are getting something out of it, and that if I was serious my businesses should take priority over schooling. From the family side I was being told to stay in school no matter what, put schooling at the forefront – there will always be time for business and it will be good to have a safe backup. Both of these answers have their merits, but which one is right?. It became clear to me that it was my decision- not the other wealthy entrepreneurs, and not your family.

Why are you in college?
This question is the fundamental element in the decision to drop out of college. Entrepreneurs must figure out the reality of why they are in college before making a decision to drop out. Some business owners are in college because their parents told them to go there, or because they didn’t realize they had the choice. Other young entrepreneurs are in college because they find the information valuable and want to continue learning while they expand their business. Even more still had childhood dreams of one day being an engineer or architect and want to follow through with their early ideals. You must answer this question truthfully and honestly if you are going to make a choice about running your business full time or staying in college.

Why Do You Want to Drop Out?
It is very important to understand exactly why you want to drop out. Many business owners and entrepreneurs have vastly different reasons for dropping out of college and it is key that you understand yours. I have often fielded this question in conversation, and many times a young entrepreneur will want to drop out of college on pure speculation. This is never a good idea without a solid business plan. I recommend having a solid business plan and some backups in the least, as well as some plans for continued learning of business skills. Dropping out is a risky decision – entrepreneurs will understand and easily accept this fact. Understanding and accepting risk is part of being an entrepreneur and starting new businesses. I have also talked with many entrepreneurs who already have million pound plus income, and are thinking about dropping out in order to focus more on their business. This instance presents an entirely new set of questions. Whatever your reasoning make sure that you understand and research your position.

Here is the Secret to Making the Decision
It all comes down to balancing the two sides of the argument. If you’ve figured out both your reasons for being in college and your reasons for dropping out and starting a business, then you can easily make a decision. The trick is to look at a list of both sides: your reasons for being in college and your reasons for going out and becoming an entrepreneur. If either side has reasons that aren’t your own, or that have doubt in them, then you will most likely pick the other side. Here is an example situation, look at the two lists and decide what the student should do.

Student A – Reasons to Stay in College:
- My parents are paying for it, and they would flip if I left
- Everyone I know is in college, it would be weird to leave.
- A degree might give me some security later on.

Student A – Reasons to Drop Out and Pursue Business
- I have a solid business plan and have been working on it for months
- My income is almost half of my parents already
- Having more time to work on business would let me expand faster

I think it is fairly clear in this setup that we have an entrepreneur at heart. There is doubt in the reasoning behind college, and he also doubts that he will even need the security of a degree. The second list is much more profound and certain. This student knows he will be successful as an entrepreneur and he only wants to build his business more. There is certainty and understanding in his tone. With this situation it seems very likely that the student would be far better off dropping out of college and pursuing his business goals.

The case is almost never as cut and dry as the situation above, most young businessmen have far more complicated setups. Even with the complications, the end result is always the same. Follow the path that you are sure of in your heart. If you are an entrepreneur in the right position then you will know exactly why you want to drop out and that it will be better for you. Or, you will know that staying in college will teach you more about business and let you grow faster out of college. I will leave you with one last thing.

Listen to your own thoughts, and pick the path that you know is better for you.

Posted in Small Business | |

How Your Small Business Can Benefit from Custom Screen Printed T-Shirts

America is the land of opportunity and with that the land of small businesses. The U.S. has made it easy for just about anyone to work up the courage and capital and start up their own business. Having realized that you can do it, one arrives at the paradox that so can everyone else. How do you make your small business stand out and rise above the competition? One way is to use custom screen printed t-shirts as a way of looking more professional and as advertising.
When it comes to looking professional the importance cannot be stressed enough. People are very hesitant to trust a company or individual who doesnt look like heshe is capable. In a sense the clothes make the man here. Those who appear qualified will have a much easier time attracting customers, employees, and even be courted by vendorssuppliers. People are by their very nature timid and worrisome. If you can appear professional and legitimate it appeals to primal urge to feel secure and that will make people instantly feel more comfortable with you and your business. Screen printed t-shirts do just that by making you appear like you have it all together. Think about the following two scenarios. In the first a people from you firm show up to do a job in a hodgepodge of random and assorted clothing. They look, although are not, unprofessional because they offer no sense of order and thought. In the second scenario, the crew arrives wearing the same t-shirts with bear your logo and demonstrate the legitimacy of your business. If I had to guess, the second scenario is how you as the owner of a small business would like to present your business. If you do nothing more than have the appearance of thought before hand, your business appears to be professional and inspires confidence.
The second way custom screen printed t-shirts can help out your small business is through the wonder of advertising. Custom printed t-shirts are among the best ways to advertise for small businesses. Think about your target audience and it is easy to see that small businesses benefit exceptionally well. Small businesses more than likely want to target people in your area. That is what custom printed t-shirts do. They walk around and give you unlimited advertising in your own local area. Give the t-shirts to your friends and family and they can wear them around and advertise for nothing more than the cost of the t-shirt. Another idea I find often works is giving a t-shirt to people for whom you do a job. These people will unlikely make it their favorite piece of apparel, but even if they wear it to the gym then they offer advertisement and can offer their own form of advertising. Consider if you will Ralph as he stands outside washing his car one Saturday morning. His neighbor Jim walks by and sees Ralphs shirts offering services that Jim is looking for himself. Ralph now has advertised for you and can do even more by saying that he loved your services and describe the great job you did. This strategy offers both printed advertisement as well as word of mouth advertising. My company keeps the images that you used on file, so ordering more t-shirts down the road is a snap.
I hope have found this article to be somewhat informative and thought provoking. Small business are the majority of my clients and Im always happy to help come up with design ideas and ways to improve not only their t-shirts but promotional products as well, all with the same idea of advertising and looking professional. After all those two key points can really set you own small business above the completion. Isnt that what you want?

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