Category: Business Development

Is it time to rebrand your business?

Is it time to rebrand your business In today’s image-conscious society, everything is judged first by how it looks. Rebranding has become the “cure du jour” for everything from sluggish sales to increased competition and outdated products. So how well do these makeovers work?

It depends. There are times when rebranding is crucial, and times when it’s nothing short of perilous. Remember, branding should be a reflection of your company, not just a projection of what you want it to be. You must ensure that the customer experience equals the expectation, or no amount of image revamping will work, at least in the long run. Before you rebrand, there really does need to be something different about your business, product or service; unless, of course, your image never accurately reflected your company to begin with.

How to make your business presentation interesting

According to a recent study, 58% of business presentations are deemed to be too long, uninteresting and lacking relevant information.

Here are 21 ways to make certain that your presentations hold your audience’s interest and help them make the decision you want them to make.

Preparation

Build a story. Presentations are boring when they present scads of information without any context or meaning. Instead, tell a story, with the audience as the main characters (and, specifically, the heroes).
Keep it relevant. Audiences only pay attention to stories and ideas that are immediately relevant. Consider what decision you want them to make, then build an appropriate case.

How to make a difference online as a small business

How to make a difference online as a small business So you want your website to make you look big. More power to you. But the business experts I talked to recently say small is cool with customers, too.

Small businesses, they say, have a personality, flavour and sensibility that big businesses can’t match. And when it comes to what you put on your website, they urge: Don’t be afraid to tout your smallness. Small businesses can have more fun with their sites. A small-business site needs to include something that reflects the creativity and personality of its owner.

Make your customers part of your team

Make your customers part of your team As a general concept, research is the process of gathering information to learn about something that is not fully known. Nearly everyone engages in some form of research.

From the highly trained geologist investigating newly discovered earthquake faults, to the author of best selling spy novels gaining insight into new surveillance techniques, to the model train hobbyist spending hours hunting down the manufacturer of an old electric engine, each is driven by the quest for information.

Stand out from the start

These days it is rare to find a business niche that is not already over saturated, however you don’t need to come up with a new concept to be different. Little tweaks here and there can make you stand out from the crowd and give you a great chance to be successful from the first day.

Shout about your USP (unique selling point) from day one

This may sound obvious but all too often I see and hear about new businesses starting up and unless I really delve into their website I don’t actually know what makes them different, what sets them apart from the competition. Use all your PR channels to shout from the roof tops about your USP(s).

From startup to global success

From start ups to global success We’ve all witnessed it – the seemingly overnight success of some startups that begs the question “what am I doing wrong here?” Is it the idea? The timing? The commitment? Why do some companies transform into breakout brands, while others struggle along?

In my 25 plus years of working with entrepreneurs and startups, I’ve noticed three similarities between the companies that skyrocket vs. the ones that sputter out. Here are three ingredients that will fortify your brand for immediate growth.

Taking a break can improve your productivity

A recent survey indicated that the average American accrues 18 vacation days and uses only 16. The average French worker takes more than twice the vacation time. To some, this statistic encapsulates the difference between American and European workers. Americans are productive. Europeans are lazy. In fact, it might say the opposite.

Europeans understand that breaks improve workplace efficiency. We mistakenly believe that more hours will always increase output, while ignoring the clear evidence: The secret to being an effective worker is not working too hard.

How Businesses Borrow Money when the Bank says “no”

When conventional credit markets get tight, individuals and businesses are pushed to seek alternative lenders to obtain financing.

In this article, we’ll uncover the known alternatives (both old and new) and define the benefits, dangers and drawbacks of each.

Factoring
Factoring (also known as accounts receivable financing) is one of the oldest methods of in-house financing. Factoring, simply put, is when a business sells its accounts receivable to a financial institution or “factor”. The factor will advance funds on a portion of the receivables, usually 75-80% of their face value. The remaining 20-25% is known as the “reserve” and is initially held by the factor. The amount of the reserve will vary with the quality of the receivables and the historical average of the payers. Historical late payers will increase the amount of the required reserve.

8 Tips to Invest Without Too Much Risk

If you can’t stand the thought of losing money, you might be afraid to invest it. But you also know that keeping your money totally safe in a savings account or a CD that only earns 1% or 2% a year could be financial suicide.

When you get down to the heart of investing, there are two ways to make money: You can be an owner or a loaner. In other words, you can own assets that you expect to increase in value or you can loan money for a specified return.