You need an edge to succeed in small business. Make no mistake. Your products and services may be great, your marketing and sales process flawless, but there are a lot of little things that will eventually put you on top, if that is indeed where you’re headed. Those edges, those tools and tips, are not part of some marvelous secret code distributed to you by gurus. No, it could be a whole variety of tips and tools you’ve learned about or picked up over yo0ur small business career. Today we’d like to share a few resources we’ve collected from our community and from the thought leaders we follow. Feel free to create your own lists as well.
Marketing
Have you built a community? You should, you know! Communities can serve so many functions for a small business from networking to cultivating prospects that may become customers. But most important they give small businesses the edge over big companies by making direct and personal connections that convert into future business down the road.BizSugar Blog
Tricky Twitter tool tip. It may be hard to say, but when you read this post you’ll know why. We needed something attention grabbing to tell you more about a tool that goes way beyond the typical Twitter functionality. This plugin is a small business online marketing innovation. Here, in detail, is how you can make it work for you.IBlogZone
It’s all about the experience. It doesn’t end with a sale, believe it or not. In fact, to hear John Jantch tell it, how you handle the transaction after the sale and how you followup, stay in touch and measure results and satisfaction are all part of the marketing process as well. It’s how you create the proper customer experience, one that has them telling their friends and coming back for more.Duct Tape Marketing
Tech
How can autoresponders work for your business? Using an autoresponder can increase both efficiency and customer experience for your online business. The tool will allow you to respond to customer inquiries without additional staff or a call center. At the same time, autoresponders help you build customer service while keeping track of important contacts and communications 24/7 even if you’re away from your computer at the time. Buzzle.com
Legal
Know your employment law cold. No matter where in the world your business is located, knowing the laws governing local employment is critical. Mistakes in this area can be damaging and costly, especially if abiding by employment law will make your business model unworkable. Do you know the employment laws where your business is located?365 Days of Startups
Funding
Tips for funding your new venture. These ideas from Barry Moltz may be nothing new, but the basic sources of small business financing haven’t changed that much either. You will probably even find a few startup folks who disagree with some of the advice here. That’s OK. Getting started is the point, and a few more suggestions about how to bring in the investment necessary to make your new venture a reality can’t hurt.Open Forum
Resources
Five questions that will help your business prepare for the future. No matter how large or small your business may be, you must plan for the future. Businesses that do not do this run the risk of being left behind or worse, of having their market completely disappear. But fortunately you don’t need any special ability to predict the future here. Some basic questions can tell you where your business is heading and what you will need to get there.Inc.com
Five free tools for infographics. They’re all the rage these days, especially in online marketing. But you don’t need the artistic skills of a Warhol or a Max to create super awesome infographics that grab attention and translate information like no medium before. Prepare to take your marketing to the next level.Fast Company
Sales
How to increase your sales with video. A lot of talk about video and other online marketing centers on boosting brand, but you know what? Creating content for the Web can do a whole lot more. For example, in this brief post Todd Youngblood looks at how to multiply sales calls (in theory) by adding some video to your site. Can’t afford a sales team? Do you have a Flip camera? Then get to work!Dreamland Interactive
Let Google be your sales manager. Always one for dreaming up a unique approach to sales leads, Chris Hamilton has this suggestion for using Google Insights and Google Trends not only to see what keywords and phrases are being used to describe your products or services but also to generate sales leads, the life-blood of any business, large or small. Enjoy!A Sales Tip a Day
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