Hub You - Business

Here's a Quick Fix for 2006... or 2007 for That Matter
"The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself." - Mark CaineHere’s a Quick FixWhen four successful people all tell me to watch the same DVD, I take action. Rika and I zoomed down to Rogers Video and grabbed “What the Bleep Do We Know”, which we watched on New Years Day. What a great start to the 2006! (Or a great start to the rest of one’s life, for that matter.) We all know that Napoleon Hill told us, “Whatever the mind of man can believe and conceive, it can achieve” – we all know about the power of positive thinking. But watching this amazing, scientific video was a powerful reminder and motivator that we will determine what 2006 holds for us.This movie is certainly a “Quick Fix” and a “Checkup from the neck up” – it inspired me to take even greater control of my thoughts, affirmations and focus. It shows that what happens within us determines what happens outside of us, with clear, scientific proof. It reminds us that we c

search engines

Most of your visitors will come from either search engines or links – your pages need to be planned for search engines to find them.

It may help to put together a list of sites you’ve visited that you really like. Use these as a blueprint for your own web site, and don’t get side- tracked by a lot of irrelevant glitz. In fact, you may want to also compile a list of sites you dislike. Show these to your web developer so she totally understands what you want.

What About Traditional Marketing Material?

Brochures

Ideally, it’s great to have both printed marketing material and a web site. Your printed brochure is used as a “leave behind” or mailer. Take it when you make sales calls or attend events. Mail it out with cover letters to prospective clients. Ask colleagues to distribute them along with their marketing material.

But if you can only do one, opt for the web site. Whatever you do, make sure that everything with your company name on it is well designed and well written.

Direct Mail

Along with networking, direct mail is one of the most effective, affordable marketing tools in the small business marketing toolbox. Not only is it highly targeted, but it’s affordable enough to allow for ongoing promotion.

Font Basics for Branding Your Small Business
There are many components of a brand identity: logo, color palette, font choice, and the Visual Vocabulary. There’s a lot of information available about the use of logos, colors, and Visual Vocabulary, but not much on the effective use of fonts. So, here’s some information on the creative, practical, and technical aspects of fonts.Font basicsA font is a set of all the letters in the alphabet, designed with similar characteristics. This is also known as a typeface.Fonts are usually designed to include several style variations. This can include styles like light, regular, bold, semibold, ultra bold, and italic. Some fonts also include “Expert” versions, which are fonts that include fractions and mathematical symbols.Font families are typically packages of fonts that include all of the different versions of a font. Using fonts with large families will give you a wide range of fonts to use in your materials, for variety and emphasis.There are many basic classifications o

It’s not unusual for entrepreneurs to find the whole idea of marketing intimidating. Even seasoned business owners often feel their marketing efforts aren’t working.

Don’t let marketing intimidate you. At its core, it’s really not much more than common sense – the key elements that form your plan. Add some creativity. This is what you’ll use to implement your plan and make it work. That’s the basis of marketing. Pretty simple once you break it down.

Let’s do a quick overview. There are a few key questions you need to answer upfront.

1. Is there a market for your product/service?

If the answer is no, go back to the drawing board. Start over. Because no matter how great you think your product is, if no one needs it/wants it/buys it, you don’t have a business.

2. Can you make a profit?

Have you done the number crunching to ensure profitability? If not, go back and work your numbers. Figure out what you need to charge to make your profit on each item or service you sell. See what the competition is charging. Be in line but don’t necessarily be the cheapest. Your products may command higher fees (better ingredients, exciting packaging, snob appeal). Or you may choose to be the low price leader – but you’ll need more volume than you would at the high end. In any event, do your homework.

3. Can you survive?

Do you have the resources to see you through until your business starts to show a profit? If not, you may need to keep your day job and do this on a part-time basis initially.

Once you’ve answered these questions, you’re ready to proceed.

The Plan

You’ve determined that you’ve got a product or service that is marketable. Now you need a plan.

Depending on your budget and/or level of expertise, it can be as simple as a Guerilla Marketing Plan – or a more detailed plan prepared by someone who specializes in this area.

Basically, your plan will cover the following:

• Stating your goal or objectives

• Defining your target market

• An overview of the competition

• Defining your niche or what differentiates you from the competition

• Developing a strategy to achieve your objectives

• Evaluating the various marketing tools and deciding what you will use/ when

• Preparing a time line with goals written in

• Reviewing your budget

A detailed list, elaborating on the above items, can be found at the end of this article. You’ll see that most of these questions are really based on common sense, nothing more.

Action

I was going to call this section “The Execution” but decided it had a negative ring to it.

Actually, here’s where creativity comes into play. And this is where you may want to call upon an outside resource (or two) to help.

You can’t start a business without business cards and stationery (well you can, but don’t). If your marketing plan calls for a logo and identity development – and you’re not a creative – find yourself a designer. Interview some freelance designers to see if their style fits what you want for your identity – and also if their rates fit your budget. Or you may want to find a design or marketing firm that specializes in working with smaller companies.

A marketing firm will be able to help you with all of your marketing, not just logo design and development, so that may make more sense. Whichever route you decide to take, make sure you’re comfortable with the people who will be handling your business. If it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t. Keep looking. There are lots of firms and freelancers around. Don’t settle.

Make sure your logo and business cards really reflect your company’s unique identity. The goal is not to look like everyone else.

Promote, Promote, Promote

Networking is probably the entrepreneur’s most important marketing tool. So get out there and network. Take your business cards (always!). Join a networking group – or two or three. Join chambers of commerce. Attend events. Look into associations relevant to your industry. Make a list of everywhere your target market might be – and go there.

Where’s Your Web Site?

Today, most businesses have web sites (mine is coming….). A web site can serve as an online brochure -- a sorry fact for printing companies – a plus for small businesses with limited budgets. It also gives you an unlimited geographic reach and the ability to update 24/7.

If you opt for a web site, make sure it presents the image you want for your company. Unless you’re skilled at web design, get yourself a professional to handle this. Nothing will send potential customers running as quickly as a bad web site. Think about what you do when you’re on the internet.

Your web site should be:

• Well designed

• Clean and uncluttered (ie. easy on the flash if you must include it)

• User friendly -- easy to navigate, fast to download (not everyone has a dsl line)

• Well written (written for the web, not for print -- and no typos)

• Informative and/or newsworthy

You want visitors to bookmark your site and come back often

• Optimized for search engines

Most of your visitors will come from either search engines or links – your pages need to be planned for search engines to find them.

What About Traditional Marketing Material?

Brochures

But if you can only do one, opt for the web site. Whatever you do, make sure that everything with your company name on it is well designed and well written.

Direct Mail

Use

An Introduction To Labels
A label is a tag attached with an adhesive, used for the purpose of identifying an object or its contents. Labels can come in several forms and can be distinguished by the kind of stock (base material) that they are printed upon, or by the adhesive that they use. The most common type of label is prepared with a paper stock and is colloquially called a sticker. Labels have several uses, from name tags to the identification of products.The stock types include litho, which is a common base stock; latex, which is litho with added latex that allows it to be more flexible and convenient to use around curved objects; foil, which has the properties of a metal foil; and thermal, which has the ability to change color (generally black) upon heating. Also, there are various plastics including vinyl, acetate, and Mylar that allow for an array of features, like higher strength, transparency, flexibility, etc.The adhesive types are either permanent, which cannot be removed without ripping the stocks or through the use of sol

t the high end. In any event, do your homework.

3. Can you survive?

Do you have the resources to see you through until your business starts to show a profit? If not, you may need to keep your day job and do this on a part-time basis initially.

Once you’ve answered these questions, you’re ready to proceed.

The Plan

You’ve determined that you’ve got a product or service that is marketable. Now you need a plan.

Depending on your budget and/or level of expertise, it can be as simple as a Guerilla Marketing Plan – or a more detailed plan prepared by someone who specializes in this area.

Basically, your plan will cover the following:

• Stating your goal or objectives

• Defining your target market

• An overview of the competition

• Defining your niche or what differentiates you from the competition

• Developing a strategy to achieve your objectives

• Evaluating the various marketing tools and deciding what you will use/ when

• Preparing a time line with goals written in

• Reviewing your budget

A detailed list, elaborating on the above items, can be found at the end of this article. You’ll see that most of these questions are really based on common sense, nothing more.

Action

I was going to call this section “The Execution” but decided it had a negative ring to it.

Actually, here’s where creativity comes into play. And this is where you may want to call upon an outside resource (or two) to help.

Make sure your logo and business cards really reflect your company’s unique identity. The goal is not to look like everyone else.

Promote, Promote, Promote

Where’s Your Web Site?

Your web site should be:

• Well designed

• Clean and uncluttered (ie. easy on the flash if you must include it)

• User friendly -- easy to navigate, fast to download (not everyone has a dsl line)

• Well written (written for the web, not for print -- and no typos)

• Informative and/or newsworthy

You want visitors to bookmark your site and come back often

• Optimized for search engines

Most of your visitors will come from either search engines or links – your pages need to be planned for search engines to find them.

What About Traditional Marketing Material?

Brochures

But if you can only do one, opt for the web site. Whatever you do, make sure that everything with your company name on it is well designed and well written.

Direct Mail

How To Negotiate A Starting Salary For A New Job
When you are looking for a new job, advice on how to evaluate and negotiate an appropriate starting salary is invaluable. We've teamed up with acclaimed salary negotiation expert and author, Jack Chapman, to bring you practical advice on negotiating a proper starting salary.Five simple starting salary rules:Rule #1) Postpone talking about starting salary until there's an offer on the table Rule #2) Let the other person name a figure first Rule #3) Repeat their starting salary offer and be quiet Rule #4) Share your researched starting salary range and establish your individual value Rule #5) Clinch the deal and deal some moreStarting Salary Rule #1 - When to Discuss Starting SalaryThere's not much point in discussing starting salary unless you're sure you're going to get an offer, make sense? But more than that, it's not to your advantage to talk about your starting salary. When an employer asks "what are your salary requirements?" or "what a

all this section “The Execution” but decided it had a negative ring to it.

Actually, here’s where creativity comes into play. And this is where you may want to call upon an outside resource (or two) to help.

Make sure your logo and business cards really reflect your company’s unique identity. The goal is not to look like everyone else.

Promote, Promote, Promote

Where’s Your Web Site?

Your web site should be:

• Well designed

• Clean and uncluttered (ie. easy on the flash if you must include it)

• User friendly -- easy to navigate, fast to download (not everyone has a dsl line)

• Well written (written for the web, not for print -- and no typos)

• Informative and/or newsworthy

You want visitors to bookmark your site and come back often

• Optimized for search engines

Most of your visitors will come from either search engines or links – your pages need to be planned for search engines to find them.

What About Traditional Marketing Material?

Brochures

But if you can only do one, opt for the web site. Whatever you do, make sure that everything with your company name on it is well designed and well written.

Direct Mail

What Are The Common Types Of Marketing Jobs?
When you hear someone mention that they are in marketing, what do you think they do exactly? What does "Marketing" mean and what kind of jobs are their in the marketing field. When someone says they are in Marketing there are a number of specific jobs they could be referring to. Marketing jobs are varied in their type and structure, so if you think marketing is something you might enjoy doing, you should consider what that can encompass. Here are a few of the more common marketing jobs you may see in your job search.Some marketing jobs refer to account managers, which are sometimes called account executives. They generally are the point person for specific client accounts. As an account executive, you would be helping clients form strategies to market their businesses as well as implementing those strategies for them. You might also me known as I consultant to the clients. They come to you when they need things done. You get those things done for them. You need to have good people skills in order to me an account man

So get out there and network. Take your business cards (always!). Join a networking group – or two or three. Join chambers of commerce. Attend events. Look into associations relevant to your industry. Make a list of everywhere your target market might be – and go there.

Where’s Your Web Site?

Your web site should be:

• Well designed

• Clean and uncluttered (ie. easy on the flash if you must include it)

• User friendly -- easy to navigate, fast to download (not everyone has a dsl line)

• Well written (written for the web, not for print -- and no typos)

• Informative and/or newsworthy

You want visitors to bookmark your site and come back often

• Optimized for search engines

Most of your visitors will come from either search engines or links – your pages need to be planned for search engines to find them.

What About Traditional Marketing Material?

Brochures

But if you can only do one, opt for the web site. Whatever you do, make sure that everything with your company name on it is well designed and well written.

Direct Mail

Customer Service and Handling the Massive Rush
Have you ever worked in a business, which had two types of clientele? One, which was their standard locals and one, which was a massive rush clientele during certain nights, such as Friday or Saturday?Well, recently I interviewed a gentleman going into the restaurant business and sure enough he worked in a restaurant as a manager, which did $800,000 in sales it first year and it was a rather small chain. But each of their steakhouses were across the street from stadiums, you know baseball, football and basketball stadiums.The local crowd was dismal during the week, hardly anyone there actually, but it is growing now. Yet, after the big events everyone was there as in 2500 people or more and they had to move the tables in 20-30 minutes and it was jammed and packed in. They even had to seriously worry about the fire codes as people just kept jamming themselves in.How do you manage a business like that and maintain Customer Service while still handling the Massive Rush? Well they had different policies for

search engines

Most of your visitors will come from either search engines or links – your pages need to be planned for search engines to find them.

What About Traditional Marketing Material?

Brochures

But if you can only do one, opt for the web site. Whatever you do, make sure that everything with your company name on it is well designed and well written.

Direct Mail

Use direct mail for:

• Introducing new products or services
• Special offers
• Sale announcements
• Drawing traffic to your web site

In addition to traditional direct mail, look into direct e-mailing. Recent studies show that it’s about to overtake direct for most U.S. businesses. Newsletters or sales letters, particularly created in html, can be an extremely effective way to keep in touch with existing and/or potential customers. Just be sure to include that “opt out” on the bottom for people who do not want to be on your e-mailing list.

Other Marketing Tools

For reasons of time and brevity, let’s just list some other marketing tools you may want to consider as you plan your assault:

• advertising
• public relations
• speaking engagements
• trade shows
• newsletters
• flyers
• premiums
• door hangers

Depending on your product or service, the list is pretty extensive. Fortunately, it’s just a buffet from which you can pick and choose.

Evaluate everything and decide what will work best within your budget. Test and test some more. If one tool doesn’t work, try something else. And don’t expect to get a hit the very first time. You may – you may not.

Like all good things, building (or growing) a business is a process. The dotcom bust should have taught all of us that overnight successes aren’t necessarily lasting ones. The goal is to reach your key audience as efficiently and effectively as possible. And to grow a successful (ie. profitable) business.

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The reason for any professional or trade association to exist is for the purpose of synergistic and mutual improvement of the persons and organizations involved is a particular industry or profession. I believe an association to be a gathering of people with similar interests and goals. This gathering must be a multi-faceted partnering alliance between members (including associate or supplier members), officers and paid staff.

Features information on jobs in the Hospitality industry including job suitability, management and much more.

Tough. Extra strong. Built to last. Every day, these words are flung at us by radios, televisions, and the Internet. Such descriptions tell us that particular products on the market will not break or break down the day after we buy them. Of course, this idea makes sense.

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Hub You - Marketing Got You Stumped?

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