Small Business Ideas, Advice and Resources

Support Our Sponsors

9 Alternatives to a Traditional Business Loan
Having trouble getting a business loan? Whether your business needs capital to grow, meet payroll, or to just simply survive, there are numerous alternatives for your company when banks say "no." Here are nine alternative sources of capital that you may not have considered.

7 Simple Ways to Boost Your Holiday Sales
It’s that time of year again, so how do you ensure that your e-commerce store receives its share of the Christmas shopping extravaganza pie? Here are seven tips that can help.

8 Ways To Ward Off Meeting Monotony
You don't have to be a math whiz to figure this one out: If time equals money, then how much moolah are we wasting sitting through endless meetings?

5 Smart Holiday Marketing Tips
Why develop a marketing campaign just for the Thanksgiving to New Year period? It’s simple. From now until January 1, the “buyer mentality” prevails. Buyers are ready to make purchases at any time, not just while shopping. Study these five marketing strategies and adapt them to your business.

Advertising and Brand Building with Social Networks
In this excerpt from Advertising 2.0, learn about how social networks work and how advertising works within two of the most popular social networks today. Details >>

FMLA Final Rule Published
The U.S. Department of Labor has published a final rule to update the regulations under the 15-year-old Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) — a measure that will help workers and their employers better understand their rights and responsibilities, and speed the implementation of a new law that expands FMLA coverage for military family members. Read more in this overview of the new FMLA rule >>

Is Your Envelope Killing Your Direct Mail Response?
If your direct mail pieces are not getting the interest you want, you may want to think about the packaging you send your direct mail in. A boring package could be your problem. Read on to find out how dimensional mailers can dramatically improve your direct mail response.

Guard Against Organized Cyber Crooks
Computer hacking isn't just for nerdy kids anymore. Crooks and spies are using the Internet to commit crimes against American businesses and to attack government networks -- and they are becoming more sophisticated. Here's how you can protect your business.

Microsoft Marks Down Windows Home Server
Microsoft has lowered the price on Windows Home Server -- good news for home-based businesses with up to 10 computers running Windows XP or Windows Vista. Read more >>

10 Characteristics of Successful Salespeople
What separates successful sales people from everyone else? Is it their people skills? Their determination? Find out what ten qualities successful salespeople possess.

Target Profitable Customers
Once your business has established itself by selling to small companies or stores, it's tempting to want to go after the big fish in the sea. But those big-fish customers aren't always as profitable as you'd expect, and sometimes are more trouble than they are worth.

How to Help Your Employees Speak Up
Are your employees hesitant to share ideas, take initiative, and talk open and honestly for fear of being labeled or even losing their jobs? Here are ten things you can do to manage your employees' fear and help them be courageous.

Raising Capital During a Recession
With the stock market and economy in their current condition, it's not likely you'll be seeing many IPOs in the near future. If your company is looking for capital, there are still ways you can raise money to grow without waiting for the economy to turn around or depending on venture capital. Details >>

Why Higher Prices Won't Cost You Customers
Price increases are a fact of life in today's economy. Unfortunately, as a salesperson or business owner, you know your customers are going to be less than thrilled with paying more for your product or service. Here's how you can keep your customer's focus off of price and on the value of what your business offers them.

How You Can Qualify For A Business Loan
With the recent turmoil in the financial markets, banks and other lenders are further tightening their purse strings, especially to small businesses. But, if your business is strong in these three areas that lenders always consider, your chances of getting approved are better.

Adobe Patches Critical Reader Flaw
Better check which version of Adobe Reader you're running. If, like mine, it's 8.1 or earlier, you might want to think twice before opening a PDF. Read more >>

What Customers Hate About You
Do you get the feeling sometimes that your customers don't like you? You might not be imagining it, according to recent research which uncovered almost eighty reasons why customers dislike salespeople. Here are the top seven.

How to Be a Top-Earning Coach or Consultant You know your stuff. You are an undisputed expert in your field. The few customers you've helped sing your praises. But that's the problem. There are still too few customers. What's the single most important thing you can do to build your business and grow your profits? Click here for details >>

Creating a Courageous Workforce
Who wins in a courageous workforce? Everyone. With less fear and more courage, workers take on harder projects, deal better with change, and start speaking up on important issues. Read more >>

10 Tips to Cope with Negative Emotions at Work
When you're the business owner and feeling frustrated, annoyed or angry, it doesn't pay to vent that frustration to your employees, much less customers or vendors. Here are ten ways you can deal with negative emotions that won't cost you the respect of those around you.

How Safe Are Your Mail Handling Procedures?
Reminiscent of the Anthrax letters mailed in 2001, the FBI is investigating 50 letters containing suspicious white powder that were mailed to Chase bank branches across the country. So far, the white powder has tested negative for dangerous toxins. Learn how to spot suspicious mail and how to protect yourself and your employees from snail mail threats.

Free Apps For Your iPhone
Now that my cell-phone plan is up and I'm free to choose a new one sans penalty, InformationWeek's roundup of cool Web applications for the iPhone or iPod Touch is putting me in an Apple kind of mood. Read more >>

Why IBM Profits Rose 20% While World Markets Fell 20%
There's no question that we are in the midst of an economic crisis. However, some companies will use this incredible period to rise to the top, gaining market share and profitability, despite adjustments in overall revenue. What can be learned from those that survive and thrive during a time of economic crises? Find out here >>

Give Your Business a Check Up
If you want to build and grow your business, you need to give it regular inspections, kind of like your doctor gives your body a regular check up or your mechanic runs a diagnostic on your car's engine from time to time. Here are the things you should look for when doing your business check up.

Are You Believable?
Trust is a major factor in whether or not a customer will buy your product or service. If your claims are outrageous or lacking credibility, your customers will lose confidence. Read this article for three techniques that can work with any marketing method.

10 Mistakes That Reduce Profitability
Are you finding it hard to keep your business in the black? Then you might be making one or more of these 10 mistakes that have a negative impact on your bottom line. Find out what they are and get the solutions >>

6 Low-Cost Marketing Strategies
Small businesses must be extra imaginative with their marketing efforts in order to attract customers and get them to open their wallets. Here are six proven low-cost marketing ideas that help small businesses increase sales and generate referrals.

3 Dumbest LLC Formation Mistakes
Whether you're incorporating your business on your own or having a professional handle it, there are several common mistakes that people make. Find out what they are so you don't make them, too >>

Converting Cold Prospects into Buyers
Do you have prospects that seem to give you the run-around? They expressed interest in your product or service when you first contacted them but now they don't return your calls, reply to your emails or seem interested in making a buying decision. Here are five suggestions that may turn that cold potato into a hot one.

Work With the Police to Prevent Business Disturbances
From shoplifting and vandalism to irate and/or intoxicated customers these disturbances can be truly bad for business. Here are ideas for how you can assist law enforcement officers in protecting you better.

25 Bucks Can Buy You Advertising On MySpace
Following in the footsteps of FaceBook and The New York Times, MySpace is testing out a new service aimed at small businesses and individuals who want to create an ad campaign that lives on its multimillion-member social networking site. Read more >>

Dealing with angry customers
An irate customer can ruin your day and cost you a lot more than a single lost sale. Whether or not the reason for their anger is justified, if you don't deal carefully with their problem, an irate customer will broadcast their dissatisfaction to as many people as they can now and for years to come. Read more >>

7 Steps for Managing Your Online Reputation
What's your reputation on the web? Do you even know what other people are posting about you and your business? Here are 7 basic steps you can take to ensure that your reputation doesn't become negatively impacted by what's being said about you online.

A Little Brand Personality Goes a Long Way
The look and feel of your advertising - its brand personality - can help increase (or decrease) your brand's image in the minds and hearts of your target consumers. Learn the five components that go into creating your brand personality.

Recent Features

• Look here for additional articles.

Help Us Help You!
A lot of you have told us how much you like Business Know-How. Although we love the praise, what we'd really like to know is how we can improve the site and better serve your needs. We'd appreciate it, therefore, if you could take a few minutes of your time to take our visitor survey. Responses to the survey are anonymous; your name and email address are not captured. (If you would prefer to send a personal comment and would like a response, please send email to attard@businessknowhow.com.)

Disclaimer
[Article Submission Guidelines]
[Welcome] [About Us] [Advertise]
[Small Business (home page)] [Marketing] [Direct Mail Ideas] [Human Resources] [Money Management]
[Business Loans] [Franchise] [Start A Business] [Home Business] [Tips & Hints] [Bulletin Board] [Ask Business Know-How] [Blog]
[Legal Know-How] [MLM Know-How] [Career] [Survey] [Feedback] [Free Newsletter]
Privacy Statement

The information compiled on this site is Copyright 1999-2008 by Attard Communications, Inc. and by the individual authors.
Business Know-How is a woman-owned business and a registered trademark of Attard Communications, Inc. Phone: 631-467-8883.

http://www.businessknowhow.com