Published Jan. 12, 2012
By Alvah Parker, SCORE Accredited Business Counselor
Asking the customer for the business is something that is difficult for many entrepreneurs. For some it feels awkward. Others expect the customer to ask to buy. Still others just forget to do it. Sales are often missed or delayed simply because the seller has forgotten to give the prospect an invitation to buy from him/her.
Published Jan. 12, 2012
By Sidney Kotzen, SCORE Accredited Business Counselor, SCORE NE Mass Chapter 411
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT FINANCIAL RECORDS?
Published Jan. 12, 2012
How can you provide Customer Service that shines? Follow this plan to ensure customer service that will dazzle customers and competitors alike.
By Susan Ward, About.com
There’s no real secret to getting your customers to come back. All you need to do is provide customer service that exceeds your customers' expectations and outshines your competitors' customer service.
Published Jan. 12, 2012
Listening to the consumer means more than ad hoc surveys and point solutions that focus on a single channel or a single product or a single aspect of the customer experience, according to Aberdeen Group's Jeff Zabin.
By Jeff Zabin, Aberdeen Group, jeff.zabin@aberdeen.com
Listening to the consumer means more than ad hoc surveys and point solutions that focus on a single channel or a single product or a single aspect of the customer experience, according to Aberdeen Group's Jeff Zabin. Leading firms are opening broad-based channels of communication in order to get a more holistic view of the customer's opinion.
Published Jan. 12, 2012
The art in making a good sales call comes with good preparation and good manners. Let the prospect lead you to a successful close. In most cases this will take some patience and persistence on your part and always a little luck. Here are the basic steps.
By Mark R. Rosenzweig, SCORE Accredited Counselor
To many, making the sales call is a terrifying prospect. It’s all about the thought of rejection. You approach a stranger to sell her or him something and you fear a no. Well, the reality is you will get a “no” if you approach the call in that way. In fact, you will get a lot of them no matter what, it goes with the job. Okay, given that, how do you turn the situation around and get to “yes” a higher percentage of the time?
Published Jan. 12, 2012
Home office deductions can offer excellent tax savings for entrepreneurs. However, there are very specific rules that home-based business owners must follow in order to qualify.
By Inc Magazine
Home office deductions can offer excellent tax savings for entrepreneurs. However, there are very specific rules that home-based business owners must follow in order to qualify.
Published Jan. 12, 2012
By Paul Kopelcheck is the Past Board Chair of SCORE
1. Start Smart. Identify a niche. Don’t compete to be the lowest cost provider. Look for what makes your product or service unique and adds a special value for the client and charge for that value. Every business has many facets. Start with what you know and like; start a business that has meaning to you. Keep in mind that we don’t know what the future holds, many of the jobs and businesses of tomorrow don’t exist today. You can create your own success.
Published Jan. 12, 2012
When starting a business, planning is essential for success. Planning includes estimating revenue, expenses and profits needed to manage, sustain and grow the enterprise. The appropriate time to plan and the type of planning varies depending on what phase the business is in.
By Jack Clauson, Accredited Business Counselor, Score NE Mass
When starting a business, planning is essential for success. Planning includes estimating revenue, expenses and profits needed to manage, sustain and grow the enterprise. The appropriate time to plan and the type of planning varies depending on what phase the business is in.
THE BEST TIME TO PLAN
Initially, to define the business; start by setting revenue, expense and profit goals.
Published Jan. 12, 2012
Small business grants are rare, but they do exist. Here's how to find them.
By Eilene Zimmerman, CNNMoney.com contributing writer
When hunting for cash, desperate small business owners may find themselves sucked into buying books and software packages promising "Billions in Free Grants!" from Web sites with names like NeverPayItBack.com, or hiring consultants who promise to find them gads of money. All they're likely to get, though, are empty promises.
Published Jan. 12, 2012
10 Components of the Plan
by Alvah Parker, Score Accredited Business Counselor
To better market your business you'll need to think about your marketing strategy. It isn't enough to do sporadic marketing activities. A successful plan will help you to establish a constant flow of new business and allow you to more accurately forecast your staffing needs. Here is a list of 10 topics to include in your plan:
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