While reading several different publications this week I came across the following article located on entrepreneur.com. Steve Tobak published these 5 things he feels one must do in order to be a successful entrepreneur. Some of the things listed seem to be common sense, while others deals with the way a person functions everyday. One thing I tell my peers and employees on a regular basis is "common sense is sometimes not so common". The reason for this lack of common sense can be debated and I have my own thoughts, but I will save those for another time. One thing is for sure, in order to start from the bottom and build a business I truly believe one must understand that there will be sacrifices and you must be willing to work harder, smarter, and be a leader. True leaders will earn the respect of their employees and in return be respected. The following article can be found at:

 https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250851



In Real Leaders Don't Follow, author Steve Tobak explains how real entrepreneurs can start, build, and run successful companies in highly competitive global markets. He provides unique insights from an insider perspective to help you make better-informed business and leadership decisions. In this edited excerpt, Tobak describes the five critical skills you need to make your business a success.
The business world is changing, and that means we need to adapt. But we don’t just want to react to a changing world; we want to shape it and be out in front, leading the pack. Here are five competencies you'll need to develop if you want to adapt, thrive, and distinguish yourself in this new world.

1. Critical thinking.

When you question assumptions, claims, and viewpoints instead of just accepting them as gospel, as in “A Harvard professor said it online, so it must be true,” that’s called critical thinking. It’s fundamental to smart decision making. And that, in turn, is key to being successful at just about anything.
Lately, however, it seems that people have forgotten how to think logically. As continuously bombarded as we are with content and sound bites, our ability to question what’s real and what isn’t, to reason logically and not generalize from a single data point, to understand causal relationships, is more critical today than ever before.
So question everything, especially common doctrine. Listen to those who challenge your own and popularly held beliefs. Resist the pressure to view things in black and white or “us vs. them” terms. Learn to see the world in shades of gray and from different angles, viewpoints, and perspectives.

2. Focus and discipline.

We passed the point of information and communication overload long ago. Even highly focused overachievers who should know better sit down to work only to find that, a few tweets, texts, and emails later, half the day is gone and all the work remains.
Focus and discipline have always been critical to success in just about any field, but these days, managing distraction has become harder for even the most disciplined among us. And that’s not likely to change any time soon.
Now, more than ever, you have to learn how to shut out the noise without shutting yourself off from what really matters. That's not easy. But if you’re too distracted and undisciplined to focus on what’s critical, you can’t get things done. And if you can’t get things done, somebody else will.

3. Being human.

In a very real sense, we are becoming virtual images of our real-world selves. That would be fine if those personas replicated the real us. Instead, they’re carefully constructed avatars that reflect social norms, popular themes, and wishful thinking. The information we share is filtered. More and more we behave like sound bites personified—virtual actors portraying cardboard characters in a two-dimensional digital world.
But successful businesses are built on real communication and real relationships. Running a business is about motivating investors to provide capital, customers to buy products, and employees to work their tails off for you. Every business transaction ultimately has a human being at both ends.
In a world of indistinguishable online lemmings, those who strive to remain unique individuals will have a big advantage. Instead of hiding behind your social media avatar and personal brand, have the courage to be your genuine self. Forget your social network and build relationships in the real world. Listen to what people have to say and trust your instincts. That’s the only way to genuinely relate, make connections, and understand people. Be human.

4. Getting things done.

The idea that successful business leaders are typically driven by high ideals and lofty aspirations is a myth. None of the highly accomplished executives I’ve known got where they are by walking around with their heads in the clouds. They got there by putting one foot in front of the other and getting the job done.
Successful entrepreneurs have the ability to focus and motivate people to work together toward a common goal. They have a strong sense of personal responsibility, accountability, and work ethic. They're born troubleshooters and problem solvers. And adversity, obstacles, and risks don't deter them—on the contrary, they energize them.
They also know what their goals and priorities are—they know what they want to get done, and that’s exactly what they do. They deliver the goods, get the job done, and satisfy the needs of their stakeholders, no matter what.
Recently a reader scoffed at one of my columns on what it really takes for startups to be successful. He said ideas are all you need. The problem, of course, is that everyone has ideas. What we really need are people of action who are driven to make things happen and get the job done. That’s a competency that will be in greater demand as time goes on.

5. Competitive spirit.

Ecommerce and the rise of the global economy have opened the business world’s competitive floodgates. New competitors are arising on every front as technology lowers the barriers to entry and more and more companies cross over into each other’s lanes. Meanwhile, we’re de-emphasizing competitive spirit and individual achievement in our schools. As we level the playing field, the motivation to compete and win is being bred out of society. We’re beginning to see competition as a bad thing.
That’s creating an interesting dichotomy, a competition gap, if you will. Clearly, the situation presents both challenge and opportunity. On the one hand, the competition is brutal. It’s rough out there. On the other hand, if you’re highly driven to compete and win, you’ve got a leg up on most of the young people entering the workforce. And that gap is only going to widen over time.
Markets are essentially zero-sum games, meaning market share is somewhat constrained. And while markets are elastic—they grow over time—at a macro level, at a micro level, every business transaction generally has one winner and multiple losers. Only one business wins the contract. Just one company is selected to provide the necessary service. In a very real sense, you're always competing in the real world.
But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.
One product, company, or candidate beating out another on their merits is an honorable thing. It’s no disgrace to lose, either. That’s how we learn to improve and do better next time. Competition is how new technologies replace old ones, how startup companies become corporate giants, and how good performers become great ones.
The point is, many if not most great companies are founded and led by fierce competitors. Google aggressively pursued Apple into the smartphone business. Uber’s Travis Kalanick takes a lot of heat for his competitiveness, but in just five years, he’s built a company that’s now valued at $41 billion. .
Competitive spirit, the relentless drive to win, is a critical success factor that will only increase in value as the competition gap grows. You can learn to adapt and develop these abilities through experience. And that, in turn, will give you a long-term competitive advantage in a changing world.

Social media, blogs, and how-to sites are a great way to market your business, product, or service. People have become addicted to websites like Pinterest.com, fixya.com, facebook.com, and many other how-to websites. If you can provide information and videos on one of these sites about a product or service you provide the benefits could be endless. As people view these sites they will "like" and "share" and this will put your information in front of all of that persons friends. If you sell a part or service, how-to videos will generate many views because people will look to you for information on repairing or replacing. If you already have the video explaining in detain how to build, repair, or replace there is a much greater possibility the customer will buy from you. Some examples of companies that use these type videos include:

http://www.appliancepartspros.com/repair-help/

    http://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to#!

https://www.lowes.com/how-to-library 

 http://sawdustgirl.com/how-to-build-deorative-columns/

 

The 10th and final tip listed by successful entrepreneurs deals with marketing with free gifts. 

The gift can be a product the entrepreneur sells, produces, or a product marked with information such as website, logo, or phone number. As we enter  November and December these are the best times to market your product or company with a small gift of appreciation. The following article goes into detail about using gifts to reinforce and build relationships with clients or possible clients. 

Whether it's the holiday season or any other time of year, the purpose of giving gifts to clients, business partners or customers is always the same. In short, gifts serve as both a thank-you (showing recipients that you truly appreciate and value them) and a brand-building tool. But with the sheer volume of gifts and promotional items that people receive from businesses increasing every year, how do you cut through the tchotchke clutter and choose a memorable gift that gets you noticed and reinforces your relationship?
Here are five ways you can reinforce your marketing messages with gifts and show the recipients that they are important to you in more ways than just a sale:
1. Useful
The gifts you give should be useful. Don't just add to the pile of company pens that get lost in the back of your clients' desk drawers. Instead, choose gift items that your clients will actually use ... frequently. If your client works in dark or cramped spaces he'll probably appreciate a high quality flashlight over those mouse pads you passed around last year. Don't be afraid to contact a promotional items company and ask for help in selecting gifts. They're knowledgeable in new and popular items and can steer you in the right direction.
2. Meaningful
Choose a gift that will appeal to an aspect of the recipient's life that you know about through your relationship-building efforts. For example, if you know your client spends a lot of time coaching his daughter's soccer team, select a gift that he can use on the field. This type of specialized attention can go a lot further than a logo-imprinted ruler.
3. Helpful
Everyone likes to receive gifts that can help them make their lives or jobs easier. Why not give a business book or informational material related to your client's field? Imagine a client's reaction to receiving a book about effective DIY marketing options, especially coming from a marketing firm! That sort of selfless honesty is sure to bring your business some appreciation and make a lasting impression.
4. Social
Gifts don't have to be tangible items to help you communicate your marketing messages. Sometimes a social gift works quite nicely. For example, if your client likes sports, give him tickets to a popular sporting event. Take him to dinner before the event, and while you certainly can talk a bit of business, even if you don't you're still building your relationship. You can even take this gift idea a step further by inviting spouses or guests to join you so you can delve even further into your relationship by getting to know the important people in your client's lives. In one fell swoop you've given your client a great gift and given yourself a networking opportunity.
5. Fun
Sometimes it works to give gifts that are just plain entertaining. Sharing a laugh goes a long way to solidifying a relationship and keeping you in the other person's mind. Stay tasteful and professional, but don't be afraid to have a bit of fun.
No matter what gifts you give to communicate your marketing messages and generate future recall among your clients, business partners and customers, remember that a gift that helps you further your relationship with the recipient is the most powerful choice. If the gift you're considering giving to your client isn't useful, meaningful, helpful, social or fun, then you might want to reconsider.

This article is written by Susan Gunelius

 Published at Entrepreneur.com 

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/204396

 

This week we look at the importance of packaging.

The purpose of product packaging is to protect the product from damage. Product packaging not only protects the product during transit from the manufacturer to the retailer, but it also prevents damage while the product sits on retail shelves. Most products have some form of packaging. For example, soups must have a container and package while apples may have packaging for transport but not to sell the product from the produce department of the local grocery store.

Attraction

How a product is packaged may be what attracts the consumer to take a look on the product as is sits on store shelves. For this reason, many companies conduct extensive research on color schemes, designs and types of product packaging that is the most appealing to its intended consumer.

Promotion

Packaging also plays an important role for portraying information about the product. Outside packaging may contain directions on how to use the product or make the product.

Differentiation

Packaging can also differentiate one brand of product from another brand. Because the product packaging can contain company names, logos and the color scheme of the company, it helps consumers to identify the product as it sits among the competition’s products on store shelves. For example, as a shopper walks through the coffee aisle of the local grocery store, the bright orange, pink and white packaging of the Dunkin’ Donuts coffee brand may be easily recognizable for the consumer to grab on his way by the coffee shelf. The shopper may identify with the company brand, which propels them to buy the product. If the product packaging changes, it may alter the brand perception of the company, which doesn’t mean that the consumer would not still purchase the product, but it may delay the purchase until the person is able to identify the product according to its new packaging.

This weeks tip revolves around communicating with customers through newsletters. Offer customers who sign up a discount or free gift. One suggestion would be to offer as a free gift a product you have not offered for sale as a way to get feedback or advertise this product. In order to keep customers viewing your newsletter it is a good idea to place coupons or information of upcoming sales or promotions. Another idea would be to have customers register for free giveaways. Some suggest an annual giveaway while others feel a giveaway once per month or quarter works best.

The next tip from a panel of Successful Entrepreneurs deals with research and study. Their suggestion was to study your competitors, see what they are selling, watch their adds, and view their feedback. The idea is NOT to copy, but take notes, if you see mistakes or negative feedback learn from their mistakes, use the information you obtain and be creative and be proactive to trends. If you are not willing to put in the work to see what others are doing you will more than likely be blindsided and behind when the next new trend arrives.

The next tip in the series deals with defining your NICHE.

What makes you stand out?

When customers are looking for a service or product, how can you make sure you draw the attention to your NICHE?

How can you serve a specialized market?

In almost everything a customer can find multiple sources to provide them with what they need. What can you do to set yourself apart and give the customer something they cannot get from someone else? Or, maybe you just do a really good job of getting the attention of the customer and then maintain the relationship with good service along with a comparable product. Sometimes just being the first  person to supply and never giving customer a reason to look elsewhere can keep your company in the black.

 

This weeks tip from successful entrepreneurs deals with Social Media. The following is what the group of entrepreneurs came up with.

Get Smart with Social Media

and this is how to do it.....

Don't post all day everyday

BUT

Pick at least 1 form of social media and be consistent with your post

Always

Be yourself, NEVER BE FAKE

Reward

Reward your followers, friends, or people who like your post

(suggested forms of rewards were coupons or drawings for product, especially new product before you list it as a sale item.)

Keep your post professional

Stay away from post with content that does not relate to your product or service.

Some entrepreneurs post opinions about things outside their business, but

if you do so be prepared to deal with and possibly suffer from a backlash

due to the consumers who are offended or do not agree with your opinions.  

 

 

 


This week the focus will be on (SEO) or search engine optimization. From the poled business owners this was the next tip they suggested new owners focus their attention. Their suggestions were to experiment with search engines in order to increase optimization. Use correct titles, tags, and accurate descriptions. Google being one of the largest players when it comes to search engines, also provides valuable information to help the small business determine which tags, links, or descriptions give the business more time in front of the customer. They also have a tool to determine how user-friendly your site is and things that can help your company be more user-friendly.
 One of the biggest things that contribute to Googles grade is the mobile compatibility of your site.
With the current trends if businesses want their sites to be effective they must be compatible with mobile devices. More and more customers use their mobile devices to gather information about businesses and their products. Another plus for websites is the use of informational videos on their site. Customers are 64 to 85 percent more likely to buy a product after watching videos about the product. To view more information about the SEO and the help available online click on the link below:
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/emarketing/seo-in-2015-trends-and-tips-for-small-businesses.html

 

Continuing with tips from some of the most successful Entrepreneurs this week the tip focuses on customer service. Great customer service adds value to the product offered and begins with the initial contact with the customer. Be up front and honest with customer, make sure you provide product as advertised or better, make sure product is delivered on or before agreed upon time or date, follow up with customer after purchase to ensure a positive experience, and if any problems exist take care of those issues in a timely manner. Word of mouth can be the most beneficial form of advertisement to new businesses, but it can also be very detrimental if the customer is not happy or feels the product was not as advertised. Word of mouth is also communicated much more today than it was 10 years ago due to social media. Positive reviews and ratings will only improve the customer confidence and more than likely increase the sale of product offered.

The companies that are generally acknowledged to be providers of “great”, rather than merely “good”, customer service are those that typically go the “extra mile” in the way they treat their customers.  This statement and much more information can be found at:
http://fieldservicenews.com/difference-good-great-customer-service/

Last weeks post explained the single most recommended tip regarding small business marketing. The second tip on that list is BYOB (Build Your Own Brand). When building your brand the biggest recommendation is DO NOT BE FAKE. When operating a small business the business takes the character of the owner. This being said everything you do reflects on your business, how you speak, act, respond, and react. Being fake may work for a short time, but once your customers see the real you chances are they will lose trust in who you are and what you do or what you offer.

Marketing Tips

Over the past week I have really stated looking at online marketing advice that comes from of the most successful businesses and shops. While gathering information from these successful Entrepreneurs I selected the most common tips listed. The first tip on my list deals with the way a product is displayed. This could be in a shop or place of business or the photography of items that are placed in print or online stores. The product needs to be appealing to the customer whether it is placed with other items or placed in an area with a colorful background. Making the product standout can be a driving factor in the views, likes, and even purchases of the product. 

Mantel displayed poorly.......

                                               Mantel displayed with added decor .......

Given Another Chance as the title suggest refers to taking product that is no longer useful for its original purpose and transforming it into something that has value. The internet has many sites that post ideas for re purposing many different things we use daily. This blog will bring to life some of our ideas as me and my wife transform old, used, or otherwise neglected material. It all started as a stress relief in our little shop and now it has become a daily obsession.