What a Marketing Consultant Can do for You

June 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

Market segmentation

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Hiring a marketing consultant to help you advertise your business to potential customers can be one of the best investments that you can make. This can remove a lot of the headaches and guesswork  that comes with business marketing.

Marketing consultants have the knowledge, training and resources at their fingertips that help you to target the right customers, do the necessary research and lay out an effective marketing plan. When you meet with the consultant, make sure that you tell them what products you are wanting to focus on and the goals that you have for your business. This information is essential to laying out your marketing strategies. You will also want to discuss the budget that you have for advertising, which will affect what avenues you choose to use.

The consultant will work with you by doing market research that includes focus groups, surveys and samplings of different market segments to find the right customers to focus on. This research will also give you valuable information about the kinds of products and services that are currently in demand. With this knowledge in hand, you can better focus your advertising dollars where they will do the most good.

Your next step will be to choose the kinds of advertising you want to use, whether its in print media, television, radio, online or a combination of several types. This is based on your goals and research that was done, making it easier to reach a specific segment of the population that is most likely to buy your products.

Filed Under: Internet Marketing, Investment Tagged With: , ,

Why You Should Consider Selling Your Products Internationally

June 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many people who start a small or online business are often hesitant to market and sell their products overseas. This can be a huge opportunity for those who are willing, as you can open up your products and services to the world.

International markets can often bring increased profits and sales as you find potential segments of the international market. Many international customers are willing and ready to buy products sold from the United States, especially if they can find a good deal. The United States Postal Service, Fed Ex, UPS and other carriers have made it easy to handle shipping. Many of them have an online shipping calculator to help you figure postage costs. You can also get deals on certain types of shipping, which can offer saving for you and your customers.

International sales can also open up new product lines and services that you can offer. This will make your business more attractive, versatile and will eventually draw in a wider clientele. You need to be sure that you have a thorough understanding of customs regulations, what paperwork is needed to ship items oversees and any applicable fees. This knowledge can make the international selling process easier and more efficient.

You should also research the types of customers that you will be selling to overseas. This will help you to market your products more effectively and target the right customers. With the right amount of research, knowledge and planning you can effectively sell your products outside of the United States.

Filed Under: General, Investment Tagged With: , ,

How to Acquire an International Company

May 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Status of WTO negotiations: members (including...

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Today more than any other time in history, the marketplace is global.  Whether you plan to purchase an international company or expand your current business to reach an international market, the legal complexities expand with each country your business touches. With language, currency, political stability, and jurisdictional laws as complicating factors, an attorney with international business law expertise can bring order out of chaos, allowing you to make informed business decisions.

Product-Based Businesses

A Los Angeles business attorney can determine if the international business you wish to acquire complies with international Incoterms for production and product delivery. International business attorneys are proficient in tariff and international trading procedures. Using the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) as one tool, international attorneys assess the viability of the business you wish to purchase or the expansion of your current business to meet international standards.

Service-Based Businesses

Service-based businesses can deliver international services in four different ways: (1) service provider travels to customer’s country to provide the service; (2) service provider establishes an office in another country; (3) service provider uses the Internet to provide cross-border services; and (4) the international traveler or customer comes to the service provider’s country to purchase services. Each method of providing services must adhere to specific international laws and guidelines as detailed in the World Trade Organization’s General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS).

While it’s possible for an individual to navigate the treacherous waters of international business acquisition and trade alone, it is time consuming and mistakes are costly. An international business attorney will save you time, and save you money as well.

Filed Under: Business, Investment Tagged With: , ,

Will Your Business Thrive On the Internet?

May 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Dirty Lawn Mower?

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Every small business person in the world knows that it’s become almost impossible to run their operation without a website. The Internet has completely changed the way every business operates. Even the local lawn mower repair shop has to have web presence. As an example, when was the last time you used a phone book to find something you needed?

The challenge of taking it to the Web is that once you’re there, the competition is no longer local. It’s global. You may wonder if your business will thrive on the Internet. The answer is, “not by itself.” As you make the leap, you’ll have to learn how to market to a world consumer. If this sounds daunting, think of it as the global expansion of your little idea. Keeping with the lawn mower repair shop, it could be that you have some hard to find parts sitting on your work bench. If you were to post those parts on your website, put them on eBay, or various bulletin boards, those things might actually make you some money.

Don’t be afraid to give away some free things, too. For instance, the lawn mower mechanic could blog about the best way to maintain that riding lawn tractor. It’s this kind of exchange that makes people want to shop with one internet business over another. Social media has changed the web marketing environment in the last few years, so getting friendly, informative and connected is another key element to your business surviving on the Internet.

Filed Under: Internet Marketing Tagged With: , ,

Marketing Mistakes

April 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Marketing is one of the crucial parts of your business plan. Without marketing ideas and strategies you business has a higher chance of failing. There are many mistakes business owners make when it comes to marketing, and many of them are very simple to avoid. By being aware of the more common mistakes you will be able to focus on improving you marketing strategies.

Having a USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is vitally important. Many businesses forget these when they first start.

Poor circulation of things such as pamphlets, business cards and advertisement materials. This is a common mistake. You should always have a business card or several on you. You never know when the opportunity to leave your card might arise.

Not exhausting every avenue available. Ignoring marketing opportunities on facebook and other social media sites is a very common mistake. Having a website, twitter page, and facebook page could potentially increase your marketing success.

Spamming people with emails, especially when they haven’t given permission to receive your emails. Also if the email is too long, or not put together well will also have a negative effect on the audience.

Not creating your own space in the market place. If you don’t break out of the pack and make a name for yourself then people are more likely to forget your company.

An inconsistent marketing message will only confuse the audience and make them distrust you and your product.

Ignoring your existing customers and continually marketing to the unknown potential audience. Never forget that a lot of marketing is done for you by your current customers.

Filed Under: Business, Internet Marketing Tagged With: , ,

Handling Employees

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Dealing with employees is much more an art than it is a science. There is no way that a person can know how to deal with everyone by dealing with everyone the same way. There needs to be a differentiation in how they are dealt with. It’s important to understand the differences between employees that work for you.

The hardest part of that job comes when there is a conflict between two employees. The truth is that many conflicts in the workplace are not cut and dry and do not have right and wrong answers like you might think they do. You have to be smart about how you handle conflict because siding with one could ruin your ability to work or get the work you need from another employee.

If an employee comes to you and they have an issue with another employee, especially if it isn’t anything black or white, then you would be best off just letting them talk. Sometimes an employee who talks finds that they are that much better at the end of it all. They are feeling like they got some resolution even if they didn’t If you are serious about giving an employee just what they want then let them have an outlet and let them feel like they are being heard. Make sure you acknowledge and understand  their point of view. Make sure that you ask them what kind of corrective action they would suggest you take with the employee. These tactics could go a long way.

Filed Under: Advice, Business Tagged With: , ,
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