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Evergreen Marketing Methods That Still Work Today

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Evergreen Marketing Methods That Still Work Today

Author: Poppy Williams,  poppy@techbizguide.com  

The increased amount of time people spend on their phones has changed how businesses spend their marketing budget. In the U.S., 72% of people spend upwards of 3 hours each day on their phones for work and social activities according to Statista. Marketing budgets for traditional channels, such as flyers, billboards, and paid mass media, have been slashed and redirected to social media ads and email marketing. However, as Keystone Business Brokers explains, marketing methods from decades ago still deliver a sizable return on investment (ROI) and pair well with more recent channels.

Coupons

Physical coupons sent directly to customers via mail were a major thing years ago. They were a great way to keep customers coming to your physical store. Coupons have since evolved with digital coupons booming with e-commerce. They remain reliable in retaining and acquiring new customers. You can pair them with email marketing to reduce customer churn. For instance, you may entice customers who have not renewed subscriptions or not visited your website for a while to come back using coupons.

Postcards

It may surprise you, but postcards are still an excellent way to market your products. On the downside, you need to pay for postage upfront and curate a mailing list. On the upside, Central Mailing Services notes that people are more likely to read physical mail than emails. This method works because 98% of people bring their physical mail into the house the day it comes. Meanwhile, 77% of those people sort and read their mail within 30 minutes of receiving it.

Business Cards

Today, it’s possible to create and share your e-business card with a phone app. However, you should still carry physical business cards with you to share with new leads. Physical business cards leave people with something tangible to remember you by. You can easily design your own business cards using free templates available online. The templates are usually customizable, allowing you to add your own text, images, font, and color schemes.

Working with Professionals

You may prefer working with professionals to help create high-quality postcards, coupons, customized emails, and social media posts. Often, entrepreneurs know what results they want but need professional web designers, graphic designers, and marketers to help with proper execution. For instance, the entrepreneur knows the brand’s story, but marketers will help tell it correctly through brand campaigns.

During discussions with these professionals, share images you have been working on with them. If these images are in JPG format, you can compress them to send them via email, but this will lead to a loss in quality. The correct alternative is to convert the JPG files into PDF format. In fact, you can convert multiple JPG files into a single PDF file for easier sharing.

Choosing the Correct Channels

Today’s marketers face a tough dilemma when deciding which resources to allocate to different marketing methods, including social media platforms. An affordable and efficient way to experiment is to get started with a Facebook ad template to fast-track publishing an ad that directs customers to your website or generates an email or phone call. 

One solution for choosing the best channels is to monitor the source of your current customers. This is why companies conduct surveys on new customers to ask where they first heard about the company. When running an e-commerce website, tools such as Google Analytics will break down your traffic sources by website and country.

Be Objective with Marketing Channel Choices

As a business leader, you have to be bold and objective in the marketing channels you use. Futuristic channels are not always better. Some marketing methods may have been around for a while, but they may still be great for your niche. Try these marketing methods to see which ones work best for your business.

Keystone Business Brokers is backed with more than 60 years of experience in commercial and business brokerage. Reach out today for more info! (866) 744-0720

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6 Realistic Self-Care Tips for Entrepreneurs

Author: Poppy Williams, poppy@techbizguide.com

Image via Unsplash

Many entrepreneurs take pride in working weekends and never leaving the office. But most who have experienced long-term success have realized the importance of self-care at some point in their careers. Some have learned it the hard way.

The truth is many business owners are simply trying to get all their tasks done and don’t feel like they have time to take care of their health and well-being. However, not doing so will ultimately hold you back from accomplishing your goals, not to mention leave you unhealthy and unhappy. 

If you want success, health, and happiness, consider these realistic self-care tips from Keystone Business Brokers:

1. Declutter Your Home       

The first step to a healthy career and life is to create a peaceful atmosphere in your home. Dealing with tension, criticism, arguing, and complaining every day can be draining on everyone in your household. Look for ways to brighten up the space, such as decluttering, adding house plants, and opening the windows on warm days.

2. Hire Services

The most common reason for entrepreneurs neglecting self-care is limited time. You probably have a full plate and find it hard to imagine adding time for yourself in your routine. One way to open up more time is to hire professionals to take care of the business tasks you are not equipped to do efficiently.

For example, if you are spending too much time responding to emails and invoicing customers, hire a virtual assistant to handle those tasks so that you can focus on running your company. The same goes for web design, content writing, bookkeeping, and any other responsibilities holding you back.

3. Set Up a Workout Space 

You may not have time to go to the gym every workday, but you can make a spot at home for your exercise routine. Consider the types of movements you like to do and carve out a simple space for staying active. There are many online workout plans, programs, and tutorials to give you ideas on how to work out from home with minimal equipment and space.

4. Get Some Sun

We need vitamin D to function and live happily. Not getting enough sunlight can make it difficult to stay productive and harm your mental health. Be mindful to get outdoors each day, even if it means sitting outside with a book or going for a quick walk in the neighborhood.

5. Sleep Seven Hours        

When you run a business, you simply cannot stay productive and maintain your quality of work without adequate sleep. Adults need at least seven hours of restful sleep each night, though some require eight or nine hours. Figure out how much sleep is necessary to work and live well, and create a bedtime routine that helps you sustain it.

6. Eat for Energy and Health

Another challenge to entrepreneurship is that it can be hard to maintain a consistent, nutritious diet. If there are many days that you go without eating a decent meal, or if you are well-acquainted with the drive-thru window, now is the time to make some healthy changes.

Try to eat more leafy greens, other vegetables, fruits, fatty fish, and lean protein. Not only do whole foods benefit long-term health, but they also boost energy, concentration, and mental health.

It’s safe to say that every entrepreneur longs for success, health, and happiness. But the only way to get there is to maintain a solid self-care routine. Following the tips above will help you get off to a strong start. but keep learning and trying new things until you find a healthy rhythm that works for you.

Would you like to read more helpful content or see our selective business inventory in the South Jersey area? Visit KBizBrokers.com today!

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SBA Announces Entrepreneur, Investor, and Award-winning Entertainer Jennifer Lopez to Headline National Small Business Week Virtual Summit 2021

SBA Announces Entrepreneur, Investor, and Award-winning Entertainer Jennifer Lopez to Headline National Small Business Week Virtual Summit 2021

September 13, 2021, | Release Number 21-85

Contact U.S. Small Business Administration at Press_Office@sba.gov

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced that Jennifer Lopez, entrepreneur, investor, award-winning singer, actress, dancer, and producer, will headline this year’s National Small Business Week (NSBW). Ms. Lopez will join SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman in “Pathways to Entrepreneurship: A Fireside Chat,” moderated by Maria Teresa Kumar, MSNBC contributor, to discuss entrepreneurship and engagement in this new economy.

“I’m excited that Jennifer Lopez is joining us to headline National Small Business Week to discuss her journey as a successful entrepreneur and share her thoughts about how we can help small businesses continue to power our nation’s economy,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize that Latinx entrepreneurs are starting businesses at incredible rates and celebrate the diversity in our economy.  SBA is committed to ensuring all entrepreneurs have access to the capital, markets, and networks that they need to launch and grow. We are honored that Ms. Lopez is sharing her insights and shining a light on entrepreneurship to inspire the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams of business ownership. With our small businesses leading the way, we can build our economy back better.”

In the Fireside Chat, SBA Administrator Guzman and Ms. Lopez will discuss pathways to entrepreneurship and the SBA’s initiatives and plans to support our small businesses impacted by COVID and new startups seeking to launch.

Ms. Lopez’s participation finalizes SBA’s full speaker line-up for National Small Business Week, including entrepreneur Mark Cuban, Chef José Andrés, White House Senior Advisor, and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Cedric Richmond, and other business and elected leaders.

Biography for Jennifer Lopez, Entrepreneur, Investor, and Entertainer:

Jennifer Lopez is an award-winning actress, producer, singer, entertainer, and businesswoman who has helped to build billion-dollar brands and has established herself in film, music, television, and business as one of the most influential artists in history.  As a fashion icon, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Jennifer Lopez has been named to the TIME 100 list, Forbes’ “Most Powerful Celebrity,” and was the first to grace People Magazine’s cover for “Most Beautiful Woman in the World.” With a career spanning over two decades at the top of every field, Jennifer Lopez is cemented in history as a global icon and the ultimate multihyphenate.

National Small Business Week Virtual Summit (NSBW)

Administrator Guzman announced National Small Business Week 2021 in a news release last month. The free, three-day conference takes place in a virtual atrium and features a series of educational panels on best practices for small businesses to pivot and recover in a changing economy.   NSBW events this year provide a forum for business owners to get expert advice, learn new business strategies, connect with industry experts, and meet other business owners as they look to pivot and recover.

For more information about the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit, please visit http://www.sba.gov/NSBW.  All events are live-streamed and used the event hashtag #SmallBusinessWeek.

Cosponsorship Authorization #21-21-C. SBA’s participation in this Cosponsored Activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance, by contacting smallbusinessweek@sba.gov. SCORE is partially funded by SBA Cooperative Agreement No. SBAHQ-14-S-0001.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

Website Developers: Accularis Marketing Solutions     

https://www.accularis.com               856-793-9440

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SBA Programs – Scams and Fraud Alerts

SBA Programs – Scams and Fraud Alerts


Beware of Scams and Fraud Schemes

The Office of Inspector General recognizes that we are facing unprecedented times and is alerting the public about potential fraud schemes related to economic stimulus programs offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration in response to the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19).  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the largest financial assistance bill to date, includes provisions to help small businesses. Fraudsters have already begun targeting small business owners during these economically difficult times.  Be on the lookout for grant fraud, loan fraud, and phishing.

Scams and Fraud Schemes

Grants

  • SBA only communicates from email addresses ending in @sba.gov. If you are proactively contacted by someone claiming to be from the SBA, who is not using an official SBA email address, suspect fraud.

Loans

  • If you are contacted by someone promising to get approval of an SBA loan, but requires any payment up front or offers a high interest bridge loan in the interim, suspect fraud.
  • SBA limits the fees a broker can charge a borrower to 3% for loans $50,000 or less and 2% for loans $50,000 to $1,000,000 with an additional ¼% on amounts over $1,000,000.  Any attempt to charge more than these fees is inappropriate.
  • If you have a question about getting a SBA disaster loan, call 800-659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
  • If you have questions about other SBA lending products, call SBA’s Answer Desk at 800-827-5722 or send an email to answerdesk@sba.gov.

Phishing

  • If you are in the process of applying for an SBA loan and receive email correspondence asking for PII, ensure that the referenced application number is consistent with the actual application number.
  • Look out for phishing attacks/scams utilizing the SBA logo.  These may be attempts to obtain your personally identifiable information (PII),to obtain personal banking access, or to install ransomware/malware on your computer.
  • Any email communication from SBA will come from accounts ending with sba.gov.
  • The presence of an SBA logo on a webpage does not guaranty the information is accurate or endorsed by SBA.  Please cross-reference any information you receive with information available at www.sba.gov.

 

Report Fraud

Report any suspected fraud to OIG’s Hotline at 800-767-0385 or online at, https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-inspector-general/office-inspector-general-hotline.

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Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Q4 and Annual 2019 GDP: Economy Grows 2.3% in 2019

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Q4 and Annual 2019 GDP: Economy Grows 2.3% in 2019
Economic indicators
Wilbur Ross
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 482-4883
publicaffairs@doc.gov
Today, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released the fourth quarter and annual gross domestic product (GDP) numbers. The Bureau found that the real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent in the fourth quarter and 2.3 percent for all of 2019, continuing to beat expectations.
“Since the beginning of this Administration, critics have predicted doom and gloom for the American economy,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “They were wrong then, and they are wrong now. President Trump continues to unleash incredible growth in the American economy despite the effects of Boeing’s problems with the 737 MAX and the General Motors’ strike. GDP for 2019 is more great news for the American economy and is even better than what today’s numbers show due to those two special factors. Beyond this, Americans continue to experience tremendous increases in employment and wages that prime 2020 for further economic gains. When you add in the benefits of USMCA, the Phase One Deal with China, the two trade deals with Japan, and the re-working of the free trade agreement with South Korea, America is back and competing on the world stage.”
The GDP continues to beat performance predictions before the 2016 election, and there was other good news in the BEA report:
The U.S. has the largest GDP of any country in the world, and it continues to grow at a sustained rate. U.S. GDP reached an all-time high in 2019 of $21.43 trillion.
The growth of the goods GDP rose by an impressive 4.7 percent, while services was at 1.7 percent.
Consumer spending increased by 2.6 percent last year and spending on durable goods surged by 4.7 percent in 2019.
Personal income reached an all-time high of $18.6 trillion, up from $17.8 trillion in 2018.
The personal savings rate increased to 8 percent for the year, with Americans saving $1.31 trillion in 2019, up from $1.21 trillion in 2018.
The long period of massive import surges of goods is finally abating. For the year, imports of goods rose by only 0.2 percent, the lowest yearly increase since 2009.
To view the Gross Domestic Product, Fourth Quarter and Annual 2019 full release click HERE.
Bureaus and Offices
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Leadership
Wilbur Ross