Am I Different From My Competition???

Do You, for the most part, offer the same products or services?
Yes No

Do You have similar retail hours? Yes No

Do You charge similar prices? Yes No

Do you have a sales script? Yes No

Does your competition have a sales script?
Yes No

Do your customers view you as being different from your competition? Yes No

How? ___________________________


Step back and really look at your company. Are you TRULY different from your competition? On the surface, most businesses appear to be the same. How can you change this perception? Think outside of the box.

Blogging Made Simple

Who Should Blog: Business owners interested in building their businesses through press releases, news letters, and blogs.

What Should I Blog: This is a news worthy article about something involving your business.

When Should I Blog: Once a month is manageable for most business owners.

Where Should I Blog: Blogger, Merchant Circle, Web Site, Other People’s Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and Press Release to local papers/tv/radio.

Why Should I Blog: To enhance web searches as we know this is how people are finding the majority of business owners.

How Should I Blog: You can blog by writing articles and posting them or responding to blogs that make you look like a credible resource of knowledge.



How Do I Start Blogging?

Head Line: Select a headline that includes some of the essential search engine words that prospective clients may use.

Write a few here:___________________________________________________



Article Body: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Closure: Include your Contact Info: name, email, website, phone number, etc.
_____________________________________________________________________


Other Essentials:
Photos
Video Clips


Posting Your Blog:
To use your time wisely, the SBCC recommends that you use this blog in as many locations as possible. Here are some suggestions:
1. Add to your main Blogger
2. Merchant Circle Blog
3. Website (if you have an area to list article)
4. email or typed newsletter
5. Press release that you can email to news papers/tv/radio.
6. Area networking events, use it as a flyer


Taking 2 hours a month to promote your business can really pay off.
www.SmallBusinessCoachingCenter.com

How Can I Develop Community Partnerships?

No one entity can fully support the needs of its community. It is essential that businesses form partnerships with families, schools, faith-based organizations, government agencies, other businesses, non-profit organications and other community groups to work together to help grow the community. This is called a community partnership.

Look around in your community to see if partnerships already exist. Consider whether you should join with them or build something new. If you’re forming a new community partnership, this section will help you get started.

Consider the groups and individuals who should be members of your community partnership. It should include members who represent the diverse areas that help your business:
Local teens and families
Schools
Community organizations
Faith-based organizations
Health care providers (includes physical and mental health care as well as substance abuse treatment)
Public health departments
Law enforcement agencies
Juvenile justice system
Human services agencies
Cooperative Extension offices
Parks and recreation departments
Libraries
Businesses
The media
Elected or appointed officials
Other individuals involved in defining community policies

Members of your partnership should also represent the different racial, ethnic, and cultural characteristics of your community. These cultural perspectives will help shape the decisions that are made and ensure the initiative’s success with the whole community.

The following questions can help you determine who you should build a community partnership with:
List 5-10 agencies that you might be interested in working with?




Within each of the above agencies, list 1-3 ideas that you would like to present to each agency?




For each agency, how would what you are offering help their organizations?




What is the next step you will take with each of these agencies: