Category Archives: Start Ups

Build a Local Small Business Marketing Plan

Small businesses have a competitive advantage versus the larger businesses in the local market. So why wouldn’t you take advantage of this?

Walk through the best practices of a marketing plan and then have it fine tuned in order to reach out to the local, regional market. Then learn to use and implement the local marketing tools.

The overview of the video is:

Step 1: Marketing Goal
Step 2: Marketing Budget
Step 3: Target Market
Step 4: Your Message
Step 5: Your Local Marketing Tools

Contact Your Expert

Carla Langhorst
carla@smallbusinesssolver.com

Like the slides? Download slides

Crowdfunding in Canada

Crowdfunding is one of the new up and coming ways to finance your business. If we look at the international market place, there is $3-5 billion dollars that has been raised in crowdfunding efforts.
 
This is through over 300 portals internationally with 45 of them available to Canadians. Traditionally crowdfunding works by donation or reward.
 
The latest and greatest is that crowdfunding will soon be available in Canada to raise equity. This is going to make raising equity less expensive to do and easier to do.
 
Now is the time to prepare your business for this new opportunity. Learn how in this 20 minute video.
 

 
Contact the Expert
 
Mike Hook
e:  mike@intrepidlaw.ca
www.intrepidlaw.ca
@MikeHookLaw
 
 

Avoid The Top Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail

Small business owners don’t have it easy. It is an uphill battle and we are always told that the odds are forever against us.

So what are we supposed to avoid and really look out for as small business owners?

This starts off with the reality check of how many small businesses actually fail and what the success rates are.

Then we look at what industries are more successful, what areas of Canada are starting businesses, and if Canada is competitive.

Then we look at the top 5 things to avoid.

Finally we compare this to what non-profits should be considering.

Contact the Expert

Carla Langhorst
e: Carla@smallbusinesssolver.com

 

Small Business 101: Making Your Dream a Reality

Starting up your own business is not as hard as you think.
 
This video walks through the critical logistical steps you need to be taking to get started.
 
1. How to select and check your business name?
2. Business location
3. Sole proprietorship vs. corporation
4. Registering for HST, Payroll, WSIB
5. Protecting your intellectual property
6. Taking your business online
7. Get Started!
 

 
Contact the Expert
 
www.bdc-canada.com
 
 

The Secret To Getting More Sales

The Secrete to Getting More Sales is all about following these 7 keys steps:
 
1. Do pre-contact research
2. Tell better stories
3. Ask better questions
4. Get commitment
5. Get broader agreement
6. Influence the influencers
7. Justify the cost
 
Great 35-minute video that will make a huge difference in how you look at sales!
 

 
Contact the Expert
 
Adrian Davis
adavis@whetstoneinc.ca
 

Top Home Based Businesses

Starting up a business from home is a viable option. In fact over 50% of self-employed people run their small business from the comfort of their own home.

Find out why you should consider working from home, some surprising stats, the top trending home based small businesses, the top home based small businesses in operation, and if it is right for you.

Finally this 20 minute video reviews some best practices to help you start and keep your own small business at home.

Contact the Expert
The information from this webinar was gathered from small business resources and Stats Canada. For more information, please contact us at info@smallbusinesssolver.com

Like the Slides? Top Home Based Businesses

Action Planning

Get Started. Keep Going! This is the life of the small business owner and entrepreneur in 2014 trying to get their business ramped up or growing.
 
The number one reason why a small business owner is successful in the short term is based on how much they are moving forward.  Every time that you say the words ‘I will’, are you?  Not that you necessarily have to be on time, but you need to do it if you said you would.  Being action oriented and getting things done is critical to success.
 
The Action Planning Process includes the following steps;
1. Goal Setting
2. Action Planning
3. Implementation
4. Measure the Results
5. Assess/Reassess
 

 
Contact Information
 
Gary Brown
gary.brown@fsainc.ca
 
Like the Slides? SBS-action planning webinar

Finding Time For Yourself

 
Finding time for yourself is critical in running your business for a ton of different reasons.
 
1. It helps you perform better when you are working.
2. It increases personal satisfaction.
3. It allows for worklife balance and overall satisfaction.
4. It prevents burnout which is one of the leading causes of business failure.
5. It is better for your personal well being and health.
 
When all is said and done, making time for yourself could be the difference between business success and failure.
 
 

 
Contact The Expert
 
Elise Manolakos
elisemano7@gmail.com
 
About Elise: Her main inspiration comes from providing physiotherapy treatments to long-term care patients and living with her 85 year old Greek grandmother.

A quote that keeps her going: “Thinking is easy, acting is difficult and to put one’s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.” – Johann Wolfgang Goethe

 
Like the Slides?  Making time for yourself
 
 
 

Cold Calling Basics (Part 1)

Cold calling is the most cost effective way to develop new leads for a small business owner selling business to business (B2B) or business to government (B2G). Even with all social media options, search engine optimization, and so many other marketing tools available to a small business owner – cold calling and telemarketing still wins out.

 

Unfortunately it is also the most hated way to get business. People are often scared of even picking up the phone for the first call. But if it is the most cost effective way to get new business, it is important to learn how to improve your odds.

 

The top 10 tips that are covered are;
– how to be a human rather than a robot when telemarketing
– when in doubt, put yourself in your customer’s shoes
– why honesty is truly the best policy
– how to keep your energy and optimism up
– when to call your target prospect
– how often to call your target prospect
– what makes a bad lead list and what are the red flags that your lead list stinks
– what information should you be keeping and tracking about your customers?
– should you be scared of gatekeepers and tactics to get to the person you want

 

 

Expert Contact Information

Carla Langhorst
Carla@smallbusinesssolver.com

 

Like the PowerPoint? cold calling basics

 

Public Relations for Small Business

 
Public relations (PR) is one of the most effective forms of marketing. Why? It is instantly credible and it often gets your business into mediums that you might not be able to access otherwise.
 
Think about when you read a newspaper, instantly any business that is mentioned or quoted is considered more credible or a leader in the field. The same applies if you hear someone presenting, on the radio, or even mentioned on a blog. Taking advantage of this low cost and effective marketing tool becomes critical.
 
Some of the top things to remember about PR is this;
1. Know your public.
2. Target communication.
3. Be consistent.
4. Know the tools and resources available to you.
5. Plan ahead.
 
To learn all of the details and tricks from a PR consultant, check out the video.
 

 
Contact the Expert
 
Sandra Gabriel
sandra@gabrielpr.ca
 
Like the PowerPoint presentation? PR 101
 

Additional Resources

 
Press News Release Outlets
Briefing Wire https://www.briefingwire.com/
PR Log https://www.prlog.org/
News Box https://newsbox.com/
Press Release Point https://pressreleasepoint.com/
My PR Genie https://www.myprgenie.com/
Pamper Me Network https://www.youdeservetobepampered.com
PR Link (Toronto) https://prlink.insidetoronto.com/
 
News & Articles
68 Articles https://68articles.com/
Article Alley https://www.articlealley.com
Article Base https://www.articlesbase.com/
Article Click https://www.articleclick.com/
E-Zine Articles https://ezinearticles.com/
Ezine Mark https://ezinemark.com/
Go Articles https://goarticles.com/
Scribd https://www.scribd.com
gabrielpr.ca https://www.gabrielpr.ca/wp-admin
Women’s Post https://www.womenspost.ca
Biz Sugar https://www.bizsugar.com
 
Extended Distribution List
www.betanews.com
www.highwire.stanford.edu
www.newslink.org
www.marketwire.com
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www.prnewswire.com
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