As a small business owner your goal is to establish a relationship with your target audience. Many times after doing all the necessary research, employing all the correct marketing tools, and actively drumming up business you may find that you are still not meeting your expected goals. Oftentimes what is missing are the small details that personalize your business to potential customers.

Encourage your employees to greet each customer with a smile and a cheery attitude. Nothing turns a customer off more than entering a business where the tension is so thick that you can cut through it with a knife. Personal business is just that, and should be discussed away from the workplace. Everyone has a bad day but that shouldn’t be transmitted to your customers.

Don’t be afraid to give something to get something. There’s something about getting something for free, no matter how small, that just seems to rub people the right way. A small sample of your wares or some other marketing giveaway, nicely packaged shows that you appreciate the business that is coming your way. You don’t have to give away the store but there are a multitude of ways that you can give the customer the sense that his patronage has added advantages.

Learn to enjoy the ride. Yes it is important that your new business enjoys profitabilty. It is equally important that your new enterprise does not become an all consuming monster. A joyless business will most assuredly fail. Greet each day with a sense of purpose and enthusiasm. Learn how to step over the obstacles even if you stumble at first.  The fine details can often become the big factors that contribute to your success.

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In the world of business there are always David and Goliath stories. Tales abound of the new upstart company giving it’s high profile rivals a serious run for their money. In reality the emergence of the information super highway  allows a small business to not only compete with, but oftentimes surpass, a larger national competitor. Effective marketing can help a small business become highly sucessful on the internet. The best selling products online often appeal to a larger and more geographic audience. Many items that appeal to consumers over the internet are often in the technology or computer related fields, specialty items or hard to locate products, and discounted items that are generally higher priced at typical retail outlets.

A global business on the Internet does not require a bricks and mortar store or staff around the world, just a web site and perhaps one central warehouse. An e-commerce (electronic commerce) web site is typically less expensive (between $500.00 to $600.00 per month) and consumes less than 10 percent of that business’ revenues. Electronic transactions eliminate the need for a large sales staff. The virtual storefront also minimizes theft, damage, or breakage of the inventory.

Another advantage for the small business is that you’re dealing with a global audience. At any given time someone, somewhere is shopping online.  A web site can be multi-lingual, allowing visitors to choose their language upon entering a site. International datelines no longer are at play.  Customers can shop at their convenience. Money can be generated regardless whether the business owner is sleeping or not.

Another aspect of e-commerce is that it allows the business owner to establish a personal relationship with a multitude of customers.  The web site allows a business to address its customers on a more intimate level. The computer can recognize and greet repeat shoppers. Buying and spending habits can be tracked for particular customers and messages can be tailored to greet them. This also allows the business owner to implement effective followup procedures for repeat customers. This perceived personalization by the customer can engender loyalty to the company or brand.

The savvy business owner recognizes the benefits of establishing and maintaining effective marketing tools for this growing avenue and exciting business concern.

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According to the better business bureau work at home scams are on the rise. The advent of the internet and e-mail has allowed scam artists to flood cyberspace with a plethora of phony ads and services. As they often say the players may change but the game is the same. 

Work at home con artists have not changed their methodology. Their victims usually include senior citizens, the disabled, stay at home mothers, people with limited job skills or low income, and people looking for a way to become rich over night.

 It should be noted that cyberspace has opened up heretofore uncharted waters for these sharks to search out new prey.  To avoid falling for work-at-home scams, both on- and off-line, look for the following warning signs:

• Overstated claims of product effectiveness;
• Exaggerated claims of potential earnings, profits, or part-time earnings;
• Claims of “inside” information;
• Requirements of money for instructions or products before telling you how the plan works;
• Claims of “no experience necessary.”

Some of these type of ads claim that a person will reap great financial benefits from stuffing envelopes, sending chain letters, becoming part of a multi level marketing pyramid, processing medical billing and the like. Most of these schemes require the participant to fork over large sums of money while often receiving little or nothing in return.

There is no substitute for closely examining any offer which promises or guarantees income from work-at-home programs. If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it’s a scam.

Consider it a warning sign if a worker must buy something in order to start the program. Those interested also should take into consideration that, by becoming involved in a work-at-home scheme, they might well be perpetrating a fraud by selling the program to others, and risk investigation by postal authorities.

A wise consumer should always make it a matter of practice to consult the Better Business Bureau for information on a specific work-at-home company before entering into any type of business arrangement.

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If you’ve started your own small business you are like a proud parent. You are eager to show off your latest addition to the family. Typically the new business owner will be focused on selling  his or her product to the community at large armed with enthusiasm and hope. This usually is not enough. There are some very basic tenets for new business owners  that should be remembered and followed. First and foremost you must have a marketing plan. Remember: The day you open for business is the day that you become a “full time” marketer. You must consistently move product, or schedule service time.  If you want to stay in business you must show a profit. To show a profit requires sales. To sell your product you must market it effectively. Here are five basic marketing strategies that a new small business owner should employ:

•  Gain the confidence of your targeted customer. If your customer feels indecisive, skeptical, confused or indifferent about your product or services your bottom line will be crippled. Your goal is to project the proper business image. You want your customer to know that your products or service represent  experience, quality, dependability, excellent customer service, and/or added value to your prospective customers in order to win their confidence. Naturally if these qualities are not  clearly communicated and you fail to show clear advantages and solid reasons for them to do business with you, then they will be hesitant to commit and the sale will go to your competitor.
• Make sure your customers  know who you are. The more ways that your audience hears about you, the better your chances are at achieving brand recognition, credibility and improved market share. This is known as intergrated marketing. You can then establish the USP (unique selling point) and expose your name and your product as often and as in as many ways of possible. Doing so in the most cost effective way possible while leaving no stone unturned.
• Believe in yourself and your product. In person and in print show sincere enthusiasm. Don’t overhype. It shows a lack of sincerity and professionalism. If your customer can see that you genuinely believe in your product and are enthusiastic about the benefits they will pick up on it as well.
• Purchasing often begins as an emotional decision. Make sure your potential customers have good feelings about your company, your business relationship with them, and how you can improve their lives or solve their problem. Accomplishing that is at least as important in the sales and marketing process as focusing attention on product features and benefits.
• Create a small business marketing plan to identify and capitalize on your strengths and opportunities. The various marketing  strategies that you employ will  take into account factors such as your weaknesses (and possible remedies), external threats (competition, economic factors, etc.), your marketing mix strategy (products/services, promotional goals, pricing strategy, and distribution decisions), media strategy, sales and expense budgets, target market analysis (know your customers), and readily available marketing tools, as well as marketing tools that you need to research or acquire.

These five essential marketing strategies will help develop your fledgling enterprise and establish you as a serious player in the world of small business and  marketing techniques.

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One of the most difficult aspects of managing a small company is finding the right mix of people to build a team atmosphere within the workplace.  When the right mix of people are teamed together the workplace can be an exciting and productive situation. Unfortunately the downside of management comes when you find yourself dealing with difficult employees. There are some personalities that will never be easy to get along with.  It seems that no matter how hard you try to assimilate them into the program, they never seem to grasp the concept. The plain truth is that some employess are darn near impossible to get along with.  
 
There are certain types of  difficult employees that always manifest themselve in fairly familiar ways. There’s the hard to handle employee who enjoys complaining about everything. They never have constructive suggestions, just an endless amount of complaints.  There’s the habitually tardy employee, that no matter when they are scheduled, they always show up late. There’s the aggressive employee who is always on the defensive. This difficult employee takes offense whenever they are asked to do or correct something.  The usual reaction is unreasonableness and anger. There’s also the harasser who just likes to get a rise out of people and observe their reaction. And of course we are sometimes faced with the dishonest one. They may not tell the truth and they may like to steal from you. So what can be done to manage these hard to handle employees?

Most management experts will tell you that the first thing that you will need to do is evaluate the situation. There is no perfect employee and all employees can be difficult at times. Sometimes this is caused by stress from the job or a situation in their personal lives. Of course you may find that some employees seem to be difficult more often than others. Your difficult employee is not necessarily the laziest or least productive. It will require that as a manager you evaluate each situation because no two will be alike.
 
Request  clarification and never respond to rumors or actions from others no matter what source it comes from. Gather all the correct information and act promptly on the facts that you’ve obtained.
The manager should also mediate and act calmly and impartially. A calm disposition is key.  Act to solve the problem not contribute to it by taking sides. 

Choose an appropriate  time to confront the difficult employee. Make sure to pick a time where you are alone and won’t embarrass them in front of the other associates. Pick a quiet and private place where you won’t be interrupted. If another manager or a boss needs to be present, make sure they are there too.

Confront the employee and discuss the problem. Your goal is to deal with the situation, not attack them. It is equally important to take the time to listen. 
Listen to what your employee has to say, rather than arguing. Get their side of the story first. Ask them how they would like to see the situation resolved. A person will react positively if they feel that their side  of the story is being listened to and that their feelings are being taken into consideration. Remember this is opportunity to meet on common groud. Stay calm and stay positive and be non-judgmental. Ask direct questions that don’t require lengthy explainations.  This will help them explain  without frustrated and angry. If you can find out the reason for their behavior from them, you can better resolve the situation.

In all probability multiple meetings may be necessary to resolve the situation. The problem of tardiness is small enough to be handled  quickly. More serious concerns  such as disrespectful attitudes toward fellow workmates or theft and dishonesty must be addressed with the proper management. Rarely will the results be instantaneous so patience will be required. There are occasions where the problem is serious enough  to warrant assistance from other sources outside of your jurisdiction. If the seriousness of the problem is out of your jurisdiction make sure to get the proper authorities to take care of the situation.

Your goal should always be to reach a mutually accepted solution. Logically if no solution is reached there is no reason to believe that the inappropriate behavior won’t continue. When you reach a solution and the employee is not willing to follow it, or the consequences of their actions, then termination should follow. Make sure if that is the outcome, then properly follow your company’s policy for termination.

These managing solutions for the difficult  employees are absolutely critical for maintaning a peaceful work environment.  The employees should know that your door is always open. When  all of the employess (yes the difficult ones too) feel that you are  approachable, they are more likely to communicate instead of letting things escalate into a problem.  

No one wants to work in a workplace filled with strife and tension. By employing some or all of these suggestions you will find that even the most difficult employee can be managed effectively. 

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