The Business Advisory Centre Northumberland aims to serve our clients to the best of our ability. We are excited to launch our new website. It was designed with you in mind. The information is organized in a way that we hope will help make it easier for you to find what you're looking for. We know how busy business owners really are.
Connecting business owners with the resources they need to succeed is what we do best.
You'll find information on our website about the programs we offer, research material to help you with your planning, details about our seminars, links to our partners & sponsors and of course, we invite you to contact us if you'd like more information.
Check it out at http://www.businessadvisorycentrenorthumberland.ca/
Our Mission:
The purpose of the Business Advisory Centre Northumberland is to provide information, support and development services to new and existing small businesses and entrepreneurs in Northumberland.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Strategies for Web-based Marketing
With so many online tools these days, business owners can feel like a deer caught in the headlights. Flooded with information(light)and blinded by the same. It's best to start simple and expand gradually. Here are a few important pointers to help.
1) Offer Information to Customers- 76 percent of consumers gather information from online sources before making a purchase. Websites, blogs and online chatrooms are some of their favourite sources. They expect the company website to help them make an informed choice. Position your business as an expert and watch it grow.
2) Optimize Search Engines- knowing the key words and phrases that customers will use to search for you business is the first step. Include them in your content and make it easier for your customers to find you first.
3) Blogging & Video Posting - blogs help you stay in front of your clients and raise your page in the search engines. Video posting allows viewers to see you and hear you which can help them trust you before they meet you.
4) Social Media Boosts Your Business - reaching out effectively will likely require having a number of social media tools. Using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogging can help you have a bigger impact and a more visible presence to your online community.
Don't let fear stop you from getting started. Most users get over their fear pretty quickly and then wonder why they didn't start using these tools sooner.
1) Offer Information to Customers- 76 percent of consumers gather information from online sources before making a purchase. Websites, blogs and online chatrooms are some of their favourite sources. They expect the company website to help them make an informed choice. Position your business as an expert and watch it grow.
2) Optimize Search Engines- knowing the key words and phrases that customers will use to search for you business is the first step. Include them in your content and make it easier for your customers to find you first.
3) Blogging & Video Posting - blogs help you stay in front of your clients and raise your page in the search engines. Video posting allows viewers to see you and hear you which can help them trust you before they meet you.
4) Social Media Boosts Your Business - reaching out effectively will likely require having a number of social media tools. Using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogging can help you have a bigger impact and a more visible presence to your online community.
Don't let fear stop you from getting started. Most users get over their fear pretty quickly and then wonder why they didn't start using these tools sooner.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Re-Energizing
Are you mapping out your future or are you simply putting one foot in front of the other and hoping that it takes you someplace where you want to be? If you'd like to steer your own ship, here are a few simple suggestions that can help:
1) Spend some time reflecting on where you've been, what your strengths are and accept reality for what it is. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on your passion and your success stories.
2) Learn more about what successful companies are doing differently. The landscape is changing in the world of business. It might be time to reinvent and prepare to change with it.
3) Create your own job description. Tailor it to your skills and then sell yourself. Stay focused on your strengths. The only thing worse than arrogance is false modesty. You have to blow your own horn because no one else knows the tune.
4) Change your network. New connections breed new ideas which leads to new growth. Finding new networks can be very refreshing.
5) Once you've re-energized yourself....execute your plan. Define your path. Learn new things. Build supporting relationships. Take small steps EVERY DAY.
1) Spend some time reflecting on where you've been, what your strengths are and accept reality for what it is. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on your passion and your success stories.
2) Learn more about what successful companies are doing differently. The landscape is changing in the world of business. It might be time to reinvent and prepare to change with it.
3) Create your own job description. Tailor it to your skills and then sell yourself. Stay focused on your strengths. The only thing worse than arrogance is false modesty. You have to blow your own horn because no one else knows the tune.
4) Change your network. New connections breed new ideas which leads to new growth. Finding new networks can be very refreshing.
5) Once you've re-energized yourself....execute your plan. Define your path. Learn new things. Build supporting relationships. Take small steps EVERY DAY.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Staying on the Plus Side with Cashflow
Maintaining cashflow is key to keeping your business going. Your suppliers are expecting you to pay them on time so you, in turn, must ensure that you get paid by your customers.
Here are some tips from Canada Business Network that may help you:
Invoice Immediately - otherwise you end up carrying your customer's debt
Organize your Collection System - have a system! Stay on top of it or designate someone to do it for you. Documenting interactions and following your system will prove beneficial if you have to take legal action for non-payment. Final notices may even be sent out by certified mail.
Script It - have a script that you use for every interaction with non-paying customers. Have pre-drafted letters for past due accounts. This will allow you to be direct and consistent with your customers.
Reward Early Payment - you may wish to give a small discount (2% or so) to customers who pay their invoice within 10 days or perhaps you will wish to implement late fees for those who miss the due date. Be sure to be clear on the invoice so you customer knows what the rewards/penalties are.
Partial Payments - you may want to collect 1/2 up front and the remainder on delivery. Your system should be designed to meet the needs of your business.
Know Your Customer - getting to know your customer's likes, dislikes, spending habits, credit history (check it periodically) will help you manage their account more effectively.
Take it Seriously - when several of your requests have turned up no response, it's time to take serious action. Don't hesitate; ramp up the pressure. You may wish to seek legal advice or use the services of a collection agency.
Controlling cashflow is one of the key pillars of business success.
It's smart to treat it accordingly.
Here are some tips from Canada Business Network that may help you:
Invoice Immediately - otherwise you end up carrying your customer's debt
Organize your Collection System - have a system! Stay on top of it or designate someone to do it for you. Documenting interactions and following your system will prove beneficial if you have to take legal action for non-payment. Final notices may even be sent out by certified mail.
Script It - have a script that you use for every interaction with non-paying customers. Have pre-drafted letters for past due accounts. This will allow you to be direct and consistent with your customers.
Reward Early Payment - you may wish to give a small discount (2% or so) to customers who pay their invoice within 10 days or perhaps you will wish to implement late fees for those who miss the due date. Be sure to be clear on the invoice so you customer knows what the rewards/penalties are.
Partial Payments - you may want to collect 1/2 up front and the remainder on delivery. Your system should be designed to meet the needs of your business.
Know Your Customer - getting to know your customer's likes, dislikes, spending habits, credit history (check it periodically) will help you manage their account more effectively.
Take it Seriously - when several of your requests have turned up no response, it's time to take serious action. Don't hesitate; ramp up the pressure. You may wish to seek legal advice or use the services of a collection agency.
Controlling cashflow is one of the key pillars of business success.
It's smart to treat it accordingly.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Removing Barriers to Innovation
Innovating involves disrupting the status quo. Trying to achieve something new while doing the same old thing will probably lead to the same old thing. In fact, it's often referred to as the definition of insanity. You have to be prepared to change what you're doing if you want different results. I'd like to suggest a 3 Step process to help you get started:
Focus Your Efforts
So you've identified an opportunity and you want to explore it's potential before you spend your money. Start by filling in the brackets for the following statement: There is an opportunity to provide (who) with (what) that (fills what need). Step one is always to identify your potential customer and define what it is you have to offer.What you have to offer must fill a need or there will be no customers. Getting as clear as you possibly can about this statement will be the key to moving further.
Once you've defined your opportunity, it's time to force connections. Solutions are often found in the periphery. Be prepared to look at things from new angles and see how seemingly unrelated things can change your perception of the overall picture. Brainstorm your ideas without judging them at this point. It's meant to be a "stream of consciousness" activity. WRITE THEM DOWN.
Blend Together
Explore the Top 3 ideas that appear to be the most promising. Choosing three (3) will help you stay focused while at the same time forcing some disruption of the norms. You should be thinking about the "bits" and the "benefits". The bits are the product, service and information that you will provide. The benefits are about your partners, customers and users. All the bits should work together and all parties should benefit from the innovation.
This is the meat and potatoes of your innovation. This process will determine whether or not you need to explore more of your ideas in order to find something worthy of launching.
Explore Your Disruptive Ideas
Define and refine your Top 3 Ideas. Remain open to connections that may seem a bit unconventional. Without disruption of the status quo, there is no change. Without change, there is no innovation.
Have Fun !!!
Focus Your Efforts
So you've identified an opportunity and you want to explore it's potential before you spend your money. Start by filling in the brackets for the following statement: There is an opportunity to provide (who) with (what) that (fills what need). Step one is always to identify your potential customer and define what it is you have to offer.What you have to offer must fill a need or there will be no customers. Getting as clear as you possibly can about this statement will be the key to moving further.
Once you've defined your opportunity, it's time to force connections. Solutions are often found in the periphery. Be prepared to look at things from new angles and see how seemingly unrelated things can change your perception of the overall picture. Brainstorm your ideas without judging them at this point. It's meant to be a "stream of consciousness" activity. WRITE THEM DOWN.
Blend Together
Explore the Top 3 ideas that appear to be the most promising. Choosing three (3) will help you stay focused while at the same time forcing some disruption of the norms. You should be thinking about the "bits" and the "benefits". The bits are the product, service and information that you will provide. The benefits are about your partners, customers and users. All the bits should work together and all parties should benefit from the innovation.
This is the meat and potatoes of your innovation. This process will determine whether or not you need to explore more of your ideas in order to find something worthy of launching.
Explore Your Disruptive Ideas
Define and refine your Top 3 Ideas. Remain open to connections that may seem a bit unconventional. Without disruption of the status quo, there is no change. Without change, there is no innovation.
Have Fun !!!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Managing Your Business' Online Presence
As online technology becomes more mobile, many reluctant business owners are being forced to take a close look at their marketing strategy. There are so many new electronic ways to reach customers that it can boggle the mind. Getting aquainted with the basics is essential. The fact that a high percentage of people are now using Facebook and an even higher percentage won't find your business at all unless you have a website, should tell us how important it is to learn how to use these tools as well as some of the newer tools.
In October and November, the Business Advisory Centre is offering more seminars to assist business owners wishing to better incorporate these tools into their business.
Visit www.bizdevelopment.ca and check out the calendar in the upper righthand corner for links to the details.
In October and November, the Business Advisory Centre is offering more seminars to assist business owners wishing to better incorporate these tools into their business.
Visit www.bizdevelopment.ca and check out the calendar in the upper righthand corner for links to the details.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Survey, Survey, Why do a Survey?
There are lots of reasons why a business owner might want to conduct a survey. The value of a survey is directly proportional to the thought that goes into creating it and carrying it out.
The first step in conducting a valuable survey is to figure out WHY? You need to know what it is you hope to learn. Remember to stay open minded and not prejudge the results. Once you know why, you can figure out what to ask and who will participate. Knowing why will also help you to decide when to conduct your survey and how to carry it out.
Here are some examples of reasons you might want to put the effort into conducting a survey:
- testing the effectiveness of your marketing plan
- finding out if there is demand for a product before you launch/spend
- guaging customer satisfaction with service/product
- learning more about the lifestyle of your customer
- evaluating brand awareness
- determining the need for staff education
These are some of the more common reasons businesses survey. Your "why" will dictate who you want to ask, what you want to ask them, when you will ask them and how you will reach them. Some surveys are conducted at point of sale, some are done on-line, some are done over the telephone. You need to know your why.
No question about it, well thought out surveys remain a very effectvie tool for readjusting the sails and keeping a business on the course to success.
The first step in conducting a valuable survey is to figure out WHY? You need to know what it is you hope to learn. Remember to stay open minded and not prejudge the results. Once you know why, you can figure out what to ask and who will participate. Knowing why will also help you to decide when to conduct your survey and how to carry it out.
Here are some examples of reasons you might want to put the effort into conducting a survey:
- testing the effectiveness of your marketing plan
- finding out if there is demand for a product before you launch/spend
- guaging customer satisfaction with service/product
- learning more about the lifestyle of your customer
- evaluating brand awareness
- determining the need for staff education
These are some of the more common reasons businesses survey. Your "why" will dictate who you want to ask, what you want to ask them, when you will ask them and how you will reach them. Some surveys are conducted at point of sale, some are done on-line, some are done over the telephone. You need to know your why.
No question about it, well thought out surveys remain a very effectvie tool for readjusting the sails and keeping a business on the course to success.
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