Holiday Tips from Small Business Owners: Shipping, Marketing and More |  |
- Holiday Tips from Small Business Owners: Shipping, Marketing and More
- Planning Your Business Can Be A Real Picnic
- Jeff Brathwaite of Mobile Payment Power: Exploring Mobile Payment Options
- Break The Cycle: Ask Siri
- Apple To Manufacture Macs in U.S.
| Holiday Tips from Small Business Owners: Shipping, Marketing and More Posted: 07 Dec 2012 01:00 PM PST The Holidays can be a wonderful time for small businesses like ours. But if you’re like me you’re always looking for new ideas. Well, we’ve got them — including tips on holiday sales promotions, employee and client gifts, greeting cards, banners and shipping. A few weeks ago I helped with a Twitter chat as part of the FedEx Office Tweet chat series. Below we share some of the great tips from the Twitter community during that chat (#SMBHolidayPrep). If you're still planning for the Holidays, what is the first thing you should do?
What should your Holiday business plan include?
What are some marketing activities you can still do for the Holidays?
What about retail shops? What should they be doing?
What about Holiday flyers?
What about client gift giving?
Let's talk about shipping packages for the Holidays
Speaking of websites, what else should you do to get it ready for the Holidays?
What other things can you do to prepare for the Holidays?
If you’d like to see the entire chat, view the transcript provided by FedEx Office (PDF). Note: the above tweets have been edited to remove redundant information such as question numbers and hashtags. Disclosure: FedEx Office compensated me to participate as a small business expert during the FedEx Office Tweet Chat program and write this post. The ideas in this blog post are mine and not ideas or advice from FedEx Office. Holiday Shipping Photo via Shutterstock The post Holiday Tips from Small Business Owners: Shipping, Marketing and More appeared first on Small Business Trends.      |
| Planning Your Business Can Be A Real Picnic Posted: 07 Dec 2012 11:00 AM PST Imagine planning a picnic. You carefully get the food ready, the drinks and plates, and carefully pack it all into a nice little basket and drive to your "perfect picnic spot." But once you arrive you discover the stream has dried up, the lush grass has become overgrown with hard weeds and there are swarms of biting insects and ants everywhere. Three Ways You Could React At this point, you could react in one of three ways. Your first option is to decide to go ahead and have the picnic in that spot despite the unexpected developments. You resolve yourself to "make do" with the situation. Sure the grass is prickly, and the stream has disappeared and you are going to be fighting biting insects. But you planned to have this picnic here so you simply make the best of a bad situation. The second approach would be to decide that your picnic has been ruined. Off you go, back home, silently (or not-so-silently) cursing your bad luck, the bad situation, and all the other circumstances that got in the way of your nice plan. Your third option is to admit your picnic plans need to be changed and then adjust your plan. You pack up and try another spot – one that has lush grass, a nice stream and less biting insects. You may not have the picnic exactly as you planned, but you will still accomplish your overall objective of having a fun and relaxing picnic. Running Your Business Is A Picnic So how does this apply to you and your business? As a business owner, you are continually making plans to do things you believe will drive your business forward. Maybe you make plans to hire a new team member. Maybe you plan to launch a new product or service. Maybe you plan a new marketing effort to increase the number of customers you have. Or anything else you feel will give your business better results for you. But when your plans meet reality things often don’t unfold the way you assumed they would. That's not being negative or pessimistic – it's simply being realistic. How you react to this collision between your plans and reality determines your actual results – good (if you react in a productive manner) or bad (if you react destructively). Do you decide to grit your teeth, and drive on with your plan? Even if it's unpleasant, painful, and potentially harmful? Or do you get upset, blame bad luck, the market you're in, your competitors, your customers, or the economy? Or do you accept the fact that creating a plan and initiating it is just the first step in the game? Three Steps To Make Sure Your “Business Picnic” Isn’t A Disaster Here's the best way to successfully implement any plan in your business: Step One Determine the big outcome you are hoping to achieve with your plan. This is the overall goal – not the details. For example, if you are planning on launching a new product, what is it that you are really trying to achieve? Is it increased revenue and gross profit? Is it to provide a complimentary product or service to your existing customers that will add value to them? Maybe it's to get new customers to experience your business in a low-risk way so you can start to build a relationship and sell more to them over time. Step Two Develop the major details for your plan to accomplish your big outcome. The key is to develop these major details quickly. Your goal is to create an plan that is adequate. Adequate? Yes. It doesn't have to be perfect. Why not? Because it is very likely that whatever level of detail you incorporate into your plan – it is going to need to be adjusted to react to actual circumstances. In other words, it’s pretty much a certainty that the assumptions you use in your plan are going to be wrong. So creating an adequate plan saves you time, and avoids the tendency to get to anchored to a plan that you spent too much time creating. Step Three Embrace events as they unfold, be flexible and willing to change your plans to take advantage of opportunities and avoid getting hurt by unexpected developments. Your goal is NOT to necessarily fulfill the details of your plan. Rather, your goal should be to adapt as needed and keep moving toward your big outcome. You will find yourself much more relaxed, and your business will be much more likely to thrive – no matter what happens. Picnic Ants Photo via Shutterstock The post Planning Your Business Can Be A Real Picnic appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| Jeff Brathwaite of Mobile Payment Power: Exploring Mobile Payment Options Posted: 07 Dec 2012 08:00 AM PST It’s no secret, the world as we know it has gone mobile. As a small business owner, you can’t let the mobile bandwagon pass you by. You need to jump on it. Particularly when it comes to accepting mobile payments. Tune in and join Jeff Brathwaite, Founder of Mobile Payment Power, and Brent Leary as they explore and compare mobile payment options such as Square, PayPal, Groupon and more. * * * * *
Jeff Brathwaite: It was a combination of two things. I speak regularly. I go out and I do certain things in the field. So I needed something that allowed me to sell my wares and I had nothing. Small Business Trends: Where are we at today with mobile payment? How big it is right now? Jeff Brathwaite: In the next three years, we are going to be at one trillion dollars when it comes to mobile. Mobile has taken off to the point where so many of the stores that were doing 'Black Friday' apps had an advantage when it came to mobile. So yes, within the next three years, we’re talking about a trillion dollar business. Small Business Trends: Can you talk a bit about Square? Jeff Brathwaite: They are popularizing payments via smartphones and their device is what really makes it happen. The device, called the Square, is basically a small little device that pops right into the ear phone jack of your smartphone or tablet devices. You have the app on your phone. You call up the app, login, and then swipe a credit card and you get your payments within 24 to 36 hours, right into your bank account. Small Business Trends: What kind of transaction percentages are they taking? Jeff Brathwaite: They are taking a 2.75% per swipe with Square. Some of the others have a lower rate and some have a little bit higher. Small Business Trends: Who are the players in this space? Jeff Brathwaite: Recently, Bank of America decided to do their own version of Square. PayPal decided to get into the arena about a month and a half ago. You've got Groupon that is in it right now as well and Intuit, too. The last one I just got in the mail is PayAnywhere. There are many, many others that are coming into it. Small Business Trends: How does a small business choose what service is best for them? Jeff Brathwaite: Square has the least barrier of entry to accepting credit cards via the smartphone. Small Business Trends: When you say “barrier of entry” what are we talking about? Jeff Brathwaite: Meaning, it is the easiest way for one to accept the credit card. You can buy one of these squares in an Apple Store, or Walgreens. You can just walk in and purchase one. You can actually create the account within five minutes and you are up and running and accepting credit cards. Small Business Trends: What company is more rigorous to get up and running? Jeff Brathwaite: I would say Bank of America. They are the most traditional since they go through the process of a credit app. Small Business Trends: So you can't get up and running in 15 minutes? Jeff Brathwaite: No, you cannot. Small Business Trends: What if you are trying to look at the best transaction rates or the lowest cost involved? Jeff Brathwaite: Well, the lowest rate right now is actually Groupon. Groupon has a 1.6% for MasterCard and Visa. They have a different one for Amex but they are all much lower than what you have on Square. Small Business Trends: Which one allows you to get your money quickest? Jeff Brathwaite: PayPal is the fastest. As soon as you swipe, that money is in your PayPal account. Of course, if you have a bank account and you transfer the money into it, that takes two to three days. Small Business Trends: Are there any restrictions in terms of the amount of the transaction that you can handle? Jeff Brathwaite: Yes, there is. When it comes to this particular industry, they are looking at smaller transactions. They are not looking at the high dollar figure. So if you go borderline in terms of a thousand dollars or more per swipe, I would say you're going more traditional when it comes to needing a merchant account. If you are doing things let's say $20, $30, even $100, these are pretty much good-to-go per swipe. Then some of them have limitations based on if you don't swipe. They will allow you to take credit cards without having the actual credit card. For instnace, if you receive it via fax, phone, or whatever. So you can accept those credit cards and punch in the information. There is a different rate for that and that is also capped with some of these devices. Small Business Trends: Is there a minimum amount? Jeff Brathwaite: No, that is the beauty of having this. There are no monthly fees, no minimum fees and no maximum fees. Small Business Trends: Which one offers the best customer service? Because we all know this stuff does not work all the time. Jeff Brathwaite: Square is the worst. They are the best when it comes to the low barrier of entry, but they are the worst in terms of customer service because they do not have phone support. It's all email. I had a situation where I was back and forth with them via email and it took almost a week and a half to resolve the situation. Small Business Trends: Just out of curiosity, what was the dollar transaction? Jeff Brathwaite: It was a $1,000. Small Business Trends: If you just started out today, knowing what you know now, which one would you use? Jeff Brathwaite: PayPal. Because the barrier of entry is not bad. If you have a PayPal account, you’re good to go. You can get a PayPal device inside of a store. They have them in AT&T stores and there is phone support. And they have a 2.70% rate as opposed to 2.75%. So it’s cheaper than Square. Small Business Trends: Where can people learn more? Jeff Brathwaite: You can go to MobilePaymentPower.com. This interview is part of our One on One series of conversations with some of the most thought-provoking entrepreneurs, authors and experts in business today. This interview has been edited for publication. To hear audio of the full interview, click the right arrow on the gray player below. You can also see more interviews in our interview series. Jeff Brathwaite – Mobile Payments by smallbiztrends The post Jeff Brathwaite of Mobile Payment Power: Exploring Mobile Payment Options appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| Posted: 07 Dec 2012 05:00 AM PST I just bought the new iPad and it’s the third iPad I’ve owned. Yes, I’m an early adopter. Yes, I’m an Apple ethusiast. But, honestly, what is wrong with me!? Throw in a few more bells, whistles, and that retina display and I’m positively Pavlovian! The thing is, even as I enjoy the latest and greatest, part of me is thinking:
I know it’s coming, and yet… I wish I knew how to break the cycle. Ooh, I know! I’ll ask Siri! The post Break The Cycle: Ask Siri appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| Apple To Manufacture Macs in U.S. Posted: 07 Dec 2012 02:30 AM PST So much for outsourced manufacturing jobs. Computer icon Apple Inc. says it will begin manufacturing Mac computers in the U.S. starting next year. For small businesses and startups, outsourcing is still a business necessity. However, some aspects of business, like marketing, are becoming hyper local. Your business may work with a combination of in-house employees and outsourced talent from halfway around the world or just across the street. Whom you work with, of course, depends on your business. Here’s a look at what’s happening with outsourced and local business functions today. Manufacturing MakeoverBringing it all back home. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently announced at least one line of Macs will be manufactured exclusively in the U.S. starting next year. The tech CEO was not more specific, but the announcement could be big news due to its impact on American jobs. It could also be critical for numerous U.S. small businesses that might play supporting roles to such manufacturing activities. The decision’s full effect on local business and the economy can only be estimated until more details emerge. Rock Center Made in the U.S.A. Following Apple’s announcement of a commitment to spend $100 million building Macs in the U.S. beginning next year, Foxconn Technology Group, based in Taipei, says it plans to expand operations in North America. Foxconn, a major supplier for both Apple and Hewlett-Packard Co., claims the move is based on greater demand from its customers for products made in the U.S. The benefits of increased manufacturing in the U.S. will doubtless filter down through the economy, touching businesses in many sectors. Bloomberg Reality CheckOutsourcing is a dirty word. The recent announcement from Apple of plans to build some Mac computers in the U.S. starting next year is the reverse of a trend over the last quarter century. Outsourcing functions either to a business in another city or in another country is no longer an activity limited to multinational companies. Small businesses have been able to benefit from the financial advantages of outsourcing more recently, although this sound business technique has also attracted an unfortunate stigma, writes William S. Utz. Expert Business Advice How to save your startup. No matter what your business model, trying to handle all the functions of your company internally could cost you your startup. Wear too many hats and you can’t focus on the core competencies of your business that must be done right if you are to succeed. But, hire someone internally to do those jobs, and you’ll likely find the costs prohibitive. Here are some of the main functions you’ll want to outsource, allowing you to focus on more important things. Rahul Varshneya Timing is everything. The most important thing about successful outsourcing is knowing when to start assigning important, but sometimes mundane tasks to others. Freelance writer Damien Elsing founded a Website dedicated to teaching businesses when it’s time to outsource. Ask yourself whether you are spending too much time on tasks that could easily be done by someone else, and whether this is keeping you from more important things. OutsourceHow On the HomefrontJust around the corner. While outsourcing services has become the norm in small businesses as a way of saving money, marketing is becoming increasingly more local. Check out the efforts of Airbnb, the online vacation rental service, to improve local SEO, helping users market their rentals in a way increasingly specific to their communities. Blogger David Iwanow gives us a look at the growing importance of marketing locally, even on the Web. Lost Press Marketing Shop local this holiday season. Small businesses can show customers how by employing local online marketing techniques. Marketing expert Matt Mansfield gives us just two examples, starting with tips on how to build and market a standalone mobile app. (Don’t miss Matt’s video tutorial here!) His second idea is a QR code marketing plan for the holidays that you will want to consider. Both are ways of capturing more local customers’ attention during this festive season. Matt About Business The post Apple To Manufacture Macs in U.S. appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
festive and fun. Decorate your logo.” @DIYMarketers
Small Business Trends: Can you talk a little bit about how you got into mobile payments?
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