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E-mail Marketing | 4 Ways to Attract & Retain Subscribers

Jun 9, 2015
2 min

E-mail Marketing | 4 Ways to Attract & Retain Subscribers

In today’s plugged-in society, e-mail marketing is an important component of your overall marketing strategy. Done right, you attract and retain loyal customers. Done wrong, however, you risk losing subscribers and tarnishing your brand. Here are four tips for sending effective, engaging newsletters. 1.) Don’t clog up inboxes. We all receive too much e-mail. Don’t turn off customers by sending newsletters too often. This is the number one reason people unsubscribe. Start by

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Feb 17, 2015
3 min

Logos | How To Create a Logo for Your Small Business

As a small business, your logo is your main identifying mark. It portrays what you stand for as a company; is one of the first things that comes to mind when customers think of your brand; and when used effectively, can be leveraged to create loyalty and to promote the positive attributes of your business. In this post, we discuss the different types of logos that exist; the important factors that comprise a logo; and the steps required in creating a logo that is both effecti

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Small Business Contests | Winter 2015

Dec 11, 2014
4 min

Small Business Contests | Winter 2015

Clients frequently visit our SBDC in search of grants to help fund their small businesses. The reality of grants, however, is they’re very specific and extremely fleeting. Grants in Iowa are typically reserved for non-profits and agricultural purposes, and the old idiom, “here today, gone tomorrow,” definitely holds true. Fortunately, many small business contests — both regional and national — cycle throughout the year, serving as a viable alternative for current and prospect

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May 24, 2010
1 min

What’s your motto?

by Julie Mierau We all know that physicians pledge to “first, do no harm.” But do you know Google’s company motto? “Don’t be evil.” Yep, it’s true. That’s the guiding principle at arguably the world’s premiere Internet-based company. Pretty big statement for a pretty big company. But why not something equally as ambitious for a small company? How about this: “Remember, our customers pay our bills.” Or this: “Tell the truth.” Or even: “I’m doing this my way.” Give it some thou

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Coupon Customer Service

May 19, 2010
2 min

Coupon Customer Service

I am a big coupon user and have many experiences with coupons. Some of these are bad experiences and they have determined if I will ever return to a business. I recently went into a chain store type business where they have weekly ads with coupons. I like to stop by and check out the weekly specials, even if I don’t need something. I often pick up a bargain or stock up on some things that I use a lot of. Who doesn’t in this economy? During this visit, there was already a

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Tips to Heat Up your Summer Business

May 11, 2010
2 min

Tips to Heat Up your Summer Business

1. Hire some help! – School is out and kids are smart. Especially with computers and the internet. Hire one for the summer and have them help you set up that social marketing campaign you have been meaning to start. Have them set up a Facebook Page, Twitter Account and even a blog. Join the conversation with your customers online. ONE WORD OF CAUTION! If someone is helping you set up Facebook or Twitter account make sure that you own the profiles and that you learn ho

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May 6, 2010
1 min

What we know about health care reform

While the media, the public and even Congress continue to discover all the details about the recently passed health care reform bill, we can share a few things that we know will affect small business owners. (The information shared here originated from The Harry A. Koch Co.) Companies that employ fewer than 50 workers are not required to offer health insurance, and they will not be penalized if they do not do so. Companies with 25 or fewer employees, with an average wage of u

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Branding boiled down to three simple questions

Jan 21, 2010
2 min

Branding boiled down to three simple questions

Everybody’s talking about branding these days. Marketing consultants want to charge companies to create brands — and sometimes rightfully so. Website consultants want to charge to create an online brand — again, sometimes rightfully so. Image consultants want to charge you to create your personal brand. But is that money well spent? At a seminar this morning, Celann LaGreca, principal at the LaGreca Group, offered three basic questions for creating your personal brand. As sma

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Your mama was right

Jan 12, 2010
1 min

Your mama was right

Remember when your mama told you there was no such thing as a free lunch? Turns out, she was right. Imagine that. Now, repeat after me: There’s no free grant money out there to start or expand my business. That’s right, boys and girls, there is no free grant money out there. No matter what you’ve heard or seen online or been promised by a company that will find you those grants. Here it is, in black and white, straight from the horse’s mouth, as it were: “The federal governme

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Do you love what you do?

Jan 5, 2010
1 min

Do you love what you do?

On my drive in to the office this morning, an NPR reporter was quoting a report, due out today, that says most Americans hate their jobs. The report, based on a survey of 5,000 U.S. households conducted for The Conference Board by TNS, found that 45 percent of those surveyed are satisfied with their jobs, down from 61.1 percent in 1987, the first year in which the survey was conducted. Most unhappy of all were workers younger than 25. Which makes sense, given the restricted j

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Sep 24, 2009
1 min

Stat of the week: Who’s got the cash?

On NPR’s “Marketplace” this morning, the host asked a simple question: Who has more disposable income — Gen Y’ers or Baby Boomers? The answer surprised me. Studies show that the Gen Y population has more disposable income than their parents, the Baby Boomers. The Millennial Generation, also known as Generation Y, generally refers to those individuals born between the mid-1970s and the late 1990s. If you haven’t considered how to market your products and services to Gen Y, sta

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To Blog or Not to Blog

Sep 14, 2009
1 min

To Blog or Not to Blog

The main reason is to provide interesting, useful and frequent content to your customers, potential customers, industry experts, media, etc. The second reason is by getting these people interested and reading your content a chain reaction starts. Individuals start linking to your posts via other blogs, emails, facebook pages, forums and web pages. Because of this more people read your blog and other things related to your blog like your web page, facebook page, etc. Because o

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5 businesses for today’s economy

Sep 3, 2009
2 min

5 businesses for today’s economy

I do a lot of reading, thinking and brainstorming on ideas for small business in small communities like Council Bluffs and across southwest Iowa. Here are three ideas that are definitely not innovative or for that matter, new… but just may work in today’s economy. The main thing to think about in starting a business today is to keep start up costs AND overhead/operating costs low. Keep them low until you can develop a market and generate sales. Then start thinking about buy

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Aug 24, 2009
2 min

Is barter good for your business?

Want to trade accounting services for goat cheese? How about bike repairs for graphic design? Advertising for overnight accommodations? Small business owners get lots of offers to swap services or trade products. These types of barter arrangements can be quite appealing, sometimes helping you purchase a product or service that your budget precludes under other circumstances. Some businesses find the concept appealing enough that they subscribe to barter associations, the hope

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Mar 27, 2009
2 min

Need Money For Your Small Business?

Yes. Times are tough and businesses bottom lines are suffering. I am seeing even the strongest businesses taking a double take at their financials. But the first answer to low cashflow problems is not always a bank bailout. Banks will not even consider giving you working capital to help your business cashflow until the following things in your profit and loss statment have been tended to. 1. Income. Are you doing everything you can to get your income up to its potential.

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New Marketing

Dec 16, 2008
1 min

New Marketing

Digital marketing gives small businesses an opportunity to engage customers in a one on one conversational and interactive experience. Digital marketing tools include blogging, social network sites like facebook and linkedin, video and photo sharing applications like Youtube and Flickr, email marketing campaigns, and many more powerful tools that keep popping up every day. In Julie’s last post, she talks about the importance of developing a fully integrated marketing pla

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Lost and Found

Dec 2, 2008
2 min

Lost and Found

So here is the problem. I lose things. And so does my family. Things like phones, coats, DVDs, etc. We typically travel over 1000 miles round trip to see family during the holidays. Many bottles of water and cups of coffee result in several rest area and gas station stops. Add to that mix a van (yes a soccer mom van) full of DVDs, mp3 players, cell phones, tangled chargers, coats, shoes, candy, etc. Something is sure to roll out during our frequents stops. And the mor

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Who Needs A Business Plan?!

Dec 1, 2008
2 min

Who Needs A Business Plan?!

In my opinion, ALL individuals starting a new business should have some “form” of a plan. The form could be a 150 page formal plan with graphics and statistics or it could take the form of a 10 page PowerPoint presentation that can be shown to investors, employees, etc. It could also be a 3 to 10 page plan that simply outlines the businesses purpose, goals and sales projections. There are two reasons for a business plan. 1. Banks and Investors will REQUIRE a business pla

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