Has this ever happened to you in your small business? You want to get the word out about a sale or a new product, and you’ve heard Facebook is a good way to reach customers. You create what you think is a good post and then pay to “boost” it. Then, nothing. No sales. No …
How PR Is Done—The Judgment of Paris
It started as a publicity stunt. It created an industry—an industry dominated by small businesses and entrepreneurs. And it revolutionized the wine world, changing forever the quality and cost of the next glass of wine you’ll drink. This year is the 40th anniversary of the “Judgment of Paris” in which the best French wines were …
Trump No Help for Small Business
Where does Donald Trump stand on issues of importance to small businesses? The short answer is “Who knows?” Trump changes his positions quicker than Taylor Swift changes boyfriends. On August 8, Trump unveiled his economic plan in a speech in Detroit. From that speech, and other positions he’s made throughout the campaign, we can try …
How to Help Students Raise Money From the Crowd
Are your students looking for funding to get a great idea, product, or new venture off the ground? If you teach in the U.S., now there’s a new source of financing they can tap into—equity crowdfunding. It’s taken until May of this year for the regulations regarding equity crowdfunding—officially referred to as Regulation Crowdfunding—to go into …
How a Small Business Changed the Wine World
It started as a publicity stunt. It created an industry – an industry dominated by small businesses and entrepreneurs. And it revolutionized the wine world, changing forever the quality and cost of the next glass of wine you’ll drink. This year is the 40th anniversary of the “Judgment of Paris” in which the best French …
Clinton’s Plan to Help Small Businesses
What would you want your next President to do for your small business? On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton announced how she, as President, would help small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs in unveiling her plan dealing with a broad range of small business concerns. Clinton’s announcement shows she does her homework. Her small business proposals aren’t going …
Small Businesses Have Already Won the Gold
Small business owners: if you’ve been watching the Olympics, you may be getting the wrong message. I’m here to tell you that you’re already a winner, even if you never get the business equivalent of an Olympic gold medal. For the past week, I’ve been mesmerized watching amazing athletes: Katie Ledecky making it look easy …
Is Crowdfunding Right For Your Startup?
Want to raise money for your new small business or entrepreneurial venture? Until now, it’s seemed easier for a twenty-something techie in San Francisco to raise millions of dollars than an experienced businesswoman in Ohio to raise thousands. Thanks to new equity “crowdfunding” rules that went into effect in May, that situation may have changed. …
How to Out-Amazon Amazon
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, just became the third richest person in the world, nudging out investor Warren Buffet. On his way to amazing riches, Bezos and his online behemoth store knocked out untold numbers of independent small businesses. Indeed, if you ask small retailers who their biggest competitor is, they’ll likely say “Amazon.” That …
