Business Terms & Definitions « Categories « Consulting and Strategic Growth

Small business marketing

If you own (or plan to start) a small business, you quickly come to grips with the reality that money doesn’t grow on trees. There are only so many dollars in the bank, and your company’s survival can depend on spending those dollars wisely. But it’s absolutely essential that you spend some of those dollars marketing your product. In fact, marketing should be a key part of your...

Small business help

Entrepreneurship is the American way, and there’s no shortage of places you can turn to get small business help: The local bookstore offers row after row of volumes on business plans, business development and business start-ups; the Internet is loaded with do-it-yourself small business sites; and there are even TV shows designed to help you, the small businessperson. But this wealth...

Small business consulting

There are plenty of reasons to call in outside help when you’re running a small business. Whether you’re wondering how to write a business plan or you just want some help with strategic thinking, a consultant can help you think outside the box. He or she can tell you what’s working and what isn’t—and better yet, tell you how to make improvements. There are plenty of...

Sample business plan

You can find any number of sample business plans on the Internet. At first glance, the sample plan can be an intimidating document: There are sections for your business, you and your people, your marketing plan, your cash flow plans, and more. Strange as it may seem, such an intimidating sample plan can be a good thing: it lets you know exactly the sort of detail you should expect to...

Marketing plans

If marketing is the art and science of making sure your company maximizes its ability to give the customer what he or she wants, the marketing plan is the blueprint for making sure that gets done. As such, the marketing plan is an integral part of your overall small business plan. Marketing is, indeed, an art as well as a science. That means there’s no such thing as a “one size fits...

Internet consulting

The Internet is more than a ubiquitous part of American life—it’s a powerful marketing tool that has the potential to alter the way your company does, or will do, business. Are you making the most of it? What are you doing to make sure that consumers searching for your product on the World Wide Web find you—and contact you? The odds are good that you have your own Web site. (If...

Marketing consulting

Marketing is the core of any successful small business plan. It takes effort, time and plenty of strategic thinking to make sure that every facet of your operation is oriented toward meeting the customer’s needs. And whatever your growth strategy might be, it won’t get far unless you’ve developed a comprehensive marketing strategy. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in...

Industry best practices

Best practices are the operating procedures for your industry that bring about the most effective results. Best practices are fluid in the sense that they can change: If a more effective procedure comes along, that becomes the best practice. Since the most effective practice brings the best value for your money, following best practices whenever possible is simple common sense. But...

How to write a business plan

Writing a business plan is one of the most vital skills a successful entrepreneur can acquire. You know you have an idea that can make money; the business plan requires you to spell out exactly how you intend to turn your idea into a profitable reality. If you’re starting or expanding a business, the strength of your business plan will help determine whether you’ll be able to get...

Growth strategy

Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience with your small business, there’s no substitute for a comprehensive, comprehensible growth strategy. If you’ve been around the entrepreneurial block, you know that growing your business involves far more than simply saying, “Let’s build more widgets right away!” Even if you’re sitting on top of the hottest...