BIZSTRONG

A BRAND IS A PROMISE WELL KEPT

You build your brand by knowing and reinforcing your brand promise every time people come in contact with you or with any facet of your organization

- whether as customers, prospects, investors, employees, suppliers, friends, or any other encounter

- whether in person, online, through word-of-mouth, or through personal experiences

- whether before, during, or after the sale

- whether through interactions with you, your staff, your products, your marketing messages, or any other contact with your business or products.

 

CONSISTENCY BUILDS BRANDS

Deliver your product, promise, and brand experience with total consistency,

-A consistent look

-A consistent brand character

-A consistent level of quality in all communicaitons, products and services

Stay consistently true to what your brand is, stands for, and promises

 

BRANDS LIVE IN CONSUMERS ' MINDS 

When people see your logo or hear your name, they conjure up impressions and memories based on first-hand experiences, connumications they've seen or heard, online mentions, or second-hand recaps from others. 

 

For a good overview, read the Branding For Dummies Cheat Sheet here

10 BENEFITS OF A BUSINESS PLAN

1   Statement of the mission, vision, and values that steer your business

2,  Description of your business model - How your business makes money

3.  Description of the products, services, and unique advantages you offer

4.  Assessment of business strengths and weaknesses

5.  Analysis of your industry, target market, and competition

6.  Goals and objectives - and the roadmap and timetable for achieving them

7.  Marketing strategies and plans

8.  Analysis of projected revenues, costs, and profits

9.  Benchmarks you'll use to track performance and plan mid-term corrections

10.A business "resume" that you can use when introducing your business

 

10 QUESTIONS YOUR BUSINESS PLAN SHOULD ANSWER

BUSINESS PLANS KIT FOR DUMMIES CHEAT SHEET

 

WHAT IS MARKETING?

Marketing is the process through which you create - and keep - customers. It's a non-stop cycle, and it's your business lifeline.It involves:

- Customer, Product, and Competitive Research to learn everything possible about your target customer and market environment

- Product Development to create an offering that serves your target market in a unique, meaningful, and desirable manner

- Pricing to achieve profitability while also reflecting the value and brand image of your offering, and your competitive position and brand image

- Packaging and Labeling to present your product in a compelling manner consistent with its price and your brand image

- Distribution that establishes points of purchase that are accessible to customers and in sync with their shopping preferences

- Advertising, Public Relations, and Promotion communicate attention-grabbing messages that inspire interest and interaction, and move prospects to the purchase decision point.

 - Sales present your offering, make the case for its purchase, guide customers to the purchase decision, and guide the business-to-customer payment and product exchange.

- Customer Service develops customer satisfaction that leads to repeat business, positive word-of-mouth, and lasting customer loyalty.

 

THE NON-STOP MARKETING CYCLE AT A GLANCE

20 SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING TRUTHS

 

3 TIPS FOR ONLINE MARKETING

1. Register your business name plus .com. If that domain name isn't available, avoid defaulting to the .net TLD. Most people will assume .com, which will reach the wrong site.

2. If your business name plus .com isn't available as a domain name, see if your business slogan or positioning statement works as an online address. For instance, www.justdoit.com takes you to the Nike site, and www.gohawaii.com takes you to the site of the Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau.

3. If people frequently misspell your business name, register various misspellings as alternative domain names. Then you can redirect all traffic to your primary address. For example, a search for googel.com will automatically redirect to the primary www.google.com site. Be similarly smart with your own web strategy.

 

10  BUSINESS SALE TRENDS AND TRUTHS

1. Approximately 12 million businesses are projected to change hands over the next 10-15 years.

2.  Businesses with sales of more than $750,000 stand the best chance for a successful sale, but even those with lower revenue are considered attractive if earnings provide the new owner with at least $100,000-$125,000 annually.

3.  Business sales take 5-12 months, on average.

4.  Most businesses aren't ready for sale due to profitability, production, staffing, and/or inventory problems that need to be overcome.

5.  Businesses sold through brokers have a higher histing-to-closing rate than those sold through realtors or by business owners.

 6. In 2025, the median business sale price was $320,000.

7,  Most sellers are 55+. Currently, 40% of buyers are corporate refugees.

8.  Most of those shopping for a business begin their search online or in business-specific media, but they buy a business in the same area where they live. 

9.  Most of those shopping for a business never buy. 

10, Expecting an all-cash deal costs time and money. Sellers who require 40% or less of the purchase price at closing usually close their sales  more quickly,