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Navigating Back-to-School Season: Tips for Small Business Success

As the back-to-school season approaches, small business owners have a unique opportunity to embrace the changing tide and make the most of this transitional period. Discover how you can smoothly navigate the seasonal shift and tap into the advantages that back-to-school time offers for your business. [Read Full Article]



Small Biz Tip: Rebranding: Get Involved

Tips from April 9, 2010 The Small Business tips today discuss how to get involved to promote your rebranding campaign.   Local events are a great place to showcase your rebranded company. Chamber of Commerce meetings, small business associations, and town functions are great ways to get involved and display your rebranding campaign. Host a "preview" party for your loyal customers. Allow them to check out your rebranded image and store before anyone else with the VIP treatment! Sponsor a local sports organization. Many youth leagues are always looking for team sponsors. It's a great way to get your name out there, and to help the little ones in your community! Be prepared. Have your elevator pitch, explanation for the rebrand, and some samples ready for anyone who asks. Be proud!   Daily Overview: Come off of your rebranding strategy in a BIG way. Host an event. Get physically involved and get noticed!... [Read Full Article]


Small Biz Tip: Rebranding: Social Media

Tips from April 8, 2010 The Small Business tips today discuss rebranding strategies using social media. Change your tone on all social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc). Be upbeat, excited, and open to discussing your rebranding and company. Change your look. Try incorporating your new rebranded logo and design to acknowledge you're in a transition period. Be consistent on all social media accounts. Twitter is a great social media resource for rebranding efforts. It allows for you and your followers to interact publicly to answer any and all questions with @ replies. Include pictures! Twitpic, yfrog, and Facebook Picture Uploader allow pictures to be instantly uploaded to those who follow you. Take advantage of this! Remember: Pictures speak louder than words! Daily Overview: Communicate, update, and inform your followers in real time via social media to discuss your rebranding. [Read Full Article]


Small Biz Tip: Rebranding: Blog

Tips from April 7, 2010 The Small Business tips today entail how to discuss rebranding on your business blog. Track your progress on your business blog. Go over each important step - what you're doing and why. This will keep people involved and informed. Give detailed explanations. For example, if you're redesigning your logo, explain why. What is different? Is there a new meaning? Why are you changing it? What does it mean to you? While it is important to update and educate your customers and consumers about the rebranding, keep in mind your competitors are also following your every move. Don't divulge important information or strategies you do not want them to know. Encourage two way communication. Pose questions on your blog, and ask them to comment with responses. Additionally, dedicate a blog post to strictly asking if your followers have any questions about the rebranding. Daily Overview: Your business blog will help you get... [Read Full Article]


Small Biz Tip: Rebranding: Communication

Tips from April 6, 2010 The Small Business tips today discuss communicating while rebranding your business. Many people will have questions about your rebranding. Answer questions that are posted on your website, in comments, on social media, or any other communication channel publicly. This way, others who might have the same question will be able to see your answer. Explain the change, and what you hope to accomplish in each answer. Be authentic. When you're communicating to others outside your company make sure you are accurate in explaining what exactly is going on. Tell the truth. Be real. Any discrepancies will look poorly upon your company. If you announce something, make sure you follow through. There is nothing worse than consumers, customers, and competitors with high expectations and be let down. Keep communication lines open and available. Your website is a great communication tool, as well as your social media accounts (more later th... [Read Full Article]


Small Biz Tip: Rebranding: Strategy

Tips from April 5, 2010 The Small Business tips today discuss rebranding strategies. Create a strategy first. Going into a rebranding without having a set goal or plan of attack will not only look sloppy, but it can damage your brand, reputation, and business. Keep your employees on the same page. Inform everyone at your business about the new rebranding campaign. This way, all employees can answer any questions that may come up about your new campaign. Make sure key players agree on the rebranding plan. A plan which is only agreed upon by a few of the upper level management will not work in the long run. Keep making changes until you find a plan that everyone agrees on. Build a timeline. It takes time to rebrand: marketing collateral, logo, social media (look for tips this week!), getting the word out, and any other odds and ends to take care of.  Daily Overview: Rebranding without a plan is a bad idea. Take the time to thin... [Read Full Article]

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