Category Archive

Each month, we bring you the latest roundup of resources for small business owners bootstrapping their businesses and creating quality jobs in their communities. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @PCVtweets. Every Monday we post a new collection of new must-read small business resources, articles, and news. Are there any specific areas your business needs advice in? Let us know, and we’ll search for what you need to add to our monthly roundup.  

Businesses of any size can benefit from social media marketing these days. When a strong social media presence is combined with a marketing strategy, business owners can effectively set aside other efforts such as outbound marketing campaigns. Online marketing is a lot more than just having a Facebook profile for your small business, though. You have to know where your target audience is concentrated, and how to pique their interest with what you offer. You also have to have a little background in how marketing online works and how search engines will put you at the top. Going in blind can be daunting, but if you know where to start, it doesn’t take too much to get a campaign off the ground. Here are three unexpected benefits of social media marketing that are seldom mentioned or discussed, and some other benefits that can come from having a good online marketing … Read More

The year 2016 will forever be remembered as an unfortunate time of major data heists that changed the world. In February 2016, the IRS discovered a breach of taxpayer data records that should have been discovered in 2015. Major online properties such as LinkedIn and Yahoo also suffered network intrusions that allowed data thieves to get away with personal information of unsuspecting customers. The Panama Papers and the hacking intrusion of the Democratic National Committee were two major events in 2016 that highlight the need for strong business protection in 2017. Here are some recommendations you should follow to protect your business during these trying times: Intellectually property theft has been a pesky issue for several American courtrooms over the last few years. Copyright and patent issues in the United States have prompted intellectual property analysts to call for patent reform, which may become a reality if Wilbur Ross is … Read More

First, let’s define influencer marketing. Influencer marketing is a non-promotional approach to marketing in which brands focus their efforts on opinion leaders, as opposed to direct target market touchpoints. When it comes to marketing for small business, money is no object. Unfortunately, the majority don’t have money to burn. Solve this problem by relying on the brain’s right side (creativity) to offset the limited finance issue. Using influencer marketing to maximize profits can also be a great asset to any company in the modern-day world. This list is a great guide to additional marketing ideas. When marketing trends create fertile ground for companies, they have to get in on the action as soon as possible. This is called the Gold Rush. Getting in on the Gold Rush when certain marketing trends become popular is what every business wants for their customers, products, and profit margins. One of the most inexpensive … Read More

Many small business owners start out doing something really well. They have a great idea find out that people really want the product or service that they offer. However, as the business starts to take shape and develop, many small business owners find themselves struggling to deal with expansion and the various aspects of business that don’t come naturally to them. This is where a master’s of business administration could come in handy. Below, you will find five of the ways earning an MBA can give you an edge in your business. It used to be that you’d have to go to school full-time to get an MBA, but thanks to technology and higher demand, you can work on your MBA part time while running your business. Many schools offer evening classes, and sometimes even weekend programs to make the pursuit of your MBA as compatible with work as possible. … Read More

Marketing a small business doesn’t always require a huge investment of time and money. Alternative advertising methods can be just as effective as traditional mediums, and they often cost just a fraction of the price. Here are some tips and techniques you can use to make sure that every penny you spend on marketing makes a difference. Establishing your company as a pillar of the community is one of the single best ways to increase brand awareness. Non-profit organizations are happy to advertise for companies that donate money or goods to their cause. You can also encourage your employees to donate some of their time by offering small incentives such as taking a long lunch or setting their own hours on specific days. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities, especially on and around holidays, to do service. If there are any natural disasters going on in your area, then those … Read More

Each month, we bring you the latest roundup of resources for small business owners bootstrapping their businesses and creating quality jobs in their communities. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @PCVtweets. Every Monday we post a new collection of new must-read small business resources, articles, and news. Are there any specific areas your business needs advice in? Let us know, and we’ll search for what you need to add to our monthly roundup.  

An unproductive staff can cost your business money, delay turnaround times and inhibiting growth. Sales performance can also suffer a slump and employee stress complaints may spike up as well. In general, an unproductive workforce turns into one giant mess that can put you out of business. This is where effective employee training becomes important. To help make your employees as productive as possible, here are some effective training tips. Learn where your workforce excels and where they fall short. Monitor current performance metrics of your business through observation and short interviews, even over coffee or checking in in the break room. Once you’ve determined where their strengths and weaknesses lie, your job is to hone their strong points and teach them how to gain the skills and knowledge to address the weak points. Mentor individuals and groups as often as possible. This accelerates their pace of learning and allows … Read More