America’s SBDC Blog

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How to Use Snapchat to Boost Your Sales

July 2, 2018
By Jennifer Lobb –

smartphoneSnapchat may not be the social media site with the most users, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a powerful tool for companies with a specific audience – namely, millennials. With over 180 million daily users, many of whom are under the age of 34, Snapchat, when leveraged properly, can help boost sales and grow brand awareness.

Not intimately familiar with Snapchat? Unlike Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Snapchat’s longevity is, in part, based on its fleeting nature. The social platform allows users to send images and short videos to each other, but unlike other social platforms, the Snapchats expire after they’re opened. (more…)

Do Schools Kill Entrepreneurship?

June 25, 2018
By Gerri Detweiler –

Lecture Hall“Do Schools Kill Creativity?” is one of the most popular TED Talks of all time. In his entertaining and provocative presentation, Sir Ken Robinson says (referring largely to the state of education today) that “..if you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original. And by the time they get to be adults, most kids have lost that capacity. They have become frightened of being wrong.”

Robinson doesn’t address entrepreneurship directly in his talk, but plenty of other people question whether our educational system helps prepare students to run their own businesses, often against the backdrop of stories like that of Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg dropping out of college to start their businesses. (more…)

Why Optimists Make More Money Than Pessimists

June 18, 2018
By Gerri Detweiler –

OptimistWhat qualities come to mind when you think of those who build great amounts of wealth? Disciplined, hard-working, smart — perhaps even a bit ruthless?

You may be surprised to learn that there is another trait that may help you build wealth: optimism. Tom Corley devoted several years to studying the habits of the rich versus the poor, which he has shared in his best-selling book, Rich Habits: The Daily Habits of Successful Individuals.

Among the many habits he studied, he found the rich were more likely to be optimistic. “Sixty-seven percent of the self-made millionaires in my study forged the habit of being positive and upbeat. A positive, mental outlook is critical to overcoming problems, obstacles, pitfalls, mistakes and failures,” he says. (more…)

Purchasing A Business With Help From The SBDC

June 11, 2018
Idaho Success Story –

Idaho Success - Snake River Travel PlazaAfter other buyers backed out of purchasing the Snake River Travel Plaza in Blackfoot, Idaho, Jace Katseanes stepped in to organize a purchase with Lori Cox as the manager and accountant. Having worked with the Southeast Idaho SBDC before, Lori knew who to call to facilitate the purchase.

“The purchase process was long and sometimes frustrating, but the SBDC helped us prepare financials and a business plan,” said Lori. “[The SBDC] stuck with us through the whole process.” That hard work resulted in a $3.15M SBA loan.

Jace and Lori turned the plaza around with their MMM Philosophy: a focus on money, management and marketing. This turnaround earned Lori a nomination for Woman Student Entrepreneur of the Year at Idaho State University. (more…)

The Tool Every Summer Business Needs to Get Now

June 4, 2018
By Connor Wilson –

Summer businessWhile summer won’t officially begin until June 20, the warm weather is already here and school is already out in most places. Depending on the type of business you run, this is either good news or bad news. Some businesses see significant dips in income in the summer months, while some seasonal businesses operate exclusively in the summer.

With millions of Americans preparing to travel, beautify their yards, or just head out to enjoy the season, this is the time for summer businesses to make money. For some, it’s the time to buckle down and strategize so their businesses survive the slow months. There are a number of strategies your business can use to stay afloat and continue to innovate, but one in particular is the tool that every summer business needs to stay on track and meet its goals. (more…)