America’s SBDC Blog

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‘I’ve heard good things’: Build positive business buzz via customer testimonials on your website

November 12, 2014
By Andrea Rowland

Andrea_RowlandFew phrases make a business owner happier than “I’ve heard good things.” (“Do you accept cash?” would be another.) And kind words about your business — especially from new customers — do a heck of a lot more than make you feel good. They make you more successful.

That’s because positive buzz about your business is contagious.

If I tell my Aunt Gladys about the mouthwatering linguini carbonara I had at the new Italian restaurant in town, she’s MUCH more likely to go there the next time she gets a craving for Italiano. Then she’ll probably tell someone else, and so on. And let’s not underestimate the power of social media. My Facebook® friends might be tempted to share the luscious linguini pic I posted. The same pic could score a few Pinterest® pins. And that five-star review I left on Yelp® while waiting for my cannoli to digest? That’s word-of-mouth on digital-age steroids. (more…)

5 Reasons Why Veterans Make Excellent Entrepreneurs

November 10, 2014
By Pasqualina DeLucia

The week of November 3-7, 2014 marks National Veterans Small Business Week, honoring veteran business owners. According to the Small Business Administration, “Veteran business owners are responsible for nearly one out of every ten small businesses in America, employ nearly six million workers, generate over 1.5 trillion dollars in receipts each year and are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than non-veterans.” So what exactly makes veterans so well suited for entrepreneurship?

 1. Work Ethic

Entrepreneurs work long, hard hours…especially in the start-up phase. Veterans already possess the mental and physical fortitude as well as the discipline to survive the long days and, equally as important, their families have that same ability. It’s important to have the buy-in and understanding of those around you given that entrepreneurial endeavors require sacrifice. Military families know the level of commitment and support needed better than most.  

2. Risk Tolerance

Starting and maintaining your own business is undeniably risky. There are ways to help mitigate the risks but not completely remove them. Veterans already have the skillset to both mitigate and face risk head-on. Both in military life and in entrepreneur life, the ability to create and execute a thought-out operating strategy is essential (as well as the ability to read the current situation and adjust accordingly…see “agility” below). When it comes to risk assessment, gathering intel and then moving to action, veterans have been conditioned at a high level. (more…)

Password Safety

November 10, 2014
By Whitney Lemon

Lesson Highlight: Keep your business accounts secure with strong passwords

On top of that, many people use the same, easy-to-guess password. According to this CBS news story, the most common passwords of 2013 were: “123456,” “password,” and “12345678.”

Online security is an important topic for everyone, including small businesses new to the web. There are steps you can take to protect yourself and your online accounts. How? Create strong, secure passwords. It’s the simplest, and perhaps the most important thing you can do to protect yourself online.

Many people use one password for all their online accounts. That’s like using one key for everything: your home, car, office, etc.

If you are using any of these passwords for your accounts, please speed-read through this post then change your passwords to make them secure. Here are tips from Google’s Safety Center:  (more…)

Talk This Week with Veterans Who Own Businesses

November 7, 2014
By Cindy Bates

I’ve always thought of small-business owners as heroes. They’re the women and men who battle for success despite obstacles, fears, physical challenges and mental exhaustion as they work towards success. As we approach Veterans Day and the end of National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW), I want to recognize the unique heroism of America’s veterans who own small businesses.

Veteran-owned businesses contribute more than $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy every year and employ nearly 6 million, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA). During their military service, veteran owners learn to be dynamic leaders and tremendous problem-solvers. Those core skills may account for the fact that veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than others. Did you know one in 10 small businesses is veteran-owned? Even the hit TV show “Shark Tank” – which I happen to be a big fan of – is supporting NVSBW by dedicating an episode (Friday, 11/7) exclusively to veteran-owned businesses.  (more…)

Once upon a website: Tell your business’s story on your About Us page

November 5, 2014
By Andrea Rowland

Andrea_RowlandIf you’re an entrepreneur, you know that marketing your business involves selling yourself as much as pitching your products. You are your business’s most valuable commodity. It’s your passion, competence, credibility and tenaciousness that fuel its success. To new and existing customers, you are the face of your brand.That’s the main reason it’s important to have an About Us page on your website. While your entire website is a blank canvas for you to paint your business’s unique story through compelling copy, inspiring images and dazzling design, your About Us page (although you may call it whatever you like) is the go-to space for visitors to learn all about who you are and why they should care.

Your story

What motivated you to start your business? How has your business grown, and why? What do customers say about you? What do you hope to accomplish? Why are you and your team the best people to deliver on your promises? These are just a few of the questions you might choose to answer on your About Us page. This is your chance to tell your story.  (more…)