Small Business, Big Impact

Exporting Tips for Internet Retailers

Posted in business, business mentoring, exporting, retail, sales, small business by Jess Wells on March 10, 2009

Mark Henricks

Mark Henricks

Markets with retail buyers are out there and a few simple changes to your web-site can improve your ability to deliver to them. Author Mark Henricks outlines some straight-forward ways to expand your visibility and attractiveness to customers overseas. Listen to, download, and forward my podcast, and then post your own question to Henricks here.

Here are some highlights:

  • One of the great things about expanding to overseas markets is the ability to smooth out the spikes in sales during American holidays. Anyone have a list of holidays by country?
  • Look into simple fixes to your website to attract overseas shoppers: it could be as simple as announcing that you’ll ship overseas
  • You’re not restricted to DHL to ship. Even the US Post Office will ship for you so you don’t need to make major changes to your processes.

Listen to “Exporting Tips for Internet Retailers” here.

Export Business: Who Can Help You Build One?

Posted in business, business mentoring, exports, sales, small business by Jess Wells on March 5, 2009

Watch new video on how to build an export business.

Watch new video on how to build an export business.

The Small Business Exporters Association encourages you to take the leap of faith and export your products. There are well-established guidelines, and government agencies to help you find sales leads, financing, and the introductions you’ll need for success. BizWiseTV interviewed a veteran exporter and president of the association, Susan Corrales-Diaz. Watch the video here…

Tips for Winning Business over the Phone

Posted in business, business mentoring, call centers, customer care, sales, small business by Jess Wells on March 2, 2009

Janelle Barlow, author of "A Complaint is a Gift"

Janelle Barlow, author of "A Complaint is a Gift"

Author Janelle Barlow says customer service isn’t a necessary evil, it’s an opportunity to strengthen a relationship and make sales. In three podcasts, she outlines how to equip your sales force to up-sell, how to treat unhappy customers as your allies and how to up-sell to customers…Read more and download the audio files of this post here.

How to Restructure Your Debt

Posted in business, business mentoring, cash flow, finance, SCORE by Jess Wells on February 24, 2009

Bankruptcy isn’t the only option when you find yourself with a financial short-fall. SCORE advisor Mike Strozza outlines the difference between a liquidation and a reorganization, how to determine whether you need to restructure debt or just press on.  Hear my podcast interview and post your question…

When the Going Gets Tough, Get in Touch with Your Customers

Posted in business, business mentoring, call centers, customer care, sales, small business by Jess Wells on February 18, 2009

When the going gets tough, the tough get in touch with their customers and not just their best customer — all their customers. What’s the best way to do it? I got on the phone with Roger Nunley, Managing Director of the Customer Care Institute, an international resource organization that assists in improving the delivery of customer care. Hear the podcast, read the blog post and watch the video here

Business Strategies in a Down Economy

Posted in business, business mentoring, cash flow, finance, SCORE, small business by Jess Wells on February 12, 2009

Prosper in a bad economy by taking a good look at your cash flow, your opportunities, and your alliances. SCORE advisor Mark Levi outlines techniques for surviving and thriving in this podcast…in the Innovators Forum, at  http://www.CiscoInnovators.com

Getting Nimble: How to Assess an Opportunity

Posted in business, small business by Jess Wells on January 29, 2009

The saving grace of small businesses in tough times may be their ability to be nimble but that doesn’t mean you can act on a whim. There’s due-diligence necessary before you change product lines, expand into new markets, or launch new offers to improve your business.

In a series of posts, we’ll consider the steps to being nimble the right way, talking with experts and entrepreneurs.   First, how do you assess an opportunity? Discover some questions to ask before deciding on a new direction…(read more)

Join me in the Innovators Forum, the Cisco Small Business Community.  It’s objective information from experts, free, no strings attached.  Join me at www.CiscoInnovators.com

This post, and all my guest interviews, can be heard by subscribing to the Innovators Small Business Insights Podcast Series, here: Cisco Systems - Innovators Small Business Insights - Innovators Small Business Insights

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