6 High-Priority Startup Tasks for Entrepreneurs (via Intuit Small Business Blog)Starting a business inevitably requires completing a seemingly endless list of tasks that need to get done, like, yesterday. But does everything really have to happen right away? The short answer is no. Cut yourself some slack and understand that not…
Where Should Your Small Business Spend Its Marketing Dollars? (via Intuit Small Business Blog)You’re ready to spend money to grow your business, but you aren’t sure where your marketing dollars will have the greatest impact. Intuit asked a few experts what small-business owners should invest in to get the most bang for their bucks. 1. Website…
How to Apply Lean Startup Principles to Marketing (via Intuit Small Business Blog)Startups must maximize every dollar, especially when additional investor funding is contingent on early success. Here’s how to apply the Lean Startup principles to your marketing efforts. 1. Experiment, measure, repeat. The Lean Startup model emphasizes…
Do You Have a Hobby or a Business? (via Intuit Small Business Blog)It can take time for entrepreneurs to realize their dreams. Often new ventures are nurtured on the side for years while their owners continue to earn steady paychecks from someone else. But at what point does your “hobby” become a business for IRS…
How to Comply With the Affordable Care Act (via Intuit Small Business Blog)The Affordable Care Act’s marketplace opens today — despite the federal government’s budgetary shutdown — so it’s time for small-business owners to take steps to remain in compliance with the law. Here’s a primer on what to do right now.…
In the Trenches: How to Use Commissions (via Intuit Small Business Blog)Over the years, I’ve flirted with various commission structures for the people who work for me, and my views keep changing about whether it’s a good or bad way to offer compensation. I recently came to the conclusion that how I’ve used commissions…
How to Get More Customers From Your Blog (via Intuit Small Business Blog)Blogging is a cheap, easy way to get — and keep — your brand name in front of prospects and customers. When done well, a company blog helps build credibility, elicit helpful feedback, and generate sales leads. Here are some tips for using your blog…
4 Ways to Track a Marketing Campaign (via Intuit Small Business Blog)You’re ready to blast out a series of promotions to boost business. Before taking action, consider setting up a system to monitor your efforts. By doing so, you’ll be able to see which one of your strategies best resonates with customers and generates…
Reaching Customers Through Text Messaging (via Intuit Small Business Blog)There’s something about a text message that commands our immediate attention. From the moment the phone buzzes or vibrates, we want to know who is texting us and what they have to say. And that is the selling point behind direct mobile marketing campaigns…
Be Ready When a Crisis Occurs (via Intuit Small Business Blog)A crisis by its very nature is unexpected. An employee may suffer a serious workplace accident or a catastrophic illness. A business scandal could flare up out of nowhere. A product malfunction might cause a customer’s injury. Whenever any type of…
In the Trenches: Choosing Our Tone With Unhappy Customers (via Intuit Small Business Blog)It’s tough — if not impossible — to please every single person every single time, so it’s pretty much inevitable that all small-business owners will have to deal with unhappy customers at some point. I’ve come to accept this fact, even though…
