» Doing Business

Sep

Making Your (Winter Promo) List and Checking It Twice

Taking advantage of the holiday sales season is much easier with a little planning before fall arrives! 1) Plan, don’t pay. Sure, we’re in the middle of fall-themed promos and the kids are barely back in school. But you’ll get the best deals by having your winter holiday promo materials designed and printed now – without having to pay rush …

Sep

3 Ways to Market Your Business This Fall

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business, Marketing Tags: back-to-school promotions, fall promotions, youth sport league

Some of the fall marketing ideas I shared with my networking groups two weeks ago: 1) Back-to-school promos work! And you’ve still got time in which to get a postcard mailing out to your current customer list. A heating company might do something along the lines of a checklist that reads: “Buy new backpacks. Get haircuts. Arrange car pool. Have …

Jul

4 Ideas for Heating Up Your Summer Marketing Efforts

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business, Marketing Tags: Fisher Cats, Lakes Region hikes, Monadnock picnics, summer giveaways, summer promotions

Fireflies and bonfires, farmer’s markets and county fairs – summer is here! Some ideas for heating up your marketing efforts during this great season in the Granite State: 1) Think “back to school” when others aren’t. A realtor could blog about taking school districts into consideration when looking at New Hampshire homes this summer. A café owner could offer lunch …

Jul

3 Must-Dos for a Successful Small-Business Event

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business, Marketing Tags: event planning, event websites, promotional banners

With advance planning, you can host a successful event no matter the size of your business. Here are the basics: 1) Define your audience. We can’t design a print ad or a brochure or a website for a client who has never formally identified the business’s ideal customer. (Although the Infusion Studio team can help you with that definition!) Nor …

Apr

Market Yourself… as Being Prepared for Anything

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business Tags: disaster preparedness, disaster recovery, workplace emergency plan

From blizzards, tornados, hurricanes, and floods to riots and acts of terror, the unexpected can leave small-business owners floundering – often for much longer than necessary. In fact, many businesses forced to short their doors temporarily during such times of crisis never reopen. From dealing with simple hurdles (cell phone dead and power out) to major problems (“I’ve been meaning …

Mar

5 Tips for Tackling Cold Calls

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business Tags: cold calling, sales pitch, voicemail script

You don’t know the answer until you ask, as the saying goes. But that doesn’t make the idea of cold calling potential clients any less dread-inspiring for most of us. A few tips to get you on track…. 1) Face that worst-case scenario! So, someone hangs up on you or says something not so nice. That’s not nearly as embarrassing …

Mar

Spring Clean Your Business in 5 Satisfying Steps!

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business Tags: business tool box, IRS refund, spring cleaning, tax refund

Spring is in the air – but if spring cleaning your garage or closets doesn’t have you too excited, check out my easy suggestions for spring cleaning your business. 1) Deep clean that e-mail in-box! For the next week, turn off the phone and turn on some music for the last 10-15 minutes of each work day and start sorting, …

Feb

3 Ideas for Maintaining a Stress-Free Work Environment

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business Tags: home office space, stress management, work environment, working at home

Stress management is all about setting limits! Let’s talk about a few easily implemented ways to set some limits and prevent your work from intruding into your personal life and space. 1) Don’t mix home and office spaces. Whether you run a home-based business or are a small-business owner who conducts much of your work at home, you must define …

Jan

Small-Business Resolutions for the New Year… That You Really Can Keep

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business, Marketing Tags: New Year’s resolution, office organization, virtual assistants

1) I resolve to… organize just one thing. Maybe it’s the cluttered top of your desk. Maybe it’s the list of items your marketing person has been waiting for. Maybe it’s a box overflowing with six months’ of receipts. Resolving to “get organized this year” is one of those resolutions it’s impossible to keep. Pick one chore that’s been hanging …

Jul

4 Ways to Add Some Sizzle to Your Business This Summer

By: Heather Clifford Category: Doing Business, Marketing Tags: business planning, farmer’s market, marketing plan, spring cleaning, summer giveaways, summer promotions

Don’t give in to the lazy days of summer! A few ideas for adding some sizzle to your business: 1) Raise your profile with hot-weather giveaways. Offer a freebie – ice cream cones, logoed mister bottles – for anyone who comes in your store or office on days the thermometer hits 90.