University of La Verne SBDC Small Biz Blog

Branding is one of the most esoteric and confusing terms, even for those who have actually studied marketing. The American Marketing Association defines a brand as the “name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller’s good or service as distinct from those of other sellers.” While that seems simple enough, a brand is about connecting your business to consumers not only on a physical level (by identifying a product) but on an emotional level as well. In this article, I’ll take you through a simple 4 step process to creating a brand as a small business. Step 1. Brand Positioning  Brand positioning is a process of understanding the target market and defining the space that your brand occupies in the minds of customers. It is also about understanding who you are as a company and what you want to be known for. The first step in developing a strong brand position is research. This includes customer research and competitive research, where companies learn about t

In the world of sales, missed opportunities can be a frustrating experience. That feeling of watching a potential victory slip away due to hesitation, miscommunication, or simply not knowing the right approach is a sinking sensation that no one enjoys. But fear not, for in this article, we're about to unravel the secrets of sealing the deal and share proven strategies to ensure that you close your next sale with finesse. Recognizing Buying Signals In the dance of customer interactions, there are subtle cues that emerge like hidden gems, revealing a customer's readiness to make a purchase. These cues , both verbal and non-verbal, are akin to a treasure map leading the way to a successful close.  They range from expressed enthusiasm and positive body language to probing questions about features and pricing. When your customer asks you to repeat a benefit your solution addresses, take note – this is a strong signal that they're validating their interest. Asking for the Sale

  Imagine you have a business, but no one knows about it. With a website, you can reach a global audience and promote your business 24/7. You can showcase your products or services, collect leads, and even sell online. But building a website can be daunting, especially if you don't have any technical skills. In this webinar, you'll learn everything you need to know to create a beautiful and functional website, even if you're a complete beginner. We'll cover everything from choosing a domain name and web hosting provider to creating your website content and designing your pages. DIY or Hire it out to a Designer Should small business owners create their own websites or outsource to a web designer? That depends on a few factors, such as your budget, time constraints, and technical skills. If you're on a tight budget and have the time, you can certainly create your own website using simple web design tools. However, it's important to keep in mind that creating a web

Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your marketing efforts? In today's fast-paced digital landscape, email marketing remains a tried-and-true strategy to engage your audience, cultivate lasting relationships, and drive conversions.Stay tuned as we guide you through the intricacies of email autoresponders, teach you effective list-building strategies, and unveil the secrets to crafting visually stunning email designs that convert like never before. Get ready to revolutionize your marketing approach and make a lasting impact with email marketing! Picking a Auto Responder First step to email marketing is to use an autoresponder, a service that holds your contacts and sends mass email campaigns, because the last thing you want to do is mail merge from a from your email account and get busted for spammy activity. Mailchimp Easiest way to get started for most small businesses is Mailchimp , which provides a free account for up to 500 subscribers and sends 1000 emails a month be

Are you confused, about whether your social media campaigns are working or why you aren't getting more customers? I will show you what you are missing coming up next. Social media tends to stump a lot of small businesses when it comes to marketing. Many small business owners think measuring their social media is about likes and followers but completely forget that social media marketing is about using these platforms to drive sales. In this article, I'll give you 5 popular social media metrics you should ignore and what you should be focusing on instead to grow your business. Ignore Likes -> Focus on Engagement Social media engagement refers to the interactions that occur between a brand and its audience on social media platforms. This includes likes, comments, shares, and direct messages. Social media engagement involves more than just likes. It includes other forms of interaction such as comments, shares, and direct messages. Focusing on social media engagement is critical

  Do you have a passion for photography and dream of turning that passion into a thriving business?  In this video, I'm going to show you how to start a photography small business. I'll share actionable tips on everything from starting your business to marketing your work. So if you're ready to turn your passion into a reality, let's get started.  From portrait and wedding photography to commercial and editorial work, a photography business allows you to express your artistic vision and specialize in the types of photography that you enjoy most. So whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this video has something for everyone. Get ready to turn your love of photography into a thriving business and start capturing beautiful moments that will be treasured for years to come.   Business Planning When starting a photography business, it's important to first develop a solid business concept that outlines the services you plan to offer. This includes determ

  Artificial intelligence, or AI, has gotten a lot of press lately with Chat GPT and now Google’s Bard, automating tasks, writing, and just making certain tasks so much more bearable. As a small business, there are ways to harness the power of AI to take care of things you probably think you need an extra employee to do. I’ll show various ways you can use free AI tools like Chat GPT to handle these tasks so you can focus on running your business. Getting Started Head to chat.openai.com and create an account to get access to the chatbot. Here are a couple of things you need to understand about ChatGPT before we begin: It only knows things up to 2021. So if ask it about a current event or phenomenon, it probably won't know what you are talking about. It may produce inaccurate information like statistics, facts, or places. So take all the “factual” information at face value. With vague instructions (called prompts), you may not get the best answer. So, we need to be as descriptive as

  I n today's digital age, video is becoming an essential tool for businesses to connect with their audience. However, many people believe that creating videos is too complicated, expensive, and time-consuming. In this article, we will debunk the most common myths about video production and explore how to create great videos on a budget. By understanding the basics of pre-production, production, and post-production, as well as having a solid strategy in place, anyone can create a compelling video that resonates with their audience. So, let's dive in and explore the truth behind the most common misconceptions about video production 1. Video Is Too Complicated Preproduction (Planning) Preproduction is the planning stage where you decide on the video's purpose, target audience, message, and script. This stage is crucial because it sets the foundation for the entire video. Plan your video carefully by defining your goals and target audience, and write a clear script to ensure y

  Domain Name (Google Domains) What is a Domain A domain name is a unique address that identifies a website or online service, and it is used to locate and access resources on the internet. A domain name, website, and  URL are not the same thing.  A URL or   Uniform Resource Locator is a complete web address, including the domain name, used to access a web page like: http://www.stasiasbakery.com.  The domain name is What comes after “www.” in a web address and after the “@” in an email address such as stasiasbakery.com.  The website is the only content people see and interact with when they visit pages associated with a domain name.  Having a domain name is important for showing up in search results. When customers search online, your domain and website can show up in the search results. Brand building, by controlling how your business shows up on the web. With a domain, you own how your business shows up on the web. Professionalism: Today’s consumers expect businesses to have a websit