Small-business lending hit a 4 year high in November 2011, according to Thomson Reuter/Pay Net Index. Listen as Dave describes a small but positive change for small businesses. Read the complete article on the Wall Street Journal site.
2012 Business and Marketing Planning
It’s not too late to start simple but effective planning for this New Year. Small-Business Marketing Expert Amanda Cullen and Small-Business Financial Expert Dave Weatherholt give practical tips on planning for 2012. Be bold and set a sales goal that will make you smile. Dave provides tools and advice on how to achieve that audacious goal. Amanda gives you practical cost effective marketing tips that will move your company toward achieving that sales goal.
Small-Business Confidence Rises for Third Consecutive Month
Dave discusses the latest “Optimism Index” which was up 1.8 point in November, settling at a still weak 92.0, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB). Read the complete article.
The Journey of Publishing
Kelly Fisher– attorney, author and publisher– visits Dave on this program. Listen as Kelly discusses how he came to write his new book A Clueless Man’s Guide to Relationships. The story doesn’t end there. The easy part was writing the book; creating a great end product and introducing it to the world takes more effort. Kelly takes us through his journey.
Business Risk Management
Listen as Chris Poblieglo, insurance expert, talks about Fidelity Bonds. Find out much, much more about this potential business risk and a solution. Visit Business Insurance Associates’ website - a must link for business risk management information.
As the year comes to a close, business owner’s minds turn to… cash flow. Use my article and included downloads to manage your cash flow and keep it positive!
The House approved a bill that would let companies sell equities online. Senator Scott Brown (R., Mass.) introduced a similar measure. Listen as Dave discusses the overwhelmingly positive potential of this legislation. And read the complete article on the Wall Street Journal.
Cash Flow
If your business is on a calendar year, then you are approaching the end of this year. Have you been tracking your performance numbers or are you afraid to look? If you have spent most of this year looking for cash, then chances are that you have not been very profitable. Listen as Dave discusses cash management tools that work.
What if your point-of-sale system went down during peak sales on “Black Friday”? How much would that cost your business? Tim White, our technology guru, discusses the inevitable but avoidable business risk– backing up your IT system. Visit Tim at www.akcb.com.
Even with 14 million people unemployed, 40% of small businesses complain about the dearth of qualified workers. Listen as Dave talks about a pressing problem for employers. Read complete article at the Wall Street Journal.
Credit & Business Lending
Dave’s guest is Bill Cessnun, VP Commercial Loan Officer with Northrim Bank– a Alaskan community bank. Listen as Bill talks about making a credit decision during the business lending process. Bill provides great information to Dave and his listeners.
Go it Alone
Alice in Wonderland meets a Cheshire Cat at the beginning of her journey. Listen as Geoff Burch explains how “measuring success” ties in to Alice’s journey. Intrigued? Listen to the show!
People used to working in an office stocked with technology may find that starting as a solo enterprise can be painful. Listen as Dave discusses a useful reality of going it alone. Or read complete article: “Spending Wisely on Technology.”
Alaskan Association of Authors
Authors Josie & Mark McKinney are the co-founders of the Alaskan Association of Authors. Listen as they discuss the reasons for starting their company and the books they have written and published.
Do you want to market your business on Facebook but don’t know how? Facebook, Inc. the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business will be able to help. Listen as Dave summarizes the new Facebook partnership and how it will help your business. Read complete article here.
Graphic Design & Technology
Listen as Adrienne Wilkerson, a graphic designer with Beacon Publishing & Design, and Dave talk about the gigantic shift technology had on the graphic design business. Adrienne also shares her experience building a business– a topic dear to all business owners’ hearts.
Tech Talk
Listen as Tim White, Chief Technology Officer with ACB Solutions introduces his new program segment Tech Talk.” Tim discusses his goal for the segment and talks about the “What Changed?” effect.
Most often, the best marketing advice has little to do with tactics and more to do with strategy. In my article “Be Good, Businesses,” I delve in to the strategy of ethics– why they are important, and how they will make you profitable.
Listen to the highlights of the NFIB’s monthly Optimism Index. This index dropped dramatically in August– find out why. Or read complete article: “Small Business Confidence Takes Huge Hit.”
Simon & Seaforts: The Restaurant Business
After over 30 years in Anchorage, Simon & Seaforts is one of the city’s oldest and best restaurants. Listen as Robert Kilby gives us a behind the scenes look a successful restaurant. This is a great show about a super business.
Business Risk Management
Do you know what a “surety bond” is used for? Listen as business insurance expert Chris Pobielgo talks more about this important insurance product. Chris is president of Business Insurance Associates.
Listen as guest host Christopher Pobieglo gives a brief recap of key economic indicators. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) will be holding three free webinars. Find out more at their website - nfib.com.
He also discusses traffic safety and potential business risks from a “Risk Management” standpoint.
Make Credit Card Transactions Easy
Today’s special guest Sushil Wanigantunga, president of American Credit Card Systems, provides great insights into the management of debit and credit card transactions. Listen to find out how to take credit and debit cards in your business.
Marketing Matters
Listen as marketing expert Amanda Cullen, president of Zoo in a Jungle Marketing, discusses marketing on Facebook. Amanda provides creative ideas to build a following.
What first impression does your business create for potential customers? Your business’s exterior is crucial in shaping customer opinion. From my Business/News & Views article, Marketing for Appearances:
“Have you ever driven past a small business and thought it looked dingy, dilapidated or outdated? Have you ever been on a website that felt cumbersome to use, with the information you sought hard to find? Perhaps you think the business owners must not care anymore, or they don’t have the budget to fix things up. Even worse for the business, you might not think anything, but simply keep driving or surfing the web.”
Dave Weatherholt starts off this Getting Down to Business with social-networking sites that link entrepreneurs to pools of money. Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) considers allowing equity stakes on crowd-fund sites. This could be a great source of funding for small businesses, says Dave.
Outcast Productions
Kimberley Gray and Elisa Hitchcock met 14 years ago working on murder mystery dinners and started Outcast Productions, LLC. Today, their part-time business with expanded services is thriving. Listen and learn from their business story.
Go it Alone
Geoff Burch is in rare form on his “Go It Alone” segment. Listen as Geoff gives business advice to Kimberley & Elisa with great wit and witticism guaranteed to make you laugh.
May’s Business/News & Views® brings some encouragement amidst continuing dour economic news – that the US is still a powerhouse. David Weatherholt keeps it upbeat as he details his recent experience with auditors, while marketing expert Amanda Cullen advises businesses with tips for creating that great first impression. In our tech section, learn 9 ideas for managing files and folders on your computer.
What 1099 Reporting Rule Repeal Means to Small Business
The comprehensive health care reform bill (ObamaCare) expanded 1099 reporting to include all B2B transactions that exceed $600 per year. Dave talks about the bullet small business owners dodged with the repeal of this provision.
The Cyber Market
Courtney Brooke Smith, Principal of Courtney Brooke Smith, MBA Consulting talks about your business’s Cyber Market. Conversations taking place on social media networks can either build or erode your business. Courtney discusses reasons why you need to understand your “Cyber Market.”
“Word of Mouth Marketing is the most powerful strategy for getting new customers,” I write in my most recent Business/News & Views article. Word of mouth, also known as referrals, is often neglected by marketers. But the most effective endorsement of your product will come from a prospective customer’s friends and family. Learn how your business can develop word of mouth marketing strategies.
To keep your business healthy, you need to do a business health checkup. In my article, I explained the 7 steps to a healthy business, starting out:
Take a deep breath, clear your head, relax, and then take stock of what you have. How is your business performing now? Have sales slowed? Do you have enough cash? Is your business ready to face a future where business growth is not the key to success? What is the overall health of you and your business, both mentally and financially?
In 2008, the United States and the world economies went into a steep downward tailspin. This economic downturn, despite earlier confusion, misstatements and missteps is very real and had a significant impact on your business. This sudden shift changed what we considered “business normal”– signaling that the old way we operated as a business will not work in the future.
Barry Matteson, owner of the House of Harley-Davidson in Anchorage, joins David for this entertaining “Getting Down to Business.” William S. Harley completed his drawing of an engine that fit on a bicycle in 1901, and by 1903 he had partnered with Arthur Davidson to create and sell the first motorcycle. Barry started his motorcycle shop in 1971, with a hand-painted sign over the warehouse reading Barry’s Custom Cycle. By 1975, he had gained the Harley-Davidson franchise. Listen to the show to hear how Barry made it in the early years and how he continues his success today.
Sales and entrepreneurial expert Geoff Burch has his segment “Go it Alone” later in the show. And we’d all like to congratulate Geoff for being voted the Business Communicator of 2011 by the U.K.’s Speechwriter’s Guild!
The sample marketing plan follows an outline that any business can use for their marketing plan, whether it’s for startup marketing or ongoing marketing. There are three basic steps:
I wrote about Getting Customers to Call in January’s Business/News & Views®. For many businesses, getting customers to call is one of the most profitable things customers can do for their business. But most businesses do a poor job of motivating customers to call them.
Here are two of my tips from the article:
Offer a gift card or other “free gift” to the first hundred callers.
Ask a compelling question to which they can only learn the answer if they call.
For all the tips on getting customers to call your business, read the full article here: Getting Customers to Call
Come for a brown bag lunch at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and listen to David Weatherholt’s keynote speech, “A Wild Ride: The Business of Sports.” The business of sports is usually as tumultuous as the game itself. David Weatherholt knows this first-hand as he brought a sports entertainment franchise to Alaska, the “Last Frontier.”
Dave will take you behind the scenes of a professional sports team to learn what makes the sports industry tick. Learn about great teamwork and struggles, while discovering a few strategies for your own business as well. Details follow:
Date: 2/15/2011
Time: Noon – 1 P.M.
Reservations and questions: (907) 272-2401
Website: Anchorage Chamber
Place: Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
1016 West Sixth Avenue, Suite 303
Anchorage, AK 99501
This “Getting Down to Business” is David Weatherholt’s inaugural show on Fox News Talk 1020 KOAN. We are excited and pleased to move to this station – and our time slot remains the same, Fridays at 2-3PM.
Café Del Mundo founder Perry Merkel, who has been roasting coffee since 1975, comes on the show to discuss the coffee business, how he got his start and the business environment in Alaska.
The December Business/News & Views® will help you bring your small business into the new year!
David Weatherholt brings us economic news with the exciting title, “It’s Pedal to the Metal Time” and the continuation of his peerless competitor series, “Be The Best V.” Amanda Cullen asks, “Is your pricing too low?” and answers that is probably is. She gives advice for how to maximize your price potential with value pricing.
This month brings a bonus Views article, “The Sales Process Defined,” and learn some tips to simplify your technology with “Don’t Lose Your Bookmarks.” All this in the December Business/News & Views®!
Have you finalized your marketing budget for 2011? Have you even thought about it? In my article from Business/News & Views, I provide guidelines for 2011 budgeting that will allow you to “Cut Marketing Costs, Not Effectiveness.” This easy but crucial budgeting process will help you make profitable marketing decisions for the upcoming year.
David Weatherholt interviews Owen Mandanas, DDS about creating a great smile and the business of dentistry. Owen is passionate about dentistry and running a successful business. Learn how she does it and what advice she has to share.
David takes a look at some economic indicators for small businesses- showing, among other things, that small businesses are lowering their prices and feeling slightly more optimistic. It’s not resoundingly good news, but listen to the show for David’s full analysis.
Later in the show, our favorite Englishman, Geoff Burch, joins us with his segment “Go it Alone.” He has some great sales advice for entrepreneurs. Remember, Geoff has a new book out, Irresistible Persuasion.
Save money and commuting time by opening a home office. Many small businesses (and large ones, too!) are finding home offices to be great solutions to their needs. In the recent issue of Business/News & Views®, we gave tips for how to make the transition successfully.
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Editor David Weatherholt brings you business ideas, economic news and views from across the business community. We're proud to bring you advice you can use.
Expert business planning for small businesses and start-ups.
"David Weatherholt put together the best business plan I’ve seen in all the years I’ve been reviewing business plans." Lynn Klassert, Vice President of Business Banking, KeyBank
It’s not too late to start simple but effective planning for this New Year. Small-Business Marketing Expert Amanda Cullen and Small-Business Financial Expert Dave Weatherholt give practical tips on planning for 2012. Be bold and set a sales goal that will make you smile. Dave provides tools and advice on how to achieve that audacious goal. Amanda gives you practical cost effective marketing tips that will move your company toward achieving that sales goal.
