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	<title>Small Business Resource &#187; Grow Your Business</title>
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	<description>Manage your business more efficiently!</description>
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		<item>
		<title>Should You Take a Credit Card or a Loan for Your Business?</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/should-you-take-a-credit-card-or-a-loan-for-your-business/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/should-you-take-a-credit-card-or-a-loan-for-your-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:58:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amount Of Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Attractive Interest Rates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business credit card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Credit Cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Card Policies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charge Cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Closer Look]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Rating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Score]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Institutions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Sense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Trouble]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Instances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Interest Charge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loans For Bad Credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Perfect Sense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Owners]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/?p=4185</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/should-you-take-a-credit-card-or-a-loan-for-your-business/">Should You Take a Credit Card or a Loan for Your Business?</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Small business owners who wish to grow their business are often in need of a loan to accomplish this goal. Most people think about taking out a loan to finance the growth of their business, but in some instances and depending on the amount of money, it may make more financial sense to use a credit card instead.</p>
<p>Business owners who are in financial trouble and trying to save their business may not have the credit rating necessary for a regular loan and may have to apply for <a href="http://www.moneysupermarket.com/refusedcredit/">loans for bad credit</a> in order to secure financing for their business. These loans for bad credit are the solution if getting a regular loan is a problem.</p>
<p>There are many financial institutions offering attractive interest rates on loans. A closer look, however, reveals that many of these loans require a substantial amount of money borrowed to qualify for the low rates. Each financial company is different in how much is required to qualify for low rates, but if this minimum amount is not met, the interest rates can be quite substantial. If larger amounts of money are required, it makes perfect sense to get a loan, but any amount that does not qualify for these low rates may be better put on a credit card.</p>
<p><strong>Benefits of Business Credit Cards</strong></p>
<p>Applying for a business credit card is easier than applying for a loan. You simply have to apply for the credit card and then use it. There is no need to have a good credit score or have a large amount of equity in your business in order to apply for a business credit card.</p>
<p>When you use your business credit card to make purchases, it is easy to keep track since every purchase is recorded. This type of card is flexible because you don&#8217;t have to pay any interest on a loan, only on the purchases that you have put on your card. If the bill is paid promptly every month, there is no interest charge at all.</p>
<p>Business credit cards give you insurance because you are protected by law as well as by card policies. You are protected from fraudulent sellers and some cards even provide replacement and product insurance guarantees. Loans do not come with this type of protection. If your business should fail and you can&#8217;t pay your credit bills, the consequences are not as serious as those incurred with defaulting on a loan.</p>
<p>Business credit cards are not secured by the assets of the business, in the way that a loan is and this makes it very difficult legally for a lender to seize business assets. If you find yourself unable to make payments on the credit card, it is possible to negotiate with the credit company to come up with a payment plan.</p>
<p>It should be noted that whether you have a business or personal credit card, if your business is not incorporated and the card is not issued directly to the business, you are held personally responsible for any accrued debt. This continues even if your business fails and you may spend years working off the debt.</p>
<p>Many entrepreneurs forego using business credit cards because of the interest rate charged by credit companies. If you are able to pay your bills in full every month, this doesn&#8217;t present a problem. If, however, you cannot make the payments in full and are able to obtain a business loan with a lower interest rate, it may make sense to do this instead.</p>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/should-you-take-a-credit-card-or-a-loan-for-your-business/">Should You Take a Credit Card or a Loan for Your Business?</a></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Smart Advertising: Capturing Attention Using Posters</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/smart-advertising-capturing-attention-using-posters/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/smart-advertising-capturing-attention-using-posters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:58:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>webkriti</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer Behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Digital Entertainment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Effective Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Entertainment News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Individuality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Ads]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Advertisements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Users]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Logo Colors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing Tool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Leads]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Point Of Reference]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Psyche]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Specific Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tool Posters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traditional Marketing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/?p=4155</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a world dominated by digital entertainment, news and marketing, it can be easy to forget traditional marketing methods. However, something as simple as a poster can still bring some powerful new leads, customers and clients. Why is this so? How can something so simple produce such a large effect? Here are a few reasons [...]<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/smart-advertising-capturing-attention-using-posters/">Smart Advertising: Capturing Attention Using Posters</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a world dominated by digital entertainment, news and marketing, it can be easy to forget traditional marketing methods. However, something as simple as a poster can still bring some powerful new leads, customers and clients. Why is this so? How can something so simple produce such a large effect? Here are a few reasons why posters are still an effective marketing tool.</p>
<p><strong>Posters are different</strong></p>
<p>By now, people are used to seeing Google ads on every website they visit. They are used to seeing these ads in the beginning of the videos they watch, and they are used to seeing these ads on the news pages they visit. Internet ads are so overbearing that they literally have almost no effect on many Internet users anymore. People have simply learned to ignore these ads, potentially removing them from their psyche.</p>
<p>Because many companies have abandoned the old traditional marketing methods, consumers don&#8217;t see too many posters that advertise companies or products. To see a poster that advertises a product is almost subconsciously refreshing for many people.</p>
<p><strong>Posters are visually appealing</strong></p>
<p>Google ads and other types of Internet advertisements only allow for limited customization and design. Essentially, Google ads are simple, void of any creativity. Posters, on the other hand, allow for more expression and individuality from companies. They allow companies to show their brand&#8217;s logo, colors and font.</p>
<p>The splash of visual display obviously captures consumers&#8217; attention better than a simple Google ad. Of course, other marketing companies defend the simplicity within Google ads with unimportant information on consumer behavior and psychology. Let&#8217;s ask a simple question, would your attention be captured by a Google ad better than a visually appealing poster? You are your first point of reference.</p>
<p><strong>Posters are public</strong></p>
<p>Google ads primarily target a very specific group of people. While this is effective in its own means, there is still a need for marketing methods that target a broad range of consumers. Posters, which are often placed in very public areas, have a chance of attracting all types of customers.</p>
<p><strong>Posters attract passive consumers</strong></p>
<p>When people use the Internet, they often know exactly what they need to accomplish while online, whether it is checking social media sites or looking for information. As a result, people rarely give their attention to anything that does not relate to what they are looking for.</p>
<p>However, posters are placed in public areas. People who are walking in public areas often have time to make side trips or view things that are not on their original agenda. In other words, Google ads try to target aggressive or active consumers and posters try to target passive consumers.</p>
<p>Looking for a printer for professional <a href="http://www.clockworkprint.com.au/products_services/poster_printing.html">poster printing Perth</a>? Clockwork print specialise in premium quality, large formaet posters for advertsing, they can even mount, laminate or frame your print if required.</p>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/smart-advertising-capturing-attention-using-posters/">Smart Advertising: Capturing Attention Using Posters</a></p>
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		<title>Getting a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA)</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/getting-a-loan-from-the-small-business-administration-sba/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/getting-a-loan-from-the-small-business-administration-sba/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:14:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loan program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SBA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business administration]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/?p=55</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here is a handy guide to the various SBA loan programs. Click here to review a synopses of SBA Loan Programs.If you are interested in obtaining further information for a specific Loan Program listed below, click on the Loan Program and you will be brought to the SBA Web site. PROGRAM: 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program [...]<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/getting-a-loan-from-the-small-business-administration-sba/">Getting a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA)</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Here is a handy guide to the various SBA loan programs. <a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/synopses.html">Click here</a> to review a synopses of SBA Loan Programs.If you are interested in obtaining further information for a specific Loan Program listed below, click on the Loan Program and you will be brought to the SBA Web site.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/fr7aloan.html">PROGRAM: 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program (the SBA&#8217;s primary loan program).</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> $750,000 in most cases Percent of Guarantee (Max.): 75% (80% if total loan is $100,000 or less)</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds:</em> Expansion or renovation; construction of new facility; purchase land or buildings; purchase equipment, fixtures, leasehold improvements; working capital; refinance debt for compelling reasons; seasonal line of credit; inventory acquisition</li>
<li><em>Maturity.</em> Depends on ability to repay; generally working capital is up to 7 years; machinery/equipment, real estate, construction, up to 25 years (not to exceed life of equipment) Maximum Interest Rates: Negotiable with lender: loans under 7 years, max. prime + 2.25%; 7 years or more, max. 2.75% over prime; under $50,000, rates may be slightly higher Guaranty and Other Fees: Paid by lender (usually passed onto borrower).</li>
<li>Amount of <em>SBA</em> exposure (based on maturity): 1 year or less — 0.25%</li>
<li>Over 1 year and SBA share $80,000 or less — 2%;</li>
<li>Over 1 year and SBA share more than $80,000 — figured on incremental scale</li>
<li>Eligibility: Must be operated for profit; meet SBA size standards; show good character, management expertise and commitment, and always show ability to repay; may not be involved in speculation or investment</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/frcaplines.html">PROGRAM: CAPLines, Short-Term and RLCs; Seasonal, Contract, Builders, Standard Asset-Based, Small Asset-Based</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> $750,000 (except Small Asset-Based); Small Asset-Based $200,000 (total loan amount)</li>
<li><em>Percent of Guarantee</em> (maximum): 75%, see 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds:</em> Finance seasonal working-capital needs; costs to perform; construction costs; advances against existing inventory and receivables; consolidation of short-term debts possible</li>
<li><em>Maturity:</em> Up to 5 years</li>
<li><em>Maximum Interest Rates:</em> 2.25%</li>
<li><em>Guaranty and Other Fees:</em> See 7(a); Under Standard Asset-Based, no restrictions on servicing fees</li>
<li><em>Eligibility:</em> Existing businesses, see 7(a)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/frinternational.html">PROGRAM: International Trade Loan Program, Short- and Long-Term Financing</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> $1.25 million</li>
<li><em>Percent of Guarantee</em> (maximum): 75%, see 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds:</em> Working capital; improvements in U.S. for producing goods or services; may not be used to repay existing debt</li>
<li><em>Maturity:</em> Up to 25 years</li>
<li><em>Maximum Interest Rates:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Guaranty and Other Fees:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Eligibility:</em> Small businesses engaged or preparing to engage in international trade or adversely affected by competition from imports; see 7(a) for other qualifications</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/frexport.html">PROGRAM: Export Working Capital Program</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Features:</em> 1-page application, fast turnaround; may apply for pre-qualification letter</li>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> $750,000 (may be combined with International Trade Loan)</li>
<li><em>Percent of Guarantee</em> (maximum): 90%, see 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds:</em> Short-term working-capital loans to finance export transactions</li>
<li><em>Maturity:</em> Matches single transaction cycle or generally 1 year for line of credit</li>
<li><em>Maximum Interest Rates:</em> No cap</li>
<li><em>Guaranty and Other Fees:</em> See 7(a); no restrictions on servicing fees</li>
<li><em>Eligibility:</em> Small business exporters who need short-term working capital; see 7(a) for other qualifications</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/frdelta.html">PROGRAM: DELTA, Defense Loan and Technical Assistance Program</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Features:</em> Provides financial and technical assistance to help defense-dependent firms diversify into commercial market; joint effort of SBA and DoD</li>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> 7(a) or combined with 504: $1.25 million (total loan amount). 504: $1 million SBA share (up to 40% of project)</li>
<li><em>Percent of Guarantee</em> (maximum): Depends on whether done under 7(a) or 504; see both</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds</em>: Defense conversion; see 7(a), 504</li>
<li><em>Maturity:</em> See 7(a), 504</li>
<li><em>Maximum Interest Rates:</em> See 7(a), 504</li>
<li><em>Guaranty and Other Fees:</em> See 7(a), 504</li>
<li><em>Eligibility:</em> Defense-dependent small firms adversely affected by defense cuts; see 7(a), 504 for qualifications (program authority will expire 9/30/98)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/frprequal.html">PROGRAM: Minority and Women&#8217;s Pre-qualification Loan Program</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Features:</em> Help to prepare application and secure loan; SBA pre-qualification letter; pilot programs, limited sites</li>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> Minority Pre-qualification Loan Program $250,000 generally (total loan amount); Women&#8217;s Pre-qualification Loan Program $250,000 (total loan amount)</li>
<li><em>Percent of Guarantee</em> (maximum): 75%, see 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Maturity:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Maximum Interest Rates:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Guaranty and Other Fees:</em> See 7(a); plus minority program may use for-profit intermediaries; women&#8217;s program uses nonprofit only; both may charge fees</li>
<li><em>Eligibility:</em> Must be at least 51% owned and operated by racial/ethnic minority or women; $5 million or less annual sales for past 3 years; employ 100 or fewer, focus on credit history, ability to repay, probability of success</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/frlowdoc.html">PROGRAM: LowDoc Loan Program</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Features:</em> One-page SBA application to obtain guaranty, quick turnaround after applicant meets lender requirements</li>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> $100,000 (total loan amount)</li>
<li><em>Percent of Guarantee</em> (maximum): 80%</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds:</em> Same as 7(a) except may not be used to repay certain types of existing debt</li>
<li><em>Maturity:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Maximum Interest Rates:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Guaranty and Other Fees:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Eligibility:</em> Start-ups and businesses with $5 million or less annual sales for past 3 years; employ 100 or fewer; program relies on applicant&#8217;s character and credit history</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/frfastrak.html">PROGRAM: SBA EXPRESS (FA$TRAK)</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Features:</em> Lender approves loan, no additional paperwork for SBA; pilot program, limited sites</li>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> $100,000 (total loan amount)</li>
<li><em>Percent of Guarantee</em> (maximum): 50%</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds:</em> Same as 7(a); limitations on real estate and construction; may be used for term loans or revolving credits</li>
<li><em>Maturity:</em> Term loan same as 7(a); no more than 5 years on revolving line of credit</li>
<li><em>Maximum Interest Rates:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Guaranty and Other Fees:</em> See 7(a)</li>
<li><em>Eligibility:</em> See 7(a)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/frmicro.html">PROGRAM: 7(m) MicroLoan Program</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> $25,000 (total loan amount)</li>
<li><em>Percent of Guarantee</em> (maximum): NA</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds</em>: Purchase equipment, machinery, fixtures, leasehold improvements; finance increased receivables; working capital; may not be used to repay existing debt</li>
<li><em>Maturity:</em> Shortest term possible, not to exceed 6 years</li>
<li><em>Maximum Interest Rates:</em> Negotiable with intermediary</li>
<li><em>Guaranty and Other Fees:</em> No guaranty fee</li>
<li><em>Eligibility:</em> Same as 7(a)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sba.gov/financing/frcdc504.html">The Certified Development Company (504) Loan Program</a></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Features:</em> Long-term, fixed-asset loans through nonprofit development companies; must create or retain 1 job per $35,000 of <em>debenture proceeds</em></li>
<li><em>Maximum Amount Guaranteed:</em> Limit on SBA portion of project is $750,000 to $1 million</li>
<li><em>Percent of Guarantee</em> (maximum): 40% of project (100% SBA-backed debenture); private lender unlimited</li>
<li><em>Use of Proceeds:</em> Purchase of major fixed assets such as land, buildings, improvements, long-term equipment, construction, renovation</li>
<li><em>Maturity:</em> 10 or 20 years only</li>
<li><em>Maximum Interest Rates:</em> Based on current market rate for 5- and 10-year Treasury issues, plus an increment above Treasury rate</li>
<li><em>Guaranty and Other Fees:</em> Fees related to debenture, approx. 3%</li>
<li><em>Eligibility:</em> For-profit businesses that do not exceed $6 million in tangible net worth and did not have average net income over $2 million for past 2 years</li>
</ul>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/getting-a-loan-from-the-small-business-administration-sba/">Getting a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA)</a></p>
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		<title>The Best Way to Build your Business</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/the-best-way-to-build-your-business/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/the-best-way-to-build-your-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:07:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Being Successful in Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Build your Business]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s interesting to see how many small businesses try as soon as possible to follow the example of some large corporations to build an impersonal &#8220;corporate image.&#8221; People actually prefer to do business with people, not institutions. The last time you called an organization with a problem, weren&#8217;t you frustrated and didn&#8217;t you experience emotional [...]<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/the-best-way-to-build-your-business/">The Best Way to Build your Business</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s interesting to see how many small businesses try as soon as possible to follow the example of some large corporations to build an impersonal &#8220;corporate image.&#8221;</p>
<p>People actually prefer to do business with people, not institutions. The last time you called an organization with a problem, weren&#8217;t you frustrated and didn&#8217;t you experience emotional pain while &#8220;going through voice mail hell&#8221; or being transferred until you got connected with a person who could solve your problem? Corporate leaders with good marketing sense understood this.</p>
<p>When we think of Hewlett Packard, we think of Bill and Dave. Lee Iaccoca rebuilt Chrysler largely by being the corporate spokesperson in commercials. No advertising has been more successful for Wendy&#8217;s than Dave Thomas telling us about his latest fast food offering. According to John Sculley, former president of Apple Computer, it requires 16 times the investment for an existing customer to replace the profits of one who is lost.</p>
<p>Keeping existing customers is a key to running a successful business.</p>
<p><strong>Why we lose customers?</strong></p>
<p>According to a study conducted by the Technical Assistance Research Project in Washington D.C., 3% leave for convenience, 9% because of a relationship, 15% because of product, price or delivery problems, and 5% for other miscellaneous reasons.</p>
<p>That leaves 68% for the most significant reason: perceived indifference. Customers want to feel important and appreciated. A key to build customer loyalty is to build a relationship with customers/clients/patients where they feel important and appreciated!</p>
<p>In any business, but especially a business where there is contact with a customer and a representative of the company either in person or on the telephone, the best way I know to cement that relationship is through personal notes &#8211; thank you notes!</p>
<p>Personalize thank you notes by hand addressing the envelope and using a real postage stamp. A hand-written note is best. But if your handwriting is terrible, be sure to sign the letter in blue ink.</p>
<p><strong>When should you write thank you notes?</strong></p>
<p>When you are getting started in business or in sales, you should write a note after any contact, including meeting someone at a seminar or when you exchange business cards. Learn to be sincerely appreciative and express that appreciation. If you deal with a problem, apologize personally with a personal note and be sure the problem is resolved as quickly as possible, maybe even sending another note after it&#8217;s done.</p>
<p>You certainly will want to acknowledge major purchases and referrals with thank you notes. You can sometimes exploit or manipulate people and make a sale. But when you become an &#8220;assistant buyer,&#8221; a friend who helps the customer make transactions in his or her best interest, and express your interest in the customer as a person, you are building a business or a sales career that will provide for you and your family for years to come.</p>
<p><strong>Remember: <em>&#8220;People don&#8217;t care how much you know until they know how much you care.&#8221;</em></strong></p>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/the-best-way-to-build-your-business/">The Best Way to Build your Business</a></p>
<h4>Incoming Searches that might interest you:</h4><ul><li><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/the-best-way-to-build-your-business/" title="best way build business">best way build business</a></li><li><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/the-best-way-to-build-your-business/" title="technical assistance research project in washington dc 68% of customers leave because of perceived indifference">technical assistance research project in washington dc 68% of customers leave because of perceived indifference</a></li><li><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/the-best-way-to-build-your-business/" title="technical research assistance program perceived indifference">technical research assistance program perceived indifference</a></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Grow Your Business with Existing Clients</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/grow-your-business-with-existing-clients/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/grow-your-business-with-existing-clients/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:07:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Being Successful in Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Existing Clients]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Keep Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pay Attention to Needs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Raise Your Prices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sell More]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/?p=14</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Being in business for a while, you eventually begin to shed many of your initial fears as you begin to find confidence in what you are doing. Living though situations you once feared and coming out safely on the other side is a learning experience many people have to go through before they can fully [...]<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/grow-your-business-with-existing-clients/">Grow Your Business with Existing Clients</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="post-header-line-1"><span class="post-author vcard"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><a style="border: 0pt none; background-color: transparent; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; float: left; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://websitenetwork.info/EFImages/Images/grow-winning-company.jpg"><img style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://websitenetwork.info/EFImages/Images/grow-winning-company.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="200" /></a></div>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;">Being in business for a while, you eventually begin to shed many of your initial fears as you begin to find confidence in what you are doing. Living though situations you once feared and coming out safely on the other side is a learning experience many people have to go through before they can fully understand the concept. As word begins to spread around and you are finding new clients a little faster than you had in the past, you can sometimes miss out on opportunities to make more money with the resources you have at your disposal, including your existing clients and customers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;">Starting out can be a mass chaos of events. Procuring new customers takes a lot of time, effort, and money. Oftentimes, small business owners can increase profits and efficiency simply through their existing connections. These are people who have purchased products from you or hired your services in the past. It may have been a one-time event or perhaps you have built a good relationship early in your venture. As a business owner, you can not forget about these initial relationships. They can make a huge difference in your existing profit margin.</span><br />
<span class="fullpost"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;">Here are four ways to raise your profits  with existing relationships:</span></p>
<ol type="1">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;"><strong>Raise Your Prices</strong> – Clients who have come to rely on the quality of your services or product already know what to expect. If they keep coming back, they are likely to adjust to a small increase in prices. Often in the beginning, business owners set prices lower in order to attract new customers. Once you have proven yourself and gained credibility, you should adjust your prices accordingly. Do not be drastic in the changes but consider how much your time is really worth now that you may have a better idea. </span></li>
</ol>
<ol type="1">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;"><strong>Keep Marketing</strong> – Just because you got their business one time, doesn’t always mean they will come back without further invitation. Businesses should constantly be marketing to both new and existing customers. People need to be reminded of things. If you are only focusing your efforts on the “new”, the “old” could easily forget about you fast. </span></li>
</ol>
<ol type="1">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;"><strong>Pay Attention to Needs </strong> – Customers and clients can provide a new business a wealth of information about what they need and what they want. Listening to the problems or needs of customers and clients can help you make important decisions about what direction your business should be taking in order to capitalize on the important things. Finding a niche market can increase your profit astronomically. </span></li>
</ol>
<ol type="1">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;"><strong>Sell More</strong> – Customers who have had a good experience dealing with your company are likely to repeat their business. Take the opportunity to discuss all of the services you offer or the products you sell. Do not just sell what they are looking to buy. Many times additional sales are missed because the buyer is just not aware of the availability of certain products and services. Keeping your customers in the know could net you a lot more profit with little expense. </span></li>
</ol>
<p>Image Source:  http://getentrepreneurial.com</span></p>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/grow-your-business-with-existing-clients/">Grow Your Business with Existing Clients</a></p>
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		<title>Three Ways to Grow Your Local Business</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/three-ways-to-grow-your-local-business/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/three-ways-to-grow-your-local-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:13:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>webkriti</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advertising Strategies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Entire World]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Establishments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Giants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google Yahoo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local Businesses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local Search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local Searches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing Campaign]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mile Radius]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rival Businesses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Search Engines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Starters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Targeted Solutions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Three Ways]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traditional Search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traditional Searches]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/?p=4085</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The thing with growing your local business through the internet is that you often times get sidetracked so that you end up marketing your business to the entire world when all that you have to impress are those living within your community. When it comes to local business, your website’s ranking in traditional searches does [...]<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/three-ways-to-grow-your-local-business/">Three Ways to Grow Your Local Business</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The thing with growing your local business through the internet is that you often times get sidetracked so that you end up marketing your business to the entire world when all that you have to impress are those living within your community. When it comes to local business, your website’s ranking in traditional searches does not always guarantee that your local prospects have already noticed you.</p>
<p>Local marketing has been on the rise that even search giants like Google are making specific considerations for websites optimized for local search. If you have noticed, traditional search results have been pushed below in favor for local search results. Right next to these listings is a map of where such local establishments can be found. Aside from rooting on local searches, here are other ways that you can get customers to take notice of your local business:</p>
<p>Get Listed</p>
<p>You can find countless of search engines that allow local businesses to set up their listings for no cost. The great thing about claiming your listing now is that there may be other businesses that exist in your community which are similar to yours. By getting your business listed, if someone who lives close by runs a search on local providers, your business will be one of the search results which show up and you won’t instantly lose to those rival businesses. There are so many places that you can sign up for but make sure to get listed on Google Local and Yahoo Local for starters.</p>
<p>25-Mile Rule</p>
<p>Take out a map of your community and then draw a circle around your establishment’s 25-mile radius. You’re doing this because, according to experts’ advice, it is recommended that local businesses focus their marketing and advertising strategies on people living or working within a 25-mile radius of their shop. By knowing who to market your services to, you can cut the cost f your marketing campaign and invest on targeted solutions which address only those people who live within a 25-mile radius.</p>
<p>Launch a Contest</p>
<p>One easy way to gain exposure for your business is to come up with some sort of contest or draw. To create publicity, you can always get your local paper to do a story regarding the contest and then get the media to be present for the event. Get local personalities as judges and you’ll be able to gather up a good number of people.</p>
<p>Elliot likes writing and is interested in <a href="http://dentistidentity.com/">Social Marketing for Dentists</a> and <a href="http://dentistidentity.com/dentist-website-design/">dentist website</a>. Please take care of your teeth.</p>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/three-ways-to-grow-your-local-business/">Three Ways to Grow Your Local Business</a></p>
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		<title>Taking On Volunteers Is Not As Simple As You Might Think</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/taking-on-volunteers-is-not-as-simple-as-you-might-think/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/taking-on-volunteers-is-not-as-simple-as-you-might-think/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:10:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>webkriti</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Background Checks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best Case Scenario]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Company Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Company Policies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Company Premises]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Company Time]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dangerous Industries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disillusionment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[External Communications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Important Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lawsuits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicine Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prohibitions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Proviso]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Roles And Responsibilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteer Agreement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteer Agreements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work Experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Worst Case Scenarios]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/?p=4083</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Volunteering seems like a straightforward way to get some work experience under your belt and find out more about jobs that you are interested in. But it’s not necessarily straightforward for companies that take on volunteers. In many countries, like the UK and Australia, companies need to provide volunteers with a formal Volunteer Agreement and [...]<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/taking-on-volunteers-is-not-as-simple-as-you-might-think/">Taking On Volunteers Is Not As Simple As You Might Think</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Volunteering seems like a straightforward way to get some work experience under your belt and find out more about jobs that you are interested in. But it’s not necessarily straightforward for companies that take on volunteers. In many countries, like the UK and Australia, companies need to provide volunteers with a formal Volunteer Agreement and Code of Conduct. Failure to do so could result in messy lawsuits and legal penalties (worst case scenarios) or bitter disillusionment on both sides (best case scenario).</p>
<p>Volunteer agreements are important for volunteers as they generally outline what is expected of them – their roles and responsibilities that they will have to carry out every day that they volunteer. They also outline important company policies that should not be transgressed. These include confidentiality, internal and external communications, access to social media and prohibited actions. Prohibitions are particularly important in medical volunteering and dangerous industries, such as anything to do with chemicals or animals. Volunteers must not be allowed to operate dangerous or sensitive machinery and they definitely should not be allowed to administer drugs.</p>
<p>The agreements also protect the company concerned against liability if the volunteer is hurt while on company premises, on company time or while doing company business. Furthermore, they outline the responsibilities of the company with regard to training and management of volunteers.</p>
<p>It’s necessary for volunteers to be presented with and sign the agreement before they begin so that they understand that company may conduct certain background checks. Again, this is particularly important in industries that require a high degree of responsibility like medicine, education and those that deal with sensitive information.</p>
<p>The duration of the volunteer period needs to be stipulated in the agreement but companies should always add a proviso to the effect that they reserve the right to terminate the situation before the stipulated date. They may also want to include a section that states they have the option to extend the volunteer period depending on the performance of the volunteer.</p>
<p><strong>With great power comes great responsibility</strong></p>
<p>Companies should not view taking on volunteers as a cheap and convenient way to get the grunt work done. They have a responsibility to ensure that that volunteers find the experience rewarding. That is why companies need to be sure that they have the time and resources to train and manage volunteers, especially if the intention is to have volunteers in several different departments. This means that, initially, key staff members will be occupied with training activities and they will have to regularly provide feedback and guidance.</p>
<p>Companies also have to provide volunteers with a safe environment in which to work. This means that they are not to be used as pseudo-slaves and shouldn’t have to do anything that would be asked of a normal employee.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Sandy writes for a number of different blogs, on a number of different topics, including <a href="http://www.jobboardgurus.com/">job board software</a>, advertising, travel, technology and the environment.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/taking-on-volunteers-is-not-as-simple-as-you-might-think/">Taking On Volunteers Is Not As Simple As You Might Think</a></p>
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		<title>How to Choose and Purchase a Franchise</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/how-to-choose-and-purchase-a-franchise/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/how-to-choose-and-purchase-a-franchise/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:40:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>webkriti</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Background]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Better Chance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blockbuster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Endeavor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fedex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food Service Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franchise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franchises]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franchising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Smart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Last Several Years]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lowe S]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mail Room]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Major Brands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Setbacks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Starbucks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Two Ways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/?p=4064</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If the idea of starting a brand new business in this economy is more than a little daunting, perhaps you’d prefer to enter into an established franchise as a way to get a leg up and give yourself a better chance at success in your business endeavor.  But with all the opportunities out there for [...]<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/how-to-choose-and-purchase-a-franchise/">How to Choose and Purchase a Franchise</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Franchise.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-4065 alignleft" src="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Franchise-300x217.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="217" /></a></strong>If the idea of starting a brand new business in this economy is more than a little daunting, perhaps you’d prefer to enter into an established franchise as a way to get a leg up and give yourself a better chance at success in your business endeavor.  But with all the opportunities out there for franchising across a wide variety of industries, you might not have the vaguest clue what type of franchise you’re looking for.  So you need to think about what you’re good at, what you want, and how you can get it.  Here are a few tips to help you answer those questions.</p>
<ol>
<li>Get smart.  A good place to start is with yourself, and your own expertise and interests will certainly play a role in the franchise you ultimately decide to purchase.  If you have a background in food service management, for example, you might be well placed to purchase a chain restaurant.  If, on the other hand, you’ve spent the last several years working in a mail room, perhaps a FedEx franchise is more up your alley.  The point is, you shouldn’t go into an industry that you have no knowledge of or you could be asking for trouble.</li>
<li>Consider industries.  Although your experience is probably particular to one industry or another, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to limit yourself.  If you’re interested in something that you have absolutely no background in, there are two ways you can go.  You can either spend some time familiarizing yourself with the field that fascinates you or you can partner up with someone who has the experience you need (and learn as you go).  Both propositions could be risky, but nobody ever got ahead in business by playing it safe, so there’s no reason to restrict yourself unduly.</li>
<li>Look for growth potential.  Even franchises that seem to be productive could be suffering setbacks in this economy.  Just look at major brands like Starbucks, Blockbuster, and Lowe’s, all of which have had to close stores and slow growth over the last few years (although actually, only Blockbuster franchises).  The point is, you need to look past a label and do your homework to find a franchise that is not only stable, but in demand.</li>
<li>Talk to colleagues.  Before you purchase any franchise, take the time to talk to other franchisees to get their take on the franchisor.  If it seems like they’re sugar-coating the situation or they outright complain, perhaps you don’t necessarily want to get into bed with the parent company after all.</li>
<li>See a lawyer.  Regardless of the <a href="http://www.watercoolerworld.co.uk/the_business.html">franchise opportunities</a> that grab your interest, you’re going to have to sign a franchise agreement in order to purchase it.  This lays out the terms and conditions for owning and operating your business, including policies, fees, and even third-party vendors you must work with, in some cases.  If the rules and regulations are too restrictive you may not enjoy your new professional pursuit much.  And the worst part is that you might not even realize what you’ve agreed to if you fail to read the fine print.  Hiring a lawyer to represent you could mean that you are apprised of the fine points of the agreement, at the very least, and what’s more you may be able to negotiate for a deal that is more favorable.</li>
</ol>
<p>Sarah Danielson is a contributing writer for <a href="http://www.watercoolerworld.co.uk/">WaterCooler World</a> where you can find franchise opportunities throughout the UK.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/how-to-choose-and-purchase-a-franchise/">How to Choose and Purchase a Franchise</a></p>
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		<title>Five Opportunities to Earn a Passive Income</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/five-opportunities-to-earn-a-passive-income/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/five-opportunities-to-earn-a-passive-income/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:48:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Car Wash]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Passive Income]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Sycophants]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/?p=4061</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is every American&#8217;s dream to earn a steady living by doing as little work as possible. While it may seem like the executives and managers of the corporate landscape are getting by with a minimal amount of activity, their roles as schmoozers and sycophants is enough to make any average workingman cringe. If you [...]<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/five-opportunities-to-earn-a-passive-income/">Five Opportunities to Earn a Passive Income</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It is every American&#8217;s dream to earn a steady living by doing as little work as possible. While it may seem like the executives and managers of the corporate landscape are getting by with a minimal amount of activity, their roles as schmoozers and sycophants is enough to make any average workingman cringe. If you are fed up with the daily grind or don&#8217;t want to deal with people on a regular basis, you might want to look into ways to make an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_income">income passively</a>:</p>
<p><strong>Car Wash</strong></p>
<p>As seen on an episode of <a href="http://www.tv.com/shows/king-of-the-hill/the-year-of-washing-dangerously-396863/">King of the Hill</a>, earning a passive income at a car wash is one of the easiest ways to start your passive income career. All you need to do is purchase a lot, build your infrastructure, and wait for the people to come in. You will make lots of money when it doesn&#8217;t rain or people need to get snow sludge off of their vehicles.</p>
<p><strong>Vending Machines</strong></p>
<p>Schools, office buildings, movie theaters, and every other institution rely on handy <a href="http://www.1800vending.com/">vending machines</a> in order to provide concessions to patrons. You are not limited to soda and Fritos in your vending business. You can purchase machines that serve ice cream, mixed candy, and even hot beverages.</p>
<p><strong>Stock Market</strong></p>
<p>A riskier venture than some of the others on the list, the stock market is the easiest way to watch the money you invest grow with time. If you have some extra money to throw around and want to actually provide for an up and coming start-up, you could see some major dividends come through in your portfolio.</p>
<p><strong>Apartments</strong></p>
<p>People are always going to need a place to live. By purchasing an apartment building or converting a house into units, you can get a guaranteed monthly payment from your tenants. The downside to this money making method is that you will have to keep up with a stellar level of maintenance and customer demands.</p>
<p><strong>Laundromat</strong></p>
<p>The same people who rent your apartments are also going to need somewhere to clean their clothes. Setting up a laundromat is a good way to get cash based on a vital need that your tenants are going to have. Just remember not to cut corners or charge too much or else you might end up on <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/demun-professional-cleaners-st-louis#query:laundromats%20free%20drying">Yelp</a>.</p>
<p>Setting up a plan to make a passive income does not guarantee that you will be doing no work for the rest of your life. It is important to provide maintenance and proper service for your facilities in order to get people to continue to use your devices. By going into your new venture strong and letting the system work itself out, you will be raking in extra income with as little work as possible in no time.</p>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/five-opportunities-to-earn-a-passive-income/">Five Opportunities to Earn a Passive Income</a></p>
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		<title>Modern SEO Strategies Every Online Business Owner Should Practice</title>
		<link>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/modern-seo-strategies-every-online-business-owner-should-practice/</link>
		<comments>http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/modern-seo-strategies-every-online-business-owner-should-practice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:15:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Grow Your Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ahead]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coffee Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computing Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Current Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Website Visibility]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/?p=4039</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With nearly every business realizing that they need to be on the web, gaining high online visibility has never been harder. Over the last two years, SEO has changed dramatically with the rise of social media and mobile browsing, and sites that aren&#8217;t trying to stay ahead of current SEO trends will surely find themselves [...]<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/modern-seo-strategies-every-online-business-owner-should-practice/">Modern SEO Strategies Every Online Business Owner Should Practice</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With nearly every business realizing that they need to be on the web, gaining high online visibility has never been harder. Over the last two years, SEO has changed dramatically with the rise of social media and mobile browsing, and sites that aren&#8217;t trying to stay ahead of current SEO trends will surely find themselves with a non-ranking site. However, there are a few modern SEO practices that every site owner should utilize if they want to have a successful site:</p>
<p><strong>Think Local</strong></p>
<p>Google local completely dominates the top results pages. If your website is also tied to a storefront, then you need to make sure that your address is going to register on Google Places. In addition to making sure that your address is correct, you also need to make sure that you are listed under categories that match your products and services so that when someone types in “lawyer” or “coffee” your business pops up.</p>
<p><strong>Be Sociable</strong></p>
<p>Having a website for your business is incredibly important, but so is also having a Twitter account and Facebook page. If you are serious about your website&#8217;s online visibility, then you need to have it linked to social media, as these types of sites are becoming the go to places for online researchers. There are now even several <a href="http://www.peer1.com/hosting/private-cloud.php">cloud computing</a> services that let you manage all of your social media accounts at once through one interface allowing your site to get the most out of social media.</p>
<p><strong>Remain People Oriented</strong></p>
<p>When you are considering which keywords that you are using for your site&#8217;s content, don&#8217;t think about robots. Think about people. While robots will look for certain words, thinking about which words people will actually search for is much more important. Anticipate what they will look for and the questions that they will type into search engines, and then use the answers to those questions and those anticipated searched words as your keywords.</p>
<p><strong>Content! Content! Content!</strong></p>
<p>Content is arguably one of the most important aspects of SEO. If your content isn&#8217;t golden, people won&#8217;t share it and Google will flag it as spam. Don&#8217;t focus on writing around spam or paid links if you want to have a site with long-term SEO success. Instead, focus on writing great content – content that is engaging, interesting, and relevant.</p>
<p><strong>Check Yourself</strong></p>
<p>If you don&#8217;t think that each major search engine doesn&#8217;t have a <a href="http://www.peer1.com/hosting/dedicated_servers.php">dedicated server</a> or two with the sole responsibility of keeping search engines in order, then you&#8217;ve got another thing coming – and you are vastly underestimating the power of search engine giants such as Google. Always take the time to see how well your SEO efforts are paying off by visiting sites such as <a href="http://schema.org/" target="_blank">schema.org</a>. Using these sites will also let you tell Google what it needs to look for in your site – making managing your online reputation and increasing your online visibility easier.</p>
<p>Staying ahead in an industry where hundreds of new sites are created by the minute can be a daunting task for anyone looking to create a successful site. But with the right SEO and with enough time, you can own and operate a great site that can easily make your investment of time and energy well worth it.</p>
<p><p>Copyright &#169; 2009 <a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com" title="Small Business Resource">Small Business Resource</a><br/><br/><a href="http://freesmallbusinessresource.com/modern-seo-strategies-every-online-business-owner-should-practice/">Modern SEO Strategies Every Online Business Owner Should Practice</a></p>
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