Infographic: The Contractor’s Marketing Tool Belt

By Eric Ellis

0

Tweet

Why Your Small Business Should Be More Pet Friendly

By Bill Miller

0

Tweet

According to statistics from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) nearly 43.5 million American homes own dogs and more than 36 million American homes own cats. The average number of dogs per owning household is 1.6 and cats is 2.1 per owning household. Additional research shows pet ownership growing fastest among minority families across the country. As you might expect, pet related spending continues to rise with ownership rates. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) projects Americans will spend more than $55.53 billion on pet related products and services in 2013. These gross expenditures have continually trended upward from a mere $17 billion in 1994 and were undaunted by the recession. Pet related spending grew by more than 30 percent since 2007. Research also shows more households than ever consider their pets to be “part of the family.” This trend has even brought the term and practice of “pet parenting” into vogue. So what does this all mean to the small business owner … especially if you’re not in a pet specific business like a groomer, pet day care provider, pet store owner, trainer, dog walker, veterinarian, or animal psychologist? If you have to ask that question, broaden your thinking. …

What Kind of Small Business Owner Are You?

By Eric Ellis

0

Tweet

Why did you start your small business? What motivates you, today? Deluxe wanted to know what makes you tick, so we recently commissioned a nationwide study of more than 1,000 small businesses to find out. The results of the survey identified seven major types of small business owners: All Heart, Encore Career, Passionately Confident, All in the Family, My Way, Mastering the Niche, and Boss-Me-Not. Do you already hear one category name that seems to fit you? Follow the “7 Types of Small Business Owners” infographic and determine just where you fall. See how many others were motivated by the same drivers. Learn the traits and trends of the different groups and how they strive for success. Then, please, leave a comment to tell us what you think! Where do you fit and why? What can we do to help you enjoy the aspects of being a small business owner that make you the happiest? What worries you most? What are your greatest aspirations and inspirations for the future of your business?

Targeting the Audience for Your Small Business’s Blog

By Bill Miller

0

Tweet

Defining the target audience for your business blog, then creating and selecting content based on the wants and needs of that “person” are the two critical most steps of any successful business blogging strategy. Whom is this blog for? Get Specific! Has your business already developed profiles for your likeliest or most ideal customers? If so, then you can use those customer personas as a guide to keep your posts relevant. If you’ve never gone through the exercise of creating a persona, now’s the time. Instead of lumping everyone in one anonymous bucket, develop 1-3 distinct personas. Give each persona a name (real or fictitious) so you can have someone concrete in mind as you develop blog content. Sample Audience Persona Say you’re the owner of a business that sells dance shoes, apparel and other supplies. You want to start a blog. So you develop a persona for “Suzanne,” a composite of some of your most loyal customers. Who: SUZANNE MITCHELL Age: 38 Gender: Female Education: Bachelor’s degree, psychology Job: Marketing director for an area non-profit that focuses on workplace skills Family: Married with two girls, ages 3 and 7, and a son, age 5 Household income: $75,000 Spends most time …

Infographic: Is Small Business in Your DNA?

By Bill Miller

0

Tweet

Are you contemplating starting up a small business? Have you been a small business owner for a while? For your whole working career?  What drives you to succeed? Deluxe wanted to know, so we commissioned a study of more than 1,000 businesses in the United States to find out if what it takes to be a small business owner is truly “in your blood.” Is the small business gene in your DNA? The results of the survey are eye-opening and at the same time reassuring. If nothing else, they reveal to small business entrepreneurs of every age and generation you’re not alone out there. The things that concern, drive, motivate, inspire and satisfy you are shared by many others. This post is the first in a series of infographics that will share with you the studies findings. At Deluxe we’ll use the results of the survey to tailor our small business services to help you pursue your passions – the reasons you went into business on your own in the first place.