With a clear understanding of what social media is, we now need to discuss what social media does.  As a business owner, marketing is a major function regardless of the business or industry.  Through the use of social media, companies can literally watch their sales grow astronomically instantaneously following the release of a product through social media marketing.  The first step is to develop a social media marketing plan.  In doing so you must ascertain:

1.  Who is customer/audience?  (e.g., men, women and/or children, animals, others) 
2. What is their profession or interests? (e.g., doctors, teachers, artists, musicians, cooks, etc.)
3. Where is your customer or audience located? (e.g., local, national, global)
4. What social media tools does you customer/audience use most?
5. What is your mission statement for the use of each social media platform to reach your customer/audience?
6. What is your outreach goal for the use of each social media platform? (e.g., 100 new followers per month, increase sales $1000 in new business or new subscribers, etc.)
7. What is your strategy for providing your new customer/audience content?  (e.g., number of new postings each week, postings that coincide with major holidays, local or national events, etc.)

Once you have determined the best social media platform(s) for your business, devising a plan for use is your next step.  Social media planning is much like long range or strategic planning.  Your social media plan should entail the following:

1. Assess your current social media and marketing situation.
2. Set goals and objectives.
3. Devise steps to improve your social media presence.
4. Determine the type of content for your social media marketing.
5. Test campaign, track progress, analyze results and modify your plan

Not every campaign or plan works out after its launch.  So it is important that you know what is working and what’s not.  Sales, comments, reposting, etc. are signs that your campaign is working.  But in either case, you should always be looking to make any adjustments to test different audiences and customers.

A great tool for managing your social media accounts is Hootsuite.  Launched in 2008, Hootsuite is a social media management system that helps keep track and manage many social media network channels simultaneously.  You can view streams from multiple networks such as Facebook, Google+, Twitter Instagram, LinkedIn, Foursquare, WordPress and Vimeo.

Remember, your social media plan, as with your business plan for which your social media plan is a part, it is a working document.  It should reviewed regularly and revised as necessary.  Pay close attention to how and what social media tools are working and which ones are not. 


Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."

The first step requires that all prospective S/D/M/W/V/DV or disabled/handicapped firms complete an application.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the information deemed necessary by the certifying agency to ascertain eligibility.  The information provided by the applicant is used as evidence in support of fulfilling all eligibility standards set forth by the certifying entity.

The next step is an on-site review as a part of the uniform certification process.  It is an effective means to verify the applicant’s home or office facilities and operations, and to validate the written application.  In conjunction with the application and documents submitted, the on-site review will help determine whether a firm:

1.  is in fact in existence, operational and in business for a profit; 
2. possesses the resources or expertise to operate in this field of work;
3. owners and key persons listed in the application play a critical role in the company; and
4. does not exist solely on paper and not organized in an attempt to take advantage of project goals.

Finally, a thorough, detailed and complete analysis of the application file with the supporting documents is conducted.  The applicant is entitled to prompt action on its application and to be duly informed when any part of the application is deficient and/or incomplete.  A formal decision can be made by management acting independently, or through a committee.  Any firm denied certification would be afforded due process.

You can obtain minority, disadvantaged, woman and service disabled veteran certification from a variety of sources.  In addition to the organizations listed below, contact your local city, county, quasi-government or state office and inquire about minority and women business certifications in your area.  You may also obtain certification applications, as well as the statutes, process for certification and other information to assist you in becoming certified.
 
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
www.nmsdc.org/

Section 8(a) Certification
Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov/sdb/indexsdbapply.html

Veteran-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification
Department of General Services
www.pd.dgs.ca.gov/smbus/dvbecert.htm

American Society of Disabled Veterans
ASDV Clearinghouse
www.asdv.org/
 
Small & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification
Department of Transportation
https://www.civilrights.dot.gov/disadvantaged-business-enterprise
 
Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
www.wbenc.org/
 
Woman-owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Business (EDWOSBs)
Small Business Administration
https://certify.sba.gov/

Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC)
http://www.wbdc.org/
 
Woman/Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification
The Supplier Clearinghouse
http://www.thesupplierclearinghouse.com/

  
Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."

Being organized and making effective use of your time is the cornerstone of good management.  Prioritizing tasks from the most important to the least important, getting rid of any distractions that can inhibit the ability to get a job completed, establishing timeframes for start to finish on each job, and keeping a positive attitude and outlook will help you stay motivated and on task. 

Starting each day with a clear direction on what needs and should be accomplished is key.  Once the work day has ended and before going to bed each night you should do each of the following:
 

1. Clear your work area so that you return to it uncluttered.
2. Review your calendar to remind yourself about any meetings or events to occur, where they will be held and their times.  If the meetings or events are offsite, make sure you know exactly where you need to be and how long it will take you to get there.
3. Make a written list of the next day’s tasks (by priority, large and small) and assign the most appropriate time of day to complete.
4. Identify and locate individuals, information, tools, documents, etc. needed to complete each task, or for each meeting or event.

 
Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."

We know that being in business comes with a multitude of challenges, and consequently many mistakes are made.   The single most common mistake you can make is in believing that you can be all things to all people.  This philosophy has proven disastrous to every business that employs it.  That’s why having a marketing plan is critical.  The second most common mistake is not having, not implementing or not adhering to an established marketing plan.
 
To avoid these pitfalls, be sure to:           

1. have a thorough understanding of who needs, wants and can benefit from your products/services;
2. have sufficient knowledge of the core competencies of your potential customer and their customers;
3. have sufficient knowledge of their competition; and
4. have a marketing strategy that details your business, financial position, specific products or services you’re offering to each customer.
   

Knowing your business and industry is critical to preparing a marketing plan that can you can use to identify your appropriate customer and provide them products and/or services specifically geared to their individual needs, wants and desires.


Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."
 

What is it about your products or services that keeps your customers coming back?  If you think about yourself as a customer of your favorite brands, why to you continue to patronize a particular company or brand?  But more importantly, what causes you to abandon a product, service or brand?  This happens for any number of reasons which may include, but not limited to:

1. Diminished quality of product/service;
2. Dissatisfaction with changes made;
3. Price increase;
4. Difficulty of locating product/service;
5. Poor customer service and/or communications;
   
6. Better options available from competitors;
7. No longer interested or have a need for the product/service;
8. Offensive marketing campaign;
9. Change in buying habits or lifestyle;
10. Product determined to be unsafe;
11. Changes in product/service management or ownership.

It's critically important to know why customers leave, but it's equally important to understand why customers stay.  Consider conducting a brief survey of all customers to ascertain their loyalty.  This information can be very useful when determining how and when to make changes to your product or service line, if necessary, and when and how you should change your marketing strategy. 

Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."

What constitutes a "good" or "effective" leader versus a "bad" or "ineffective" one?  Most of us at one time or another have had both.  So, what in our past experiences, did we learn about being a leader?  Regardless of how people define a good leader, the ability to communicate effectively, work within an established workplace framework and have a value system that is heavily based on just being a good human being is necessary.

Responding to the questions below can help you determine whether the leadership in your company is sufficiently knowledgeable and positioned to be effective in guiding the company's success:

• How well does the leadership understand the company and its business?
• Is the leadership in alignment with every member of the organization?
• Does the leadership recognize when operational performance improvements are necessary?
• Does leadership take full responsibility and is held accountable for results?
• Does the leadership encourage teamwork at all levels?
• Are communications vehicles sufficient and in full reach of all employees, customers and other relevant entities?
• Is there a level of trust that exists among company leadership and employees?
• What vehicle is used to gauge employees’ attitudes towards the company, its leadership and their positions?
• What process or steps are taken to resolve issues that arise?

Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."

You've just come up with a great product idea and want to make it a real product.  Or you've seen a product and have figured out how to diversify, retrofit or make changes to create a new product.  How is that done?  You can utilize the services of product invention company or you can take all the many steps necessary for developing your product yourself.

If you are the innovative one who prefers to take the journey without assistance, here are just a few of the many questions you must answer in order to develop your product and bring it to market:

1. How are product(s) designed, engineered, manufactured and/or produced?
2. Who are the principal and alternate suppliers?
   
3. What do they supply?
   
4. Where are they located?
   
5. Are they willing or able to send you samples of materials you need at a minimal or no cost?
   
6. Can they develop the prototype(s)?
   
7. What are the price breaks for larger quantities?
   
8. How are supplies and materials ordered?
   
9. What equipment and/or machinery is needed for the production?
10. Is there reliability testing needed?
11. What quality standards or OSHA requirements that must be adhered to?
    
12. What is the critical path, if applicable, for project or production completion?
13. What are production lead times?
14. What are the risk factors for producing this product?
15. What are the capacity constraints for production?
16. What are peak and/low production seasons?
17. If necessary, what are the alternate production methods?
18. How is operational efficiency maintained?
19. How is production monitored and inventory controlled?
20. What are the make or buy decisions?

 
There are a multitude of issues that accompany the manufacture and production of a product of any kind.  Depending on the nature of the product, there can also be uncontrollable factors such as economic, legal, social, technical or environmental that can affect its manufacture or production.  So before striking out to bring a product to market, do your homework to ensure the cost of design, production and manufacture does not inhibit your ability to make a profit.

Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."

Serving your customers in the best way possible is a very important part of doing business.  For many products and services, customers have many, many choices.  The success of your business hinges on repeat business from current customers and acquiring new customers on a regular basis.  But if your customer is not satisfied for any reason at all (legitimate or not), you will certainly lose them.  And there goes profits and eventually, your business.

Besides the sales or lack thereof, how do you provide the best customer service possible?  To know this, you need to have a process that handles every aspect of customer satisfaction.  The following are questions and issues you need to address in order to ascertain your customers' satisfaction and determine how better to meet their needs.

1. How will customer concerns and complaints be handled (e.g., online, by phone, in writing, in person, etc.)?
2. Will a customer service center be established?
3. Who will handle concerns and complaints?
4. Will they be handled during normal business hours only, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, holidays? 
5. Will a toll free number be available or will collect calls be accepted?
6. What method will be used to evaluate customer service performance (e.g., online surveys, phone surveys, results of customer satisfaction tools, management staff, etc.)?
7. How will customer satisfaction be measured (e.g., analyzing surveys, comment cards, follow-up phone calls, etc.)?
8. Describe customer relationship management tools.

Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."