StartupNation Blogs

If you want to get some new business, here are three quick tips that may help you boost your customer-list fast…
1. Make A List. Check It Twice.
Look through all of your contacts and review the people you’ve met in your industry or at various conferences, local business meetings, presentations, etc. Then, make a list.
Research each of these [...]

A recent survey conducted by StartupNation’s friends at Wakefield Research for Brother® International, http://bit.ly/cIsNF5, indicated that small business owners “believe that stockpiling their cash now is the best strategy for survival.”
The survey also revealed ways that small business owners plan to make their businesses more efficient this year. To find out more, I interviewed Bruce [...]

Once you do your research and contact media members with targeted pitches, there are several other things you can do to build buzz about your business.
As Step 7 in our “7 Steps to Successful Public Relations” at http://www.startupnation.com/steps/77/3856/1/1/public-relations-action-plan.htm states, it’s time to get the word out!
Here are some additional activities to add to [...]

After conducting extensive research and preparing your story ideas (discussed in previous blog entries pertinent to our “7 Steps to Successful Public Relations”), the next step is to contact the media.
Introduce Yourself.
You can start with a press release announcing your new business and call or e-mail the appropriate media member with a simple introduction.
Introduce [...]

For many small business owners getting a write-up in Entrepreneur magazine is the holy grail of media coverage.  A few lines in the magazine can make all those sleepless nights, hard work, and determination seem rewarded.  No trophies or plaques required.  So what does it take to secure this much coveted ink?
Aronado Placencia, host of [...]

Ok. You’ve probably heard that you need a media kit but aren’t sure why or what goes in it. Well, as part of our “7 Steps to Successful Public Relations,” here’s the information you need to know.�
What is a Media Kit?
A media kit is a package of information that allows reporters to get the [...]

Want to know how to get some free publicity? Well, in the last couple of weeks, we’ve covered the first two steps in our “7 Steps to Successful Public Relations.” Now, it’s time for Step 3 – Develop Your Story Idea.
As a new business owner, it’s easy to rush through publicity efforts in order to [...]

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Last week, we looked at the first step to getting some free publicity to help your business boost sales. Now, here’s the second step in our “7 Steps to Successful Public Relations.”
“Who Ya Gonna Call?”

Once you have a PR Plan in place, it’s time to get smart with a good dose of research. In [...]

As you may know, StartupNation offers a franchise selector service. You basically use the finder tool to identify franchises that fit your interests and financial realities.
At this time of year, interest in finding a franchise is at fever pitch. People seem to come out of the self-reflective New Year and holiday period charged up and on a [...]

As a bootstrap entrepreneur, I’ve learned there are just some things you don’t cut corners on. My “golden rule” has always been to hire the best Lawyer, Accountant, and Business Consultant you can find, even if you can’t afford it. The truth is you simply can’t afford NOT to.  Running my small business over the [...]