Dr. Gary S. Goodman asked: Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, you've heard that; and it's true.Some 98.6% of all businesses are considered small, so they're significant, and every large business was at one point, small.Here are five challenges every small business faces:(1) Staffing. How can small businesses attract and afford the best talent? This is tough, because larger firms and even the nonprofit sector and government might dispense better health benefits and even compensation. So, the small enterprise has to sell potential employees on the fact that they'll gain experience, get hands-on training, and see more growth possibilities with them.(2) Leadership & Management Skills. Most small business owners are great at some task, whether it's cost containment, niche marketing, or creative skill. But they tend to not have formal training in how to manage their enterprises, or what to do, strategically, to make them better and to get their people to perform better.(3) Sales. Every business can use more sales, and as one of my clients said, there are few problems in business that can't be cured with a few more sales! Even if the boss is great at selling, he or she probably has too little time, and too .. more »

Joe Love asked: With the explosion of the internet and online businesses many business owners forget how important it is to market offline as well. One of the main pieces in your company's marketing should be a brochure. You should have a brochure for your online and offline marketing.Brochures have many advantages over most other marketing tools available to you. Probably the most important advantage is that brochures can convey a lot of information about your business. Brochures can tell a detailed story about your business that cannot be told through display advertising. A brochure gives you the flexibility to communicate your message with both words and graphics.In the information age people expect to get the information they want and need quickly. And that is exactly what a brochure does. It gives prospects the information they want in just a few seconds.In most cases the more you tell the more you sell. People don't read brochures unless they are seriously interested in gaining information. They are not interested in "white space;" they are interested in learning more about your business and your product or service. And they resent it if you don't give them enough information to buy what you .. more »

Cindy King asked: International business expansion can be expensive and laden with risks. Well this is true when companies limit themselves to only using traditional marketing methods in their international business development.This can also be the case when companies use some internet marketing but rely heavily on traditional marketing methods.Creating foreign language content for one internet marketing communication medium is a good way to start.Traditional & Internet Marketing MixToday's best marketing practices are based on implementing both internet marketing and traditional marketing campaigns. Companies rarely rely on both methods to the same extent. One marketing environment is often used more than the other.The emphasis of either of these marketing methods depends on several factors including the company's culture and history. It can be said that traditional, long standing companies now have to develop real internet marketing strategies, beyond the brochure website. And it is recognized that internet companies will get better results with some traditional marketing added to their marketing mix.Internet Marketing Reduces Risk In International ExpansionWhen considering your international business expansion internet marketing reduces the risk in international expansion. But how can you really develop your business with internet methods? Some companies put up a website and think .. more »