Business and Marketing

Archive for the ‘Business Plan’ Category

Believe in the utopia that the Internet is “that magic” business it generates is in the past, more precisely with that dream ended in 2000 with the “explosion of the dot-com” businesses that are generated by creating needs-based non-existent users, free services and funding that could exaggerate any business plan.

When you choose to use the Internet as a distribution channel for your business, you should plan it as any other

Internet is not a business, but it is the channel to generate them. Just to be clear about some concepts that explain, and which are the basis for this platform becomes an extra channel of distribution for your business, and given that good may abound in return for the investment required.

1) The Idea

As in all businesses, must start with a business idea. An intelligent approach on how to solve real needs of consumers.

2) Market Research

You get the idea, now need to perform a market study that will enable him what are the chances of success if you decide to run. Read the rest of this entry »

It is a fairly large amount of people who dream of opening his own business, devote your time is something you like and gives you financial independence. Is also large numbers of people who come to realize that dream, or they can assemble their own business and put it into operation. However, the number of companies that close their doors after a few years of operation is so big.

There are several factors that can influence the success or otherwise of a business. One of them is the lack of a business plan, which should be the initial step in the process of creating an enterprise through the business plan the entrepreneur has factual information about the business you want to open on the market where you want to act, on aspects that relate to your potential customers, competitors, suppliers.

Furthermore, by analyzing the information in the business plan the entrepreneur can check the viability of the business, in other words, he can be sure that the business can succeed or not. Also by studying the business plan you can identify potential problems or competitive constraints facing the target market.

Thinking of helping the entrepreneur in the difficult and laborious task of starting a new business or expand an existing SEBRAE of Minas Gerais has developed a very complete manual on treating all stages of creating a business plan. The contents of the manual has a very clear language while being extremely technical, becoming an indispensable tool for anyone who is thinking about owning one’s own business.

I spent much of my life working as a salesman and managing other vendors. During all this time I learned one thing: in general, although not a rule, sellers hate planning. There is even a certain romantic notion that selling is the art of improvisation and the big sellers are those who “go play” in any situation.

Without underestimating the creativity that is so important to success in sales, nothing more false than the low priority given to planning for success in sales. In fact, big business should be treated as projects and therefore must be planned (see the video of Eduardo Botelho consultant speaking Sales Planning). The scramble for big business deserves to prepare a schedule (even mentally) and a treatment project, because it involves important issues concerning the allocation of labor expensive (pre-sales and consulting) and a timing when it failed to take failure. Participate in a public bid, or a large RFP (Request for Proposal) private, are definitely projects, involving many people and demanding leadership.

But more than simple control aspects involved in a project, the issue of planning is key to winning major competitions. Close to good contracts is necessary to know the client, their needs, competitors involved, the executive decision makers and the status of the procurement process. This leads us to other key issues. Before planning our strategy to attack the business, you must map the account and opportunity, which involves visits, interviews, collections and much research. Only after knowing the situation well can we get our chance to design a winning strategy.

A planning meeting for business should be carefully prepared by the vendor in charge of it, inviting others to participate who can add value: your boss, pre-sales, consulting, finance (trading can result in financial awards), and legal. The information to be presented for discussion should be blocked by the relevant topic, namely: access to decision-making power on the client, relevant aspects of technical sales and negotiation, financial and contractual (T’s & C’s – Terms & Conditions). To this end, the seller should be prepared beforehand. Read the rest of this entry »

This is a critical time when starting your company or business, and it is another to choose the brand, the name will be your distinctive mark, that set of letters by which you remember and hopefully serve as a mark of prestige and seriously.

The names are to the company’s business card. If you are an individual entrepreneur or self-seriousness and you should give your business image.

It operates under a trade name. A freelancer can register a trade name for its activity, is more appropriate to call it with your name. This name will give an idea of the work to develop and convey professionalism, seriousness and activity values and setting up a brand image to be recognized more easily than through the proper name of autonomous.

In communications, invoices and others can enter the name duly registered. To register, go to the Patent and Trademark Office.

The corporate name

The application of the name of the society is conducted in the commercial register. In practice there is the problem that there are many similar names, it would be desirable to find one that is not too easy. The best thing is that when you go to apply for negative clearance of the name, go to the record with several alternatives, it is likely that the names you thought they already picked up by other companies already in progress or reserved.

If the corporate name of your company’s future already exists, this can save easily if you add after the name chosen one or more numeric expressions.

While this means the name is sometimes too long, this is not an obstacle because we can always use the logo (a picture with letters or letters that make up a picture).

During the deep financial crisis we are experiencing now, your company must deviate from the usual marketing mix to make several adjustments. His most likely competitors to lower their prices because customers have less purchasing power due to job losses.

Your company will either have to lower their prices or add some additional values to the price: as free delivery, guarantees, etc. In general, it is necessary to lower prices or adds items that are simpler and less expensive, even if these items somehow cannibalize their higher priced items.

Unfortunately, most companies respond to global turmoil and the crisis by slashing costs, sometimes indiscriminately, in the process causing damage to the reputation of quality or service they have created. If you have to cut costs, the company must first reduce the fat (which is any company in normal times), and then decide which market segments, geographies, products and services that never amounted to much or do they have a promising prospect. These are the ones who can cut.

Those companies that have taken stock of the opportunities created by global turbulence are in the best position to improve its performance over the long term. It is well known that the Chinese use the same written character in the sense of crisis and opportunity.

We can not say that radical innovation is the only way forward. First, companies facing difficult times often do not have radical innovations in its development pipeline. Even if they wanted to conceive, it would take years to implement. Even if radical, just work better if it were a disruptive innovation that takes away a good percentage of business the current leader.

The global marketing battle, no doubt, will intensify in 2011, and the most obvious result will be price wars. If firms within an industry were wise, they all maintain the price line, except to acknowledge the differences in quality and brand strength. However, it only takes an aggressive competitor to lower the price enough to bring customers to their arena, nearly forcing competitors to cut prices.

Read the rest of this entry »

The primary value of your business plan is the creation of a written plan to evaluate all aspects of the economic viability of your business venture including a description and analysis of your business prospects. The business plan is an essential step to be taken by any business to succeed with the adventure that is about to begin.

Why should develop a business plan?

Your business plan will be useful in several ways. We give some reasons why should not overlook this valuable tool.

- First, define and focus your objective using appropriate information and analysis.
- Can be used as a selling tool in dealing with important relationships including your lenders, investors and banks.
- You can use the plan to solicit opinions and advice from other people, including those that operate in the commercial field that interests you, who will provide invaluable advice.
- Your business plan can uncover omissions and / or weaknesses in their planning process.

What to avoid in your business plan.

- Limit your long-term projections (over a year). It is better to set short-term objectives and modify the plan as your business progresses.
- Often long-term planning becomes meaningless because the reality of his business, which may be different from your initial concept. Avoid optimism. To this end,
- Be extremely conservative in predicting capital requirements, timelines, sales and profits. Few business plans correctly anticipate how much money and time will be required.

Many entrepreneurs choose to enter the business world for several reasons. Among them we find: the lack of opportunity to earn a stable income, when a particular service or competition is not available in certain locations, etc… Whatever the motivation, to start a business requires a lot of research and planning. Then we will illustrate that you should not overlook when starting a business.

To start a business must start with an idea or concept. Business owners should be given to the task of researching, identifying the need or desire in the market for products or services that are intended to offer. Product or service must attract enough consumers have the potential for growth to justify the development of the company. Ask yourself, product or service is something new and different?

Employers should consider the growth of certain industries in particular, statistics and information about products or services offered, determine the distribution of the availability and price of raw material suppliers. It is also highly recommended to make a financial projection that allows you to have an idea of costs and benefits that get in your new business. And one thing you must never forget: research your competitors. Read the rest of this entry »