Many ways to get Answers from SCORE Chicago

First, you can work with a SCORE Counselor. With over 100 counselors in the chapter, you have access to experts in many skill areas and numerous industries.  We can also arrange Spanish speaking or women counselors.

SCORE counselors are successful executives and business owners who can help you on a wide variety of business issues like financing, marketing or importing. They have volunteered their wisdom and experience to help you at no cost.

They can work with you as you write and refine your business plan.  Once you begin a relationship with a counselor, they can become your Mentor, working with you over time to build your business from idea to startup to growth.

To make an appointment for counseling.  https://www.securedata-trans5.com/ap/score/index.php?page=10

Next, you can attend our workshops.  We offer executives with a wealth of expertise and experience in many industry segments. Many workshop presenters are SCORE counselors who have achieved success in their field and now, as volunteers, want to help you do the same.   Additionally, we have workshops taught by industry experts, instructors who are also executives, active in their business today.

One workshop attendee stated “As I near completion of my MBA program, the skills that SCORE workshops provide me with, are every bit as relevant and beneficial as my classroom studies.”

Information about workshops are available at: http://www.scorechicago.org/sub_category_list.asp?category=10&title=Business+Workshops

You can visit us in the Media.  If you live in the City of Chicago, you can watch us in the Winter and the Summer on the Hotline Show of CANTV 21.  This show features guests covering many topics of interest to small business.  Recent programs have addressed the Obama Stimulus Plan, Trade Show Marketing, and Business Plans.  The show has aired live interviews with entrepreneurs in retail, software and construction.   To check out the CANTV Schedule, please visit the Hotline website. http://www.cantv.org/hotlineschedule.htm

For those of you not in Chicago, you can watch these shows on BLIP.TV. Each CANTV show is posted as an episode in this web environment.  You can access this show at:: http://scorechicagocantv21.blip.tv/

Individual answers and insights are available from our YouTube Channel,  SCOREChicagoVideo and our Blog postings at LearnedatSCORE.

The YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/ScoreChicagoVideo channel contains, for the most part, edited segments of the CANTV21 series.  Rather than watching the entire 25 minute show, searchers can find individual answers to business questions.  Recent posting answer such questions as “What Behaviors make a good salesperson?”  or “How to get stimulus funding for your business”.  Video content touch such topics as picking a banker, getting loans, writing business plans, even, tips about international business.  Obtain 1 to 3 minute insights from entrepreneurs who have been there.

The Blog, LearnedatSCORE http://learnedatscore.wordpress.com/ contains insight and comments about small business.  There is a mixture of content.  Postings about SBA programs are available.  Updates from counselors and clients provide information about marketing, sales, accounting, business plans and internet  issues.

You can stay in touch with SCORE Chicago through our website. www.scorechicago.org.  Also, we are on Twitter www.twitter.com/scorechicago.  Many people keep informed by joining our email list.  http://www.scorechicago.org/sub_category_list.asp?category=46&title=Newsletter+Sign+Up

How our workshops helped a client

One of our clients who is a participant in our certificate program submitted the following note on our website.   Our questions in bold.

Share your experiences with our counseling or workshops. We’d like to post them on our site:

Hello, I attended the get financing workshop. Unfortunately I was in a rush to catch my train to the western suburbs and was unable to fill out the feedback form. Mr. Wood was there to greet us and handed booklets and info and was very inviting.  Irv Williamson kicked off the meeting and was very knowledgeable and down to earth with great lay mans terms advice I could understand.  Mr. Bob Esquival followed and just floored me with the vast amount of knowledge and inner workings of government type loans and what is needed to succeed. Capping off the Workshop was special guest Michael Knazur from Banco Popular.  Michael was very informative and explained the financial formulas needed to help banks help you with startup loans and what bankers really look for in a business plan.

If you have a question or comment just for us, add it here.

The workshop was exactly what I was looking for. Honest real world advice and more info I had no knowledge of that will help me in my future endeavors.

This Season’s CANTV 21 Hotline show listing

Our CANT21 Hotline season is coming to an end.  We have one more show left.  Here is a listing of shows so far.  Special thanks to the CANTV staff.    Next week, we will interview Arthur Kitlas,  a construction entrepreneur about building a business as an immigrant

Here are the shows so far this season.

Why attend a Trade Show-Small Business help  - Matt Heinze: GES Exhibition Services http://blip.tv/file/2635449 —  September 22

Obama Stimulus Plan (ARRA) – How can you participate –  Kevin Ferguson: Kwame Building Group http://blip.tv/file/2610567 — September 15

Help with Email Marketing –   Steve Robinson: Constant Contact http://blip.tv/file/2622599–  September 8

How an Online Internet Services Company doing Payroll Works – Michael Alter: Surepayroll, Inc http://blip.tv/file/2546364 — September 1

Help Developing your Business Plan – Carlos Bastidas http://blip.tv/file/2519453 — August 25

How a Business Started – Kathryn Kerrigan : Kathryn Kerrigan Footwear http://blip.tv/file/2491231 — August 18

Help with Sales & Marketing – A Process for Success- Sharon Aby : Beyond Ideas http://blip.tv/file/2465442 — August 11

Get Loan Help from a Banker – Meghan Kearns : Harris Bank. http://blip.tv/file/2497513 — August 4

How Social Media helps Small Business – Jacob Cynamon http://blip.tv/file/2416632/ — July 28

Buying a Business & Internet Use Policy Development Domenic Rinaldi : Chicagoland Suncoast and Dahlia Saper: Saper Law http://blip.tv/file/2416283– July 21

Networking Help from a Chamber of Commerce Bernadette Shanahan Haas : Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce http://blip.tv/file/2388822 — July 14

Help with Trademarks & Copyright- Brian Fons: Corporate Creations http://blip.tv/file/2380479 — July 7

Tips on Taking Advantage of the Downturn

Ask Score is a feature that we are doing in conjuction with Crain’s Chicago Business.  This week’s  blog posting below.

Ask SCORE: Taking advantage of the downturn Posted by Ann D. at 7/29/2009 6:45 AM CDT

We’ve invited SCORE Chicago, the small business coaching and counseling organization, to answer readers’ questions on all aspects of running a small business. Every Wednesday, we’ll publish SCORE Chicago’s advice on issues that matter to you.

If you have a question or problem that you’d like to run past SCORE Chicago’s counseling team, send an e-mail to adwyer@crain.com. Be sure to put “Ask SCORE” in the subject line.

This feature is fairly new, so allow us to pose a question that’s on everybody’s mind in this painful recession: “How can I take advantage of this downturn?” 

==========

Many SCORE counseling sessions revolve around helping our clients survive these difficult economic times. Jim Stoynoff, a SCORE member, has this advice.

Whatever you do, don’t stop marketing. Make a special effort to explain to your customers why your product is important. Jim notes that your competitors may have stopped their marketing. Therefore, your message can come through more clearly and loudly.

Look at today as an opportunity to get in the door. With the cost pressures that your customers are facing, many of them are more open to change. Take advantage of the new openness.

Jim also suggests that you take the time to meet with your customers and vendors in person. Take the time to share strategies, and work to form a common bond.

Jim recently talked about this issue on SCORE Chicago’s YouTube channel; you’ll find a brief clip here.

The entire interview with Jim is available on SCORE Chicago’s CANTV 21 Channel on Blip.TV.

==========

SCORE is a 45-year-old, national, non-profit resource partner of SBA, staffed by former business owners and executives who offer free expert advice through counseling, consulting services and affordable workshops to entrepreneurs operating and starting small businesses. For more information, go to www.scorechicago.org.

Highlights from Twitter

I was looking over the Twitter postings that have been done at our scorechicago Twitter site over the last couple of months. Here are a some highlights.

Great Video. How to get you emails opened by pro from Constant Contact http://tinyurl.com/cysgws1:07 PM Apr 16th from web

@gaeblerdotcom For small business, a web site is like a yellow pages listing. To start, the company name should route to the domain9:13 AM Apr 25th from web in reply to gaeblerdotcom

Here’s a thought. It used to be a small business needed a brochure. Now with all of the new media, a business needs a content strategy7:49 PM May 5th from web

@StartupPro When it comes to VC funding. Timing is very important. Need to show you have something, and money will rocket you to success7:04 AM May 7th from web in reply to StartupPro

@jeffdurso Most of the time you learn more from “NO” than you learn from “They loved it” Especially if you probe the “NO”8:35 AM May 8th from web in reply to jeffdurso

Have you checked out SBTV. An great source of small business information. www.sbtv.com10:42 AM May 11th from web

Ever thought about thanking the president for using your product? The National Restaurant Assoc. did: http://tinyurl.com/okssj93:16 PM May 11th from web

@blfarris True, but maybe we, as a community, need to do a better job of explaining how all of Web 2.0 works together.9:54 AM May 12th from web in reply to blfarris

@MarketingYP there is personal social media and business social media. When representing a business, users should behave appropriately.2:00 PM May 14th from web in reply to MarketingYP

SBA rolls out new program. 100% guarantee on up to $35,000. Check out video excerpt on YouTube. http://tinyurl.com/pgljuy7:11 AM May 15th from web

@smallbiztrends Telling a story is good, but think about crafting your content as a series of interactive episodes11:58 AM May 15th from web in reply to smallbiztrends

@SurePayroll There is a role for a VC. Not at start up, but when it is time to take to scale. VC folks can supply $$, knowledge & contacts4:44 PM May 15th from web in reply to SurePayroll

@StartupPro Check out our short video on Legal Help when starting a business. http://tinyurl.com/quomu49:56 AM May 16th from web in reply to StartupPro

Need to remember, when it comes to Web 2.0, it’s not what we do (lots of tips on that) but it’s the content.. and how we manage the dialogue9:24 AM May 18th from web

It used to be that we lacked the software tools to get our work done. Now we work to fullly utilize the software tools that are available6:55 PM May 18th from web

@ChiOfficeLinks Often start up people are encouraged to write a business plan. For many, the best thing to do is to “plan their business”.2:41 PM May 19th from web in reply to ChiOfficeLinks

Ever wonder what a Chamber of Commerce does. Check out this series of interviews on our YouTube site. http://tinyurl.com/q3ptwl2:51 PM May 19th from web

@RoseWollfBiz Is it winning or losing… or how you play the game??12:12 PM May 20th from web in reply to RoseWollfBiz

@ChrisKnight Long Tail original content is good. But content strategy needs to be continual and reusable across various media4:30 PM May 21st from web in reply to ChrisKnight

We have embedded YouTube segments on our website. Check out this page on Business Plans. http://tinyurl.com/ofh5rw6:12 AM May 23rd from web

@ChicagoDesign Re: Ebay. The challenge of growth is to keep your eye on where you are going, not where you are. Easier said than done2:50 PM May 23rd from web in reply to ChicagoDesign

@danschawbel Social Media vs website. The key is developing a content strategy that makes leverages both and adds to it email marketing4:57 PM May 25th from web in reply to danschawbel

@danschawbel The original golden rule of “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” holds true in social media2:12 PM May 26th from web in reply to danschawbel

@SCOREMentors A short video from a director at the SBA about how to take advantage of the stimulus plan. http://tinyurl.com/dko5aj7:47 AM May 27th from web

@keaadvertising The challenge today is being available when the buyer is ready to buy. Making your content available when the wallet opens8:23 PM Jun 1st from web in reply to keaadvertising

@ChrisKnight Re: landing page review. Good point. PPC can be ineffective if the buyer does not know what to do when he gets there8:01 AM Jun 4th from web in reply to ChrisKnight

@SCOREMentors A short video on working with your community in today’s economic situation. http://bit.ly/DrJtN4:18 PM Jun 4th from web in reply to SCOREMentors

@danschawbel Twitter is what people make of it. Better 10% of the people engaged, then a mad dash for numbers2:11 PM Jun 5th from web in reply to danschawbel

@danschawbel With People, you need to ask the same question as we do w/SMB. What is the problem, how do you solve it, value of solving it?7:02 AM Jun 8th from web in reply to danschawbel

@SocialNetworkTV To hit your social media goals you need to think about a content strategy, that is ultimately tied to your business goals7:36 AM Jun 8th from web in reply to SocialNetworkTV

@weedygiraffe A view of what’s needed in a business plan from the perspective a banker from Harris Bank http://tinyurl.com/r7wudn12:08 PM Jun 8th from web in reply to weedygiraffe

@SocialNetworkTV Re:corporate Twitter. Think about your conversation, as an #e-conversation. Content must have value either in person or “e”9:27 AM Jun 9th from web in reply to SocialNetworkTV

Time Mag 5/25: Failure is not so much a physical state as a state of mind; success is falling down-and getting up one more time -without end about 22 hours ago from web

@thescottbishop Twitter corporate strategy . Be genuine, people are with you. If not, people see through it. No place to hide on Twitter about 17 hours ago from web

New Small Business Resources on SCOREChicago.org

SCORE Chicago has added resource pages to its website to give small business owners and startups links that our counselors think will be most helpful.

Here is a table of the new links for you to check out:

Accounting Business Loans Business Plans Buying a Business Cash Flow Chicago Resources Credit eCommerce Financial Statements Financing Franchising

Global Trade Grants International Trade Internet Marketing Inventions Licensing Loans Local Chicago Resources Marketing and Selling Marketing Online New Product

Online MarketingQuickBooks Start a Business Tax Technology Website Creation and Design

Supercharge Your Sales with Good Selling Habits

If you want your small business to succeed, selling is certainly an essential ingredient.

As you go about the sales process, you will need to know why your targeted customers are saying “yes” or “no” to your product or service pitch. This basic information on your buyers’ habits is essential. Even if sales for your business have been strong, the effort can run off track at any time. Even when sales are strong, don’t get overconfident and begin to slack off in your efforts. That may be precisely the time to step things up. You competition will almost certainly be watching.

The key to supercharging your sales is to develop and stick to good selling habits. In a short timeframe, little things you’ve done to disappoint customers can build up. So it’s important for your business to approach selling with a positive, service-minded attitude.

1. One great habit to develop is taking the time to ask about your customer’s needs, desires and expectations. Keeping the attention on them, rather than you, will also help you tune in to why they buy, or why they don’t. Plus, if you take time to listen and ask questions, customers will start to think of you and your business as a valued resource, rather than just a selling machine. You can easily show that you are willing to help the customer by anticipating what they need and having answers to potential objections.

2. Train yourself and your employees to smile. It’s easy to get grumpy or cynical if sales go south. But that’s when a good attitude becomes most important. Don’t be afraid to take a risk or try out a new approach from time to time. It could be a new marketing pitch or advertising channel. When operating a business in today’s competitive world, the greater risk is in thinking that the status quo will suffice.

3. Try to foster an atmosphere within your business that embraces the can-do word “yes.” Sales efforts suffer when people start making excuses, whining about failure and believing that “no” is the natural state of affairs. Encourage belief that appointments will come, sales will follow and success will be yours.

To learn more about sales and marketing issues facing your small business, contact SCORE Chicago.  We are a nonprofit organization of more than 100 volunteer business counselors who provide free, confidential business counseling and inexpensive workshops to entrepreneurs and small business owners.

You can set up an appointment at one of our 15 locations by clicking this link. Check our website www.scorechicago.org for details on our workshops or resources on topics of interest.

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Manage and Track Your Time for Success

Time can be a small business owner’s best friend, or worst enemy. It all depends on how you use it. There just never seem to be enough hours in the day to get things done. As a business operator, time is extremely valuable to business owners-especially if you bill for time. Wasting time can be extremely harmful to your bottom line.

To operate efficiently, your business may need systems for managing time and keeping track of who’s working on what and for how long.  Most successful small business owners are also successful time managers. And they tend to share certain strategies.

One of the most basic time management devices ever invented is the simple “To-Do” list. Each day, jot down all of the things that need to get done, all on one sheet of paper.

You can also number or check the ones that are highest priority “must-do” items. As tasks are completed, cross them off. This can help you focus on getting them done one at a time, and also gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Delegating more work can also help ease your time crunch. Many business owners accustomed to “doing it all” find this exceedingly difficult. But even if you are a sole operator, you can pass off tasks to others, via outsourcing, for example, to free up time for yourself.

Periodically analyze how time is spent at your business-and not just your time, but everyone’s. Divide the day into small time blocks and record what you, or others, were doing in each block. Now compare this real use of time to your goals, expectations and mission priorities. If they do not align, you’ll need to take action. One step might be to set clearer time-management goals for yourself and your employees.

Banish procrastination from your place of business. Growing, successful businesses don’t put things off. Even a simple “no” response to something on your to-do list can extinguish that item and let you move on.

A variety of technology solutions are also helping small businesses track and manage time. For example, Workarea.com is an Internet-based time tracking system that can provide billing information to the second. The system includes a time clock, time sheet, expense tracking, address book and the ability to access it all via cell phone or PDA.  If you use Microsoft Outlook for email, you can also tap its time management capabilities.

The TimeClock Plus Small Business Edition, lets you turn any PC into a time clock. Employees can sign in or out with the keyboard or mouse, and easily allocate hours and costs to specific jobs. And TimeTiger.com is a computer-based to-do list that shows all the items you could be working on.

To learn more about time management issues facing your small business, contact SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business.“  SCORE Chicago is a nonprofit organization of more than 100 volunteer business counselors who provide free, confidential business counseling and training workshops to entrepreneurs and small business owners. You can set up an appointment at one of our 15 locations by clicking this link. Check our website www.scorechicago.org for details on our workshops or resources on topics of interest.  Call 312-353-7724 for further information.  Not from Chicago?  Visit SCORE.org.

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Train Yourself On and Off Line for Small Business Success

There are many things to know about building a successful small business-from marketing and tax issues, to technology, finance, human resources management and more. Most entrepreneurs don’t have expertise in all of those areas. That’s why individuals interested in starting or expanding a business have been tapping into training programs at a record pace.

For many business owners, learning opportunities and training programs are becoming vital steps to planning, launching and growing a business. During one recent 12-month period, a record 2.5 million people sought help from one of many U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) training and assistance programs.

Seeking help is simply smart. No business owner can be adept at every aspect of operating successfully. Plus, conditions change, so keeping yourself informed is vital to long-term success.

SBA Training

The single most popular program in America is probably the SBA Small Business Training Network/E-Business Institute, which registers nearly a million users at its Web site each year. The Small Business Training Network is a Web-based conglomerate that can link you to online courses, workshops, publications, learning tools, information resources and access to electronic counseling and other types of technical help.

Free online courses are offered on about 75 topics in areas such as business startup, growing your business, home-based business and re-engineering your skills. Sample titles include: Growth Strategies; Analyzing Profitability; Building Your Brand; and, Understanding Business Insurance.

Local SBA-sponsored training events are offered nationwide. These range from breakfast talks on local economic conditions, to brown-bag networking lunches, loan seminars, startup workshops and free business assessments.  Click your state on the Web site map for a calendar listing dates and event details in your area. In addition, dozens of top colleges and universities offer business training courses you can take online. Most of these require a fee.

SCORE Training

SCORE Chicago also offers inexpensive workshops to help you start or grow your business.  We have a basic certificate series and special workshops on topics like global trade, internet marketing and franchising.   Check our website www.scorechicago.org for details on our workshops or resources on topics of interest.

SCORE also offers online training, and courses are groups in three areas:

Starting Your Business

Developing a Business Plan
Conducting a Marketing Analysis
Analyze your Competition
Targeting Your Market
Maintaining an Agile Company
Creating a Competitive Advantage
Creating a Strategic Plan
Determining Your Business Legal Structure
Protecting Your Business with Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks

Managing Your Finances

Preparing a Cash Budget
Preparing a Balance Sheet
Managing Your Cash Flow
Running a Profitable Company
Creating a Profit and Loss Statement
Analyzing Your Financial Ratios
Protecting Your Business with Contracts
Assessing Your Company’s Financial Needs
Partners and Investors
Valuing a Business

Foundations of Marketing

Pricing Products and Services
Building Your Brand
Promoting Your Business
Advertising Your Business
Building a Web Site
Personalization Strategies to Attract and Retain Customers
Identifying Your Sales Strategy

SBDC Training Program

The Arkansas Small Business and Technical Development Center offers online training classes for small business for $30 each.

Professional and Trade Association Training, and Corporate Webinars

Many coporations, trade associations and even the IRS also offer online courses and webinars.  The IRS has even done a series of training videos. Companies are using webinars to educate potential clients and generate leads.  For example here are one firm’s series of webinars on search engine optimization of a website. YouTube has many training videos, too.  Click this link for list of 100 webmaster videos on web-related subjects.

To learn more about training opportunities for your small business, contact SCORE.  SCORE Chicago is a nonprofit organization of more than 100 volunteer business counselors who provide free, confidential business counseling and training workshops to entrepreneurs and small business owners. You can set up an appointment at one of our 15 locations by clicking this link. Call 312-353-7724 for further information.

5 Tips for Financing Your Startup or Small Business

1. Develop a solid plan

2. Get industry experience

3. Plan to market your niche

4. Project exact financing needs

5. Find a bank that understands your business.