Business Owner's Toolkit - January 2012

Joan C. DivorBusiness Services LibrarianBurlington County Library SystemWestampton, NJ

 Who are target customers? What are key market trends that should inform my strategy? What are the key developments in my (or my customer’s) industry? How do I manage and grow my company?

Launch strategies How to write(freelance strategies Latest an Brokers & dealers: Financial assistanceemployee handbook selling to physicians for export business writing) (growing gift basket business) Licensing requirements Entering (group home for teenage girls) new markets (printing business)

 thousands of $$ of up-to-date knowledge demographics, contacts, how-to guides, market research

…often from sources NOT free on Internet.… FREE to you with your library card…Online – from your home or office computer!

 Phone Visit IM Email

Synergy Resources + Expertise InfoPower!

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: Use the library’s convenient 24-7 online toolkit to build your business know-how.

 Develop leads & relationships Gauge market potential Managing for YOUR biz stage Keep on top of trends / opportunities

1. BCLS Business Gateway http://explore.bcls.lib.nj.us

2. 24-7 Online Answers

to Find Use BCLS jerseyclicks.orgLeads/Contacts RefUSA x xMarket Potential DemographicsNow xManaging Management Guides x Business Plan x HandbooksEmerging Business & Company xTrends & Resource CtrOpportunities EBSCO Business x x Source EBSCO Regional x x Business News Frost & Sullivan x xComprehensive Small Business x xBus. Reference Resource CenterLibraryVideo Bus & Lynda.com xTech Courses

 Who are my target customers? Who are my competitors? Who are potential partners, suppliers, network?

Reference USA online directories let you create lists customized to YOUR needs: Target companies by size, location, sales Lists and profiles of competitors Residential addresses; new movers Health care providers Downloadable mailing lists

I am targeting medium-sized heavy construction companies for my employee leasing business.

Medium - Sized Contruction Companies - Phila / Camden / Wilmington by 3 digit ZIP 50 - 99 Employees 100 - 249 Employees 250-499 EmployeesZIP # Cos ZIP # Cos ZIP # Cos 080 61 080 25 080 3 081 3 081 1 081 0 083 1 083 2 083 0 085 2 085 1 085 0 180 1 180 0 180 0 189 36 189 12 189 0 190 55 190 35 190 1 191 26 191 21 191 9 193 37 193 13 193 1 194 31 194 32 194 3 197 35 197 18 197 3 198 13 198 9 198 3 219 2 219 3 219 0 Data summary exported to Excel

I want to reach recently opened restaurants in Burlington & CamdenCounty with my nonprofit’s workforce program.

1. RESTAURANT PROMOTION - NEW HOME OWNERS OR RENTERS (last 6 months) / WITHIN 3 MILES – Robins Nest 080602. VIRTUAL OFFICE ASSISTANT SHIFTING TARGET MARKETS - FOCUS TO SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED DENTAL OFFICES IN PHILLY METRO AREA3. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT – TARGETING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES & MUNICIPAL GOVT. IN FAR SOUTH JERSEY (Cumb, Glou, Salem)

Business Gateway; Librarian Trade associations Networking groups Local rankings lists Town business organizations

Demographics NowGeographic business intelligence Who are my best customers? Where do they live? How much do they spend? What do they buy? Where should I sell (location, territory)?

Demographics Now Choose your geography (zip, county…radii, drivetime) Choose your “variable” Outputs:  Reports: comparison, summary, ranking  Maps  Census 2010

Demographics NowWalk Thru 1: Sales estimates and projections: I’d like to compare what consumers on electronics in 3 north Jersey Counties: Bergen, Passaic, & Sussex.

Demographics NowWalk Thru 2: Lifestyles in a new location: Santa Fe County New Mexico

Demographics Now -- MappingWalk Thru 3: Age of heads of household in the Trenton area

Let’s Explore!Pick a zip code 1 fact about population 1 fact about retail sales potential Most prevalent lifestyle category

Management Handbooks & Guides – Ebook library Management reference guides Sample business plans (ALSO SEPARATE LINK) Major marketing campaigns iPhone, iPad, Kindle compatible

Should I grow? What are best practices for keeping customer loyalty? How do I recruit & hire employees?

Try it! Is a “B Corporation” appropriate for my business? I want to learn about hiring employees. What are strategies for encouraging customer loyalty? Sample business plan

 24/7 online business advice and tools All major areas of starting, operating and maintaining a business Easy, intuitive screen Pre-compiled info on popular topics

 Deep, broad, current:  Business Plans Handbook Series  Encyclopedia of Management Popular guides  Small Business for Dummies  Unofficial Guide to Marketing Your Small Business Trade & management journals Close to 300 e-sources total

 Develop leads & relationships Gauge market potential Managing for YOUR biz next stage Keep on top of trends / opportunities

What are the latest developments in my field? How can I strengthen my brand or positioning?What has workedfor competitors /industry leaders?

SNAPSHOT OF COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENTBusiness & Company Resource Ctr industry analysis company profiles wide range of global business info. in one place

EBSCO Business Source trends, challenges, opportunities 2,300+ business & trade magazines Professional forecasts Success stories Industry profiles and analysis Company, industry, management Daily updates; alerting

Industry Alternative energy – wind/solar, etc. Landscaping Retail ClothingLook for: Overview of the industry Profile of a leading company Articles about recent developments

 Local focus from 75+ regional publications from all over the US. TV and radio transcripts Newswires (eg Telecom newswire)

National, regional, localStay connected to stay competitive: Alerting My EBSCO – folder Alert save share Free iPhone app.

 Healthcare Electronics/Security Energy & Power Information & Communications Chemicals/Materials/Food Aerospace & Defense Automation & Process Control Environment & Building Technologies Measurement & Instrumentation.

Team challenge!

750 plus self-paced video Duarte Design - Presentation Design Graphic Secrets for Business Professionals Social Media Marketing with Facebook and Twitter iPad Tips & Tricks

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: Use the library’s convenient 24-7 online toolkit to build your business know-how.

1. BCLS Business Gateway http://explore.bcls.lib.nj.us/business2. 24-7 Online Research

to Find Use BCLS jerseyclicks.orgLeads/Contacts RefUSA x xMarket Potential DemographicsNow xManaging Management Guides x Business Plan x HandbooksEmerging Business & Company xTrends & Resource CtrOpportunities EBSCO Business x x Source EBSCO Regional x x Business News Frost & Sullivan x xComprehensive Small Business x xBus. Reference Resource CenterLibraryVideo Bus & Lynda.com xTech Courses

 Custom Business Answers, your "Personal Trainer" @ the Library

 Business programs; networking Business counseling Meeting rooms “Branch office”: hotspot, computers, fax Adjunct breakroom: Café

Biz bestsellers & classics

 Leverage, your commute: Audiobooks Save fuel!! Library-in-a-Bag; downloads Downloadable ebooks No time to read: Chapter a day book summaries Borrow-a-Book-Club

www.making-cents.infoLearn to make your money grow!

“To make a small business work you need considerable knowledge, skill, management, experience, a s well as a high level of commitment, plenty of hard work, access to finance, and some good luck.”-- Paul Clitheroe - famous Australian financial author, television host of the "Money Show", and business man.

Joan C. DivorBusiness Services Librarianjdivor@bcls.lib.nj.ushttp://explore.bcls.lib.nj.us/business

Business Owner's Toolkit - January 2012

by Joan Divor on Jan 16, 2012

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Business Owner’s Toolkit - January 2012 — Presentation Transcript