New York SBDC Research Network

Clearly, technology has changed marketing a lot. We fast forward through ads on television and block them on our devices. We have amplified word of mouth in social media. We pour over analytics and metrics. But what about the marketing plan? Has technology changed marketing planning? One thing for sure: The fundamentals still apply. As much as ever, marketing is still getting people to know, like, and trust your business. As much as ever, marketing still needs defining target markets, knowing those market segments, reaching the right people with the right message. Pricing is still the most important message, and the lowest price is – as always – not necessarily the best price. Another thing for sure: the marketing mix, the tactics, are changing rapidly. Goodbye to the yellow pages, hello Facebook. Goodbye public relations, hello social media. Goodbye advertising, hello content marketing. And where is the marketing plan, in all this? Let me suggest x essentials of a marketing plan

by Briana Morgaine   Critical issues and decisions for start-ups are discussed: "In a recent article, Palo Alto Software founder Tim Berry equates startup marketing to throwing darts at a dartboard. While existing companies can get away with throwing their “marketing darts” a little aimlessly, a startup has to be more careful and precise. The established company just has to worry about hitting the dartboard; the startup needs to hit the bullseye. If precision and focus are the name of the marketing game for startup companies, what is the best strategy for marketing your startup? I asked the members of the Young Entrepreneur Council for their advice on how to market startup companies most effectively. All these entrepreneurs advocated for employing focus, consistency, and using a variety of unexpected sources, many of which are low cost—always a plus for a new startup. Read more at: bplans"

Your website is your virtual place of business.  Just like your regular place of business, you want it to be neat, clean, attractive, inviting and professional looking. Here are 7 low cost ways to improve a homepage to meet today's standards -- and they may be easier than you think. 1. Freshen the Content Regularly 2. Make Sure It Has a Call to Action 3. Add Contact Information Prominently 4. Add Images and/or Video 5. Update Your Design to Current Standards 6. Improve Page Speed 7. Make it Mobile Responsive Learn more at:  SBA

Each year the New York Small Business Development Center recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the Midtown Manhattan SBDC   appears in our  2015 Annual Report .  John Shams Scorpion Fitness Midtown Manhattan SBDC  John Shams is a strength-and-conditioning coach and personal trainer. He has worked with New York's elite and is on the list of Gotham's annual 100 most successful bachelors list. In other words, John's expertise in the fitness arena has been well documented and he is not new to the fitness game. With the fast growing trend of boutique gyms in New York, which includes the likes of Soul Cycle and Barry's Bootcamp John saw there was an opportunity to provide a service that was not being offered by most boutiques. He found that the most successful boutiques offered a great experience but there was minimal focus on what really matters - results. With a wealth of expertise unmatched b

“I am proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is – I could be just as proud for half the money.” — Arthur Godfrey, entertainer With tax season among us it can become a chaotic time of the year for business owners. Provided is a surplus of articles to remedy the potential hectic  process,  easing you through what many business owners dread- lending you an extra hand. Get It Right The First Time:   Five Basic Tax Tips for New Businesses . Never Miss An Important Deadline Again:   IRS's free Tax Calendar for Businesses and the Self-Employed     Keep Up On The Latest Tax Code Changes:   changes for the 2015 tax year here .  Don't Leave Money On The Table:   frequently overlooked tax deductions and credits     taxe s and credits tool   Make Sure Your Returns Are Error-Free:   eight tax mistakes .  Avoid Getting Audited:   red flags that can trigger an audit   here's what to do .

Tim Berry at Bplans.com  offers a clear and concise explanation of what an executive summary is and is not with links to related articles. It offers good advice on how to go about it and straightens out some confusing terms. Your executive summary is your pitch. You’ve heard of—and probably even given—an “elevator pitch”; write your business plan’s executive summary like it’s an elevator pitch that you’ve had the time to edit to perfection. It should introduce you, your business, and your product, but the purpose of writing an executive summary is also to deliver a hard sell. Convince your reader here that you have a great idea they should invest their time and money in. Read more at: Bplans

On a bright day in the flats of San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles, the busiest restaurant around is a Panda Express tucked into a shopping center dominated by a Walmart. Running a fast-food operation isn't like other restaurants — here, we dive into the big picture, the tiny systems, and the daily struggles of keeping a quick-service shop humming. Walnut Grove Avenue is a relatively barren stretch between the 10 and 60 freeways in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, some 12 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles. There are two big anchors to the suburb: a large Edison utility headquarters, and the corporate headquarters of Panda Restaurant Group, parent company of Panda Express. One of LA's few Walmarts looms at the end of a huge parking lot, flanked by a strip mall with a collection of standard-issue retail slots. While many diners still think of Panda as a shopping mall staple, the chain — founded in 1983 inside the Glendale Galleria mall just a few miles to the northeast —