Pitching your business is a subject we frequently write about here on Smart Hustle. In the past year, we’ve covered articles on the sales pitch, pitch contests, pitching to the media, and even pitch advice from Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary. Recently, I encountered another angle that I think some business owners would appreciate, after watching...
Small and medium sized businesses often dismiss market research as an unnecessary cost and opt instead to invest their money in something with instantly visible results like distribution channels or new office equipment. However, that can be a big mistake and a huge loss of opportunity to boost your business. Here are five important...
The customer relationship is not over at the end of the sale. In fact, that is when it has just begun. Statistics show new customers cost an average of six to seven times more to acquire than selling to a repeat customer. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of a company’s business comes...
I moved to Boston in 1982. It's not a huge city, and the subway (or “T” as we like to call it) only has five lines. It did not take me long to get comfortable and find my way around. That all changed abruptly in 1986. In the spring of that year, I bought...
We live in a world dominated by images and visual platforms. Design matters now more than ever, especially for small businesses that are competing with larger brands with bigger budgets. Good design is not optional, it's a must to stand out from the competition. Here are a few quick creative design tips that your...
Video is all the rage right now. The question is: are you riding this wave to accelerate your business growth? Video allows you to create a connection with your audience fast. Moreover, it’s the best form of visual content, allowing you to pass on complex information quickly. Think about it: by 2020 video is expected to...
The Wall Street Journal reported that YouTube tops 1 Billion hours of video viewing. This is big news...for you. Not only are online videos watched just about surpassing TV viewership, but it shows the power of mobile, broadband and our overall thirst for video. One part of YouTube's success in generating more views is that...
Pitching your business is a skill, but one that is important to develop, no matter how small your company is. Capturing the concept of your product or service and conveying it in a compelling manner can win you your next investor, business partner, or customer. If you fail to deliver, you may never get...
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, and culturally we are seeing a definite shift toward visual marketing, not just in the form of pictures and infographics but also video. It’s no secret online videos have a renaissance, from Vines to YouTube to shareable videos on Instagram and Facebook. If you aren’t using video...
When a company has been making business cards for millions of business owners for as long as we have, you learn a thing or two about what makes a good one. Each business owner is unique and there are some things that work for some businesses that don’t work for others. I’ve put together...
