Latest Articles
- How to Get the Most Out of a Business Health Review with Your Accountant
While working with my clients and as Program Manager of the Entrepreneurial Assistance Program I have a common theme presents itself. How do I figure out how my business is doing? As a business owner I need to know the answer to this myself. So when I meet with my accountant, I want to give him the most up to date and accurate information. Thus providing the data he needs to help me make sound financial decisions. Your accountant can do this for you but they will need “information”.
- Planning For Success
So why is planning important? Without it you will waist a considerable amount of money, time, and resources. You can’t get where you want to go if you don’t know where you want to end up. Working with clients I usually find businesses that have grown ad hoc and call me when their inefficient back office operations are hampering growth. By developing a business plan you can prepare for growth and potential risk or problems. Therefore you are responding to your environment not reacting. Also, having a solid plan gives you a tool for making decisions.
- 10 Key Factors in Choosing Customer Relationship Management Software (CRM)
One of my favorite topics we teach in class is how to compile information that can be used to make smart business decisions. What usually comes up during class is many start-ups and existing companies know they need a tool to help them with collecting and using information but do not know where to start. This article’s focus is the ten key factors to help you choose the right Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software for your company.
- 10 Tips for Creating a Data Goldmine
I have been working with many clients who have their information in a database but are unable to get the information they want or know where to find it. Usually the culprit is a series of issues that come together to create the perfect storm of inefficiency. The tips below will help you to prevent this storm and maximize the information in your database to increase productivity and profits.
- How to Make More Money in 2012 with Data Driven Decisions
I have mentioned in many of my articles about metrics. Things we use to measure success and how far you are from reaching your goals. Data is much more than that – it is a valuable tool to make solid business decisions. It also helps you to save as well as make money. Below are some of the metrics you can use to help grow your bottom line in 2012.
Trade Show Prep & Post Planning
As I am doing my printing, emails and preparation for the Orange County Chamber of Commerce EXPO it is more apparent than ever that you need to be organized to get the most out of your trade show investment. The key to having a successful trade show is preparation and post planning.
Some of the items you need to consider from an organizing standpoint are the following:
PRE-SHOW
• What is the goal for having your booth at the tradeshow?
• What is your marketing plan to promote attendance?
• What is your sales pitch and strategy for getting people to come to your booth?
• How are you going to capture the data for future contact about product information?
• What booth is the best location for your business?
• What printed materials are you going to distribute before and follow up after?
• How much lead time does the printer need to have them to you on time?
• What promotional products are you going to purchase?
• What is your raffle prize going to be?
• What staff or assistants are you having work the booth with you?
• What additional equipment do you need for this and future shows?
• Do you need to rent any special equipment?
POST-SHOW
• Block out 1 to 2 days after the show to follow up with prospects.
• How are you going to follow up with your prospects?
• Do you need to hire a temp for processing work generated from attending the show?
• Make sure to have enough supplies to implement your follow up plan.
• How are you going to use the captured prospect information for future use beyond show follow up?
• Do a post mortem to see if the show was effective. This would include what sales and relationships were generated in respect to your costs.
• Do we do this tradeshow next year?
Talk to seasoned veterans of tradeshows who can fill in the gaps or give you advice on issues you did not even know existed. Find someone you trust and bounce your ideas off of that person to see if they would visit your booth. Tradeshows are a big investment and need to be chosen wisely and properly planned.
If you have any questions please feel free to email me at cmc@crollorganizing.com.