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SCOREBOARD
from Greater Knoxville
A business resource providing business owners and managers
with tips, ideas, and news to help your business grow and become more successful.
September/October 2012
Volume 6, Issue 5
 
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IN THIS ISSUE |
It's the 4th quarter of the calendar year, which means preparing for the year end and planning for 2013. We have tips in this issue to help you with both of these tasks.
Most businesses consider the fourth quarter to be the most important in terms of revenue, taking advantage of special days like "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday." One way to enhance your market presence is by participating in "Small Business Saturday," a promotion that directs attention to small businesses at the beginning of the holiday season. We've included material to help you make plans for this important day. Another year end task is setting your budget for the coming year, and we've included information to do this in a simple but effective manner.
Online marketing is fast becoming a business's primary marketing vehicle, whether it's web site, email, blogs, or social media. But this can only happen if you create your message so that search engines can find it and include it in their search results, preferably at the top of the results. We have articles that provide guidance for improving the impact of your web site, and how to make sure your communications can be displayed and read on mobile devices.
Year end is also the time to plan for tax preparation and new laws that may effect your business. Be sure to read the articles on these subjects.
PS - Be sure to send articles or the entire newsletter to friends and colleagues who can benefit from the information. |
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USE THE FOURTH QUARTER TO DO YOUR PLANNING |
Small Business Saturday, sponsored by American Express, is held each year on the Saturday that falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year that Saturday is November 24th. While it may seem like you have plenty of time left, it's important to start preparing your website for the big day. Countdown to Small Business Saturday lays out a list of tasks and when to do them to take advantage of this promotional event.
Many businesses believe that budgets are just a time wasting distraction from the things that really need to get done. But the truth is that you CAN create a budget that is useful for you. Budgeting From the Ground Up lists quick steps to create an effective budget that help you define the financial results you want and identify what actions you need to take in order to achieve your targeted financial results.  |
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PLANNING FOR IMPROVED ONLINE MARKETING |
In order for your prospects and clients to find your message you first need to design the content and structure of your site so that search engines find it and report it in search results. Most of the things you think you know about search-engine optimization, or SEO, may have been true a few years ago but have changed over the past three or four years--and that's an eternity in Web time. Six Big Myths About SEO explains what you need to do to design your site so that it conforms to current search processes.
When a customer lands on your site for the first time, they're coming to you with questions that they may not even realize they're on the hunt to answer. As consumers we're all looking for subconscious clues that the site we're on is going to meet our needs, that we'll have a good experience, and that we can trust them with our credit card information. Read The Twenty -Five Questions Your Site Must Answer to see whether your site can answer them in a positive manner.
Whatever vehicle you use to communicate with prospects and customers must be able to be read easily and accurately. Desktop monitors do not display text and graphics in the same manner as tablets and smartphones. These and and other mobile devices are poised to make huge strides in adoption and usage in 2013 may take usage on some sites into the 25% range. How and When to Make Your Web Site Tablet and Mobile Friendly provides tools that allow you to design for these devices, and gives contact information for sites that let you test your readiness.
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TAX AND LEGAL PLANNING | |
The financial crisis and recession have led many people to consider starting their own business. A large percentage of these potential start-ups involve in-home food preparation and sales. But often they find they can't afford to rent commercial kitchen space or afford the cost of converting kitchens into a certified commercial kitchen, in which food for sale must be prepared under existing laws in many states. Recently at least 32 states have enacted "cottage food" or "baker's" laws to allow home-prepared foods to be produced, while maintaining public safety. Read States Pass 'Baker's Bills' to learn more, and contact your state's Department of Health for particulars.
When you plant your flag as a freelancer, contractor, or self-employed small business owner, the IRS sits up and takes notice. Understanding your Federal business tax filing requirements when you are a freelancer or are self-employed is not always easy, but Filing Taxes When You Are Self-Employed gives advice about estimated payments and filing particulars to make this task easier to perform.
Two years after President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, and a month after the U.S. Supreme Court signed off on it, the health care law is still a mystery to a lot of Americans. And although small-business owners may profess to feeling strongly about it, few can spell out what the law means for them, specifically. 10 Surprising Things About the Health Care Law provides 10 details about it that still might surprise you.
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SCORE Is Looking For A Few Good Men And Women | |
The Greater Knoxville SCORE Chapter is recruiting volunteers to assist the small business community in our coverage area. If you're an experienced business owner or have managed a business and would like to counsel small business owners, we'd like to speak with you. In addition to volunteer counselors, we're also seeking volunteers with experience or talents in making presentations, performing administrative functions, and assisting in fund raising efforts. If you are interested, or know someone who fits these needs, contact SCORE at 865-692-0717 or email us at volunteer@scoreknox.org. To see what you gain from volunteering, watch this short video.
PS - it is not necessary for volunteers to be retired.
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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS | |
"Should I Go Into Business For Myself?"
This is a two session workshop designed for those considering beginning their own business.
Sat. November 3 (Session 1), 9:00 am to Noon
Sat. November 17 (Session 2), 9:00 AM to Noon
Knoxville Campus of Roane State Community College,
132 Hayfield Road, Knoxville (Off Parkside Drive)
Click here to view content, directions, and to register,
or call the SCORE office (865-692-0717)
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"Computer Software Basics"
* This is a beginner's class all the way, and allows time for questions
* Introduction to basic spreadsheet programs like Excel, Open Office, or Google DOCS
* Introduction to Quicken, a user-friendly accounting system
* Bring your laptop or tablet if you have one
Saturday October 13, 9:00 AM to Noon
Knoxville Campus of Roane State Community College,
132 Hayfield Road, Knoxville (Off Parkside Drive)
Cost is $10, payable upon registration
Click here for additional details and registration information
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"Effective Telephone Skills"
- Understand and control the communications process in a phone conversation
- Manage the duration of a conversation
- More effectively understand what the other party is trying to communicate
Tuesday, October 16, Noon to 2:00 PM
Roane Alliance Building
1209 N. Kenticuky Street, Kingston
Click here for additional information
Lunch will be provided
Workshop is free for Chamber members, $35 for non-members
Space is limited, so call 865-367-5572 to reserve your spot now!
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"How to Delight Your Customers"
Topics Covered include:
- Getting more repeat business and referrals
- The value of keeping customers
- What are you really selling?
- What is the customer buying?
- When to thank customers
- Lowering employee turnover & absenteeism
- Effective complaint resolution
Thursday, November 15, Noon to 2:00 PM
1209 N. Kentucky Street, Kingston
Click here for additional information
Workshop is free for Chamber members; $35 for non-members
Space is limited so call 865-367-5572 to reserve your spot now! |
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Visit And Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce | |
Anderson County Chamber of Commerce www.andersoncountychamber.org
Blount County Chamber of Commerce www.blountchamber.org
Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce www.claibornecounty.com
Cocke County Partnership Chamber of Commerce www.cockecounty.org
Farragut/West Knox Chamber of Commerce www.farragutchamber.com
Loudon County Chamber of Commerce www.loudoncountychamber.com
Monroe County Chamber of Commerce www.monroecountychamber.org
Roane County Chamber of Commerce www.roanealliance.org
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We want to thank our premium sponsor. Click on their logo to visit their web site.
To send this newsletter to associates and other businesses, click the 'forward email' link in the bottom section.
To contact us to schedule a counseling session, please click here.
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If you have an idea you'd like to share with us or a suggestion for future issues, click here.
Did you miss an earlier issue of SCOREBOARD? Click here to view our archived issues. |
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865-692-0716 Suite 450, 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Knoxville TN 37923 |
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