Small Biz Flash

FEATURE

Once you have developed a solid lead magnet, you want as many prospects as possible to interact with your valuable offer.  You need to promote the lead magnet through a variety of channels.

You must first create a landing page for the lead magnet to direct prospects back to, where they will fill out a form with their contact information.

Then, you can use your web site, social media, emailers, paid ads, and other methods to tell the world about your offer.

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1
A new bi-partisan bill in the Senate, the IDEA Act, would help small businesses deal with foreign theft of their intellectual property.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/27/senators-ip-theft-protection-bill.html

2
The Federal Reserve recently released its 2023 report on nonemployer firms.  46% of startup nonemployer firms plan to add employees in the next 12 months.
https://www.fedsmallbusiness.org/survey/2023/report-on-nonemployer-firms

3
Small business owners are embracing ChatGPT and using it in a variety of ways, according to a new survey from Alignable.
https://www.alignable.com/forum/57-of-smbs-have-already-tried-chatgpt-26-already-feel-it-will

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/.

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

Feature begins at 4:12 (News roundup prior to that)

FEATURE

Lead magnets are an inexpensive way to get on the radar of more prospects.  They are popular because they work.

There are numerous kinds of lead magnets, or lead generators, including downloadable guides or templates, free trials or samples, and on-demand webinars.

Your lead magnets need to be useful and valuable – make them worth the time of your prospects.

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1
As small businesses’ access to credit has tightened over the past few months, an alternative source of capital has gained more traction:  the investment dollars of customers.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/startups-sell-bonds-raise-money-platforms-dc19a45

2
As fears of a looming recession have begun to recede ever so slightly, owners may be breathing a sigh of relief.
https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/economy/small-businesses-raising-prices-falls-to-lowest-level-since-march-2021/

3
Americans continue to hold small businesses in high esteem, according to the latest Gallup survey of confidence in institutions.
https://sbecouncil.org/2023/07/12/small-business-continues-to-lead-as-most-admired-among-americans/

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/.

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

NEWS ROUNDUP

1
62% of owners with businesses of annual revenue between $250,000 and $5 million said inflation was their top concern.

https://stories.td.com/us/en/article/small-business-owners-concerned-about-employee-retention-product-shortages-and-inflation-td-bank-survey-shows

2
Small business owners have mixed feelings about artificial intelligence.

https://sbecouncil.org/2023/06/28/what-do-small-business-owners-think-about-ai-and-governments-role/

3
Rent payments for small businesses have increased for the fifth straight month.

https://www.alignable.com/forum/new-2023-record-55-of-smbs-have-higher-rents-+-nearly-40-cant-pay?from_topic=alignable

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/.

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

There are many aspects to sales that a small business needs to get right.  We discuss the difference between sales process and sales methodology, and the difference between a sales plan and a sales playbook, among other things.

Today’s guest is David Lusk, of Evergreen Sales Group:

David’s email:  [email protected]
David’s LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlusk/
Evergreen Sales Group web page:  evergreensales.group

Listeners of the show will get free access to the sales personnel assessment tool Willset Core Motivation Analysis, just by contacting David.

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1
Small businesses fled states with the most burdensome Covid restrictions during the pandemic.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-lockdowns-business-employers-migration-states-bureau-of-labor-statistics-85b7d592

2
A bill introduced last month in the US Senate would enable small businesses to potentially get exemptions from some federal regulations.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/joni-ernst-small-businesses-authorized-prove-it-act-of-2023-excessive-federal-regulations-gop-bill

3
According to a recent study by Wells Fargo, 52% of small business owners say they do not want their children to inherit and run the business.
https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2023/06/20/most-small-business-owners-dont-want-their-kids-to-inherit-and-run-their-business/81200/

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/.

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

NEWS ROUNDUP

1
The average rate for a Small Business Administration loan has now hit double-digits.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/fed-rate-increases-hit-small-businesses-the-hardest-7da7fb8e

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/sba-loan-rates

2
Small business groups are calling on Congress to make the small business tax deduction permanent.

https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/press_releases/job-creators-network-strongly-supports-main-street-certainty-act-of-2023-to-make-20-small-business-tax-deduction-permanent/

3
The current job market is tough for employers, and 69% of small business owners are taking action to retain employees.

https://www.truist.com/resources/small-business/annual-small-business-survey-results

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/.

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

Sales is a foundational to the success of your small business.  No sales means no revenue, which means no business.  But many small businesses struggle to get sales right.  And as they scale, they make costly mistakes, like hiring just one heavy hitter or promoting a hire performer into the sales manager role just because he/she has good numbers.  Today, we talk to expert about how a fractional sales approach can help.

Today’s guest is David Lusk, of Evergreen Sales Group:

David’s email:  [email protected]
David’s LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlusk/
Evergreen Sales Group web page:  evergreensales.group

Listeners of the show will get free access to the sales personnel assessment tool Willset Core Motivation Analysis, just by contacting David.

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1
As negotiations continue in Washington over raising the national debt ceiling, there are fears about the fallout to small businesses if a deal isn’t reached.
https://www.uschamber.com/small-business/the-debt-limit-stalemate-and-your-small-business-everything-you-need-to-know

2
Small businesses are slowing down their hiring.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/workers-are-still-needed-but-many-small-businesses-have-slowed-hiring-dfa30be6

3
Despite the challenging times, or perhaps because of them, small business owners are looking for growth opportunities.  A poll found that 51% of owners have growth-oriented objectives.
https://www.truist.com/resources/small-business/annual-small-business-survey-results

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/.

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

Many small businesses use email marketing to reach prospects and customers.  But a common mistake is to not segment the list to better target the recipients with messaging and offers they will respond to.  Numerous studies have shown that segmenting your email list and customizing the messages to each segment increases click-through-rates.

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1
Confidence among small business owners fell to a decade low last month, according to the latest monthly data from the National Federation of Independent Business.
https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/economy/labor-quality-becomes-top-small-business-problem-followed-by-inflation/

The Wall Street Journal/Vistage survey of small business owners found somewhat similar results.
https://www.vistage.com/research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20230504-small-business-confidence-holds-wsj-survey/

2
Nearly half of small businesses, at 48%, prioritize digital-first marketing, according to Bank of America’s 2023 Small Business Owner Report.
https://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/content/newsroom/press-releases/2023/04/bofa-survey-76-percent-of-small-businesses-feel-well-equipped-to.html

3
Thousands of small businesses have started a side hustle in the RV industry as a way to make some extra cash.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/side-hustle-helping-small-businesses-across-us-make-extra-cash-beat-inflation

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/.

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

We continue the conversation from last week with an SBA loan expert, talking about the timely topic of credit availability, as well as what paperwork is needed to get a loan.  We also look the right and wrong way to use a credit line.

Today’s guest is Laurence Leopold:

Laurence’s LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurence-leopold-4496342/

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1
Small business’ access to credit tightened in April.
https://b2c-cms2.b2cdev.com/small-business-lending-index/april-2023

2
82% of business owners plan to obtain funding for their business in the next 12 months, but only 29% will seek out traditional bank loans.
https://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/content/newsroom/press-releases/2023/04/bofa-survey-76-percent-of-small-businesses-feel-well-equipped-to.html

3
The Small Business Administration is trying to reverse a decline in the number of small businesses that have contracts with the federal government.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/contracting/2023/05/agencies-spending-record-amounts-on-small-business-contracts-amid-shrinking-pool-of-firms/

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/.

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

Small Business Administration, or SBA, loans play a critical role in financing many small companies.  In this episode, we discuss the difference between 7a and 504 loans and talk about some of the basic eligibility requirements for getting an SBA loan.

Today’s guest is Laurence Leopold, of Byline Bank:

Laurence’s email:  [email protected]
Laurence’s LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurence-leopold-4496342/
Byline Bank’s web page:  https://www.bylinebank.com/

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1
Despite numerous ongoing concerns, a majority of small business owners are reporting increased revenue in 2022 from 2021, and are generally bullish about their growth in the next year.
https://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/content/newsroom/press-releases/2023/04/bofa-survey-76-percent-of-small-businesses-feel-well-equipped-to.html

2
Small business owners are stressed out about money, according to new research.
https://newsroom.lfg.com/small-business-owners-have-big-personal-finance-concerns-according-to-new-lincoln-financial-group-study.htm

3
Apple has launched a new small business website to mark National Small Business Week, which is this week.
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3694593/apple-wants-to-be-the-platform-of-choice-for-small-business.html

https://www.apple.com/business/small-business/

----------

This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/.

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

The balanced scorecard is a tool that any small business can use to focus on the important areas of operations, as well as finances, linking them to specific goals to generate better outcomes.  The scorecard moves beyond just the typical financial metrics and aligns daily activities with the company’s overall strategy.

https://hbr.org/1992/01/the-balanced-scorecard-measures-that-drive-performance-2

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1
Small businesses are hiring only temporary, part-time workers and contractors at a record high rate of 25%.
https://www.alignable.com/forum/smbs-hedge-bets-on-recession-contract-part-time-hiring-up-to-new?from_topic=polls

2
The Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act would force federal regulators to more accurately disclose the total impact of all new rules on small businesses.
https://cei.org/blog/regulatory-reform-in-the-118th-congress-small-business-regulatory-flexibility-improvements-act/

3
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has reduced fees for small and micro entity patent applicants as part of a Congressional effort to lower the barriers to obtaining patents.
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/2023-patent-fee-reductions-and-trademark-response-period-changes

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 I would love to hear from you!  Please email me at [email protected].

🖥️ Learn how I can help your small business at https://eraynay.com/. 

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com