how does intuit successfully market to small business?
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About Intuit\nIntuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) is the leader in e-finance, including financial software and Web-based financial services for consumers and small businesses. Intuit develops and markets QuickBooks®, the most popular small business accounting software; Quicken®, the leading personal finance software; and TurboTax®, the best-selling tax preparation software. An innovator in delivering Web-based financial tools, Intuit is the leading provider of online tax preparation and filing and online mortgages. Intuit is also breaking new ground as a leader in online bill presentment and payment, and in the delivery of its QuickBooks Internet Gateway platform of connected e-services for small businesses.\n\nIntuit's Quicken.com® Web site (www.quicken.com) is a leading financial site, offering a comprehensive set of financial news, information and tools, including insurance, mortgage, investment and tax preparation services. Intuit's products and services enable individuals, small businesses and financial professionals to better manage their financial lives and businesses.\n\nPart of it is that Quicken/Quickbooks is easy to use and has been around for a long time.  Well known name with easy to use software is a good combination for success.
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No. I have not even been able to sell by cold calling even if they need ed it. Best way that has worked for me is advertising, website, brochures, etc. Got this done at a low cost.. from a company O2 Supply.\n\nI guess I suck at cold calling..
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I've tried many so called "opportunities" in the past in which I had to pay money to get involved only to find out that I had to give more money to stay involved. \n\nI have been involved with this company about a month and I like it very much. There are NO sign-on, enrollment, maintenance, or other hidden fees at all. Best of all this IS NOT a scam. If you are willing to work you can make a lot of money. That's very impressive to me. I finally found a company that gives you free enrollment, free website, free accounting software, and free support.\n\nIf your interested in this rare opportunity, please e-mail me and I will set you up today and you can start your business today. You can run this business from anywhere you have access to a computer. Excellent for "home based" business seekers
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There is only one way to improve the sales in any business, what ever the business is. The promotion of your business. The promotion of a business is very expensive no matter what people like TM will tell you. I don't know what the interest of TM in Overture is. But TM will always tell you to advertise your business at Overture. Overture is now owned by Yahoo that operates this site. Overture is a search Engine where listings cost money. Big money. You have to bid for the listings. Like atleast one nickels to several dollars per click, not per listing. Even a bid of a nickel per click  could make you loose your shirt because you may not sell a thing. But the listing of several hot keywords like Pixels would easily attract bids of $10 per click to attract top overture listing. That is what has given rise to PPC sites (pay per Pixel). Even PPC sites are expensive. For example a tiny ad in a 10x10=100 pixel cell would make you loose $100 and you may not get a single visitor. Of course on a search Engine like Overture you'll loose $100 in an an hour even if you bid a nickel a click.\n\nNEW ERA WISP allows you to rent the pixels at one cent per nixel per month. renting of a 25x10=250 pixel cells would cost you only $2.50 for a month. If you get no visitor you'd loose only $2.50 since you'd not rent the pixels in the second month. That would motivate New Era Wisp to promote New Era Wisp so your site gets visitors.\n\nI hope I've explained the art of promoting your business on a budget.
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There's no magic bullet.  Offer something others feel is valuable that isn't saturated and then design a strategy to get the word out at a cost that allows you to make a profit.
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Start by getting one or two clients....then use word of mouth...if you are good, they will come.
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Look around. You are surrounded by businesses - and every one is a potential money-maker for you. The stores and restaurants on the street are obvious, the apartment buildings and single family homes somewhat less obvious as businesses (as opposed to investments), the other assets in the community may be even more obscure. Check out, for example, the utility conduits under your feet: phone services, cable TV, internet service, electricity, gas, water, waste water, etc. Each is a business. \nThis page explains the fundamentals of how each of these businesses works. Part of being an entrepreneur is knowing how a lot of different businesses work, what the essence of each enterprise is. We discuss the most important 4 - 5 numbers for determining whether a business is viable in your area, who you need to talk to if you do seem to have a workable proposal, and terminology you will need to discuss that business intelligently. \n\nBe sure to experiment with the Interactive Business Plan Applets that use your basic assumptions to prepare a summary business plan that can be used to discuss an idea with potential investors and operators. These applets can be run in under a minute, and go a long ways towards helping you understand the fundamentals of the business in which you are interested. A famous real estate investor, Sam Zell, has commented that "If a deal doesn’t work on the back of the envelope, it’s not going to work on the ground". Our business plan applets are designed to be your "back of the envelope". Current Applets available: \n\nPurchase and Operate An Office Property \nPurchase and Operate A Single Family Property \nPurchase and Operate A Multi Family Property \nPurchase and Operate A Data Services Business \nWe have also provided them in a downloadable PKZIPped Microsoft Excel 5.0 format. \n\nHere's a listing of other businesses you can Start In Your Own Backyard: \nCommunity Ventures - Which Would Work in Your Neighborhood?\nBusiness ventures in the community can be subdivided into those that "export" goods and services to the outside world, and those that serve the community internally. A data management enterprise that sells services to downtown businesses is "export" oriented. It brings cash and knowledge of current business practices into the community. Internal community ventures can be just as valuable. They prevent outsiders from pulling cash out of the community (as with a laundromat operated by a company from another state). And they build a sense of local community as residents visit each other more often.\n\n\nGovernment Reengineering - It IS Possible, and Everyone Benefits\nPrograms run by government agencies push cash and services into the community, and suck cash and services out again. Reengineering these flows (everything from primary schools to recycling routes) has the same aim as taking over physical assets: improve the quality of life, and increase the net cash flow to the community.\n\n\nCommunity Assets - Buying and Improving Them\nGetting control of a community’s physical assets means you have to know how to make the purchase, and also what to do with the asset once you find it. In a typical inner city neighborhood, for example there may be an abandoned and decaying 10-unit multifamily structure. Say the city housing authority is offering it for sale, but you do not know how to estimate the cost of buying and operating the property. A quick software analysis (click the "Multifamily" tool below) shows that a purchase could probably be done with no money down and would pay for itself.\nThe goal with community assets is twofold. First, fix them up so that they are truly an asset. Run-down bus shelters are not optimized: they may keep rain off waiting passengers, but they also advertise "crummy neighborhood" to outsiders passing through. And they get residents used to sub-standard facilities. The second goal is to make money for peop
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What type of business do you have? Manufacturing, warehouse, retail, service, delivery?\n\nThe first thing you need in any business is a unique selling point. A USP gives your customers a reason to do business with you instead of your competition. Your USP should be centered around some feeling you can promise your customers whether it's stature, consistency, speed, sex, nostalgia or originality. You need to make your customers FEEL. Promising your customers a feeling for doing business with you, and delivering on that promise is the best way to get recognition for your business. People remember feelings long after other details are forgotten. Good products and/or service are not unique, and do not make good USPs.\n\nMarketing, and increasing business is much more than advertising. Without a unique selling point, advertising is a waste of money. Many business owners run poorly designed ads or ads that don't promote a USP and identify their business, or use a medium that doesn't get to their target market, and then blame the advertising form for not working for them.\n\nThe single most important marketing task to perform is the gathering of information from your existing customers. You should be taking names, addresses and email addresses from every person you do business with, then putting them in a customer database and using direct mail, email and newsletters to stay in the thoughts of those people who already know where your business is, and know the quality of your product.\n\nBrandon O'Dell\nO'Dell Consulting\nRestaurants/Retail/Bars\n(316) 361-0675\nbodell1@cox.net\nhttp://www.bodellconsulting.com\n\nFree ititial consultations
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About 60 % of small businesses see value in creating web sites for marketing and in e-commerce.\n\nSome of the issues facing development are what plat form do i use do i include flash tecnology and what vendor do i use for the e-commerce component.  it has to be user friendly and current at all times which means regular updating,  You must also alow user to give feed back and or have a help feature built in.\n\nThey see this as a very valuable asset to their business as the internet is becoming the fastest growing medium for any business and users are very comfortable in using this medium.
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I used to own a gift shop and in order to buy merchandise I attended trade shows.  At trade shows there are lots of independent sales reps that carry multiple product lines.  My advice is to attend as many trade shows as possible and bring samples of your product.  Meet some of the reps, see who you click with.  Some are really pushy and have questionable ethics.  Some are very nice and sincerely interested in acting as a liaison between suppliers like yourself and store owners like me.  Find reps by checking out their booths, seeing what other lines they carry and if your product would compliment their mix.  Then watch how they interact with potential customers that approach their booth.\n\nAnother possible sales tool is to go to your local yellow pages, and get the names/addresses of stores in your area that you think you would like to see sell your cards.  Then send them a cover letter with a free sample of your cards.  Envision how you would like to see your cards displayed and in what kinds of stores, then contact those stores and sell your vision.  Explain how you think your cards would sell themselves and how you would supply them.  Emphasize the good service that you can offer.  Keep track of who you sent samples to, and then a week or two after you mailed them, call the owner of the business to see if they received the sample and if they would like to see more.  You're selling by taking baby steps, which is more comfortable than cold calling.  If you believe in your product, then your enthusiasm for it will help you succeed.\n\nGood luck!!
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There are lots of models to choose from:\n - Joint Venture / commission / % deals\n - Hourly rate + expenses\n - Fee for a packaged service\n - Cost per thousand media delivered\n and lots of variations in between.\n\nBut your bigger question is more important, and really you're asking about "what works?" and "what do I sell. "  My advice is to pick a specific service that reliably produces results for you clients. For example, using flyers to promote sales - get it down to a science, so it's repeatable and predictable and you have great references and know how to sell it. Then look for more things to do / sell. \n\nGood luck.
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There are several avenues to attract capital. In all cases, investors want to see a project plan or the actual idea in beta version. In your case (small scale business), friends & family are most likely the best option. These are the people that are familiar with your thoughts and ideas and will hopefully respect them enough to provide some starter capital. \n\nIf that fails, then you can look at approaching your local SBA center. They can help you with small federally backed loans from local banks. In addition, there may be some grants or special programs available to you. \n\nThe next step is angel investors or venture capitalists. Angel investors are usually individual and wealthy people that will fund an idea if they believe in it. Venture capitalists will only fund more mature ideas with management and some proof of concept.
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As a web design company, more than other marketing campaigns, the best way to get new clients is to have an impressive portfolio to show them. Perhaps you can work for a discounted fee or even pro bono for some friends or close associates, just to have a portfolio of work to show.\n\nWhat I see lacking in your list are press releases. Press releases have different uses: they can alert traditional media of your new business (and hopefully get talked about by the media -- which means you have to have a new spin or how different are you from the other web design firms). Press releases are also among the EASIEST way to get one way inbound links, and thereby helping you rank in the search engines. PRWeb http://www.prweb.com can send your release and get it through Yahoo and Google News for minimum of $80\n\nThe calendar, bumper stickers, laptop bags -- I'm not sure those are the most effective means of getting clients to your business especially considering that you have a tight budget.\n\nOne important marketing tool you are forgetting is networking. Networking allows you to meet people, other business people who may be interested to rework their websites or create websites. Join organizations and business associations in your area -- and budget for membership fees, if any. Talk about your business to them, and they may even refer you to other people who needs your services. Consider joining BNI http://www.bni.com/ (Business Network Int'l.) which is a "business and professional networking organization that offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and most importantly, referrals." Chambers of commerce can also be a good source of referrals.\n\nI would focus more on local marketing, but carefully carefully track your ROI. Yahoo Yellow pages is pricey - so check if it is actually bringing you traffic and customers.\n\nEmail marketing where you purchase an email for $0.25 cents is not a good idea. You will basically be spamming people, buying email lists yet these people may not have agreed or wanted to receive YOUR email. Be careful in using this approach as the last thing you want your business to be called is a spammer.\n\nI know that you are just starting, but web designers often find greater success if they offer services beyond web designing. Diversify your services to include copywriting, search engine optimization, handling pay per clicks, or even just site maintenance.
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I have been in the same service business since 1980. What type of marketing structure are you asking about? How do I get my customers? Word of mouth and advertising. How do I get repeat customers? SERVICE the customer. \n\nBasically, the key is to SERVICE the customer. Make them happy, and they will tell ONE person to call if they need your services. Make someone unhappy and they will tell NO LESS THAN TEN people to NOT call you. This works in EVERY type of business that have customers.
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A few things to consider/ask yourself:\n\n1) Is the infomation clear & concise?\n2) Is it easy to find this information? \n3) Is your contact information displayed well?\n4) Do your customers have the ability to contact you when your offline, such as email, online contact form or instant messenging feature?\n5) Perhaps offer an e-newsletter pertaining to your industry?\n6) Is it possible to offer discounts? If so, think about coupons for times of year (e.g. if in accounting, offer discounts during tax season, etc) or for multiple orders\n7) If you were a customer, what would you think about your site? Are there things that you would not like as a consumer? Take note of those things & change them.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
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In the early stages of the business, it can be tough.  You do WHATEVER you can early on, and work the referrals from there.\n\na) Phone time - If your office has it, take floor time to answer real estate calls.  This is not the best way to get clients, but sometimes it works.  \n\nb) Open houses - Similar story here.  Find your 'hook'.  I tell them I have other homes that are similar, and I can email them to them.  If you do well with followup, you can keep them as a client.\n\nc) Sphere of Influence - These are your former co-workers, your friends, family, etc.  This will likely be your top source of business the first two years you're in.\n\n----\nFrom there, you have to take the successes you do have and find a way to multiply them.  \n\nFor instance, every buyer I sell a home to I offer to throw their housewarming party for them.  It costs me about $150 and my time for an evening.  Why do I do this?  Because I meet all their friends.  And when the conversation comes around that I paid for the party, I always get lots of real estate conversations.  And usually, I get another piece of business.  \n\nDo a mailout to your friends and family AT LEAST four times per year.  Tell them whatever successes you're starting to have.  You have to establish yourself as an expert to them.  You have to be the person they go to when they need a real estate question answered (and if you don't have the answer, you can go find it).  \n\nThis will get you started.  Just think creatively, and you'll succeed in the business!\n\nGood luck.
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Probably figure out existing companies who might value your businesses so much that 2+2 becomes more than 4 (that is your business creates synergy through higher incremental revenues or lower costs).\n\nI dont know of any online marketplace where you can list your company for sale. Investment bankers become interested only when the deal size is big.