How to Make a Consultant Marketing Brochure

By Lanee’ Blunt

A consultant can benefit from having a marketing brochure. Having a brochure on your service will help you stand out from the competition. The brochure offers prospects a detailed look at your service. Make your brochure more than just a good looking piece by making it sell your service.

Sells Message

Use a headline on the cover of the brochure. This helps people that only skim the brochure by pulling them into your content. “The cover of a brochure works like the headline of a print advertisement. State your position or promise a benefit to the reader,” according to Kenneth Roman, Jane Mass, and Martin Nisenholtz, in their book, How to Advertise. Include your contact information, your name, company logo and a visual on the cover.

Short Sections

Use headings that are descriptive. Your brochure should be divided into sections that are easy to understand. Use headlines and subheads that break down the information and make the copy easy to read.  Use a desktop publishing software program that gives the brochure a professional look, breaks the copy down into sections of text which are easy to read and look good in the brochure.

Information

Brochures should be informative. Give a lot of information here and explain your service, how it works, how to hire you, website, prices, and testimonials of other clients that hired you.

Reference:

Kenneth Roman, Jane Mass, and Martin Nisenholtz; How to Advertise; 2003

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How to Open a Plumbing Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Starting a plumbing business can be lucrative. You will not have to worry about being laid off or your company downsizing. When starting a new business most people take their experience in employment and apply it to their business. If you have a plumbing background and considering starting a business there are things you have to consider.

Training

Starting out you will need training as a plumber if you don’t have experience. There are schools available that you can go to that offer plumbing training, community colleges and vocational schools. These schools will offer training and after you graduate you can become a full time plumber. Take plumbing courses online if you already have a busy schedule.

Determine Legal Ownership

You must set up your business as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for your particular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, or S corporation.  Starting a plumbing business as a sole proprietorship you have to file a “fictitious name” or “Doing Business As” (DBA) registration form. In some states, you have to register a DBA with the state government or the county clerk’s office. You will need your driver’s license or state ID card with your application. If you are going to hire employees as a sole proprietorship you need to use the (EIN) Employee Identification Number.  Fill-out the necessary forms and send them back to the federal government and they will return it to you with your EIN number.

Purchase Equipment

Buy the equipment you need. Purchase a van or truck for your business. Find a building that will have enough room for all of your equipment. Advertise and market your business. Get business cards printed and build a website.

Reference:

SBA: 5 Steps to Registering your Business

Plumbing Training Courses: How to Open and Run a Plumbing Business; Joshua; 2011

Businessrise: How to Start a Plumbing Business; Gianna Lazarou

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How to Create a Company Logo

By Lanee’ Blunt

Creating a business logo is easy with graphic design. A business logo can build loyalty between your customers and your company, builds brand awareness, and provides a professional appeal. The logo must represent your business, so you don’t want one that is just thrown together without any thought.

Decide how you will use the logo. Will it be used for a product or a service? Is the logo going to be a graphic and name, a Font type logo, or just a graphic? Consider how IBM and Allstate “good hands” uses a font-based logo.

Typeface

The typeface of the logo should be easily legible. Use Old English for a traditional look, and a more modern look choose Optima.

Size

Consider a legible size for the logo because it has to be suitable on the page. Test the legibility be shrinking it to the smallest size.

Color

Price is important with logo design. Choosing a four or five color logo design may be beautiful on paper, but can be expensive when you go to the printer each time you have to get the logo printed. Try to keep the color down to a minimum of three colors because it is cost effective, and it will work in mediums that won’t allow that many color combinations.

Reference

Entrepreneur: How to Create a Logo

Startups: How to Create Your Own Company Logo


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How to Get Leads for a New Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

New businesses often struggle to get leads for their business when they are starting up. Getting leads for your business should be cost effective and profitable. A lead must be followed up on by a salesperson and treated seriously with all efforts of converting the lead into a buyer.

Ads

Ads that generate leads try to appeal to buyers to ask for a response for more information. Some items cannot be sold directly for example, insurance, products that are sold to business or industry and require a salesperson to make a sales call and give a presentation. “Ads that generate leads may give a lot of information or a little, but they never give the full story. To get complete information, the reader must respond to the ad by writing, phoning, or mailing in a coupon,” according to Robert W. Bly.

List of prospects

Advertise that you will send to interested persons a booklet of valuable information for example, tax information if you are a broker or CPA. The purpose of this offer is to get sales leads names and addresses of persons interested in future offerings. Many software companies offer free trial offers on their software programs to interested prospects. If the prospect is interested in their program they are encouraged to register and get the full program download.

Reference:

Robert W. Bly; The Copywriter’s Handbook; Owl Books

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How to Write a Marketing Letter: Sell Products by Mail

By Lanee’ Blunt

Write a sales letter--
GlennPeb

Write marketing letters for your small business that get attention.  Here are some tips on creating sales letters.

There are many advantages of using direct mail that will help you market your small business. Don’t shy away from proven methods of advertising because you may not understand how they can work for your business. Advertising is a challenge and you need to do it without breaking your bank.

Defined exactly what you want your prospect to do after they have read your letter?  Would you like your prospect to ask for information? Suggest that they send for your information package.  You may want to give the prospect a home visit if this is the case, you can suggest that you’ll call them to set up an appointment.

Your product is important to the consumer in the following ways, what are the benefits that they get for using it?  The offer is very important in your sales letter.  What is your primary offer, many product sales letters are not productive because they fail to give an offer.  Tell the prospect that you will ship the product for free, or you have a free special bonus offer. You don’t always have to give a free gift you can give a money back guarantee.

You must have a call to action, which tells the reader to pick up the phone and call now. If the product is sold by mail ask them to send for more information. Make your prospect take action and make it easy for them to do so.

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How to Make a Flyer

By Lanee’ Blunt

Having a flyer is a good way to sell your product, get new business, or advertise your service. Fliers are an easy method of advertising and can be handed out at trade shows or posted in neighborhood bulletin boards.

Difficulty: Easy

Things you’ll need:

Layout and design program

Put your flyer on college bulletin boards, retail stores, and local businesses.  Insert flyers in newspapers or local advertising that distribute to homes in your community. Call the local newspaper and inquire about distributing a flyer inside the newspapers when they are delivered.  Distribute flyers in local café’s, retail parking lots, and colleges.

Create a strong selling message. List the benefits of using your product or business. A description of your small business or your product should be written with your target audience in mind.

Add graphics to the flyer. A visual that is related to your business for example, a résumé service can add a picture of a keyboard or a contractor can add a graphic of a home.

Provide sufficient information on your business to let prospects know what your product or service is.  Provide all of your contact information.

Get the flyer printed. The printer offers a variety of high quality full color flyers that can be created for your business.

Reference:

Ubscure: Cheap Yet Effective Advertising With Flyers


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How to Get a Small Business Grant

By Lanee’ Blunt

An entrepreneur seeking a small business grant must do his homework. The Federal government does not provide grants for starting a new business. Federal grants are given to non-profit organizations, large businesses in government-sponsored scientific research and local and state governments. There are minority programs that assist new businesses, and small business grants for businesses engaged in scientific research and development (R&D).

The SBA.gov provides a search tool for finding a broad range of financial assistance programs that your business might qualify for. The National Minority Supply and Diversity Council (NMSDC) is a great source because it provides a direct link between minority business and corporations that want to purchase goods and services from minorities. Some grants are not free and usually require the business to match funds or it may require that the company get a business loan to accompany the grant.

Apply for grants at the Grant.gov website. Download a grant application and complete it offline. Write a grant proposal or hire a grant writer to write the proposal for you. Prepare a business plan. Write all your ideas down about your business because it will make it easier when you begin your outline. Decide what you are going to put in the business plan. Get a business plan template. A business plan will help you get outside funding, help get credit from suppliers, help you market your business, and help serve as a road map when you are starting out.

Reference:

SBA: How Do I Get a Small Business Grant or Loan?

SBA: Research Grants Small Businesses

Grants.gov: Apply for Grants

Entrepreneur: Minority Loan and Grant Programs

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Starting an Internet Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Sell your products online--lotushead

Starting an Internet business doesn’t require a lot of overhead, and is a business to get into with minimum upfront investment.  There are different types of internet businesses that you may start; a site that sells products, an e-commerce that sells products, an e-commerce business that ships products to people or a service selling website or maybe you probably have one in mind.

Product

Decide what type of internet business you will be going into. Is it a product or products that you are selling or are you going to sell; business to business, or sell your service? Are you going to do affiliate marketing? A sales tax license is required to collect sales taxes. The requirements may be different, so you must check with your own local licensing department.

Name your Internet Business

What are you going to name your company? A name is very important and you should give careful consideration before you decide on any name.

License

Some states require for website owners to register for many of the same licenses that other business owners have to register for. E-commerce website owners must comply with state tax collection, and accounting regulations. Apply for a vendor license with your state. Each state is different and the requirements may be different for state to state. The sba.gov will let you know where you can get a vendor’s license in your particular state. Type your state, or zip code and vendor and peddler license in the required field and the site navigates to your specific state where you can find out your contact information or you can apply. The vendor license can be obtained at your state office of department of finance.

Set Up Online Site

Get a domain name and register it. Get a web host. You can find a web host that is inexpensive and effective. Make sure you use a web host that offers features that make third-party scripts like a shopping cart a one click system.  Look for free shopping cart scripts. Most web host will offer the open source osCommerce script as a quick install, but there are others you can download. Install payment modules Paypal, 2Checkout, and others. For accepting credit cards select a credit card processor.

Prepare a business plan for your new internet business.  Market your new business. Set up a checking account for your internet company.  Print business cards.

Reference:

Start a Online Business Info: Starting an Internet Business

Emarketingman: Start an Internet Business

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How to Start a Home Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Starting a home based business can be very rewarding. You won’t have the long commute, rush hour traffic, work in your pajamas, and take a long coffee break. Be your own boss and you won’t have to worry about being laid-off. Home businesses are becoming more popular today as people turn their extra time into profit.

The Home Office

You probably have an idea or the product that you want to sell. Where in your home will your office be located? If you are going to sell products you need enough room to store the inventory. If you are selling merchandise you will need to display them where your customers can see them. Keep your business and your family life separate because your family will need their privacy.

Apply for Licenses

You must set up your business as a legal entity. Decide which form of ownership is best for your particular business: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, or S corporation. A sole proprietorship is a business owned by a single individual. Start a home business by operating as a sole proprietorship the start up cost is low; no employees are required and begin working right away with minimum overhead.  Check zoning ordinances, buy insurance, and see your city clerk about special licensing you may need for your particular business.

Reference:

SBA: Home Based Business

University of Maine: Starting a Home Business

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How to Advertise Your Business Affordably

By Lanee’ Blunt

Most companies want to advertise and are looking for the most cost effective way to advertise. Most small businesses are on a budget and must make their money go further, and make their ads work harder. There are several cheap ways to advertise that give you a variety of options to choose from when you are on a budget.

Car Door Magnetic Signs

Car door signs are an inexpensive way to advertise your business and are very affordable. The cost is often less than $100.00. You are advertising while you drive your car and have the option to remove the sign when you don’t want to advertise.

Email Your Newsletter

Newsletters help you stay in touch with potential customers by keeping your name in front of them. Creating an email newsletter can be time consuming, but it is worth the effort because it promotes your small business.

“You can distribute your newsletter using your email program or have people subscribe on your website directly to a list-server,” according to Ralph F. Wilson’s book, Planning Your Internet Marketing Strategy.   The newsletter can be sent to potential customers using your Microsoft Outlook email program.  If you don’t have Microsoft Outlook then send it with your regular email program, but you will have to send the newsletter as an attachment.

Flyer

Fliers are inexpensive per piece to produce.  You can use your color printer or just use a black printer with color paper stock.  The flier tells what you are offering and explains how the customer can contact you. 

Door Hangers

Door hangers are another inexpensive way to advertise your business they are affordable and effective. You are able to write your own ad on them and target the market that you want. For example, if you have a landscaping business you might want to target a high-end housing district.

Reference:

Ralph F. Wilson’s book; Planning Your Internet Marketing Strategy; Wiley; 2002

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How to Make a Service Brochure

By Lanee’ Blunt

Every business should have a brochure. Creating a new business brochure is more than adding a list of your services to your favorite desktop publishing program. You must give enough information so that people will know about your service.

Know Your Audience

The brochure has to be written with your audience in mind.  What do they want from your company? This is not the opportunity to go on and on about how great your company is. Look at it from the prospective of; what do they want from you?

Be Informative

Have enough information in your business brochure to inform your customers about your business. When a prospect asks for your brochure you must keep in mind, that they are interested in reading about your service. This is the time to write and include all of the information about your service, website, price, testimonial information, and you should be descriptive.

Service Description

Explain completely what your service is about.  What do you offer the client that is different from your competition? What are the types of accounts you handle?

All of the services offered by your firm should be written in detail descriptions explaining how the service works. This is not the time to brag about your company, but explain how your firm helps the client.

Reference:

Kenneth Roman, Jane Mass & Martin Nisenholtz; How to Advertise; Thomas Dunne Books

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How to Create a Newsletter

By Lanee’ Blunt

Creating a company newsletter will build future business, brand awareness, and helps to generate trust from your prospects.  It is a great way to promote your small business.

Any typical desktop publishing program will do the job. Some programs are easy to learn and are inexpensive.  A full color newsletter can be created on your computer and printed with a laser or regular color printer.  It might take you several issues before you produce the finished product with ease. Your desktop publishing skills will improve with every issue that you produce. 

Determine how often you will produce your newsletter, weekly, biweekly, quarterly, or annually. Take into consideration, the time it takes to write, the artwork, and printing because you will have other duties in your small business. Most newsletters are produced every other month or every quarter.

Produce your newsletter on a good laser printer using glossy paper.  You can also just print your newsletter on color stock and use a regular black printer.

Get your newsletter printer professionally by saving your work on a PDF file and take it to a professional printing company.

Newsletters tell us when the next meeting will be, who made partner, they give us financial planning information, and they give us great diet tips, and tell us how to remodel our kitchen.  If your company has information to offer you should consider writing a newsletter

Reference:

Loriann Oberlin-Hoff; Writing for Money; Writer’s Digest Books

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How to Write a Newsletter

By Lanee’ Blunt

Writing a company newsletter is a big commitment and requires a lot of time by publishing it weekly, monthly, or quarterly but it’s one of the best ways to keep in touch with your prospects. It will build future business, brand awareness, and helps to generate trust from your prospects.

Determine your page length and size. Most newsletters are at least four pages but some are longer between eight and sixteen pages. If you don’t have a lot of time to spend writing the newsletter, don’t choose a sixteen page newsletter, because you may be too ambitious. The size should depend on the amount of information you want to include.

Decide what content to include in the newsletter by knowing your audience. What articles would be of interest to them. There are three or four feature articles and the text should be in three columns. Try to give the reader information that is interesting and tips that they can use. For example, an accountant can write an article about “5 Tips for Receiving a Bigger Refund”, or a neighborhood supermarket may write, “Healthy Foods that Aren’t Fattening.” You can also write about general advice, how to information, or employee news.

Reference:

Ralph F. Wilson; Planning Your Internet Marketing Strategy; Wiley; 2002

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How to Start a Consulting Business

By Lanee' Blunt

Set up your
consulting company--
Surely

Starting your own consulting company can be a rewarding experience. What separates a good consultant from a bad one is the passion that one brings to the job. As a consultant you should have a lot of experience in your field and be very knowledgeable about the subject you are consulting in. Consulting gives you the opportunity to meet potential clients, establish credibility, and set your own fees.  

Difficulty

Moderate

Things You’ll Need

Business cards

Website

Brochure

Business license

Step 1

Work from Home. Starting a business from home when you are just starting out requires less investment than operating out of a leased office, or owned business property.  Set up a home office in a spare room.

Step 2

Get your client base. Network by passing out business cards, brochures and join twitter and social networking sites. Ask for referrals from your clients or offer incentives for getting them. Ask for pro bono work when you are first starting out because it may produce future business.

Step 3

Get Noticed. Send press releases to the local newspaper to get notoriety. Write articles and send queries to trade journals and business publications. Writing articles helps to get your name in front of your audience and is a form of public relations.

Step 4

Get Licensing. Depending on your business you may need certification or a license before you start your business.

Step 5

Acquire a “Doing Business As,” DBA. Register a legal name for your business if you are going to use a name other than your own name. Apply for the DBA with a registration form with your state and local government. Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the US Internal Revenue Service if you have hired employees.

Step 6

Set up a checking account for your new consulting company.  Print business cards. Get business letterhead printed with your company name and contact information. Start a website that you can direct clients to with your contact information. Make it easy for prospects to get in touch with you on your website by setting up an email account in case they want to hire you.

Tips

Join your local Chamber of Commerce.

Reference

Inc; How to Promote Your Consulting Business; Lou Dubois; 2011

Entrepreneur; How to Start a Consulting Business

SBA: 5 Steps to Registering Your Business

SBA: Taking the Plunge; Caron Beesley; 2010

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How to Write a Janitorial Service Proposal

By Lanee' Blunt

Writing a proposal for a janitorial service requires careful preparing before you write it.  A cleaning proposal is different from a cleaning bid because it requires you to present a packet of information about your company that consists of information about your company, service, and the bid price. Start with an outline this will help you organize your thoughts and help you prepare the information that needs to go into the proposal.

Difficulty

Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need

• Brochures
• Business cards
• Report cover
• Insurance certificate
• Service agreement

Executive summary section

Start this section of the proposal with why they should use your company. Give them an excellent reason why they should choose your company over the competition. Provide a straight forward precise description of your ability to meet the requirements of the requested work.

Resume and qualifications 

Write about your qualifications and your experience with similar jobs. Tell the evaluator the responsibilities of key personnel and subcontractors. Give the qualifications of your staff profile and the number of hourly, part-time employees, and supervisors employed by the business.

Price for the project

Explain your proposed price based on the budget detail.  Provide a Cleaning bid sheet with the price you are proposing.

Address topics in the request for proposal (RFP) 

Answer the topics in the same sequence that they are in the RFP. Answer all of the “major topic questions” in essay form.  Give your complete description of  your ability to meet the requirements in the RFP. Remember, you’re not trying to write an academic paper with slow dull reading, but this is persuasive expository prose. Answer the topics of the RFP by keeping your sentences and your paragraphs short. Create a lot of white space with frequent paragraphing.

Provide a copy of your documented Quality Control Plan. Provide a copy of your Hazard Communication Plan when asked. 

Proofread the proposal for typos and errors

Avoid mistakes that may cause your proposal to be turned down with careless errors.

Tips

Professionally package the proposal with a glossy cover and use a letterhead with good quality paper.

Gather the brochures and your business cards that need to be submitted with the proposal make sure that you have all of the information needed before your deadline. Keep your writing direct and avoid a lot of unnecessary adjectives.

Reference

Fedmarket: How Are Winning Proposals Written

Onvia: First Steps to a Winning Proposal

Findfrp: How to Write Proposal

Clean Outlook: Creating a Cleaning Proposal
[Image of Janitor] (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.janitorialservicebellevue.com/janitorial-service-bellevue-services.html; http://azizico.com

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