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#BIPPlan - Basic Internet Presence Plan

Start-ups Ranked by City

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New Entrepreneur technology start-ups ranked by city as of July 2016

Traditionally Silicon Valley is considered the place for new tech startups.  It is a great place to live and work.  However, you can see in the chart below that Austin, Miami, and Los Angeles ousted Silicon Valley for the fastest-growing startup locations.  Even though Silicon Valley is a hotspot for great engineers and a large network of consultant, advisors, and financiers for tech companies, the area didn’t top the list of cities (or areas) for the U.S. cities with the most tech start-ups.

New Tech Start-Ups US July 2016 image
Source: Sunguard Availability Services

Any company whose purpose serves to bring technology services and/or products to the market is a tech start-up.  To get started with a new technology business, one needs an idea that is researched as a viable product.  Next work on the strategy to create a repeatable process.  Finally set up your plans for marketing, running the business and expanding.  The business owners in the cities on this list have used these simple ideas to kick-off their businesses.  Sometimes it is as simple as ‘get started’.  Once started, the owner will soon encounter potential customers that will help them further define exactly what they are willing to offer as a product.  Remember, there is an overall theme to keep in mind:  Scale or Fail.  Plan ahead to be able to scale up as your business pipeline grows.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce studied the best places for starting a tech-based business.  Their report showing the cities that ranked highest in the study had thriving communities based around entrepreneurship with access to talented works, funding, strong engagement with local institutions that included government, universities, and corporations.

Silicon Valley and Start-Ups

Silicon Valley is in the San Francisco Bay area and is home to many start-ups and global technology companies.  Some of the most prominent are Apple, Facebook and Google.  Also found in Silicon Valley is the Computer History Museum and NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View and the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.  Silicon Valley is also known to be a ridiculously expensive place to live.

If you are thinking of starting a small business from home or a tech startup, the Small Business Administration advised to follow these steps:

  1. Write a Business Plan
  2. Get Business Assistance and Training
  3. Choose a Business Location
  4. Finance Your Business
  5. Determine the Legal Structure of Your Business
  6. Register a Business Name
  7. Register for State and Local Taxes
  8. Obtain Business Licenses and Permits
  9. Understand Employer Responsibilities
  10. Find Local Assistance

 

 

 

 

Small Business Marketing – 2016

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Top Marketing Tools For Small Business – 2016 & Trends for 2017

Small Business Top Marketing Tools 2016 image
Small Business are using the following marketing tools in a study from November 2016.   This chart shows that most 56% are using a website, 50% are using E-mail marketing and 48% are using social media in the online marketing strategies.  The preferred top three marketing tools are online media.  Trends for 2017 show that more are planning on using social media at a higher rate than indicated in this 2016 study.  Note, these marketing tools are employed at the same time, and each one is not used exclusively.

According to this article on Hubspot.com, the number of touchpoints (interactions with the prospective lead) is five.  After five, with no continued indication of interest, the law of diminishing returns sets in.  This also depends on what industry the business is serving.  Closely evaluating your industry and behaviors of your prospects should be taken into account to determine your number.  The small business marketer should also take into account what point during the week and what time of day they are reaching out to talk to potential clients about their product.  Monday morning, for example, is not an ideal time to try to sell your services or products.  Usually, people are setting up their priorities for the week and don’t want to take a call.

Off-line Marketing by Small Business

Many small businesses are still relying on many of the marketing tools that do not involve the internet in conjunction with online marketing.  Print collateral includes brochures, flyers, business cards, postcards and other printed material used for distribution.  Word of mouth is still often utilized indicating many small businesses are relying on local networking.  Networking events also include trade shows and/or conferences.  These are very useful as the business can pay one fee and hope to have a steady stream of potential customers stroll by and ask questions, experience free consultations or receive discounts at events geared towards their target markets.

E-Mail Open Rates

Clearly, it depends on what industry the small business is serving in decisions made on utilizing this marketing method.  This cannot be the only marketing method, but still a trusted strategy for many businesses.  This marketing path is best used for users who have indicated an interest in the small business’s product and then it is more likely the email will be opened when the consumer is ready to make a purchase or their attention is caught by a successful subject line in the email.

Small Business E-mail open rates 2016 industry image

9 Things to Verify Prior to Live Launch of Your New Website

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Startup Business Need to get their internet presence up as fast as possible.

Startup Website Checklist Reminder imageA new business needs to have their new website up as soon as possible so the business owner can get to the business of doing what they do best – run their business!  The website doesn’t have to be a show stopper to start, in content or cost.  Get off the ground with a starter website that has the main fundamentals to meet basic SEO checklist, user experience and represents your business in a professional way.  In addition to the following list of technical website items, this article on “Must Have Items for Your Basic Internet Presence” is a good start.  You may have more, these are just some basics.

I know many of these seem obvious, but it never hurts to have a checklist.  When reviewing your development website (before it goes live), be sure to check that the following items have been taken care of.  If not, it is ideal to question your website developer how these items will be worked out before going live.

New Website Launch Checklist:

  1. Spelling and grammar – make sure these are correct.
  2. Links – make sure they work and open in a new window where needed.
  3. Contact details are correct!
  4. Ensure you have a website backup plan.
  5. Do you need Terms of Use or Service, Refund Policy, Privacy Policy, etc.?
  6. Meta Data – are the titles, descriptions, and image alt tags complete?
  7. Browser check – verify your site looks good in major browsers – use a browser check tool.
  8. AMP is now a standard – make sure pages on your site are using it.
  9. Security Certificate (SSL) – again, now a standard for website, along with being responsive in design.

There are many other areas that also need to be in working order for your new website.  This is a short list to help you cover the fundamentals that are important for your basic internet presence to get kicked off.  You would also be wise to get started with a website that has room to grow.  As you get your business underway, you will find more pages that needed to be added to your website such as an event calendar, email capture, more pictures of products or services, more in-depth description of your services.  There is a lot to consider as you start your business.  Don’t let your new website be a bottle neck.

Check out our #BIPPlan Basic for the starter website to get your new business begin gaining online momentum.

Add a Resource to Your Website – Download or Print From Website

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german-shepherd-puppy-new-show-dog-pedigrees-by-staff image

  • Does Needing A New Pedigree Have You Feeling Like Cool Dude?
  • In need of a new pedigree for your AWESOME up-and-coming star?
  • Would you like it to be available for print from a website?
  • Leave it to us!

Turn over the task of creating new pedigrees and keeping them available over the internet to us.

Send your complete pedigree, your halfway completed pedigree or your notes on the back of an envelope to us and we’ll get one put together for you.  No problem!  We’ll take this task off your hands…and your ‘to do’ list!  It is best if you have something more than hand written notes and ‘call name’ of dogs –  we will get your professional pedigree including kennel names (where we can find them) and other important stuff (like CH, GV, ROM, etc.) done in a jiffy.

You too can be as cool as Cool Dude!

Pedigree Services

Pedigree – starting at $14.95  (PDF version emailed to you)

Pedigree with one picture – starting at $19.95  (PDF version emailed to you)

Sample:  Click here for sample pedigree.

Pedigree – printing access from the internet – ****special****   $4.95 per month (minimum two months)

      • Pedigree can be available either password protected (only the user with the password can access) or accessible to anyone, including searchable by Google and other search engines.
      • If you want a picture on the pedigree will add $4.95 to initial charge for setup.  Then $4.95 per month (minimum two months).
      • ****special****   $4.95 per month (minimum two months) – price guaranteed not to increase for each one purchased on this special by 5/31/17.
      • Cancel anytime with 30 days written/emailed notice.

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Website Services

 

      • Website for your Dog – starting at $299 set-up and $24/year to keep active and available online.
      • Website for your Kennel – starting at $1,999 (includes up to 5 pages – contact us for more information – all accounts set up in your name.  You own this website when it is complete.)
      • Website Internet Marketing for your kennel – contact us for information

 

Note:  If you send me a picture for use, you are informing me you have permission to use that image.  We cannot use ‘proofs’ or other images indicating they were not purchased or that someone else may have the copyright license.  If you do not have a digital file, contact us and we may be able to arrange to scan your hard copy image for use on your pedigree and/or website.  Our company website (bipplan.com) will appear on the bottom of the pedigree and/or website with link to our site or you can pay a one-time charge to have this removed.
Also Note: You will do the final proofing of the pedigree. We can type and format like crazy, but sometimes, we will not be able to ensure everything is EXACTLY correct. We would hate to leave off a CH or misspell a kennel name. We will need your final review and sign-off verifying all is correct.

Business Reviews – How To Handle Your Online Reputation

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Online Reputation #BIPPlan puppy image

Don’t you love to look up information on a company online that you are thinking of using or buying from?  I always search the company’s name and “Reviews”.  I might also choose some other specific keywords to get deeper information on the company.  This usually depends on the amount I am going to spend on the transaction and how important quality is.

The Internet has created a small community on our globe.  We can get the scoop on the company we are thinking of buying from by looking at their website and looking for other information on the Internet.  I don’t trust everything I read, but I feel like I can get a general feel about a company by reading reviews about them.

If you are a business owner, I hope you just realized how very important it is to manage your Online Reputation.  This is a part of establishing and keeping your basic internet presence.  A couple unhappy customers who are willing to leave reviews about their experience could really limit your new business.  If you received a negative review online, anywhere, as a business owner, I highly recommend you take action on it right away.

Online Reputation / Bad Review Actions Steps

  • Look into the situation. Is there anything you can do to make the situation better for the customer?
  • If the review is not accurate, see about getting it removed.
  • Respond in an open environment online directly to the reviewer with compassion and real concern to rectify the situation, where possible (never get into a petty online war, though!).
  • Also, when your customers leave positive reviews, I recommend you take the opportunity to help potential customers and clients get to know you. You can do this by responding to the review with a short and sweet, “Thank you for the review!”   “Glad we could help you” or “Glad you liked it”.  This is a FREE opportunity to add personality to your business.  In responding to good reviews – keep your responses brief and don’t go into a sales pitch and ask for further referrals or repeat business.  They will do that without you asking.

In addition to cultivating your online reputation and managing reviews, you can look at these types of comments as customer research, for FREE!  Often, there will be specific situation or details comment about and then you, as the business owner, can address those issues as you learn customers are having problems with them.

Your online reputation is so important, if you are not planning on attending to it, you may consider hiring a social media manager.   If your community is trying to interact with you online, these days, you should respond.  You could be hurting the image of your business online if you are not chiming in.  Give me a call if you would like to discuss online reputation management, dealing with negative online reviews or any other part of your Basic Internet Presence Plan #BIPPlan.