small-bizXpress

As part of its recognition of and commitment to supporting the growth and success of its small business customers, ATT Inc. announced the introduction of a variety of resources geared to small business owners, including free advice, online courses and special offers that can all be accessed through a new Web portal at www.att.com/OnwardSmallBiz.

ATT is promoting the availability of its new online resource center for small businesses as part of a new "Onward Business"-themed integrated advertising campaign that will run in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and select magazines which began this month, coupled with online, print and radio advertising in local markets throughout the year.

The new small business portal gives visitors the option to select topics of interest for a more personalized online experience. Content features and links on the new ATT Onward Small Biz portal include:

• A daily feed of small business news, including streaming video segments from SBTV.com — Small Business Television.
• Free instructional Web-based seminars and training courses hosted by experts.
• Tips on starting, managing and relocating a small business from a variety of experts and sources.
• Money-saving promotional offers from leading brands serving small business needs
• The ability to submit questions and to receive one-on-one advice from SCORE — Counselors to America’s Small Business.
• Information on ATT products and services, money-saving bundles and special offers for small business are also available on the portal.
• Easy access to ATT’s online support, e-bill and account management services.

Labels: att, att onward small biz portal, money saving, portal, small business, small business resources, smb, start-up, tips

Developing that unique selling proposition should be your first step in crafting a successful small business marketing strategy. To make sure that your small business marketing is all that it can be, follow these four expert tips:

1. Focus on the benefits to the customer

Your prospective customers don’t really care what great features you’re offering. They care about how your product/service will help them – how it will solve their problems or help them achieve their dreams. So instead of listing the 100 fabulous features that your product/service has that the other guy doesn’t, list the 10 ways that your product/service will help your prospective customers, and you’ll be on your way to successful small business marketing.

2. Consider your product/service from the customer’s point of view

Even if you can’t hire an expensive marketing firm to set up focus groups for you, you can create a small business marketing solution. Assemble a group of friends and family who are similar to your prospective customers and ask them what their needs and wants are. Then incorporate their responses into your marketing materials. Voila – you’re now speaking directly to the customer, from his or her point of view!

3. Prove it!

One of the easiest, least expensive small business marketing strategies for backing up your claims with prospective customers is to include testimonials from satisfied current clients in your small business marketing materials.

4. Project an image of confidence and authority

Whether you’re selling widgets or consulting services, small business marketing is really about selling yourself – your expertise, your integrity, and your reputation. Even if you’re just starting out in business, you are an expert in your own right. So act like one! If you see yourself as a confident, authoritative business person, your customers will, too.

Labels: focus, marketing, small business, tips, unique selling proposition, usp