Archive for December, 2011
The Business Plan: Statement of Purpose
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You probably already know that there are different steps involved in writing and creating a good business plan. A proper business plan is a valuable tool for your business or company and can help lead you on a path to great success. The more you know about the different components that go into creating one, the better your business plan will be.
One important part of the business plan is your Statement of Purpose. The statement of purpose shows you know what you want and you are willing to do what it takes to get it. These are qualities that are important to a successful business and it shows you are serious about your company and its success.
What is the statement of purpose?
Your statement of purpose is how you communicate with potential lenders or investors, business partners or even future employees. This is an important part of the business plan and should be taken seriously. You need to be direct, concise and to the point. Don’t waste words or will it up with “fluff” here.
The statement of purpose should include exactly what you want without “beating around the bush” or taking a long time to get there. You should be able to get your complete statement of purpose into about a page of your business plan. If your original is longer, keep revising and cutting until you can get it down to about one full page that describes what you want.
What should be included in the statement of purpose?
So what exactly do you say in your statement of purpose? Your statement of purpose should include a brief description of your company or business, your objectives, your company mission and your keys to success. You should describe the primary service or goods provided and your plan to provide those to the consumer as well as the rate at which you will provide it.
You should then include the current local market for your goods or services and where you predict the majority of your profit to come from. You will also include major achievements of the company or details that show why your business has the ability to thrive in the market and be successful.
Do you want to spruce up your business plan or create a simple, easy to use plan for your business in 2012? Join me for the Business Planning Work Day on Monday, January 2nd. Find out more information by going to:
7 Twitter Tips
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Twitter is a really great way to socialize and keep in touch, but it can be more than that. You can use Twitter as a tool for various things, from business to advertising. It provides a personal link with your customers and clients that may be lacking in the usual online business relationship. Here are some tips for using Twitter effectively.
1. Keep it short
Regardless of what you are tweeting, you’ll want to keep the message short and to the point. Twitter is not like email; it’s more like text messaging to a group.
2. Make a decision
Regardless of how you plan to use Twitter, go ahead and make that decision before setting up an account. If you want to use it for business purposes, determine who your potential customers would be. If you plan to use Twitter for personal reasons, make that decision ahead of time, too. It can get confusing and problematic if you try to toggle back and forth between business and personal messages on your Twitter account.
3. Avatar
Choose an avatar that reflects your purpose in using Twitter. A fun picture of your dog in a Santa hat may be great for your personal account, but not for your business (unless you sell dog Santa hats!). You may even want to find a professional to take a picture of you specifically for your Twitter avatar.
4. Username
The same things apply to a username as to the avatar – make sure it fits your Twitter intentions. Also, make sure it coincides with your avatar so that the two become synonymous.
5. Advertise
Twitter offers advertising programs that you can use to boost your business. You can sign up with one of these on the Twitter site. They work by connecting Twitter users with advertisers.
6. Share links
The brief nature of Twitter makes it a great vehicle for sharing links to websites, videos, and so forth. This can be a quick and effective way to share the newest and latest products or information with your customers. Sharing links for others can also be a way to generate income. You can share your own links, too.
7. Get a mobile device
Giving your Twitter followers up-to-the minute tweets is what makes Twitter unique. You’ll want to embrace this aspect of the medium, and invest in some kind of mobile device that you can have handy at all times to read and send tweets.
