There are important insights for product marketing that actually come from the political world. One of the most important lessons is in how to segment the market, identifying which customers to go after and which ones to ignore. You can save time and money by focusing on your most productive targets.
Business Plan
Invent Your Opportunities
You never know which opportunity will end up being the one that really turns into something big, but if you don’t ever try, then you’ll never get anywhere. You have to always be thinking, always moving, always improving. The one thing you can’t do is sit back and wait for things to happen to you.
Handling Competition: Do’s and Don’ts
When you first started your business, you looked at your competitors with the eye of an upstart. But what do you do when a new competitor arises—and suddenly you are the old establishment? The new competitor is eyeing your customers, your employees, and your profits. You can’t afford to make a mistake.
How to Create an Effective SWOT Analysis
The difference between an ordinary business plan and a strategic business plan is a SWOT Analysis. This breaks down the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for your business, and shows that you have fully researched your idea.
Is Your Business Really a Business?
Is your business really a business? It might sound like a silly question, but it’s an important one, especially around tax time. There are guidelines to help you determine whether your activities are considered a business or a hobby under the law.
Executive Summary
The part of your business plan that investors will be most interested in is the executive summary—the one-to-two page summary of your overall business plan. A strong executive summary will grab an investor’s attention and get him or her interested in learning more about your business.
Elements of a Business Plan
A well designed business plan is an important tool for a business, helping in the search for investors and lenders and in every management. Each company will have a different business plan, but there are a few common core elements that will make any plan more effective.
