- SBDCNet https://www.sbdcnet.org/author/reiss/ Serving the Small Business Development Center Network and America's small business community. Sun, 19 Apr 2020 21:52:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://www.sbdcnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/sbdc-icon.png - SBDCNet https://www.sbdcnet.org/author/reiss/ 32 32 Buying Decisions – Rational? https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/buying-decisions-rational/ Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:30:45 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=4656 After decades of personal selling and observing others sell, I am convinced most buying decisions are based on emotions rather than on a rational basis. The ratio of the two motivators varies with the individual buyer and the circumstances at the time, but clearly the seller must always be aware of the emotional component of […]

Buying Decisions – Rational?

]]> A TWITTER CZAR for Elected Officials applies to members of both parties https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/a-twitter-czar-for-elected-officials-applies-to-members-of-both-parties/ Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:48:18 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=4070 A Small Business Lesson In a recent post on the importance of good listening, I received a comment from Jeff Hahn, who agrees with my premise on how listening can improve your business success and your personal relationships.  Jeff wanted to extend the premise to our elected officials operating out of Washington, DC. The more […]

A TWITTER CZAR for Elected Officials applies to members of both parties

]]> You Don’t Know? It’s Very Okay To Admit It https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/you-dont-know-its-very-okay-to-admit-it/ Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:21:26 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=3679 Success or knowledge in one area or endeavor does not automatically ensure the same in others. I have never met anyone who knows everything about everything. No one can know it all although many think they do. I’m sure you’ve met some of them. However, when many people are asked a question and they don’t […]

You Don’t Know? It’s Very Okay To Admit It

]]> Suppliers Can Be Key to Your Growth https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/bootstrapping-101-blog-suppliers-can-be-key-to-your-growth/ Sun, 19 Jun 2011 09:41:16 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=3057   Suppliers can be a critical component of your growth and survival. Your approach to suppliers needs to be part of your strategic plan, since almost every company, whether product or service oriented, is dependent on suppliers. Many people seem to get this supplier issue wrong. They feel that because they write the order, they […]

Suppliers Can Be Key to Your Growth

]]> There Is No Entrepreneur Gene https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/there-is-no-entrepreneur-gene/ Tue, 31 May 2011 16:32:10 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=2634 The use of the words Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurism keep growing as more and more people strive to be entrepreneurs with their job creating ability. This was not always the case. Not so long ago, Entrepreneurs were described in such unflattering terms as shiftless, unfocused, shady, money-hungry, sharks, quick-buck artists, unreliable, shoot from-the-hip operators, and so […]

There Is No Entrepreneur Gene

]]> Great Idea to WOW Your Suppliers https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/great-idea-to-wow-your-suppliers/ Sun, 08 May 2011 23:54:15 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=2646 When I blogged my earlier post on Suppliers, I received a great comment from Pierre Martell, the CEO of Martell Home Builders in Moncton, Canada, that I want to share with everyone. Their mission is to build customized homes in 99 days on budget. Their website is their primary selling tool. To accomplish this, they […]

Great Idea to WOW Your Suppliers

]]> Where Not to Look for Money — And Where You’re More Likely to Find It https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/where-not-to-look-for-money-and-where-youre-more-likely-to-find-it/ Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:42:37 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=2626 Entrepreneurs can save time and angst by looking beyond banks and other mythical sources of startup capital. One of the major obstacles entrepreneurs face in starting a business is raising the money they need. It can be the most time-consuming, frustrating and disheartening factor in launching a new venture. Save yourself some energy and angst […]

Where Not to Look for Money — And Where You’re More Likely to Find It

]]> Sales Reps and How They Benefit Small Businesses https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/sbdcnet-connections-issue-63-sales-reps-and-how-they-benefit-small-businesses/ Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:41:39 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=590 What’s the Opportunity? Sales is the lifeblood of any successful business, as Sales bring you customers who give you Orders, without which you have no business.  Many Small Business owners think they can secure these coveted orders by using the latest tech tool. This may work to an extent in some enterprises, but for those […]

Sales Reps and How They Benefit Small Businesses

]]> 7 Ways to Get Good Word of Mouth https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/7-ways-to-get-good-word-of-mouth-2/ Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=2218 The most effective advertising a company can get is more difficult to achieve but much more effective and lasting than traditional media advertising. It is word of mouth advertising, and it is earned rather than purchased. It is your customers’ opinion of your product, which at times can be very vocal with praise or derision. […]

7 Ways to Get Good Word of Mouth

]]> 7 Tips on Barter for Small Business https://www.sbdcnet.org/bob-reiss/7-tips-on-barter-for-small-business/ Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:54:30 +0000 http://www.sbdcnet.org/?p=1384 Barter, an $8-12 billion dollar industry, is one of the businesses that flourishes in bad economies, as it offers entrepreneurs many opportunities to acquire things they need and want for no or little cash. Here are some of the things you should know about Barter, a great Bootstrapping activity. 1. It is the exchange of […]

7 Tips on Barter for Small Business

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