Tag: markets

Small Businesses: Building your Online Presence

Posted by Winflow – June 9, 2011

It is important for small business owners to utilize every aspect of sales and marketing they can. The Internet is great resource for small companies to make business connections, increase sales and expand markets. Some ways you can expand your online prescence include:

Start a blog. Blogging is a great way to propel your site up search engines and make it more discoverable to business connections. Follow search engine optimization (SEO) techniques like incorporating categories and tags, using keywords and formatting your articles so they are easy to read.
Make sure your company’s website is professional and easy to navigate. Sites that are difficult to find information on turn visitors away.
Maintain your online prescence. Updating your website or your blog shows business and consumers that you are active.
Use mailing lists. Mailing lists are a great tool for ensuring customers return. Your newsletters should include up-to-date information about your products and/or business.
Use social media. Sign your business up for Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. You could also consider making a Facebook fan page or Youtube account. This provides free word-of-mouth marketing for your business.

For more information about enhancing your online prescence visit this guide.

For marketing advice customized for your business, contact the Winflow Financial Group. Our consultants can be reached through:

Telephone – 1.800.956.6897
Email – info@winflowfinancial.com
The free consultation requested form located on the website.

Resources for Making your Canadian Business Green

Posted by Winflow – June 9, 2011

Eco-friendly businesses and product lines are trending in markets. Concern over the environment is at an all-time high so choosing low-impact resources and alternative energy sources can not only save you money but it could boost your sales. The government of Canada provides a number of resources to help make your small business green. These resources include:

EcoEnergy for Fleets. If your business involves transporting inventory, this program wil lgive you tips on how to choose energy efficient vehicles that will reduce operating costs and fuel consumption.
Existing Commercial Buildings Retrofit Program. If you run a business in New Brunswick, you could be eligible to receive up to CDN$50 000 to make energy-efficient upgrades to your business.
Power Savings Blitz Program. If your business is located in Ontario and your electricity demand is less than 50kW per month, you could be eligible to receive up to CDN$1000 in free energy-efficient products and installations.
SME Sustainability Roadmap. This guide can walk you through making your business completely sustainable.

For more green resources available through the government of Canada, see this page of links.

For advice on how to save money operating your small business, contact the Wi

Mergers and Acquisitions

Posted by Winflow – June 9, 2011

Mergers and acquisitions are when two small companies come together to form a large company. A merger is usually done to create a value greater than the two companies alone could produce. Companies that are struggling also participate in mergers or acquisitions to keep their businesses from going under. Some different types of mergers and acquisitions include:

Conglomerates. Conglomerates are when two companies that share no common business areas merge.
Horizontal mergers. This is when to companies that are in direct competition with each other merge to share markets and product lines.
Vertical mergers. Vertical mergers are when two companies with slightly different but related product lines and markets merge.
Reverse mergers. This type of acquisition is for private companies who wish to be publicly listed. A private company must buy a publicly-listed shell company to become a new public corporation.

Reasons for Merging

Some factors that may motivate a company to merge include:

Economies of scale. The larger your company is, the more cost effective it will be to purchase supplies. Merging can also mean more purchasing power and the ability to negotiate prices.
Improved market reach. Combining the resources of two companies can mean new markets and sales.
Staff reduction. When two companies merge there will be a surplus of staff in many departments. Mergers often mean job losses for employees.
To acquire new technology. Buying small companies with unique technology will allow larger companies to stay competitive.

To learn more about mergers and acquisitions, read this informative guide.

For all your small business needs contact the Winflow Financial Group at 1.800.956.6897.

Growing your Small Business

Posted by Winflow – June 8, 2011

After you have started turning a profit and your start-up problems are behind you, its time to start thinking about growth. The growth of the company is an important aspect of reaching business goals, expanding markets and increasing sales. Some ways to grow your small business include:

Implement new business processes. Find ways to take advantage of your leftover resources, find new suppliers or optimize your distribution to grow your business. It is also important to improve productivity and the efficiency of your administration team.
Expand into foreign markets. Start by researching out potential customers and exporting costs. Find countries that have markets that need your products. A great resource for market research is the Country Insights page provided by the government of Canada. It tells you about the history, economy, culture and politics of any given country.
You may want to consider buying another business or forming a partnership with someone who can bring new resources to the business. To learn more about buying the right business for you, read “Buying a Business: Choosing the Right Business Type.“

For more ideas on how to grow your business visit this Canada Business page.

Business to Business (B2B) Marketing

Posted by Winflow – June 7, 2011

Business to business (B2B) interaction is when your company works together with other businesses and other wholesale buyers to provide specialized product lines, expand your markets and deal with manufacturers. With the recession, B2B marketing is less effective because there are less customers. To make the most out of your B2B marketing during times of financial crisis, consider the following:

Optimize your landing pages. Your landing page is where the customer first enters your website. A good landing page can prompt customers to continue exploring your site which can lead to sales. A poorly optimized landing page can increase your bounce rate sending your business further down Google searches.
Integrate your marketing and sales teams. The Internet causes buyers to begin interacting with your marketing campaigns before they ever speak to a sales representative. By streamlining these teams you may be able to create a single revenue pipeline.
Focus on building relationships with customers you already know. Finding new customers costs more money than keeping the old ones happy. During a recession, remember to market to returning customers over new ones.

For more tips on B2B marketing, read this article.

If you would like to learn how B2B marketing can help your business, call 1.800.956.6897. Our consultants at the Winflow Financial Group will determine how to best increase your marketing and sales.

Buying a Business: Choosing the Right Business Type

Posted by Winflow – June 7, 2011

There are a number of different business types available for entrepreneurs looking to purchase an existing company or product. Each type of business offers a different set of challenges and rewards. If you’re considering buying an existing business here are some of the different types of businesses to keep an eye out for:

Failing businesses. These are companies that are selling their businesses for a reduced, below market price. You should purchase this type of company if you see an unexplored opportunity in the business you believe could make profits.
Supplier channel. Buying your supplier’s business can greatly assist your company’s performance. You will reduce slow deliveries and may even secure increased buying power.
Franchises. This type of business is ideal for those more comfortable with low-risk investments. You’re going into an already successful business but you are giving up some control to do so.
Strategic acquisitions. This type of business is ideal for those that already own a company. It involves purchasing another business to expand product lines, markets and services.

For a complete list of business types to invest in, read this article.

If you are interested in buying a business but aren’t sure which type is best suited for you, call the Winflow Financial Group at 1.800.956.6897.