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Better your Business: How the creative stay creative via Inc.

Everyone needs a little inspiration now and again. But why do some businesses seem to always have the creative juices flowing, while others get stuck in a rut? Inc. magazine gives their loyal readers some insight.

Here are some take-aways from the experts:

•  Get Multicultural
• Make Free Time to Think
• Encourage Risky Behavior - the kind that sparks great ideas
• Hire Smart
• Bring in Outsiders
• Do it for Free
• Mix up your people  

Small business update: prepare for holiday marketing today

When most people start crafting holiday shopping lists, small business owners have to think holiday marketing. Whether you're mulling over a new special to entice shoppers or a super secret promotion, here are some tips from MSN.com's Business on Main to help get you started.

What you should get started on today:

Decide the basics. How do you want to treat customers and how can it benefit sales? Events, special holiday products, promotions, free gifts are just some examples. Make sure delegate responsibilities. Have fun with it and remember that holiday promos can help build customer loyalty.

During October:

Prepare holiday promotions, finalize offers and pricing, prepackage products to inspire greater-volume purchases, plan gift wrap and shipping options, and determine holiday decorations and whether you'll provide special refreshments or services for customers.

**Remember** Cross promote holiday offers on your Web site, social networks and customer mailing lists

 During November:

Update your e-mail signature to include holiday greetings and offers, along with a link to your holiday Web page.

Select greeting cards the uniquely represent your business and brand image while addressing interests and beliefs of your customers.

Plan the gifts you'll distribute in December. Consider giving away your service or talents. A hairdresser might give a certificate for a treatment in January (when business is otherwise slow). A service business might give a year of monthly "business tips and trends" updates (which could double as publicity items). A restaurant might send loyal customers off with a bag of the chef's trademark sweets. No matter what, address the gift personally rather than saying, "Dear Customer."

During December: 

Send holiday cards, e-mails and gifts, each one personalized so employees, customers and friends know you value them individually.

 Send an e-mail blast announcing the last day you can ship orders to arrive before Christmas. Spur sales with a free rush-shipment offer.

Nabbing clients on a shoestring budget

We love anything that helps small businesses flourish, especially during this recession. Without entrepreneurs, America would lack some serious ingenuity.
Check out some great advice from Inc. magazine for start-ups operating on lean budgets.

The Situation:

"I have a startup Web/print design business that so far has not been very profitable. I have a sales rep who hits the streets during the first half of every day and beats the bushes for interested clients. I am looking for some helpful advice about how to find potential clients. I have no budget for a direct mail campaign and need to find a way to advertise that doesn't cost anything. What do you suggest? "

The Advice:

• Build Traffic Using Search Engines - Search engines may index only one-third of the Web -- but they are still the best way for cash-strapped entrepreneurs to get eyeballs to their sites.

• Build a Better Web site -If you want finicky, capricious Web users to come back, keep improving their experience. This inc.com guide takes you through the essentials of sprucing up your Web site.

• Customer Driven Marketing -Get ideas on generating referrals, using references, and stimulating word-of-mouth marketing to build your business with the Inc.com guide to Customer-Driven Marketing.

• Managing Customer Data - With consumer privacy a contentious issue, it's especially important to be up front with your customers about your privacy policy and to make good use of the data they willingly provide.

• Marketing on the Web -This Inc.com guide contains the best resources our site offers about marketing on the Web.

Top four free advertising strategies for small businesses

The cost of advertising can be too much for some small businesses to handle while they're simply trying to stay in business. We love Entrepreneur magazine's list of free advertising solutions. If you stick with the strategies that work for your industry, you'll see the payoff.

1. Become the expert
   Submit articles related to your business to the local paper, trade journals and professional organization’s newsletters. Choose a topic that reflects your expertise on the subject and make sure your business is mentioned. You might also find a website that may be interested in letting you host a guest column. Whenever you get published, make copies and send them to all your current and potential customers.
2. Be a great public speaker
   Professional meeting planners are always looking for presenters and workshop leaders for conferences. Research contact names in the Directory of Meeting Planners or start with your local Chamber of Commerce or Rotary Club. If, like most people, you dread the thought of public speaking, join your local Toastmasters [http://www.toastmasters.org/] club; this is also a great way to meet potential customers. When you do get the opportunity to make a presentation, be sure to collect business cards for a drawing to win a book or other prize related to your business.
3. Teach an adult education course
   This is an excellent way for customers to see you as an expert and help advertise your business. This works especially well for service-oriented businesses such as financial planning, healthcare or tax preparation. Simply call your local school district or community college where adult education courses are offered. Better yet, offer free or inexpensive seminars at libraries, restaurant event rooms or a friend’s office.
4. Reward referrals
   One of the best ways to get new customers is to enlist the help of your current ones. Offer a reward of free merchandise or services for any lead that turns into new business. If you publish a catalogue, include a card where customers can provide the name and address of someone else who might want to receive one. When you get a new customer from a referral, be sure to send the source a personalized thank you note along with their reward.