Mark Gwilliam Small Business Consulting Articles Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Why-it-pays-to-reward-your-customers.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Why-it-pays-to-reward-your-customers.html 'Why it pays to reward your customers' Over the last 10 years, I have learned many lessons managing my own companies and consulting to my clients and by far the single most vital lesson is ensuring that customers stay happy. In this article I share my thoughts about this essential topic. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Using-a-scorecard.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Using-a-scorecard.html Using a scorecard Businesses of all sizes, be it a large corporation or a newly-established small business, spend a considerable amount of time and effort developing well-thought out strategic plans that work to pave the way for their business’s success. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Good-financial-management.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Good-financial-management.html Good financial management Good financial management is essential to the survival and success of every business. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Business-ratios.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Business-ratios.html Business ratios Business ratios are tools that help you in evaluating the current performance of your business. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/A-profitable-market.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/A-profitable-market.html A profitable market A profitable market has to be a hungry market. In other words, there must be sufficient demand for the product in place. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Why-segmenting-your-customers-will-help-in-the-long-run.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Why-segmenting-your-customers-will-help-in-the-long-run.html Why segmenting your customers will help in the long run Every customer is different, so why treat them all the same? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/What-are-your-competitors-doing.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/What-are-your-competitors-doing.html What are your competitors doing An important aspect in any strategic marketing plan is solid market research or analysis. Others may call it competitive research/analysis/intelligence, but they all boil down to one thing: knowing what goes on in your industry from trending to movement in your competitors’ businesses and such before laying down your marketing campaign. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Marketing-definition.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Marketing-definition.html Marketing definition Marketing is “A management activity that identifies, anticipates and satisfies customer requirements, efficiently and profitably”. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Do-you-reach-a-global-market.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Do-you-reach-a-global-market.html Do you reach a global market It is widely reported that there are 6.5 billion people on the planet spread throughout 194 countries (I only have another 171 to see!) Follow this link to test yourself. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Why-you-need-a-unique-selling-point-USP.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/943/Why-you-need-a-unique-selling-point-USP.html Why you need a unique selling point (USP) Having a business without a Unique Selling Point (USP) is like running for office without a defining slogan. The result can be similarly devastating: you’ll lose.