Trailblazer - Igniting Business & Community

eCommerce has become a big topic in business especially after the year we just had. However all eCommerce is not equal and in some cases it does not make sense. Social selling is another term that has run hand in hand with eCommerce but again not the same and not beneficial in all circumstances.

Topic 1: What is eCommerce and how do you know it fits

• eCommerce is simply creating an online store to sell your products and services
  
• Not all eCommerce platforms are the same - cost, marketing services, build time and functionality
  
• Add shameless plug for how Mobileteer helps eCommerce clients
  

Topic 2: What is social selling and how do you know it fits

• Social selling is creating brand awareness and building relationships with customers either in person or online. For our talk we will focus on the online side
  
• This is done using online content to appeal to your customers  as well as appealing to social changes that may be happening that could bring more sales to your company
  

eCommerce has become a big topic in business especially after the year we just had. However all eCommerce is not equal and in some cases it does not make sense. Social selling is another term that has run hand in hand with eCommerce but again not the same and not beneficial in all circumstances.

Topic 1: What is eCommerce and how do you know it fits

• eCommerce is simply creating an online store to sell your products and services
  
• Not all eCommerce platforms are the same - cost, marketing services, build time and functionality
  
• Add shameless plug for how Mobileteer helps eCommerce clients
  

Topic 2: What is social selling and how do you know it fits

• Social selling is creating brand awareness and building relationships with customers either in person or online. For our talk we will focus on the online side
  
• This is done using online content to appeal to your customers  as well as appealing to social changes that may be happening that could bring more sales to your company
  

• Sub-topic 1 - How to look at your business within your overall wealth (1 stock/Asset?)
  
  • It’s generally ok if your business is your only asset driver, Dave have you ever looked at it like that.
    
• Sub topic 2 - With great risk comes great reward. This is why entrepreneurs exist right?
  
• How do we get by if this is our only asset? Loans, (leverage), partnerships (Advisors) Hedge (Side hustles) People (Hiring great people
  
• Conclusion- What does this actually mean, why does this matter, what can we do?
  
• You need to think about the risk and diversify just like any other asset class
  
• What are the risks, what happens when these risks come along? Business performance risk, systemic risk, cycle risk
  
• What should your other assets look like? Liquidity, diversification (different drivers), non correlation, Risk adjusted (Insurance?)
  

Marketing... yourself/your business and your community/network and how this leads to, building, preserving and ensuring long term Wealth.

Today is all about Chambers of Commerce, an important network in your community and to your business. As we speak with our guest we are going to look at a few topics and get first hand experience.

Today we would like to welcome Janelle Best, Director of the Howell Chamber of Commerce to the Trailblazer show. Welcome Janelle

Topic 1: What does a Chamber do for the community?

Topic 2: Importance of Chamber membership?

• What do you say to members that feel they are not getting what they want from a membership
  

Topic 3: What are some of the specific areas of a Chamber should a business owner look at to advance just being a member in the directory?

Are you meeting your customer’s needs? Whether you are in the service, retail or restaurant industries, your customers' needs are whey they come to do business with you especially as we re-engage.

Do you know your customer’s needs and have you asked? If not you would be amazed at the pointers or suggestions your regular customers can provide that could really boost your business and profit.

Topic 1: Products and services

• Are there new products or services you should/could offer
  
• Are there products that need to be updated ( like we talked about last episode out with the old and in with the new)
  
• Update your services and products...please!
  

Topic 2: Purchasing and loyalty options

• Purchasing - In store, online, social media
  
• Loyalty - should you or should you not
  
  • Digital or traditional
    

Topic 3: After sales support or follow up

• Thank you emails
  
• After for referrals or social media comments
  
• Save contact info for renewable orders
  

What areas of your business are you holding onto the old ways and need to get with the new way of doing business?

Topic 1: Is it your old way of planning your business budget

• Old - Ledgers, monthly to month planning, only using CPA’s
  
• New - Digital tools like Quickbooks, full financial team, looking at the full year planning while having quarterly alternatives ready
  
• Team- their tools!
  
• Wave, digital tracking software
  

Topic 2: Is it growth strategies

• Old - Mailers, focus on gaining new customers only, basic websites
  
• New - Social media, videos, online shopping, digital loyalty, focus on existing customers shopping experience
  

Topic 3: Is it connecting

• Old - connecting with customers and staff
  
• New - community, network organizations, local non-profits
  
• Digital,  video meeting, recorded video
  
• Project mgt software
  

Question/Topic 1: So a little bit of a no brainer question but why is having multiple - streams of income important now compared to 5 or `10 years ago?

Question/Topic 2: If someone is looking at getting into multiple streams of income whether they are existing business owners or are looking at this to get into business, what are 3 things they should be looking for to give them the best foundation for success?

Question/Topic 3: Carl, as we know you work and network with a lot of business owners, can you share with our listeners why business owners who are already growing their business should also consider multiple streams of income?

Question/Topic 4: Ok Carl so we have covered the importance of multiple income streams, why current business owners should look into it. Now what are the advantages aside from the obvious of money still coming in why business owners that are transitioning into retirement or needing to change their career path should look at multiple streams of income? Use skills there a team environment that I can still make it work

As we get into this, we are going to break down 3 key digital technologies you can implement easily and we are going to focus on the retail/restaurant and service businesses.

Topic 1: Digital communications.

• Social media - posts vs. live
  
• Chat Bot
  
• Text messages
  
• Email
  

Topic 2: E-Commerce / Fast purchases

• E-commerce
  
• Upgrade POS/Credit card systems
  
• Tablet ordering
  
• webinars
  

Topic 3: Internal digital

• Inventory database
  
• CRM
  
• Connectivity between all devices - desktop to mobile
  

So let’s get you excited about what 2021 can hold for you with a question: What are you going to do to make 2021 the best year yet for you and your business?

Topic 1 - Excited about new features/program

• Is it eCommerce - if not it should be
  
• Online tools like website upgrade (no not social media but we will get to that)
  
• Is it keeping carryout or curbside a forever option           innovations… big
  

Topic 2: Working on your business

• Staff and new leadership
  
• Coaches/Mentors or planning team