Below is a listing of one hundred and five business ideas thought of by middle and high school students. Hopefully this listing will illustrate the principle that business ideas are a dime a dozen and it is always the execution that counts. I encourage you to read "It’s not the Idea, It’s the Execution" after finishing this article as well as "How to Evaluate Business Ideas and Opportunities."
The following ideas were brainstormed by fourteen high school students in a 90 minute period on July 20, 2003.
1. underwater restaurant
2. spa franchise
3. fordable hammock for car trunks
4. high quality light fixtures
5. health bar chain
6. comfy, damage-free ear phones
7. chair with popcorn holder, tray, built-in radio, massager
8. self-cleaning microwave
9. security software to protect against hackers and credit card scams
10. wholesale store without membership card
11. aerobic center for teenagers
12. chair store w/ imported European chocolate
13. restaurants for dogs and cats
14. oxygen tanks so dogs and cats can go diving
15. computer animation company
16. real estate company
17. cosmetics/hair care company
18. bowling alley in Cartagena, Columbia
19. Store that makes custom clothes
20. electronic translator that you put in your ear
21. fashion design company for new designers that need a start
22. iron rod production
23. selling traditional jewelry
24. brail screen that reads computer and translates the text on a computer into 3D brail that the blind could read
25. lumber company
26. Make a ski board rotating wardrobe at ski resorts
27. flavored straws
28. A grocery store that also had a fitness center
29. a diagonal load dishwasher
30. sushi restaurant
31. Candy land theme park chain
32. web design/advertising company
33. per month CD online company
34. educational software for the visually impaired
35. bringing broadband internet access into developing countries
36. Sonar for blind people
37. voice/data equipment for hospitals
38. drink machine that talks to you.
39. a teddy bear with sensors and small computer inside that would talk to infants/toddlers and encourage good behavior or tell them a bed-time story
40. an online store where you could customize clothing and then have it shipped to you
41. an educational software company that made console games for kids that were actually fun to play
1. New brand of cola
2. Monorail company
3. triangular and circular houses
4. interchangeable shoes
5. internet caf�
6. pens that never from out of ink
7. new type of fuel
8. hovercars
9. new internet service provider
10. college/cheerleader calendars
11. college/male athlete calendars
12. voice-activated radio/TV
13. voice activated hours
14. remote control finder
15. voice activated keys
16. hydrogen powered cars
17. easy wrinkle remover
18. never-ending bottle of soda
19. underwear with pockets
20. new clothing line
21. donuts store
22. shoe pockets
23. wireless TV head seats
24. hair coloring shampoo
25. desks with build in computers
26. text books on computers
27. automatic dog food dispenser
28. remote control lawnmower
29. washer-dryer all in one combo
30. color eye drops
31. mechanical spiders
32. MP3 player watch
33. watch that automatically knows what time zone it’s in
34. butt-wiping toilets
35. better toothpaste
36. virus protection
37. toothbrush with toothpaste in it
38. video phone
39. logo changing shirt
40. solar color changing shirt
41. solar powered sports cars
42. color changing nail polish
43. TV on cell phones
44. personal soda dispenser
45. voice-controlled air conditioning system
46. resort
47. color changing hair bow
48. voice activated elevators
49. phone/TV/radio in a shower
50. sponges with built in soap
51. self-moving furniture
52. multi-colored markets
53. reversible backpacks
54. student tracker system
55. remote to control of your appliances
56. sneakers with comfortable insides
57. auto food/water dispenser for animals for when family is away for a few days
58. vacuum with perfume in it
59. trash can with perfume in it
60. real-looking pony tail that hooks in your hair
61. 3 in 1 paint color can
62. refrigerator that has an alarm for bad food
63. cat food dispenser
64. boats that give a smooth ride
Monday, July 27, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Promoting Your Family Business
Promoting Your Family Business
Family business promotion ideas can tie together sales, marketing and business development stategies. According to family business expert Don Schwerzler, founder of the Family Business Institute, promotional products and personalized gifts are a great way to promote branding, name recognition, customer retention and customer & employee recognition programs."
Promotional products are a highly competitive industry. Like computers and other electronic products, inexpensive promotional products are now available to help support your business promotion ideas.
Promotional Products include pens, cups, name tags, lanyards, name tag holders.
Embroidery Products include shirts, caps and other clothing items.
Personalized Gifts can help with branding and customer retention.
The promotional products supplier we recommend is Namifiers, one of Inc. Magazines “fast-growth” companies Name Tags, Lanyards & Promotional Products
What we find interesting about Namifiers is their PRICE-BEAT GUARANTEE. Take a look at this innovative business practice:
We continually employ the most efficient processes in order to offer extremely competitive pricing for our customers. Even so, companies may offer periodic sales that dip below our advertised prices. No need to worry…. we stand behind our products with our Price-Beat Guarantee.
Here are 3 easy steps to follow if you find a lower price with one of our competitors.
1. Verify that the product of interest is the same. (Be careful not to be fooled by cheaper materials that rarely result in customer satisfaction. We select cost-effective materials that offer optimum durability.)
2. Verify that we’re comparing similar turnaround times. (Our normal production time is generally 4 xs faster than our competitors. There is value in that, so you’ll want to make sure the other quote is based on the same turnaround time.)
3. Submit a copy of the competitor’s advertised price and product specs via email or fax to our Customer Service Team. (If it is a sales quote, simply fax us a copy of it along with the competitor’s contact information.) Bottom line....we're committed to earn your business and provide the best customer experience possible.
Anyone planning to purchase promotional items or personalized gifts should take advantage of this unique and competitive offer!!! You could save a lot of money!
MORE SAVINGS!
By special arrangement with Namifiers, family business vistors to our web site will receive 10% additional savings when placing an order for any promotional products, ID badges, lanyards, vinyl Banners, apparel or any personalized gifts.
If calling Namifiers, be sure to mention the promo code "FamilyBusiness" for 10% Additional Savings in addition to their Price Beat Guarantee Quotes.
Click here for more information Promotional Products & Personalized Gifts
Business promotion ideas can be found in a wide variety of promotional products and personalized gifts:
Custom Printed Lanyards
Engraved and Full Color Name Tags
Indoor and Outdoor Vinyl Banners
Name Badge Holders
Name Plates
Screen Printing Aprons, T-Shirts, Hoodies, Tote Bags
Personalized Gifts & Promotional Products
Custom Embroidered OGIE Bags
Custom Printed Luggage Tags
Vinyl Lettering, Signs and Car Magnets
If it can be printed, engraved, embroidered, or stamped, chances are Namifiers can do it faster, better and for less money!
Family business promotion ideas can tie together sales, marketing and business development stategies. According to family business expert Don Schwerzler, founder of the Family Business Institute, promotional products and personalized gifts are a great way to promote branding, name recognition, customer retention and customer & employee recognition programs."
Promotional products are a highly competitive industry. Like computers and other electronic products, inexpensive promotional products are now available to help support your business promotion ideas.
Promotional Products include pens, cups, name tags, lanyards, name tag holders.
Embroidery Products include shirts, caps and other clothing items.
Personalized Gifts can help with branding and customer retention.
The promotional products supplier we recommend is Namifiers, one of Inc. Magazines “fast-growth” companies Name Tags, Lanyards & Promotional Products
What we find interesting about Namifiers is their PRICE-BEAT GUARANTEE. Take a look at this innovative business practice:
We continually employ the most efficient processes in order to offer extremely competitive pricing for our customers. Even so, companies may offer periodic sales that dip below our advertised prices. No need to worry…. we stand behind our products with our Price-Beat Guarantee.
Here are 3 easy steps to follow if you find a lower price with one of our competitors.
1. Verify that the product of interest is the same. (Be careful not to be fooled by cheaper materials that rarely result in customer satisfaction. We select cost-effective materials that offer optimum durability.)
2. Verify that we’re comparing similar turnaround times. (Our normal production time is generally 4 xs faster than our competitors. There is value in that, so you’ll want to make sure the other quote is based on the same turnaround time.)
3. Submit a copy of the competitor’s advertised price and product specs via email or fax to our Customer Service Team. (If it is a sales quote, simply fax us a copy of it along with the competitor’s contact information.) Bottom line....we're committed to earn your business and provide the best customer experience possible.
Anyone planning to purchase promotional items or personalized gifts should take advantage of this unique and competitive offer!!! You could save a lot of money!
MORE SAVINGS!
By special arrangement with Namifiers, family business vistors to our web site will receive 10% additional savings when placing an order for any promotional products, ID badges, lanyards, vinyl Banners, apparel or any personalized gifts.
If calling Namifiers, be sure to mention the promo code "FamilyBusiness" for 10% Additional Savings in addition to their Price Beat Guarantee Quotes.
Click here for more information Promotional Products & Personalized Gifts
Business promotion ideas can be found in a wide variety of promotional products and personalized gifts:
Custom Printed Lanyards
Engraved and Full Color Name Tags
Indoor and Outdoor Vinyl Banners
Name Badge Holders
Name Plates
Screen Printing Aprons, T-Shirts, Hoodies, Tote Bags
Personalized Gifts & Promotional Products
Custom Embroidered OGIE Bags
Custom Printed Luggage Tags
Vinyl Lettering, Signs and Car Magnets
If it can be printed, engraved, embroidered, or stamped, chances are Namifiers can do it faster, better and for less money!
Promotion Ideas
Promotion Ideas
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Once a small business has determined both its business positioning strategy and the size of the promotional budget, specific promotional activities can be selected. Promotion programs provide direct purchase incentives in contrast to most advertising, which provides reasons to buy your product instead of the competing brand.
Admittedly, some types of promotions can be expensive, complicated, difficult to execute, time-consuming, and difficult to administer legally. Many small businesses are local or regional, so some types of promotional activities will be too expensive or inappropriate for the type of goods and services offered. The most important thing is to come up with a promotion that is unique and that sends the right message about your business. And it is critical to monitor the effectiveness of your promotions. If they don't generate results, they aren't worth the time or money you'll spend.
google_protectAndRun("render_ads.js::google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad);
Once a small business has determined both its business positioning strategy and the size of the promotional budget, specific promotional activities can be selected. Promotion programs provide direct purchase incentives in contrast to most advertising, which provides reasons to buy your product instead of the competing brand.
Admittedly, some types of promotions can be expensive, complicated, difficult to execute, time-consuming, and difficult to administer legally. Many small businesses are local or regional, so some types of promotional activities will be too expensive or inappropriate for the type of goods and services offered. The most important thing is to come up with a promotion that is unique and that sends the right message about your business. And it is critical to monitor the effectiveness of your promotions. If they don't generate results, they aren't worth the time or money you'll spend.
Promotional Ideas for Your Small Business
Since the marketing budget for a small business is typically limited, you'll want to have some promotional ideas on hand that are cost-effective. With that in mind, below are some of the many possible promotional ideas that can be easy to execute.
Local Events and Activities: Use anything from setting up a booth at a street fair to sponsoring a little league team to display your product or company name.
Free Samples: Look for key locations where your target group can be found and give out free samples. If possible give free demonstrations of your service or product.
Contests: Find a prize of interest to your target audience and hold a contest.
Speaking Engagements: Contact local schools, speakers groups, and associations and inquire about speaking engagements, such as lectures, seminars, or classes that you can teach.
Fliers: Exchange fliers with other noncompetitive businesses who will display them at their location. Also find locations where you can post a flier or bulletin.
Vehicles: Paint the name of your business on any trucks you use and even put a sign on your car or in the car window.
Press: Develop a list of local editors and producers and send press releases of important upcoming activities. Also look for unique angles about your business that might make for an interesting story.
Newsletters: Email newsletters or print newsletters are an effective and inexpensive means of promoting your business.
Printed Matter: Promote yourself on all of your printed matter.
Contacts and Networking: Hand out your business cards to as many people as possible and network regularly to make new contacts.
In Store or Online Values: Offer special discounts for second purchases or free downloads online.
Attend Meetings of Professional Groups: Attend meetings of the Chamber of Commerce and other local groups where you can introduce yourself and your business to others.
Directories: Make sure to list your company in all appropriate free directories
Local Events and Activities: Use anything from setting up a booth at a street fair to sponsoring a little league team to display your product or company name.
Free Samples: Look for key locations where your target group can be found and give out free samples. If possible give free demonstrations of your service or product.
Contests: Find a prize of interest to your target audience and hold a contest.
Speaking Engagements: Contact local schools, speakers groups, and associations and inquire about speaking engagements, such as lectures, seminars, or classes that you can teach.
Fliers: Exchange fliers with other noncompetitive businesses who will display them at their location. Also find locations where you can post a flier or bulletin.
Vehicles: Paint the name of your business on any trucks you use and even put a sign on your car or in the car window.
Press: Develop a list of local editors and producers and send press releases of important upcoming activities. Also look for unique angles about your business that might make for an interesting story.
Newsletters: Email newsletters or print newsletters are an effective and inexpensive means of promoting your business.
Printed Matter: Promote yourself on all of your printed matter.
Contacts and Networking: Hand out your business cards to as many people as possible and network regularly to make new contacts.
In Store or Online Values: Offer special discounts for second purchases or free downloads online.
Attend Meetings of Professional Groups: Attend meetings of the Chamber of Commerce and other local groups where you can introduce yourself and your business to others.
Directories: Make sure to list your company in all appropriate free directories
Modern Business Promotion Ideas
Make new marketing plans and expand your business; don't forget to promote your business efficiently.
The biggest mistake that people make while doing business is that they care about its promotion. If you don't spread the message effectively how can you convey it appropriately to the people? The more popular the business becomes, more is the profit. There are several ways of promoting the business. The advertisements we regularly see on the television sets are the part of the promotion of the company.
One of the easiest and the best way used for promotion of business is the use of promotional sticky notes. These are the cheapest way to promote the trade within business circles, clients and the customers. These are very handy and can be stickled on any surface in offices and homes because of its sticky substance. These are also used as reminder notes that constantly keeps you reminding about your tasks. If you have the habit of forgetting meetings or appointments then the best way is to write it down on these sticky notes and stick them in front of you. The sticky notes are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes according to the company's demand.
Another inexpensive and handy tool used for business promotion is the magnetic business card. The clients will throw away the paper visiting cards but these magnetic cards will keep reminding them of you every time they go near the refrigerator. People would hardly throw away a business magnetic card.
The biggest mistake that people make while doing business is that they care about its promotion. If you don't spread the message effectively how can you convey it appropriately to the people? The more popular the business becomes, more is the profit. There are several ways of promoting the business. The advertisements we regularly see on the television sets are the part of the promotion of the company.
One of the easiest and the best way used for promotion of business is the use of promotional sticky notes. These are the cheapest way to promote the trade within business circles, clients and the customers. These are very handy and can be stickled on any surface in offices and homes because of its sticky substance. These are also used as reminder notes that constantly keeps you reminding about your tasks. If you have the habit of forgetting meetings or appointments then the best way is to write it down on these sticky notes and stick them in front of you. The sticky notes are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes according to the company's demand.
Another inexpensive and handy tool used for business promotion is the magnetic business card. The clients will throw away the paper visiting cards but these magnetic cards will keep reminding them of you every time they go near the refrigerator. People would hardly throw away a business magnetic card.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
7 Ways To Promote Your Bizz Opp FREE
When you jump into a business opportunity you are not expecting to spend tons of cash other then what you spent to join. Nobody has extra money to spend trying to make money on the internet they have bills to pay and a family to take care of.
So what about FREE advertising? All you need is to invest a little of your time each day and you will generate income. Here are 7 proven ways to promote your business online or offline for FREE.
1. Blogs
Writing a blog about your product is one of the many ways to promote your opportunity. You have the ability to write as many blogs as you want and ping them to send out to other blog networks that have tons of traffic going through every single day.
Now some people will say that blogs are played out but not really, what they don't know is that when you write so many blogs and they are all over the net the search engines pick that up giving you even more traffic. If you need help finding blogs just type in on the search engine "Blog Directories" and to ping them go to ping-o-matic.
2. Articles
A article is what you are reading now, simple and easy. It could be a review of your product, a testimonial of that product etc, it is up to you. A good article is around 300-500 words it show that you know what you are talking about. A good article could be about a "How to" everybody wants to learn how to do something right.
Again the more articles you write the more traffic you will get to your site. To find article directories simply go to any search engine and type "Article Directories".
3. Social Networking
This is one of my favorites because you get to meet people that have the same interest as you. I am sure you heard of "Facebook", "Myspace", "Twitter", etc, these sites alone have millions of people and more signing up each day that is a lot of money waiting for you.
When social networking they key is to build relationships, you don’t want to come selling something right away you will make very little sales get to know people. Post blogs, comment other peoples blogs join groups and leave you opinion. When using this method you must focus on what the other person problems is an what they could benefit from your product.
4. Videos
Videos are another very powerful way to get your product to people. Millions of people watch videos each day and know they could use them with their ipod or iphone so take advantage of this method. Just like anything else on the internet the more videos you have on the net the search engines pick that up to.
You don't have to have you face on your video it could be a simple power point, or you could use video capture. "Camstudio" is a FREE video capture software that captures whatever is on your computer screen.
5. Ads
When I say ads I mean FREE ads like "CraigsList" or "BackPage" etc. Again millions of people look on these sites for jobs, bizz opp, or whatever it may be. All you do is put a simple ad together place it in the right section and there you go more traffic to your website.
You must be careful and try not to place to many ads that will cause you to lose your ad and you did all that work for nothing. Place ads in the major cities and try to make your ad creative. If you need help writing a ad go to the the search engine an type in "how to create an ad".
6. Offline
This could be fun and gets you away from your computer and enjoy life a little. You could leave fliers on windshields, leave ads on posts, go to stores and place you ad where they allow you to, leave business cards everywhere, etc.
This is different because not much people are doing it these days and it will make you a lot of money. Get creative with it!!
7. Cold Calling
There is a website that gives you FREE lead it's called "OrangeLeads". You can get as many leads as you want, there is a section of leads that come with names an email and another section with phone numbers. These are people who want to make money from home you can call them.
When you call someone you are separating yourself from everybody else who is just emailing or sending mail, they want to know that you are real and not just taking their money.
Thanks for reading I hope you benefit from this. :)
Matthew Garcia
So what about FREE advertising? All you need is to invest a little of your time each day and you will generate income. Here are 7 proven ways to promote your business online or offline for FREE.
1. Blogs
Writing a blog about your product is one of the many ways to promote your opportunity. You have the ability to write as many blogs as you want and ping them to send out to other blog networks that have tons of traffic going through every single day.
Now some people will say that blogs are played out but not really, what they don't know is that when you write so many blogs and they are all over the net the search engines pick that up giving you even more traffic. If you need help finding blogs just type in on the search engine "Blog Directories" and to ping them go to ping-o-matic.
2. Articles
A article is what you are reading now, simple and easy. It could be a review of your product, a testimonial of that product etc, it is up to you. A good article is around 300-500 words it show that you know what you are talking about. A good article could be about a "How to" everybody wants to learn how to do something right.
Again the more articles you write the more traffic you will get to your site. To find article directories simply go to any search engine and type "Article Directories".
3. Social Networking
This is one of my favorites because you get to meet people that have the same interest as you. I am sure you heard of "Facebook", "Myspace", "Twitter", etc, these sites alone have millions of people and more signing up each day that is a lot of money waiting for you.
When social networking they key is to build relationships, you don’t want to come selling something right away you will make very little sales get to know people. Post blogs, comment other peoples blogs join groups and leave you opinion. When using this method you must focus on what the other person problems is an what they could benefit from your product.
4. Videos
Videos are another very powerful way to get your product to people. Millions of people watch videos each day and know they could use them with their ipod or iphone so take advantage of this method. Just like anything else on the internet the more videos you have on the net the search engines pick that up to.
You don't have to have you face on your video it could be a simple power point, or you could use video capture. "Camstudio" is a FREE video capture software that captures whatever is on your computer screen.
5. Ads
When I say ads I mean FREE ads like "CraigsList" or "BackPage" etc. Again millions of people look on these sites for jobs, bizz opp, or whatever it may be. All you do is put a simple ad together place it in the right section and there you go more traffic to your website.
You must be careful and try not to place to many ads that will cause you to lose your ad and you did all that work for nothing. Place ads in the major cities and try to make your ad creative. If you need help writing a ad go to the the search engine an type in "how to create an ad".
6. Offline
This could be fun and gets you away from your computer and enjoy life a little. You could leave fliers on windshields, leave ads on posts, go to stores and place you ad where they allow you to, leave business cards everywhere, etc.
This is different because not much people are doing it these days and it will make you a lot of money. Get creative with it!!
7. Cold Calling
There is a website that gives you FREE lead it's called "OrangeLeads". You can get as many leads as you want, there is a section of leads that come with names an email and another section with phone numbers. These are people who want to make money from home you can call them.
When you call someone you are separating yourself from everybody else who is just emailing or sending mail, they want to know that you are real and not just taking their money.
Thanks for reading I hope you benefit from this. :)
Matthew Garcia
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