Find at least 10 other companies, websites, etc. doing what you do. Then create a list in excel or database format.  Then list:

1) the company name

2) website link

3) what you like about the business, website, services, products, etc.

4) what you do not like about the business, website, services, etc.

5) what is missing, what could they do better, general comments and thoughts

After having this list, you will quickly start to see patterns; Notice how you can make your business stand out from the competition.  You may also find that their are already people doing exactly what you have in mind or no one.  Either way, it’s good to know what is out there and be prepared to do it better or different.

Piedmont Avenue Consulting is the San Francisco Bay Area’s premier boutique consulting firm exclusively serving small to medium sized organizations and business owners to improve productivity and performance. Our clients include restaurants, retail specialty stores, financial services firms, high-growth start-up companies, real estate agencies, individual entrepreneurs, and other diverse organizations.

E-Newsletters and E-Books

Publishing e-newsletters and e-books are excellent ways to promote an individuals and or a company’s expertise. Giving a chapter of a book away online (even if you have only written a chapter) is an excellent way to establish value. Sending out weekly, monthly, or quarterly e-newsletters is made very easy by using one of several programs including Constant Contact or Vertical Response.  Constant Contact provide templates for writing the e-newsletters, building your email membership lists, automating the signup processes, and removing people who no longer want to be on the distribution list. The old e-newsletters can then be added to the content on your Website making the website a greater source of information, while at the same time this additional content is now searchable by search engines. The newsletters also keep you and your companies services and products on the mind of potential customers, helps retain existing customers, and is a place to promote new offerings. Blogs or online commentaries, stories, and examples of you or your business in action can also be a way to show knowledge and increase awareness of your business.

Piedmont Avenue Consulting assists our clients in the production of E-books, E-newsletters, and blogs. Contact PAC today to see how we can assist your website and Internet needs.

Networking Events

Networking by attending associations and entrepreneur groups, regardless of your business or your target customer, allows you to meet other business owners, investors, company representatives, etc. and is key to any businesses growth. Networking at local and national associations events, which promote their own business objectives, more general entrepreneur groups, conferences, and other events are an excellent opportunity to grow personally and professionally. Several good sites provide listings of events and ongoing local groups including Meetup.org, Craigslist Groups, and Eventbrite.

Piedmont Avenue Consulting is a member of and coordinates several groups for business owners, entrepreneurs, and charities. We network, find potential partnerships, and develop leads for our clients at these events. The San Francisco Bay Area has numerous organizations and groups for any type of business. Take the next step to attend a local group or let us know how we can assist you in reaching your target audience.

Piedmont Avenue Consulting is the San Francisco Bay Area’s premier boutique consulting firm exclusively serving small to medium sized organizations and business owners to improve productivity and performance. Our clients include restaurants, retail specialty stores, financial services firms, high-growth start-up companies, real estate agencies, individual entrepreneurs, and other diverse organizations.