Blog

This blog was written by Tim Berry and was originally posted on the SBA website on July 28, 2015. Maybe it’s because business schools teach it that way. Maybe it’s because it’s easier to write about. Maybe it’s because of the dream and the glamor involved. Whatever the reason, there is widespread misunderstanding about the… Read more »

This week’s post was written by Ray Sidney-Smith of W3Consulting, social media consultant and facilitator of the monthly Roundtable for the Alexandria SBDC.  Most small business owners who I meet say that marketing takes up a large portion of their and their business’ time and attention. And, they’re right! Marketing is a good part of… Read more »

This post was written by Patricia Frame of Strategies for Human Resources, our guest author for our solopreneur blog series. Many solopreneurs choose to be independent based on their goals.  Some start that way and decide to build a bigger business, while others seek to build a company once they realize that they have more business… Read more »

A recent Small Business Roundtable addressed the topic of Branding Your Business. The consensus during this facilitated discussion was that the “brand” of a business is the complete experience that customers or clients have as they interact with the business. It includes visual and emotional components such as in-person and telephone interactions, printed materials, social… Read more »

This post was written by Patricia Frame of Strategies for Human Resources, our guest author for our solopreneur blog series. We’ve all heard tips for business development and networking. These three tips aren’t new to you, I bet, but the real issue for most of us is whether we do each consistently – or not… Read more »

This week’s post was written by Ray Sidney-Smith of W3Consulting, social media consultant and facilitator of the monthly Roundtable for the Alexandria SBDC.  When Google makes changes to its algorithm, technologists and the media take notice. Google is the Search Engine juggernaut responsible for giving you the answers to most of life’s major and minor… Read more »

Starting on July 13th and running through August 24th, the Alexandria SBDC will be presenting a series of events for retailers and restaurants. Every Monday, the SBDC will have a guest speaker presenting on a different topic. We’re excited about this series and the impact it will have on our small business community. In the… Read more »

Everybody’s talking about millennials and it’s no wonder; they are a very influential cohort. There are two important contexts that compel small businesses to better understand millennials: marketing and the labor force. Millennials are a desirable consumer demographic, and businesses need to understand how to grab their attention and how to appeal to their distinct… Read more »

The Alexandria SBDC recently attended a Procurement Conference sponsored by Congressman Don Beyer. Among the several worthwhile presentations was a panel of representatives from large prime contractors with tips on how to be successful in securing subcontracts with them. Among the recommendations were: Start early. Almost all teaming and subcontracting activities are accomplished through active… Read more »

This post was written by Patricia Frame of Strategies for Human Resources, our guest author for our solopreneur blog series. When I started my business, I never even thought of working anywhere other than from home. I had a desk already and the price was right! I knew consultants and professionals who had their own… Read more »