Take advantage of free resources
We all know running a business isn’t a cakewalk, that’s why hundreds of dealers flock to the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo each year — to hone their business acumen. And of course, that’s also why so many dealers read Boating Industry and BI’s e-newsletter as well. But there are a lot of free resources that can be delivered directly to your email inbox to take advantage of throughout the year.
One of my favorites is the Small Business Administration e-newsletter. Small business or not, the SBA sends out great advice, information about webinars and more, and it comes only once a week, so its distribution doesn’t get obnoxious. Its latest newsletter included an article on SHOP Marketplaces and details on upcoming Affordable Care Act webinars. Other past articles have included a how-to piece on applying for an SBA microloan and stories on international expansion and business credit cards. Sign up for the newsletter on the SBA.gov website.
Another one I read frequently is SmartBrief on Small Business. Again, though it’s small business focused, it has great information for businesses of all sizes. And this e-newsletter is a daily. Its regular departments include: Problem. Solved., Marketing, Management, Money and Tips & Tools. SmartBrief not only offers great advice pieces, but also delivers case studies, similar to BoatingIndustry.com’s Lessons from Other Industries, that can be relevant to a variety of businesses. To subscribe, click here.
A third great resource is the e-newsletter for the Brand Activation Association. The BAA shares its own content as well as cultivated content from other websites. Recent topics have included: marketing to Millennials, maximizing sales during Christmas, business blogging, storytelling as advertising and more. The link to sign up for the weekly e-newsletter is in the middle of this page. No need to be a BAA member to subscribe.
