Apple Does A Good Job of Exclusive Positioning & "Unique Selling Proposition". New iPhone Ad Targets Small Business.

Apple is focusing its new iPhone advertisements on Small Businesses. Since the Apple App Store opened 10 months ago for the iPhone and iPod Touch, it is now approaching its 1 billionth download. Consumer demand caused about 110 million “apps” to be downloaded each month.

Apple has done a good job in their key changes to the iPhone's functionality from a business standpoint (I.E. - push email, calendar & contacts capabilities, and compatibility with Microsoft Exchange). The new changes include the the ability to: process credit-card transactions using Inner Fence's Credit Card Terminal application, print a shipping label for a package using the Print & Share app,and check on the status of delivery with the FedEx Mobile app.

Granted, Apple is catering to the demand of more "apps" to download, however Apple does a good job of using a "Unique Selling Proposition" to target Small Business. When thinking about your business, ask yourself:

I. What sets you apart from the crowd?

II. What do you do that no one else does?

Apple has positioned themselves to be the exclusive solution for Small Businesses to do business faster using technology. Blackberry started it's version of the iPhone App Store called the Blackberry App World. App world has less than 1,000 applications compared with the 31,000 available for the iPhone.

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Outlook Better. Missouri aproves $200 million for Small Business. $25K for Business Owners.

Missouri Development Finance Board approved the creation of a $2 million pool of state funds. The state money will provide 80 low interest or no interest loans of $25,000 for small business owners. The funding comes from the same 4% collected on MDFB tax credits.

If you are a small business owner, I recommend implementing time everyday to gaining knowledge about the funds and resources available to you. Contact your regional SBA office. Start asking questions. Take the initiative.

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Small Business Administration Announces New Changes to Help With Loans

A small business summit was held in PerrysBurg,Ohio, where more than 100 small business owners discussed: How to access money they need to stay in business, and who might buy their products. The summit was hosted by U.S. Rep Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green. Six other presenters from various agencies were there as well.

Two new very important changes regarding small business loans was discussed by Gilbert Goldberg, Cleveland district director of the Small Business Administration.

I. The SBA can now guarantee 90 percent of small business loans of up to $2 million. Previously, the SBA could only guarantee 70 percent.

II. The SBA will also waive fees that are normally charged for loan assistance.

Stay informed and take advantage of the resources the Small Business Administration has to offer. Strategically target one government program to help your small business in today's time. Focus on this one program to get you in the door. Leverage the experience and approval process to help qualify you for as many programs as possible.

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Missouri house approves first round funding for $200 million in Tax Breaks for Small Business

The Missouri house has approved first round funding in the amount of $200 Million in tax breaks and incentives for small business and shoppers. The two bills that are endorsed would waive state sales tax from July 4th to July 31st, and allow small businesses to keep a greater share of sales taxes collected throughout the year.

The bill will also exempts companies with $1 million in yearly sales from paying workers minimum wage. Currently, businesses with $500,000 in annual sales are exempt. Moreover, the bill would also ban increases on state user fees, as well as new regulations on small business for three years.

It's good to see that dialogue and action is taking place to help small business.

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Outlook bright for Small Business

A new survey of small business owners from FedEx shows that they remain positive about the prospects of future growth, despite the current economic climate. While owners acknowledge a current drop in profits due to reduced consumer and business spending, they expect things to turn around, and 47% plan to actually increase their marketing efforts in 2009.

This is good news for the 47% that invest in their future, which is the topic of my most recent article.

Read more about this survey.

Take your foot off the brake!

Have you ever driven your car on an icy road?
What happens when you jam-on the brakes?
That's right, you slide off the road and maybe end-up in a ditch or worse.

That is exactly what is happening to many people today. They are spending entirely too much time watching, reading, listening and talking about how BAD things are in this economy. They are focusing on blaming Bush or Obama or the Fortune 100 CEOS or whoever. As a result, they can't help but react with fear by jamming-on the brakes.

To read more about why maintaining your marketing efforts is important even in a down economy, please read my latest article.