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I want to find ways to spread the word about our startup.
Kumbuya is a social platform to meet others who share your interests, measure demand for things you want, and to create and distribute deals. beta.kumbuya.com
3 advice Category: Marketing, Startup operations

Kyle Hawke

I've spent quite a bit of time on your site today and I have put together some thoughts below based on that experience, plus my experience starting Whinot and finally my experience working with other entrepreneurs in your same situation.

I think your bi... (more)

How do I improve my marketing efforts for my engineering consultancy?
I'm currently passively searching on-line for opportunities and receiving eVa notifications (http://eva.virginia.gov/ for state contracts). I'm actively marketing through attending networking events and contacting contracting officers to meet with them and technical personnel in agencies and companies. I just re-launched my website too: www.norinewalker.com
2 advice Category: Marketing

Achille "Lele" Canfora

I might suggest you to build a good repertoire of written content, including success stories, study cases and white papers. I've checked your website, it looks really professional that's already a great plus.

I work for exploreb2b.com it's a soci... (more)

I launched a new image board. How do I get more people to sign up?
We just launched 3 weeks ago. Our site stats still look a bit week. What should we do? revgeek.com
2 advice Category: Marketing, Startup operations

Kyle Hawke

Keep doing what you're doing.

You are doing things the hard way up front. It looks like you are posting all the pictures and setting the tone for the site with the type of images and commentary. Crude, but funny.

Keep posting these images as you fin... (more)

What legal permits do I need to sell Mexican art in the US?
There is a nice art gallery in Zacatecas Mexico and I'd like to promote what they are producing here in the US. I would also like to offer travel packs to returning buyers so they can go and experience how nice living is there.
1 advice Category: Startup operations

Heather McDonough

Obviously you would need to deal with U.S. Customs when the items are brought into the U.S. You can access a publication on Importing Into the U.S. from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office at www.cbp.gov... (more)

National companies are taking our state contracts. How can we expand into new markets?
We are small utility construction/marking company in the state of Virginia. We had a total of 10 employees and 3 subcontractors working for us. Big national companies have come into our state to bid on the biggest projects. These companies can beat everyone on price and then sub-contract only the least profitable pieces of work.

We are looking at different direction to take our company. But without the background we are having trouble breaking into other fields.
1 advice Category: Expansion

Mark Wright

I would suggest a combination of a strategic planning session with key members of your company after you have done a financial analysis of the different types of work/contracts you have done over the past year or two (focus on profitability and contributio... (more)

From food provider (restaurant) perspective, what are some key pain points relating to menus and customers?
We would like to better understand restaurant perspective in interacting with customers. For example, is it expensive (material and labor) to update menus? Does it get the job done with respect to customers, or do wait staff end up spending valuable time explaining? Is relationship with diners important? If so, how?
1 advice Category: Employees, Production, Startup operations

Mark Wright

If you are able or have been able to create a reputation around a menu that changes because customers have shared with you their enjoyment of the 'new' items on the menu, than you clearly should make the effort to revise the menu. It may be that you creat... (more)

I need to get more meetings setup with prospective clients.
After working in the corporate world for years, I 'retired' in 2004 to work as an independent consultant. I help clients run their business more effectively and efficiently with a focus on cost reduction. I have worked with clients of all sizes. Once I get a meeting setup, I can usually communicate how I can help, but need to get more of these meetings scheduled. www.metamorphosismc.com
3 advice Category: Branding, Expansion, Marketing

Barbara Perino, CPCC, ACC

Are your clients in the local area or in other areas away from where you are? Some questions to ask yourself: how do I market myself; who knows what I do; where do you get your exposure? What separates you from others? How clear are you on your message an... (more)

How can we use social media to market our Thai restaurant?
The restaurant has been in the business since April 2006. The restaurant is listed on the Supermedia.com and Yelp.com. I would like to use social media to entice new customers to the restaurant. I feel that the traditional marketing media (magazine, newspaper, coupon, etc.) is obsolete. Our website is www.ilovethai2.com
2 advice Category: Internet, Marketing

Brook Maples

This is a really broad topic, and there is a lot of information to share, enough to fill a short book. The bottom line with social media is you're trying to get customers who love your restaurant tell their network how great you are, so their network beco... (more)

How do I find affordable quality seamstresses for a women's clothing line (on a small scale)?
I've recently started a small custom women's clothing line and am selling a few designs on Etsy (www.etsy.com). Right now production is my biggest problem. I have only found one seamstress who can properly size my dresses and also produces quality work. But she's also expensive and I need to lower my costs. I need help finding affordable quality labor.
2 advice Category: Production

Kyle Hawke

This question has an inherent conflict in the attributes you are looking for in a seamstress: custom, affordable, quality, and small scale can not all be achieved together. You have to expect to give up on at least one of these dimensions. At first that w... (more)

What are the best ways to figure out market demand for your idea?
Our publishing business could go in a million directions. Which idea do we pick? Follow the money -- i.e., the clients -- is a great way to go, but that still requires pitching or promoting 1 (or 10 ideas) over 1 (or 100) other ideas. How do you begin sifting through the possibilities to follow a path?
4 advice Category: Startup operations

Carter Hoerr

Interesting...the way you ask the question assumes that each of the 100 possible ideas is equally appealing to the customer and equally profitable to you. Doubtful, of course, but if true then the answer is to pick the ideas(s) most appealing to you. Then ... (more)