Business is no different from a conflict. The market is the battlefield and your marketing tactics and strategies are the weapons you use to defeat the ever increasing competition and bring profit to your business or organization. There are business dictators who know the tricks to win all kinds of battles and in any battlefield. The elite businesses control the market at their disposal and these are the people who set the standards for us and we need to view that as a benchmark or a target to achieve. These big guns stamp their authority from the roots of the market to the very top of the business chain.Small businesses have very little scope to succeed when it comes to competing with bigger or more established businesses. The market is already flooded with many businesses competing for profits and customer and consumer attraction, so in a practical sense there small businesses stand no chance amongst them. The reasons for the same are given below-Established-Big businesses have been in the market since a considerable period of time so they have established their name and popularity across all corners of the market. Small businesses are lesser known so their capacity to attract customers is meager.Clients-In an established business clients, customers and consumers are in abundance and because of the long relationship between the business and the people, there is a trust which develops easily. A reputation is earned. When small businesses compete with the bigger ones, they find it hard to get clients as most of the latter are with the bigger businesses and the upcoming prospects will mostly opt to follow the reputed ones rather than new ones.Money-Big businesses have a humongous amount of money. Small businesses don’t. So when it comes to marketing, smaller ones are found in the shadows of the investment done by the bigger ones. Without the money the smaller businesses either perish or join the bigger ones.Does this mean that the bigger companies will get bigger and the smaller ones just disappear? Is it better to join an established business rather creating a new business at a small scale? Is there any solution to overturn this?A big ‘NO’ is the answer to all these questions. As it appears, the market is dominated by the elites and small businesses will be consumed by the power of the former- just like the case of David and Goliath. But, in real sense we forget that ‘the bridge is not crossed until we reach the bridge’. Yes. It is an overwhelming challenge to step foot into the market with a small business, but it is not a crime to do so. There is space for new prospects because the business thrives on competition, and with a smaller establishment you are certainly competing.The biggest factor that might sway you away from setting up a small business is the element of limited money at our service. But, with a smart and tactful utilization of the limited amount money available, big targets can be achieved. Planning is one of the major things required as assistance to money, without proper planning millions of dollars might just be invested for nothing, in an opposite case- a few hundred dollars might earn you a fortune so planning is of prime importance.Smart advertising and marketing are the ploys that one should implement tactically into the business growth plans. Marketing is key to do execute absolutely anything in a business. If you need to attract customers- marketing will help. If you need to increase sales- marketing is the answer. If you need to create an image in the market- marketing will come handy. If you need to build a brand- marketing is certainly the best option.The only problem lays in the fact that marketing requires money and small businesses certainly don’t have that. The prominent rise of telecommunications has certainly answered the call for help by smaller establishments. Mobile marketing can become a phenomenon and help small businesses prevail. The mobile is a device used by all so there is a medium which can deliver the message effectively and hence support the business cause. The expenses required too, are minimal and help a business expand and spread its word across on a larger scale.What is Mobile Marketing-Mobile marketing is the procedure of advertising to the masses through their portable gadgets or mobile phones. This sort of marketing is relevant to online or internet advertising, nowadays with the advent of more usage of mobile phones and tabs- more individuals are beginning to invest more time on their portable devices and less time on their computers, so it is obvious that the concentration of marketing platforms have shifted from computers and internet to mobiles and portable devices.There are a great l similitude between web advertising and portable advertising however there are some really vital distinctions and differences.Mentioned below are some tools and methods of Mobile marketing-Mobile phone marketing-SMS (Short message services) on mobile phones are used to optimum effect for mobile marketing. Text messages regarding new offers or new business prospects would be sent to potential customers who would read the message and act according to their interest. Messages sent in bulk cost less and the target of reaching out to the people is achieved without making any heavy investments. SMS method is the most well-known way of mobile marketing. This is truly simply sending quick messages to individuals’ mobile devices or telephones and in a ton of routes is like message promoting. The most amazing element here is that you are endowed to have the ability to send your message to target customers who may read the message at their convenience.Mobile media marketing-Similar to SMS, there is an MMS (Multi-media message service) as well on our mobile phones. MMS service gives a business the freedom to deliver a more dynamic an effective message. In an MMS, sounds, pictures, videos, ads etc can be forwarded to potential customers who would respond if they are in need of the business propositions.Online mobile marketing-There are websites which are specially designed for mobiles. Portable devices do not have the same internet speed as computer routers and servers. Mobile websites are very easy to access due to the size of the webpage i.e. in Mb’s (megabytes). The costs of advertising on such mobile web pages are very affordable and are also a tool to get many customers.This is one of the most common ways to market and advertise to the masses through the mobile marketing medium by placing advertisements on web browsers and search engines. With the advent of a huge number of people accessing the web pages using their mobile device recently, the mobile marketing platform is wider than before. Sooner or later, but inevitably mobile devices will surpass the computer as the mainstream or general way to browse the internet and get access to it.Mobile app marketing-With the introduction of tabs, androids, i-phones and smart phones, the usage of app’s (applications) on mobile and portable devices have increased. This is a complex procedure but a really effective method of mobile marketing. In this kind of marketing, businesses develop apps which are used by mobile users. If the app is liked by the mobile owner then the business name is considered and maybe a customer is attracted.Example- If an air ticketing company wants to create an app to attract people and persuade them to buy tickets to various destinations across the world; they can create an app which will guide the user to check flight listings, timings, expenditure, offers etc. If the app name is based on the b=business name then, the air ticketing name will become synonymous with the app and people will enquire about tickets to the business which may offer discounts or promise so through their apps.Nowadays more and more people have started to play games on their mobile phones businesses can start advertising their name and services through these games. When a person is playing a game, and your business name appears whenever the person wins- he remembers that name and connects to it whenever he visits the market. A business needs to contact a app developer who is under contract to develop an app game for some company, if the company agrees to publish or display your add it will benefit your business that too with lass investment. The quality and level of mobile app gaming is increasing rapidly and hence mobile app marketing has become a big platform to display your marketing skills for the growth of your business.All of this concludes to one strong observation. Mobile marketing is on the rise and there is no reason or obstacle that might stall its growth. Using this affordable and effective medium of marketing, small businesses can actually compete with the bigger businesses in the market, not directly but gradually with the course of time. With mobile marketing, a small business may not always become as big as the elites but it can surely create an atmosphere that can make a business self-reliant and self sustaining.

Like any other business venture, security for your home based business venture is critical for its sustainability and success.In an online environment, your business is not completely protected from threats that seem to increase in number by the minute. These threats such as hackers, viruses, malicious software and scammers can wreak havoc on your online business and can lead to loss of leads and sales, unnecessary expenses, or worse, ruining your online business reputation. Be sure that you employ effective countermeasures against these threats to protect your business and keep it running smoothly.One major threat to any online home based business is hacking.Hackers compromise the security of your business site and can (and will) alter or destroy your online records, gain unauthorized access to confidential data or even vandalize your product website. Besides these, hackers can also implant viruses on your site and spread it to anyone who would access it. This will definitely drive clients away and create a negative impression, negating all sales opportunities and totally ruining the business. The best way to counter this is to invest in a good security software package that protects your site from both hackers and viruses. The cost of this software will definitely make up for the security and peace of mind you will have, considering the magnitude of impact this threat may bring to your online business.Viruses and malicious software can also cause adverse effects on your online business, both in your home based business’s physical and virtual logistics.Viruses can cause your computer to go haywire, lose essential data or render your business site inaccessible. Worse, it can infect your client’s computer even with by just accessing your site. Malicious software eats up valuable computer resources and may cause your computer to run slower, if it will let it work at all. There are some viruses and malware that are so destructive that the only way to get it fixed is to totally format your computer, translating to data loss and downtime for your business. Better to get a good anti-virus or protection software program, keep it updated and always remember to create backups for your important files so you can readily recover them should a virus attack occur.As much business opportunities abound around the internet, so are scammers and dishonest groups looking to make a quick buck online.Should you opt to enroll in a home based business opportunity offered on the internet, it is best to do a thorough research first. Google is a good place to start for your research, Look for customer forums for honest and unbiased comments about the business. Ask around and search for all related write-ups, data and sites related to the business. Only if you are convinced of the business’s integrity and there is proof that it is a real venture then you should invest your hard-earned money for it.You can be helped best on finding the best security for your online business by availing of professional services and advice from the experts in the internet business industry. With expert mentoring and coaching, your home-based business will surely be profitable, effective and secure, and you will definitely enjoy all the rewards it will bring for a long time to come. Give the best to your online business by consulting an expert professional in providing your home based business the best methods and techniques in achieving its maximum potential.

I want you to think about the term “Fundraising Auction”.

A “Fundraising Auction” is an event where items of value are gathered, and then sold in a competitive bidding situation, either in a Silent Auction format, or in a Live Auction format by a Live Auctioneer. And since typically the best items are saved for the Live Auction, arguably it is the Live Auction that should generate a significant portion of the proceeds in any Fundraising Auction.

So why do so many non-profit groups consider the Fundraising Auctioneer to be the least valuable component in a Fundraising Auction?

The Hosting Facility gets paid.
The Printer gets paid.
The Caterer gets paid.
The Liquor Store gets paid.
The DJ gets paid.
The Florist gets paid.
But the Auctioneer … the individual who is expected to raise the lion’s share of the event’s proceeds… is expected to work for Free. And is usually under-appreciated for the professional services he/she provides.

I’m not trying to underscore the value of the invitations & programs, food, booze, music, and decorations. All are important in their own way. But each of these are “Expenses”. It is the Auctioneer who is going to bring “Revenue”… and thus, the “Profits”… into any event. Which is the ultimate objective of any Fundraising Auction.

Here is a real-life example of how under-appreciated the Auctioneer can be. In two comparable events we worked last year, during the dinner portion of the event one non-profit group sat the Auctioneer (me) at a table with the DJ, the Interns, the Volunteer Staff, and other event “Help”. The 2nd non-profit group sat the Auctioneer (me) directly next to the CEO of their organization, where we chatted about how important the pending revenue would be to their organization. Which group do you think valued the services of the Fundraising Auctioneer more?

Don’t ever under-estimate the value that a professional Fundraising Auctioneer can bring to your event. The Auctioneer adds value as a pre-event consultant. And the Auctioneer can change an event from a moderate to a huge success.

A Case Study Once I was scheduled to call an Auction for a major local non-profit group. They represented a very good cause and they had a strong and dedicated following. Their event was sold out, quality Live & Silent Auction items had been solicited, and the Special Pledge Appeal had been choreographed and was ready to go. The facility was first class, the appropriate caterer was booked, and the food was ready to cook.

But quite unexpectedly, some unseasonably inclement weather forced the event’s cancellation. Despite all of the committee’s hard work, cancelling the event was the proper decision considering the circumstances.

So the Event Committee scrambled to re-schedule the event for the following weekend.

They confirmed with the Hosting Facility.
They confirmed with the Caterer.
They confirmed with the Liquor Store.
They confirmed with the DJ.
They confirmed with the Florist.
Since they already had the Mailing List of those scheduled to attend, no new invitations had to be printed as all were contacted by email or telephone. So with everything in place, the group went ahead and re-scheduled the event for the following weekend.

But guess who they failed to confirm? You got it… the Professional Auctioneer. They thought so little of the Auctioneer’s contribution that they “assumed” that the Auctioneer would be available and at their beck and call.

But the Auctioneer already had another Fundraising Auction booked for that date with another non-profit group. It was only hour away from the re-scheduled event, and things could have been easily worked out. All Group #1 had to do was start their event one hour earlier, or one hour later, than the Group #2, and the Auctioneer could have helped both groups on the same day.

But because Group #1 failed to anticipate a possible Auctioneer conflict, because they failed to confirm with the Auctioneer before re-scheduling their event, their preferred Auctioneer had to bow out and they had to scramble to locate substitute “Volunteer” Auctioneer only days before their event.

And it cost them.

Learning Points

The Live Auction is usually where the profits are made at any Fundraising Auction.
A Professional Fundraising Auctioneer can be vital to the success of any Fundraising Auction.
The better Fundraising Auctioneers usually get booked quickly.
You need to recognize the important contributions that a good Auctioneer can make to your event.
Michael Ivankovich is a Bucks County Fundraising Auctioneer based in Doylestown PA, and serves the Great Philadelphia PA area. He has been a professionally licensed and bonded Auctioneer in Pennsylvania for nearly 20 years, has been named Pennsylvania’s Auctioneer of the Year, and has considerable experience in conducting Fundraising Auctions. Michael loves helping groups raise needed funds for good causes and one of his specialties is the “Special Pledge Appeal” or “Fund-A-Cause Appeal” which usually enables clients to double their revenue in a single evening.