According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, creating about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. Better Business

Bureau encourages business owners to take advantage of BBB services. Visit bbb.org/central-texas for webinars that offer valuable information to small businesses such as: how to advertise honestly, how to protect your business from a data breach, social media tips, customer reviews and taking Advantage of BBB Accreditation.

Now that your business is up and running, it is time to think about how to get new customers in the door. Here are few helpful tips and guidelines to growing your business:

Create a marketing plan. General marketing plans consist of your business objective, strategy, sales forecast and your budget. Be sure to also outline your strengths and weaknesses and where those can create opportunities or competitive advantages.

Market your business.• Establish a brand with a unique position compared to

the competition. • Develop marketing and advertising messaging that

is clever, noticeable and clear. Be the expert in your industry.

• Use affiliation marketing with business or consumer groups to position yourself as an expert and enhance your reputation, (like BBB!).

• Create a website or social media profile so people can easily find you.

Understand Your Target Market• Distinguish yourself from competitors.• Set your prices competitively.• Gather information on current customers (age, gender,

location, income, etc.) for future marketing messaging.• Leverage your BBB Accreditation to gain your

customer’s trust. • Manage your online reputation.

Expand Your Customer BaseAs a small business owner, you should always be on the lookout for creative and innovative ways to expand your customer base. Here are a few tried and true ways to keep your customer base growing:

• Give incentives for referrals.• Speak at conferences or trade shows.• Use printed marketing collateral.• Use branded novelty items (caps, pens, mugs etc.)• Ask for customer reviews.

Another great way to grow your business is to join a business or industry group. Doing this will allow you to network and meet others in your field. Creating relationships not only spreads the word but also opens the door for partnerships on projects.

BBB encourages small businesses to take advantage of the many business toolkits, resources and guides both BBB and the Small Business Administration have available.

For more help, visit the Small Business Help Center website at bbb.org/central-texas for information and tips.

Austin • Centroplex • Corpus Christi • Laredo • Permian Basin • San Antonio • Victoria • Waco

December 2015

65 No. 12

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Grow Your Business!Helpful guide to growing your small business

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AUSTIN1st Austin Gutter Services3 Small Plates Catering4 Leaf PlumbingA Plus Texas MoversA-Tex Family Fun Center-SouthAAA Stone WorksADpeopleAdvanced Benefit Solutions, Inc.Adverve LLCAlfred’s CateringAll Days ElectricAmerican Southwest Mortgage Company

Art Tile & Handyman ServicesAustin Bee RealtyAustin Business PrintingAustin Cheer FactoryAustin Park Ave Property Management

Austin Simply FitAustin Tree Care ServiceAweStructBethke RoofingBig Buck ConstructionBill’s Lock and KeyBorrowersFirst, Inc.Bravo Capital, LLCBuild Your Own PoolC & C DentistryCarmen & Company Construction & Restoration Services

Castilleja Surface SolutionsCathy’s CleanersCentral Texas Party BusCertified PlusChildren’s Therapeutics of AustinChris Ryan TileClassic Estate SalesContact SergeantCooper Home BuildersCountry Mile ApplianceCreative ConsultantsD & D FlooringDripping Springs Hill Country Limo and Taxi Service

Dropoff, Inc.Empty Net MediaEverett Auto SalesExcelBuilt LLCFloor Centers of TexasFortenberryLaw PLLCGet it GoneGiraffe Enterprise ServicesGIS ContractingGreen Storage PlusHandycheckHill Country Refrigeration, Inc.Home Tax SolutionsHorseshoe Gun Traders LLCHott Topics Hair SaloniGlobal Educational ServicesIntegrity Bookkeeping Services of Central TX LLC

Jeffrey M. Hersh, Attorney at LawJevin StudiosJohnnie’s AntiquesJR PaintingLake Country CollisionLake Travis Real Estate AustinLarry D. Albright & Son Painting & Home Repair

Law Office of Grant H. Clifton, PLLCLift Aviation CompanyMatthew Lorand Companies LLCMeineke Car Care CenterMicro Insititute IncMillar & Perez Immigration Lawyers, PLLC

Miller Egan Molter & Nelson, LLPMomark Development, L.L.C.New ResultsNew Tech Automotive

Nice and Clean Carpet & UpholsteryOn The RocksPerformance Auto GroupPilat FencingPreeminent Contracting LLCQuick Response CleaningReallyLocal MarketingRemax Town & CountryRichard Blackwell DDSSanchez Landscaping & IrrigationSea Pointe Venture CapitalSIP CREATIVESSound Wave ElectronicsSprinco USAStar Tech Service, L.L.C.Sterling FloorsSuite Dreams Murphy BedsSuperior One Roofing & Construction, Inc.

Swift Grow CompanyT.L.C. Autoglass LLCTerex Auto BodyTexas State TowingThe Clock DoctorThe Hightower Company Inc.The Tutor Outreach GroupThin-NologyTri-County Heating & Air Conditioning

Unleashed by LaurenVasquez Law Firm, PLLCWarrington Real EstateWB PlumbingWholesale Pool EquipmentWilliams-Sebby Veterinary ClinicWipeRecord, A Division of Eastman Libersat Meyler, PC

Xenia EventsYou Are My True

CENTROPLEX/WACOA to Z Contracting ServiceAlbert’s Remodeling Residential & Commercial

All American Ellcor, LLCBump My LockChapman SignD & D Body ShopDesert Tan & GiftsEconomy RemodelingHome & Heart DaycareJust Fitness 24-7McGill Electric LLCMeineke Car Care Center of TempleReady Resources IncRudy’s Transmission ServiceTexas Variety EntertainmentThe Corporate Image Group Glass Studio And Gallery

Tow King of WacoTusa ConstructionVallejo Services

CORPUS CHRISTI/VICTORIA

A-B Construction CompanyAFC Tile & FlooringAguila ConstructionBDA Home InspectionsBig Boy TiresCardenas ConstructionCass Real EstateCitywide Air ConditioningCorpus Christi Chiropractic & Wellness

CSC Exterior DesignsDLG Contractors, LLCDr. Lisa Heinrich-NullFrazier Roofing & RemodelingG & S Construction & DemolitionGaither Air-N-Ice Service Company

GG’s Coastal CareHandyMan ConstructionLaw Offices of Alex R. Hernandez, Jr., P.L.L.C.

Mag Muffler & Speedy LubeMarikenco, LLCMike and Sons ConstructionMind Games Computer RepairO & S ConstructionOlguin EnterprisesPadre LandscapesPaisano RV & Mobile Home ParkR & R Petro ServicesRoyale ConstructionSecond Opinion AirShepard HomesShotts Tax & BookkeepingTaylormade Home ImprovementsTurfco Grass Co IncYellow Rose Services

PERMIAN BASINAffordable Security SystemsAmerican Roofing Windows & Exteriors

Fish Window CleaningGenteel™J & AR Roofing & ConstructionKat’s Bake ShopLuxury BathNative LandscapingOle Metal FabSanta Elena Minerals, LPStockton Roadside Services

SAN ANTONIO/LAREDO

4 WindsA Designer Window FilmA-1 Abatement LLCA2i FitnessAdvanced Billing & ConsultingAero Accessories, Inc.Alamo Area Estate Liquidation Services

All About HairAll About LawnsAmy’s All Star Dance StudioAragon FlooringAtlas ElectricAutomotive SolutionsBandoske, Butler, Reuter & Jay PLLCBrainFreeze Corp.Brand You Experiential Marketing & Consulting

Bright Star ElectricBroken Tractor Field ServiceBudget Blinds of La VerniaBWD Building & ConstructionCastilla’s ConstructionCatering 911 S.A.Chavez & Sons PaintingCommercial Heights Roofing Systems

Cool Guys Mechanical LLCCosmic VapesCowboy Masonry & Custom Pools, LLC

Cutter’s & CoCW ConstructionD’Spain Sales & Service, Inc.Dan Miller Insurance AgencyDe Hart Fencing & WeldingDe Los Santos Law FirmDiamond in the Rough Antiques LLCDiscreet InvestigationsDLH Plumbing Services, LLCDodson DemolitionDunn Insurance Agency, Inc.Dupure International IncEnvirowell Services Inc.

Excellence ERExcellence PaintingExpress Local ServiceEyes on Texas Vision Care, PLLCFamily Law GlobalFine Cut Landscape ServicesFrancisco Tree ServiceFreudenrich Auto RepairFritz & Sons ConstructionGo Baby GoHagen Law Office P.C.Happy PawsHill Country Service CompanyIdeal Dentistry New BraunfelsImagine Dinner IncInfinity Drywall & PaintingInspired eLearning LLCJ B SalesJC’s Private TransportationLaw Office of Jeffrey LinickLazy Indian Firearms, LLCLouis H. Cadena D.D.S., P.A.M Jacks Fire & Safety Equipment CoMaster House LevelingMGM AutoMission OrthodonticsMontalvo Home ImprovementOff Road ReadyOhana Steel Buildings, LLCPanda MotorsPetro-Crete LLCPetrow Law GroupPicnikins Patio CafePyramid Stone Co.Quality AccountingRamirez Auto GlassRB TutoringResilient Home Health Care IncResort World PassResurface 519Rheumatology Associates of South Texas

SAT RestorationSchertz Mobile Notary Public & Translation Services

Scitech Insurance Pros AgencySelect One CollisionSolution Air Conditioning & HeatingSouthern CustomsSouthwest Texas EyeSpeedy Clean Hard Surface Restoration

Stefek Mechanical LLCSunrooms4u LLCTrash to Treasure Estate SalesVirtual Builders Exchange LLCVisage Collaborative, IncWilkins Websites Design and Hosting

Wreckshop Paint & Body

NewOctoberAccreditedBusinesses

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traffic is heading to your BBB Business Review. Get insight on potential customers and growth opportunities.

Customer Review Marketing Materials Download dynamic customer review

seals, cards and sticker templates to encourage people to submit a review.

BBB StoreShop and buy special BBB

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BBB emails and letters. Stay up-to-date on the Advantages of BBB Accreditation.

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Update Your Business Info and Hours of OperationMake updates to

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Update Photos and VideosOptimize your BBB Business Review with photos and videos of complete projects or products, your locations and staff.

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Trust Talk is published by Better Business Bureau 1005 La Posada Drive, Austin, TX 78752. Trust Talk is published for executives and employees of BBB Accredited Businesses in its 79-county service area. All rights reserved: the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or part without written consent of the publisher. References to or mention made of any company, product or service herein is not to be interpreted, per se, as statements derogatory of such company, product or service, but as information obtained from sources believed to be reliable for the use of BBB Accredited Businesses and subscribers. Because the matters contained in this Trust Talk concern matters of the utmost public importance and concern in providing a free flow of information to our companies concerning business enterprises in the Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin area, BBB encourages BBB Accredited Businesses to contact their local BBB with any follow-up material concerning the reports in this newsletter or any other matter to assist BBB in fulfilling its mission of advancing marketplace trust.

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Inside this issueGrow Your Business! ................................................ 1

New Accredited Businesses ..................................2

What’s in Your Business Login .............................3

Impact & Influence Report ................................... 4

In October 2015, your BBB...Provided customers with 210,046 BBB Business Reviews

Handled 1,650 disputes

Hosted 223,112 website visits

Sent 228 Request-A-Quote referrals to Accredited Businesses

Supported 13,250 Accredited Businesses Locations

In October 2015, your BBB was mentioned 2,138 times by 56 local media outlets including...

Contact BBBBBB® Corporate Office

1005 La Posada Drive

Austin, TX 78752

P: 512.445.4748

F: 512.445.2096

@: info@centraltx.bbb.org

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Find BBB on...

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Roofing Contractors - 8,396

Prepaid Debit/Credit Cards - 8,284

Home Builders - 5,502

Construction & Remodeling Services - 4,191

Auto Dealers - Used Cars - 3,774

Plumbers - 3,666

Insurance Companies - 3,292

Air Conditioning Contractors & Systems - 3,162

Attorneys & Lawyers - 3,058

Contractors - General - 2,973

Trust Talk | December 2015

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A-Affordable Foundation Repair & ConstructionUnresolved consumer complaint; Failure to honor a commitment to BBB Arbitration or Mediation Agreement

Pecos Diesel Truck & Trailer Repair LLC Failure to maintain required licensing necessary to operate in Texas.