In the battle between big businesses and small businesses, it is the former which always have the upper hand. But while a small business might find it difficult to surpass a bigger business rival, a proper web strategy can catapult it to the top, and make it one of the leaders among its peers. However, one cannot negate the risk of failure. The owner of the small business is already on a tight budget, and he might not even want to spend extra bucks for gaining greater exposure in the market. But there is also no denying that both businesses and customers have changed radically. And when it comes to a small business (as it has to put in more efforts to succeed), this is the perfect time to create or revamp its online presence.Before we go forward, ask yourself this question: What is the very first thing your potential customers will search for when they look for your business online? You can still count and tell the number of customers visiting your store in person. Nowadays, it’s all about going online, and your power to hook in your customers with your online presence determines your success. And what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the term “online presence”? Yes, you are right! It’s a website. A website is the storefront of your small business – the very first thing which your online visitors get to see. So if your web design is not up to the mark, you will fail to convert your visitors into customers.This sums up to the conclusion that your business website holds the primary key to your growth. As the owner of a small business, you do not need to spend like crazy behind your business. The website should represent your business just the way it is – in a simple and informative way. Here are some tips you need to blend into the official website of your small business:#1. Straightforwardness: You do not have time to waste, as your online visitors are not a very patient lot. Go straight to the point and show your straightforwardness. Don’t take more than 20 words to describe your business, and place it just under the header.#2. Availability: The first thing your visitors would want to do after liking your website is contact you. So make sure that your phone number and address are visible at the top of every page. Moreover, you also need to integrate a very user-friendly contact form.#3. Blog & Videos: Make it a point to include a blog section in your website. Keep updating it with fresh, original and relevant content. You must also make good use of videos. Create relevant videos about your business, and show them off on your website. These steps will make your website more search-friendly and attractive.#4. Go Mobile: “Going mobile” is now the ‘talk-of-the-town’. With the rise of mobile technology, you need to make sure that your website is supportable when viewed through any mobile device. You need to know about the latest web design trends, and implement them smartly.#5. Local Directories: This is the most important part. As you own a small business, you need to focus more on the local customers. You need to enroll your website into local directories and maps. This will enhance your visibility, and you will become easier to find in the SERPs.Conclusion:Once you ready your website with the help of these 5 steps, it’s a guarantee that your small business will find a blossoming growth in the sales figures. You just need to have patience, and follow the right path.

Hi, my name is Walt. I’m an auctioneer with 25 years of experience in the auction business and licensed in the state of MA. I own Quick Auction Service, a company that specializes in building and running custom auctions, I’m also the webmaster of my own site and have been on eBay for 8 years. Besides eBay, the types of auctions I run most frequently are antiques and on-site estate auctions, although I’ve run everything from business overstock auctions to charity & special event auctions.

I enjoy sharing my knowledge and stories of the auction business. My goal for article is to help folks get the absolute most out of their auction experience.

Whether your fresh out of the package or a seasoned dealer I think I can offer something in this article to help you with your auciton adventures.

There may be as many reasons to attend auctions as there are types of auctions to attend. Maybe you want to attend an auction to buy items for re-sale on eBay, or some other market. Maybe you want to furnish your home with wonderful antiques, or you want to furnish your home as inexpensively without sacrificing quality.Some folks are just looking for a fun night out. With a little perseverance all these things are possible.

There are antiques and estate auctions, auto auctions, overstock auctions, absolute and no reserve auctions, real estate auctions, specialty auctions where only one genre of items are sold, tailgate auctions, live auctions, online auctions, sealed bid auctions, silent auctions, charity and fund raising auctions and many more.

Can you really buy for pennies on the dollar at an auction? You bet! Many times I’ve seen folks buy and re-sell at the same auction on the same night for a good profit, although be advised, this should only be done after the auction is over.

There are a lot of ways to find an auction, but here are some tips on how to find and attend the best ones.

Visit the genre of shops in the area that apply to the type of auction you want to attend. IE: If your looking for a good antique auction to attend, stop in the local antiques shops and ask for what there are for good auctions in the area. Sounds obvious right? But listen to what they don’t say as well as what they do say. Oftentimes when a dealer speaks poorly about an auction he or she attends, it may be likely that they are trying to keep a good thing secret. Think for a moment, why would a dealer keep attending a lousy auction?

Newspaper ads: I personally like to find ads in the classified ad section rather than flashy display ads. Flashy ads are usually indicative of an auction that will be high priced, may have reserves, (a set price on an item), and usually an enormous crowd. While any auction can be profitable to attend, it is usually best to steer clear of the glitzy ones, at least for the beginner.

Here’s the minimum you want to find out before you go. If there is a phone number in the ad, call and ask for the terms of the sale. What forms of payment do they accept? Is it an absolute auction? An absolute auction is one that has no minimum or reserve bids on items. These are the best auctions to attend! Is there a buyers premium? A buyers premium is like a tax that everyone who makes purchases at that auction must pay above the winning bid price. Most auctions these days do charge a buyers premium, 10% is not unreasonable but I feel much more than that is greedy, and the auctioneer that charges over 10% is counting on most bidders not doing the extra math as the bids quicken in pace.

A fair auction will have ample time to inspect the merchandise, usually at least 2 or 3 hours. Find out when inspection starts and make sure to attend! Never attend an auction if you can’t make the inspection, not unless your prepared to gamble. Most auctioneers sell at a rate of about 100 items per hour, which is why they sell “as is”. They simply don’t have the time to give a detailed description of all the items. Since almost all items at auction are sold AS IS, there are sure to be some damaged, refinished, fake and incomplete items at any given auction. Beware of any auctions that offer very little or no inspection time.

Good auctions will usually have 150 to 400 lots. A lot may be one item or a group of items. The exception to this are specialty auctions, auto auctions, real estate auctions etc.

When you attend your first sale, take note of the 1/2 dozen or so dealers that buy the most often. See if you can find out about other area auctions they attend.

When you do find an excellent auction, attend it as often as possible. By frequenting good sales, you help increase the bottom line of that business. It’s difficult for many auctioneers to keep the quality of merchandise consistent, so good attendance certainly helps. And when an auctioneer gets to know you as a buyer, he/she will go out of the way to accommodate you, to keep you coming back.