http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com The Regional Business Authority Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:45:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Culture of service grows base of “raving fans” By JIM BALLEW Business Writer The new Calusa National Bank Punta Gorda headquarters opened for business August 24 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and approximately 200 in attendance. The bank’s official four-day grand opening celebration held October 5 - 8 drew far more people still. ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/10/17/calusa-national-bank-opens-new-headquarters/ Ken Glasgow gets comfortable about marketing comfort food By SARA COMITO Associate Editor Selling the ultimate comfort food is not really that hard. Ken Glasgow, who owns Simply Cupcakes of Naples with his baker wife Joanne, wishes he knew years ago how lucrative and rewarding it can be. The “cupcakery” has become an unlikely ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/10/16/social-media-helps-turn-cupcakes-to-cash/ Social media: Approach with caution by Vince Crew Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, Cyworld, LinkedIn, blogging. Yep, they’re cool, they’re new and they’re fun. But are they a waste of time? Like all things technological, they’re probably filled with rapidly uncovered unintended consequences that you’re not prepared to – or ever thought you’d have ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/10/16/beyond-the-bottom-line-17/ Elite regional groups help members achieve success By BOB MASSEY Editor Helaine Treitman is an Argentine tango dancer and teacher with her own business in Naples. She was doing what she loved – but she wasn’t making any money at it. That was before she joined a “mastermind” marketing group. By her fourth monthly meeting, ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/10/16/great-marketing-begins-in-the-mastermind/ STAFF REPORT The local economy has been hit very hard by the recent recession and there have been calls to create additional jobs and diversify the regional economy to lower the overall economic job losses that result from recessions. To this end, Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business Regional ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/10/16/fgcu-regional-planning-council-release-incubator-network-study/ EDITORIAL By BOB MASSEY Time was, the mantra of copywriting was “Stress benefits, not features.” That is, don’t talk about the traits of a product or service, or what it does – elaborate on why those things pose an advantage for the consumer. “ ‘Features versus benefits’ is Marketing 101,” says expert Internet ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/10/16/how-to-really-reach-a-prospect-with-your-sales-message/ Customer loyalty is Key By GUS BUENZ Naples SCORE Counselor Today customers benefit from an endless array of choices. New opportunities for them to spend their hard earned money grow, and with the Internet, they seem to quadruple. This is true regardless of the type of business. When customers can easily comparison shop online ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/10/16/what%e2%80%99s-the-score/ Incentives, personal ties, effective EDO director draw 7 saviors by ANNIE LINDSTROM Business Writer Since Jim Moore became director of the Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO), efforts to attract businesses to the area have been gaining momentum. To date this year, a total of seven companies have announced plans to expand or ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/08/28/lee-county-a-job-magnet/ Tom Bruzzesi is just your neighborhood hit man Boy Scout by SARA COMITO Associate Editor Early this year Tom Bruzzesi earned his identity as "The Crazy Foreclosure Guy" by buying a Lehigh Acres home for $1,000 at auction, then immediately selling it - without any improvements - for $18,000. The self-proclaimed foreclosure sales ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/08/28/in-the-trenches-with-that-crazy-foreclosure-guy/ 4 Factors for Sales Success in This Economy by VINCE CREW Now more than ever, customers have options. Money is tight, alternatives are plentiful, and sales cycles are trickier. It's been a long time since many salespeople really sold. When the economy is good, it's easy to turn into an order taker ... http://www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/2009/08/28/beyond-the-bottom-line-16/