Starting a new business in Las Vegas can seem like an overwhelming process, especially if your starting a business for the very first time.  In this economy especially, it’s imperative to think everything through before you start the process. I’ve compiled some articles, resources, tips and tricks that can help you through the process.

Things you will need:

• Business Plan – You will need a business plan if you are looking for investors. Your business plan should be well though out and include revenue projections.  The public library is a great place to find books to assist you.
• Marketing Plan – From the business plan should come a Marketing Plan for your new business. The Marketing Plan should includes a lot of key information that will help you lay out the plans for reaching your target marketing.
• Incorporation - You should incorporate your company to be on the up-and-up and you’ll need to to obtain a federal tax ID as well.
• Business Licenses – You will need the appropriate business licenses for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County.
• Insurance – You should have the necessary insurance coverages based on what type of business you are opening.  Contact your insurance agent and they can help.
• Legal Advice – Ideally, you should consult with an attorney to review your Agreements, any claims you are making with your products and services, and to review any copy you write for your website, including privacy information and disclaimers.
• Marketing Materials – Of course you need marketing materials to promote your business – logo, business cards, letterhead, envelopes, a website design, brochures, and PowerPoint presentations and key.
• Website – Not just any web site, you will need a professionally architected and designed web site that a reputable company should help you to strategize and build (see perkolate.com).

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The task of running and promoting a business in Las Vegas can be difficult and expensive in today’s market. Mailing advertisements, letters and promotional material can take a toll on finances, and phone calls are constantly dismissed because people are busy and the medium is too indirect. A more sure-fire way to promote a business is to hold a seminar that will simultaneously entice people with the promise of new information and establish you as a recognizable and trustworthy company.

1) Offer the seminar for free or a small price. With an exciting title and the promise of some free baked goods and coffee, almost anyone will want to attend your seminar. The title should be eye-catching and attractive, and something that an everyday enthusiast can get behind. If your company installs windows, entitle your seminar “10 Ways to Weatherproof Your Windows.” That will lure in the people who need work done on their homes, as well as people who want tips for basic home maintanence. If the seminar is free, it will attract a greater crowd. If you are looking to cancel out the cost of assembling the seminar, you can charge a modest fee of around $20 a head.

2) Establish your name. Now that you have your potential clients in one room, you have the opportunity to prove the quality of your products, the expertise of your employees and the reliability of your name. Seminars are efficient in this way because with one presentation you are reaching dozens of people and showing them that you know your business better than any of your competitors. Even if they don’t enlist your services after the seminar, they will remember your name and the professionalism you showed.

3) Get new clients. This is the best reason to use a seminar as a promotional tool. Instead of individually calling hundreds of people, you have assembled a large number of potential customers in the same place. Here they can ask questions, see your products and meet you face-to-face. Over the phone you may come across as an invasive marketing call. In person you become another friendly, engaging human being, hopefully with the services they’re looking for. More than a name, a client will remember a face and a helpful disposition.

4) Create handouts. Seminars are great for establishing relationships with clients, but it’s important to follow up and keep in touch. Send pamphlets, pictures and guides with the clients when they leave. Make sure they have your business’ website, phone number and list of services. Give them free samples, or a discount on materials and services. Not only will they remember you, but they’ll be clamoring to take advantage of the deals you offer them.

You should choose a trade show display based on the trade show or event for which you will be using the display. The display that best presents the products, services, and company image desired, will attract future customers. Frankly, a display is designed to do assist in creating or maintaining brand awareness. For once an attendee has been lured to your display; your boothís job is done. It is then up to you to throw down the hammer and commandeer that attendee as a future customer.

With only an ephemeral moment to seize the attention of a trade show attendee, your trade show display must make a plea to your target audience’s needs. Your display has to effectively communicate who you are, what you do, and how your company can be of aid.

But, determining the correct display can be a daunting task. When purchasing a trade show display, you want to choose a professional based company with expertise and excellent customer service. If you consider the questions listed below you will have a much better idea of the direction for your display needs. Keep in mind; you will be limited by the size of your booth. Working under that premise, take a look at some options for that area.

1. What is the booth size?
2. What is the show budget?
3. How many individuals will be working the show?
4. What are the marketing and sales objectives?
5. How will the display be transported to the show?
6. Will graphics need to be created?

By answering these questions, you will narrow the search for a display booth. Once objectives and your trade show calendar for the year have been set, the next step is to choose a display. The display decision should be based on the specific show objectives, budgetary restrictions, as well as, corporate branding goals and guidelines. If for example you are a marketing director for a big company with an unlimited budget and want to position yourself as a leader in your industry, a large booth space and a custom or high end modular exhibit for enhanced appearance would best suit your needs. If, on the other hand, you are a startup or small company with a limited budget, a great choice would be to consider an inexpensive Pop Up Display. Most companies fall somewhere in-between these two extremes.

Pop Up Displays are the most popular option for spaces at sales events and conferences. There is a wide range of pop ups and most are available with podium wraps to convert your carrying case into a podium or small table. Further, Pop Ups can be complemented with shelving, peninsula counters, backlit headers, literature racks, and other accessories which can convert an ordinary Pop Up into unique marketing tool. Some of the key factors to look at in selecting a pop-up are durability, ease of setup, availability, fabric colors, and warranty. If you sometimes exhibit in smaller spaces, you could consider a convertible booth which can be easily converted to a smaller size. Each display booth uses a frame that can “pop up” allowing the display to be assembled in minutes. The frames are extremely durable and make it easier for individuals to set up and tear down. They are made of different components, some graphite, steel, and/or extruded aluminum. Manufacturers would argue their frame is the strongest, the lightest, or simply the best. Just remember each represents their particular calling card. You could equate it to the myriad of different HD televisions now available on the market. Though, when broken down to its bare essence, no one is any better than the next. The makeup from one frame to another is not overly important. Further, most of these displays have one thing in common –  a lifetime warranty on the frame. Some offer a one year warranty on their display. The frame is the most important piece to your display. Every model, big or small, is a great portable trade show display choice for any trade show exhibitor. Today, marketers must achieve their goals with reduced budgets. Again, Pop Up Displays will assist you in stretching your budget because they are lighter weight and designed for easy set-up and tear-down. Further, you will save on storage, transportation, and labor costs.

Panel System Displays are an alternative to Pop Ups, and depending on their quality and countertop options, can provide a higher end look than a Pop Up Display. Panel displays generally hold more weight than Pop Ups, so they can work well if you have heavier products or a number of computer monitors to display. They are constructed of upper and lower panels that are assembled via heavy duty bolts. Panel systems give you an extreme amount of flexibility of design choices as displays can be custom created to your needs. Flexibility also abounds in color selection as upper and lower panels can be different. Most come with panels covered in fabric, be sure to select the color that best matches your companies logo, brand, products or overall image.

Modular Exhibits are high end exhibits that provide a custom look but can still be setup in a few hours, shipped in standard rotomolded plastic cases, and thus have a lower total cost of ownership than custom booths. Modular exhibits generally use higher end materials including tensile fabric structures, extruded aluminum frames, high end composites and laminates, and innovative bold designs. Modular exhibits will hold more weight and can also be used to hold large plasma screens and LCD panels.

Truss Systems provide a brash, modern, and unique look to a display. They are also excellent functional components that can be used to mount lighting, projectors, and Plasma or LCD panels. The fact that truss systems have a high weight bearing capacity makes them great for displaying heavier weight products like computers, machine parts, free weights, etc. They also have a unique dramatic look that works well with certain target markets. The beauty of Truss systems is the ability to be used in conjunction with other display structures like Pop Up and Panel System.

Custom Exhibits provide the ultimate in branding and high impact. As their name infers, they are custom built, ergo, designed to meet very specific show objectives and may include elements like conference areas, theater spaces, rotating towers, as well as, numerous product and service display positions. Given the higher cost of design, construction, shipping, installation and dismantling, these exhibits are best equipped for those willing to invest $25,000 or more for their trade show display. The payoff in a custom exhibit can be huge because it can set you apart from the competition and create an indelible branding image of your company as an industry leader.

With each of the above-fore-mentioned display types, designing attention-grabbing graphics for your booth is essential to setting yourself apart from your competitors. Below, you will find some important strategies to consider:

• The 10 foot rule. Make sure all logos and text can be clearly read from a distance of 10 feet ( i.e. Rule of thumb for text is 2x per 10x of distance viewed)
• Limit bullet points to 10 words or less – Less is more.
• Infuse a bounty of visual images to illicit emotion and make your exhibit unforgettable
• Make your logo simple to view even from a long distance. You want to make sure that your target audience can find you at a glance. High visibility is a priority.
• Consider using mural graphic panels to increase the value and emotional impact of your display. Remember, “Perception is Reality!”

Remember, purchasing a trade show display allows you complete freedom of expression. Be cognizant that the exhibit design should revolve around your specific tradeshow needs. The Trade Show Display, Exhibit or Booth should project your company’s individuality, character, and panache. Over time purchasing a new tradeshow display may be your most economical long term solution to your trade show needs. Once youíve answered the questions presented earlier and understood the dynamic differences between the many. display options, you will be more informed and better suited to create your new display space.

Build a professional-looking web presence to stand out from the competition

The same way Las Vegas business owners shouldn’t leave logo design, storefront décor, advertising layouts, or anything else that will represent their company in the hands of an amateur, nor should they settle when it comes to their website design. With web presence becoming more and more important to companies of all sizes, the first impression potential customers often have of any company is that which they see when they do an online search. If your website doesn’t impress, or at least cast a professional image, the impression visitors to your site will have of your company will mirror that.

Companies that strive to stand out from the competition understand that there are many ways to accomplish that, and image ranks high on that list. That’s why the benefits of employing the expertise of a professional, Las Vegas-based web design company to create a user-friendly, attractive website far outweigh the costs. These days, many companies make the mistake of settling for one of the many build-it-yourself web page templates that are so common in today’s Internet business world. Those sites may be simple and quick to launch, but without you offering fairly extensive know-how, they typically lack the creativity that will help your site create a positive, lasting first impression.

In addition to making an aesthetically pleasing website, hiring a professional web designer will ensure that your site gets maximum exposure on the Internet. Selecting the proper domain name and placing SEO-friendly copy are just two critical factors that determine how high your site ranks on search engine lists when consumers do an online search. SEO (search engine optimization) is the means of purposefully placing select copy blocks throughout your website to increase your site’s ranking on search list results from sites such as Google, Bing and Yahoo!. A professional design company will know the intricacies of SEO, and likely even employ a writer to generate the copy your site needs.

While many business owners fear farming their job out to a professional designer may leave them without creative input during the design process, those in the Las Vegas area who have found the most success hire a local design firm with whom they can work closely. While the designer provides the technical expertise, artistic direction and design suggestions, by working with a local talent you’ll have the freedom to maintain as much creative control as you desire. From choosing the right template colors, to adding features that give visitors the ability to contact you easily, download maps, browse your inventory, and even communicate with one another via a forum board, there’s no end to the ways in which you can create a website that will best benefit your company. Most important is realizing just how important a positive web presence really is. These days, the challenge isn’t just getting customers through the door. Many times, you have to get them past your web page first.

A brand is a name, sign, design or symbol that identifies the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and differentiate them from those of other sellers. Branding is one of the most important factors in successful marketing. Branding brings to light the unique nature of your company, and points out the benefits of purchasing your products.

How do your customers perceive your company? Your brand is drawn from who you are, who you would like to be and who people think you are. Branding imparts identity, and expresses the company ambience in a unique way. Branding mirrors the impression that the company wants to portray, and sets the company’s products apart from others in the niche.

Branding is one of the most critical elements of effective product promotion. A brand is your company signature. A strong brand imparts gives color, personality, and identity, and this helps customers associate positively with your product. It lets them know about your products and services, and sets your company apart from others in your niche.

Your company‚Äôs brand and logo imparts identity , and illustrate and expresses the name, description and design of a product. Branding mirrors the impression that the company wants to portray in a unique way, and sets the company’s product apart from niche competitors.

A company’s brand showcases the personality of its products. The definitive goal is to craft a brand that is immediately recognizable and perceived in a positive way. Branding combines style, and color, and visual imagery to separate a company’s products from the competition. The primary objective of marketing is to sell a product. Branding drives the sale of products.

Your Signature

A brand is your company signature. A strong brand imparts gives color, personality, and identity, and this helps customers associate positively with your product. It lets them know about your products and services, and sets your company apart from others in your niche.

The Role of Research

The most important aspect of brand development is target market research. The gathering of data on prospective customers and their preferences helps establish compatibility with their needs and expectations.

The Logo

Your logo should be very professional. It has a strong affinity with your brand. The logo should be configured to be eye-appealing, and to encourage customers and prospective customers to buy the product.

Branded Gifts

You can imprint your brand on small items to give as gifts to your customers. This helps keep your customers loyal, and also has a subliminal impact. Although they may be unaware of it, your target audience will be taking in this information on an unconscious level, and when they have a need for your products or services, your company will be their first and foremost thought.

Branding is one of the most critical elements of effective product promotion. The primary objective of marketing is to sell a product. Branding drives the sale of products. Your company’s brand and logo impart identity, illustrate product design, and portray your company in a unique way. A strong brand gives color, personality, and identity, to the items you sell, and this helps customers associate positively with your products.

Different colors carry different psychological meanings and impacts. They can affect your mind and the way you think and feel.

With this in mind, you should choose the color for your logo, website and all of your marketing materials carefully. It has been my experience in Las Vegas that most small business and even medium-sized companies clearly don’t take this into account. In doing so, you’ll be able to keep ahead of your competition and look more professional and polished and you’ll be able to narrow down your choices for color much more easily.

So what do colors mean, both positively and negatively?

Blue

• power and success
• trustworthiness
• peace and harmony
• conservatism and idealism
• reliable and stable
• professionalism