PHOTOS

: In the February 2011 "Power Issue" of BLACK ENTERPRISE, our editors–Alan Hughes, Multimedia Editorial Director, Business, and Tennille Robinson, Senior Multimedia Content Producer, Small Business–offer up these 10 power moves that will expand the businesses of new and established entrepreneurs. (Images: Thinkstock)

: Determine who needs or wants the product or service you offer. Identify your target audience and develop ways to engage and interact with them.

: Make customers comfortable with you. You have to quickly prove to your clients that you're credible, competent and have the ability to deliver.

: Leverage social media and e-mail marketing. These digital tools are necessary for an overall balanced media mix for any type of business. Capturing customer data and maintaining a database is a good way to build a foundation for e-mail campaigns while social media networks like Twitter, Facebook and foursquare offer a great way to engage existing and new customers.

: Use online resources to go global. <a href="http://export.gov/"> </a><a href="http://export.gov/" target="_blank">Export.gov</a> is a portal that provides market research, trade events, leads and information from government agencies to help entrepreneurs compete in the global arena while the Export-Import Bank of the United States provides assistance with trade financing.

: Secure capital in this economic climate. Use a business plan to gain funding from <a href="http://www.ncva.org/" target="_blank">venture capitalists</a> or <a href="http://www.angelcapitalassociation.org/" target="_blank">angel investors</a>. Also, use government resources such as the Small Business Administration and the informational Web portal Business.gov.

: Develop strategic alliances. Creating partnerships to produce much larger entities allows you to pursue bigger, more lucrative contracts that benefit both parties. Says Minority Business Development Agency National Director David Hinson: "African American businesses need to grow to size and scale. If one company is too small to be the prime contractor, that company needs to consider a joint venture relationship."

: Know your business credit score. A common mistake new entrepreneurs make when seeking capital is failing to establish business credit separate and apart from their personal credit. Establish bank accounts and secure business credit cards as a means of building your company's business credit history.

: Create your own opportunities. Minority entrepreneurs need to be more creative and solution-oriented to acquire new businesses. Now is a perfect to time to identify sectors and industries that offer the most promising growth like healthcare services and clean energy.

: Choose the proper franchise system. Through a franchising system, entrepreneurs gain ongoing support in marketing/advertising, training and education and, in many cases, access to financing often elusive to independent firms.

: Rethink business. Following the theme of <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/ec/">Black Enterprise's Entrepreneurs conference</a> (May 22-25 in Atlanta), small business owners must find the right balance of time and resources when it comes to improving your leadership skills. Be prepared for revinvent yourself and the organization.

: <ul> <li>For more tips on how to grow your business, be sure to check out</li> <li><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/01/13/5-mistakes-millionaire-entrepreneurs-make/">5 mistakes millionaire entrepreneurs make</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/02/11/how-to-build-your-ultimate-small-biz-support-network/">How To Build Your Ultimate Small Biz Support Network</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/02/07/4-rules-for-entrepreneurs-looking-next-big-thing/">4 Rules for Entrepreneurs Looking for the Next 'Big Thing'</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/01/28/12-questions-every-entrepreneur-needs-to-ask-to-before-writing-their-business-plan/">12 Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Ask Before Writing a Business Plan</a></li> </ul>

Posted: February 17, 2011

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