Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) as well as first time entrepreneurs in the small scale sector are often faced with a dilemma when it comes to marketing and developing a brand building exercise. Unlike the common perception, brand building is not limited to big brands and global organizations.

The advancement of technology and the evolution of web from its early nascent stage have changed the way modern day business establishments conduct their business. The increasing internet penetration levels across the globe including developing nations like India have made sure that majority of consumers use the internet as their primary tool to look for resources and products. The power of internet works mutually as a two way information gateway while allowing users to look for products online on the one hand and also allowing the business owners to get directly associated with the consumer base.

In this era of global competiveness price wars are increasingly becoming the Achilles heels of all business enterprises. While bigger organizations with well established brands are slightly better placed in confronting the price wars, small and medium enterprises with shoe string budgets tend to get greatly affected by the propping up of rival companies’ adamant at selling similar products as reduced prices in order to establish the market.

Dr. Manmohan Singh said, in his address to the nation on 21 September 2012 made an attempt to justify ‘reforms’. His speech and arguments summed up the entire debate on economic reforms that he is currently pursuing in areas such as FDI in multi brand retail and reduction of subsidies.

With the growing entrepreneur ecosystem and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India, proper planning in strategy and execution is most important for business growth and to survive in the market.

It is a dream of every entrepreneur to make his products or services popular. He does all possible efforts to make it a brand. But we all know that the developing a brand from scratch is lengthy process. It is also a costly affair if someone takes a conventional approach in building a brand. It takes years to derive to a brand to reach out to the mass consumers. A successful brand is the result of effective marketing, advertising, superior product quality and offering the best value proposition. This is perhaps a limitation point for an entrepreneur from the small business segment.

A brand is the identity of a product, business or a service. In today's day and age, every company in the market is jostling to make a place for themselves. In this over-communicated market, it is only a brand which has etched itself in the mind of a consumer – ensures that it survives getting lost in the crowd and create a place for itself in the hearts and minds of the consumers.

Entrepreneurs from the small businesses category usually have a tremendous need for research. Almost every growing business requires efficient, prompt and comprehensive research. But most entrepreneurs do not understand how to effectively execute the marketing research & analysis process to meet their business goals.

Marketing research for small business owners who have witnessed the fact that they are running a growing business, must have to execute an in-depth strategic marketing analysis, which could allow them to understand their current position in the marketplace, identify opportunities to increase market share, and get a better understanding of the customers as well as competition. It will also assist in making tactical decisions based on facts rather than intuition.

The business owner must have to think and examine the current status of his/her workforce energy levels. Because positive frame of minds can reflect result oriented efforts. Motivation often brings great value which higher salaries cannot bring.

Here are some ideas on How to motivate and energize the workforce.