Free daily advice for people in small business
from someone who has been there, done that.
Customers can be a gold mine. Mining your customers can bring them back again and again. And they will refer others to you.
When you are totally focused on making the sale in front of you, you run the risk of losing future sales. Ignoring a longer term relationship with your customer works against you.
Every customer represents more than is first apparent. Your job is to dig deeper. Expanding the conversation beyond the subject at hand will pay off in the future.
Example: Customers who come to the garden center to buy patio pavers or bricks will appreciate conversations, tips and techniques of construction. If you suggest incorporating a fire pit or a small fish pond, it can lead to expanded or future sales.
Example: A customer likes a recliner at a furniture store. It's common to engage the customer in a conversation about a matching sofa. But set up future sales by talking up room layouts and design. This elevates the conversation into a track that will be appreciated and remembered.
Example: You're an accountant and you have customers you only see once each year--at tax time. Offer to show them how to upgrade and simplify their bookkeeping chores--in a private, one-on-one session. This can result in expanding your involvement with customers, and they will talk about you with their friends.
Setting up customer repeats vary in different businesses. With women's clothing, emphasize the fact that you are the go-to source for the latest fashions and styles. With home improvements, emphasize all the things you can do for the customer who only calls you to clean the gutters. With a caterer, make sure your backyard birthday party client knows that you can do black tie affairs or set up a big tent for spectacular gatherings.
The idea here is to develop relationships with your customers. Show them how you can do more for them. Educate them. Make sure they understand the complete range of your services.
Free information is a good selling tool. If not now, at least the seed is planted for the future. It costs you only your time. But it can turn a single sale customer into one who returns again and again, refers others to you, and recommends you on Facebook and Angie's List.
If you have questions on this or another other topic in this blog,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
Your privacy is protected here.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Community involvement
Free daily advice for people in small business
from someone who has been there, done that.
It's Friday, and that means it's business externals day.
Community involvement is important to the health of your business. Whether you are a single proprietor working in a home office or yours is a machine shop with 8 employees, putting time in your community will pay off in your business.
There are many ways to get involved. Only you can decide what's best for you.
Join your neighborhood association. Or throw your hat in the ring for the next town council election. Or for a seat on the local school board.
A popular alternative is involvement with local sports teams--softball, bowling, golf and others. You can ante up cash to help buy uniforms and equipment, or you can offer your time as a coach or helping out.
Depending on your business, you might be able to barter services. Say you have an embroidery business with downtime on one of your machines. Offer to put team names on uniforms in exchange for placement of your sign at team events or an ad in their flyers.
If you are a print shop, offer to do the flyers. If you're in promotions, offer to do press releases and write-ups. If you engrave trophies....well, you get the idea.
Community activities enhance your reputation. Involvement pushes referrals and extends your reach in the community. You want that word going around.
Partnerships with local schools--whether formal or informal--are possible. Pet shops and farmers can introduce kids to real animals and how they are cared for. Short, after-school apprenticeships can be offered by vehicle repair shops, machine shops, florists, plumbers and electricians. For an hour of two every day, expose kids to real, adult life situations. Don't run afoul of child labor laws, but at least show kids there's more to life than a computer game.
Put on your thinking cap. Come up with a project that involves your community. One that uniquely extends the reputation of your business.
Big companies call this branding. They can afford to build a stadium and put their name on it. You have to do more with less. But you deserve the same benefits.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
(c) 2014, Al Warr
from someone who has been there, done that.
It's Friday, and that means it's business externals day.
Community involvement is important to the health of your business. Whether you are a single proprietor working in a home office or yours is a machine shop with 8 employees, putting time in your community will pay off in your business.
There are many ways to get involved. Only you can decide what's best for you.
Join your neighborhood association. Or throw your hat in the ring for the next town council election. Or for a seat on the local school board.
A popular alternative is involvement with local sports teams--softball, bowling, golf and others. You can ante up cash to help buy uniforms and equipment, or you can offer your time as a coach or helping out.
Depending on your business, you might be able to barter services. Say you have an embroidery business with downtime on one of your machines. Offer to put team names on uniforms in exchange for placement of your sign at team events or an ad in their flyers.
If you are a print shop, offer to do the flyers. If you're in promotions, offer to do press releases and write-ups. If you engrave trophies....well, you get the idea.
Community activities enhance your reputation. Involvement pushes referrals and extends your reach in the community. You want that word going around.
Partnerships with local schools--whether formal or informal--are possible. Pet shops and farmers can introduce kids to real animals and how they are cared for. Short, after-school apprenticeships can be offered by vehicle repair shops, machine shops, florists, plumbers and electricians. For an hour of two every day, expose kids to real, adult life situations. Don't run afoul of child labor laws, but at least show kids there's more to life than a computer game.
Put on your thinking cap. Come up with a project that involves your community. One that uniquely extends the reputation of your business.
Big companies call this branding. They can afford to build a stadium and put their name on it. You have to do more with less. But you deserve the same benefits.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
(c) 2014, Al Warr
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Changing directions
Free daily advice for people in small business
from someone who has been there, done that.
Starting up a business is one thing. Changing the direction of your existing business is another thing.
The decision to change direction comes up more often than you might think. Opportunities to change the focus of your business grab at you often.
Example: Say you run a small law practice. You do wills, real estate, collections, business set-ups (partnership, incorporation, etc.) and more. A client asks about elder law. You investigate and find a thriving market in elder law and related activities. You might decide to specialize in this area, foregoing the rest.
Example: Say you run a restaurant that seems to be lagging. Is it just a poor economy? Or should you start a catering operation, reaching out to corporations, event organizers, weddings and the like? Or you hold a cooking class and find that people pay well to attend. Should you turn your restaurant into a how-to operation--baking, butchering, food nutrition?
Example: Say you are a chiropractor. You notice the surge of interest in holistic practices--nutrition, massage, Chinese medicine, and other alternatives. You test out the possibilities by bringing in holistic practitioners to offer informational sessions for the general public. After a few of these, you might develop relationships with these practitioners and offer on-going sessions. At the very least it will expand the public's awareness of your chiropractic practice.
No matter the business you are in, opportunities to change are always present. These deserve your close attention.
Markets drive all businesses. Check out those market opportunities carefully before heading off in another direction. Do a new business plan.
Also, be alert to business drift. That law practice can drift into avenues inconsistent with goals. The restaurant can settle into menus convenient in the kitchen but less appealing to the diners. And the chiropractor can drift toward alternative medicine whereas the goal is to develop more relationships with traditional medical doctors.
Never let your business drift without taking note. Better to take a critical look from time to time. Based on the market, decide if the drift is right for you and consistent with your long-term goals. And always--always--do a business plan.
(c) 2014, Al Warr
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
from someone who has been there, done that.
Starting up a business is one thing. Changing the direction of your existing business is another thing.
The decision to change direction comes up more often than you might think. Opportunities to change the focus of your business grab at you often.
Example: Say you run a small law practice. You do wills, real estate, collections, business set-ups (partnership, incorporation, etc.) and more. A client asks about elder law. You investigate and find a thriving market in elder law and related activities. You might decide to specialize in this area, foregoing the rest.
Example: Say you run a restaurant that seems to be lagging. Is it just a poor economy? Or should you start a catering operation, reaching out to corporations, event organizers, weddings and the like? Or you hold a cooking class and find that people pay well to attend. Should you turn your restaurant into a how-to operation--baking, butchering, food nutrition?
Example: Say you are a chiropractor. You notice the surge of interest in holistic practices--nutrition, massage, Chinese medicine, and other alternatives. You test out the possibilities by bringing in holistic practitioners to offer informational sessions for the general public. After a few of these, you might develop relationships with these practitioners and offer on-going sessions. At the very least it will expand the public's awareness of your chiropractic practice.
No matter the business you are in, opportunities to change are always present. These deserve your close attention.
Markets drive all businesses. Check out those market opportunities carefully before heading off in another direction. Do a new business plan.
Also, be alert to business drift. That law practice can drift into avenues inconsistent with goals. The restaurant can settle into menus convenient in the kitchen but less appealing to the diners. And the chiropractor can drift toward alternative medicine whereas the goal is to develop more relationships with traditional medical doctors.
Never let your business drift without taking note. Better to take a critical look from time to time. Based on the market, decide if the drift is right for you and consistent with your long-term goals. And always--always--do a business plan.
(c) 2014, Al Warr
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Postcards redux
Free daily advice for people in small business
from someone who has been there, done that
Okay. You use your smart phone, your laptop, whatever.
You have your business on Facebook, and you joined a MeetUp group.
Now let's talk postcards. If you've left postcards behind, consider bringing them back. If you've never used postcards in your business, give them a try. Snail mail still works.
Picture postcards attract attention. They should show an engaging picture on one side. You know, the kind of picture that people keep or pass on.
The color picture you want is an unusual scene, a photo of a pet, a pot of flowers, a snappy outdoor scene. Take a picture of the inside of your shop, your restaurant, a garden you've designed, your street, your sign. You get the idea.
Whatever you do, don't put a picture of yourself on a postcard. The idea is to come in under the wire. Postcards work best when you avoid the frontal attack.
On the reverse/address side, put your contact information--address, phone, website, Facebook, etc. You can announce a sale or an event. Keep it simple. Print everything on this side in blue. Use colorful stamps--not printed bulk mailers. Keep it personal.
Recipients are current and potential clients and customers. Your postcard reminds or introduces who you are and what you do.
Postcards are easy--and inexpensive--to produce and mail. Many sources can be found on the Internet. Google Postcards and take it from there. Some are offered at very reasonable rates. Some even supply stock pictures (not as effective as your own). And some will mail to your mailing list.
Postcards get attention. And they are frequently kept. People tape them to their refrigerator door or post them on a bulletin board. Or they pass them on to friends. They have trouble throwing away an attractive picture.
Direct mailers get tossed. Unopened direct mail envelopes are discarded.
An attractive postcard tugs at the heart. It's a soft sell that works.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered in this blog,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
from someone who has been there, done that
Okay. You use your smart phone, your laptop, whatever.
You have your business on Facebook, and you joined a MeetUp group.
Now let's talk postcards. If you've left postcards behind, consider bringing them back. If you've never used postcards in your business, give them a try. Snail mail still works.
Picture postcards attract attention. They should show an engaging picture on one side. You know, the kind of picture that people keep or pass on.
The color picture you want is an unusual scene, a photo of a pet, a pot of flowers, a snappy outdoor scene. Take a picture of the inside of your shop, your restaurant, a garden you've designed, your street, your sign. You get the idea.
Whatever you do, don't put a picture of yourself on a postcard. The idea is to come in under the wire. Postcards work best when you avoid the frontal attack.
On the reverse/address side, put your contact information--address, phone, website, Facebook, etc. You can announce a sale or an event. Keep it simple. Print everything on this side in blue. Use colorful stamps--not printed bulk mailers. Keep it personal.
Recipients are current and potential clients and customers. Your postcard reminds or introduces who you are and what you do.
Postcards are easy--and inexpensive--to produce and mail. Many sources can be found on the Internet. Google Postcards and take it from there. Some are offered at very reasonable rates. Some even supply stock pictures (not as effective as your own). And some will mail to your mailing list.
Postcards get attention. And they are frequently kept. People tape them to their refrigerator door or post them on a bulletin board. Or they pass them on to friends. They have trouble throwing away an attractive picture.
Direct mailers get tossed. Unopened direct mail envelopes are discarded.
An attractive postcard tugs at the heart. It's a soft sell that works.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered in this blog,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Credit card use
Free daily advice for people in small business
from someone who has been there, done that
Credit cards rank right up there among the great inventions of all time. Credit cards are just as important as the telephone and automobile.
The telephone allowed us to transfer information across great distances. The automobile then conquered the distance itself. Both brought us increases in personal freedom.
The credit card is a horse of a different color. It solves a business transaction problem.
Yes, the convenience angle is part of it. You reach for your Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express or other card just as your grandfather reached for his money clip.
Most small businesses accept credit cards in payment for goods and services. Big companies take it to another level--try renting an automobile without a credit card.
Many owners of small businesses exploit the credit card mechanism in other ways. They use their personal credit cards to solve cash flow problems in their small business.
Example: A gift shop owner buys items wholesale using a credit card. Depending on the timing, the bill is not due for 10 or 20 or even 30 days. The items can be sold, and the retail price collected, before the statement arrives from the credit card company. The owner pays the bill, pockets the difference, and everybody's happy.
Or are they? What pocket received the difference? If everything is kept clean, the difference goes back into the business pot. If not, the difference goes into the owner's personal pocket.
This same example can apply to a restaurant, a small market or clothing store, or any number of other types of operations.
A business has great elasticity. But if a rubber band is stretched too far, it will break. The same is true of your business.
If you are running your operation using credit cards to fill some occasional gaps, that is manageable. But if the gaps turn into long stretches, then you are headed for trouble.
Don't misunderstand. Sometimes you need to take a gamble. Taking risks is what starting and operating a small business is all about.
Work it out on paper. Running up credit card debt is expensive--check out the interest you can expect to be charged. Those are real dollars that will not be working for you--they'll be working for the credit card company.
Business loans come at much cheaper rates. If you can qualify for a business loan at a bank, it is a much better alternative.
If you can't, then the credit card route might be your only option. Just do it with your eyes open. You're flying alone here, but you're not flying blind.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
from someone who has been there, done that
Credit cards rank right up there among the great inventions of all time. Credit cards are just as important as the telephone and automobile.
The telephone allowed us to transfer information across great distances. The automobile then conquered the distance itself. Both brought us increases in personal freedom.
The credit card is a horse of a different color. It solves a business transaction problem.
Yes, the convenience angle is part of it. You reach for your Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express or other card just as your grandfather reached for his money clip.
Most small businesses accept credit cards in payment for goods and services. Big companies take it to another level--try renting an automobile without a credit card.
Many owners of small businesses exploit the credit card mechanism in other ways. They use their personal credit cards to solve cash flow problems in their small business.
Example: A gift shop owner buys items wholesale using a credit card. Depending on the timing, the bill is not due for 10 or 20 or even 30 days. The items can be sold, and the retail price collected, before the statement arrives from the credit card company. The owner pays the bill, pockets the difference, and everybody's happy.
Or are they? What pocket received the difference? If everything is kept clean, the difference goes back into the business pot. If not, the difference goes into the owner's personal pocket.
This same example can apply to a restaurant, a small market or clothing store, or any number of other types of operations.
A business has great elasticity. But if a rubber band is stretched too far, it will break. The same is true of your business.
If you are running your operation using credit cards to fill some occasional gaps, that is manageable. But if the gaps turn into long stretches, then you are headed for trouble.
Don't misunderstand. Sometimes you need to take a gamble. Taking risks is what starting and operating a small business is all about.
Work it out on paper. Running up credit card debt is expensive--check out the interest you can expect to be charged. Those are real dollars that will not be working for you--they'll be working for the credit card company.
Business loans come at much cheaper rates. If you can qualify for a business loan at a bank, it is a much better alternative.
If you can't, then the credit card route might be your only option. Just do it with your eyes open. You're flying alone here, but you're not flying blind.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Business check-up
Free daily advice for people in small business
from someone who has been there, done that
A business check-up digs into the health of your small business. You take a critical look at the effectiveness of your operation.
Find a quiet place--away from your business. No phones. No laptops. No catch-up work.
Sitting alone on my patio works for me. I relax with a cigar and a cup of coffee and watch the birds.
Your check-up involves more than the current numbers. You want to re-evaluate your personal hopes and dreams and goals. Tough thinking.
To begin, consider that businesses tend to go stale. Businesses tend to go stale precisely to the extent of their success. Success can be more that you expected or less than you hoped for.
In either case, you become complacent over time. You settle in. You put in the 16 hour days and fall into bed exhausted. But your business is running.
Meanwhile, markets are changing. Your business is no longer playing in the same ballgame. You've achieved a certain comfort level. It's true whether you work alone or have employees.
The original business dream no longer sparks the enthusiasm that accounted for your dynamism early on. You are in danger of drifting.
All businesses drift. That's why you need a periodic check-up.
When all your attention is focused on production (jewelry making, baking, landscaping jobs, financial services), selling is neglected. When you spend all your time selling (getting referrals, networking, offering sales), production suffers. It's a vicious cycle.
Not to mention future expansion, funding, cash flow, taxes, and endless additional concerns. Daily activities consume your time. And human beings tend to focus on the problem at hand, not the longer range.
When you think through your check-up, you might find that you've drifted off course. It's time for a new plan for your business. The purpose here is to get a new goal, or goals, in mind.
Only you can evaluate where you are in relation to where you want to be. You already know the possibilities, but only you can sift through everything. Clear thinking can turn today's hunches into tomorrow's realities. It can turn a failing business around, or it can expand a successful business.
That's the value of that quiet place. Take a pen and paper, and jot down your thoughts. You'll find a new direction emerging. The most important things to consider have to do with markets.
Are you in the business you want to be? Does the market support this? What are some directions you can take to better address current and emerging market trends? Are your original goals outdated? What are some ways you can head off in different directions? Do you want that? Do you have the resources to support new goals?
Business check-ups should be done at least a couple of times each year. If you've never done this, you might want to begin with multi-sessions spread over weeks.
Take notes. Lay them aside so you have time to ruminate. Now, get back to work.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
from someone who has been there, done that
A business check-up digs into the health of your small business. You take a critical look at the effectiveness of your operation.
Find a quiet place--away from your business. No phones. No laptops. No catch-up work.
Sitting alone on my patio works for me. I relax with a cigar and a cup of coffee and watch the birds.
Your check-up involves more than the current numbers. You want to re-evaluate your personal hopes and dreams and goals. Tough thinking.
To begin, consider that businesses tend to go stale. Businesses tend to go stale precisely to the extent of their success. Success can be more that you expected or less than you hoped for.
In either case, you become complacent over time. You settle in. You put in the 16 hour days and fall into bed exhausted. But your business is running.
Meanwhile, markets are changing. Your business is no longer playing in the same ballgame. You've achieved a certain comfort level. It's true whether you work alone or have employees.
The original business dream no longer sparks the enthusiasm that accounted for your dynamism early on. You are in danger of drifting.
All businesses drift. That's why you need a periodic check-up.
When all your attention is focused on production (jewelry making, baking, landscaping jobs, financial services), selling is neglected. When you spend all your time selling (getting referrals, networking, offering sales), production suffers. It's a vicious cycle.
Not to mention future expansion, funding, cash flow, taxes, and endless additional concerns. Daily activities consume your time. And human beings tend to focus on the problem at hand, not the longer range.
When you think through your check-up, you might find that you've drifted off course. It's time for a new plan for your business. The purpose here is to get a new goal, or goals, in mind.
Only you can evaluate where you are in relation to where you want to be. You already know the possibilities, but only you can sift through everything. Clear thinking can turn today's hunches into tomorrow's realities. It can turn a failing business around, or it can expand a successful business.
That's the value of that quiet place. Take a pen and paper, and jot down your thoughts. You'll find a new direction emerging. The most important things to consider have to do with markets.
Are you in the business you want to be? Does the market support this? What are some directions you can take to better address current and emerging market trends? Are your original goals outdated? What are some ways you can head off in different directions? Do you want that? Do you have the resources to support new goals?
Business check-ups should be done at least a couple of times each year. If you've never done this, you might want to begin with multi-sessions spread over weeks.
Take notes. Lay them aside so you have time to ruminate. Now, get back to work.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Outside signage
Daily advice for people in small business
from someone who has been there, done that.
Today is Friday. On Fridays, my attention turns to business externals. Like landlords and leases, laws and regulations, community involvement and more.
This Friday, it's outside signage.
The outside sign of a business puts the face on what's inside. Business owners want a sign that tells people and who and what of the business. It stirs the expectations of those who pass by--and enter. It can be as simple as the name of the place or a logo.
A fancy boutique or law firm might use a small bronze plaque. "Sam's Place" can be appropriate for a local hangout, a billiards room, or cafe.
In-town stores can paint signs across their windows or hang a sign above the entry. A rural operation can opt for a large sign that contains more than the name of the place.
Splashy neon signs are popular at bars and taverns. Neon attracts attention and pulls people into the operation.
Before you rush out and make arrangements for your sign, take note. Most towns and other communities regulate signage. Regulations govern placement, sign type and size.
Landlords can also dictate the what and where of outside signs. Read your lease. Before you sign a lease, make your signage intentions clear.
Outside signage is important to your business. Say this at town meetings. Make your voice heard at other times--local business associations, chambers of commerce, planning board meetings. Talk with other business owners. Together, you can make more of an impact.
Too often, towns put onerous regulations on business. These are written by well-meaning people who have a different mindset. Most people who write regulations have never run a business. It's up to you--and your business neighbors--to educate them. And watch what they do. Speak up and speak out. Small businesses are the core of towns and neighborhoods.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
from someone who has been there, done that.
Today is Friday. On Fridays, my attention turns to business externals. Like landlords and leases, laws and regulations, community involvement and more.
This Friday, it's outside signage.
The outside sign of a business puts the face on what's inside. Business owners want a sign that tells people and who and what of the business. It stirs the expectations of those who pass by--and enter. It can be as simple as the name of the place or a logo.
A fancy boutique or law firm might use a small bronze plaque. "Sam's Place" can be appropriate for a local hangout, a billiards room, or cafe.
In-town stores can paint signs across their windows or hang a sign above the entry. A rural operation can opt for a large sign that contains more than the name of the place.
Splashy neon signs are popular at bars and taverns. Neon attracts attention and pulls people into the operation.
Before you rush out and make arrangements for your sign, take note. Most towns and other communities regulate signage. Regulations govern placement, sign type and size.
Landlords can also dictate the what and where of outside signs. Read your lease. Before you sign a lease, make your signage intentions clear.
Outside signage is important to your business. Say this at town meetings. Make your voice heard at other times--local business associations, chambers of commerce, planning board meetings. Talk with other business owners. Together, you can make more of an impact.
Too often, towns put onerous regulations on business. These are written by well-meaning people who have a different mindset. Most people who write regulations have never run a business. It's up to you--and your business neighbors--to educate them. And watch what they do. Speak up and speak out. Small businesses are the core of towns and neighborhoods.
If you have questions on this or any other topic covered,
email me direct at: AlWarr16@gmail.com and put BLOG in the subject line.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Local business partners
Any small business can extend its reach by partnering with other local businesses. Two businesses come together to hold open houses, informational meetings, workshops and other gatherings. These attract more attention than either business acting alone.
Informal gatherings are popular with the public. Especially if they are free. People are hungry for how-to information. They want to ask questions and get answers from people who know.
You don't need to rent a hall. Most places can accommodate a dozen people.
Talk to another local business owner. Set up an open house at your place or the other. Invite your customers with phone calls, emails, Facebook announcements and the like.
Encourage attendance by emphasizing that it is free. No obligation. Tell them to bring their questions--and guests.
Example: A landscaper partners with a book store to offer free seminar on taking care of yards, designing new landscapes, how-to information on pruning shrubs. Hold the session at the book store. This introduces people interested in gardening to the local book store, and vice versa.
Example: A small accounting office partners with a financial planner. Hold an open--and free--meeting on taxes, retirement possibilities, inheritance set-ups, and more. Bring your questions.
Example: A computer expert (repair, web site designer, etc.) partners with a local cafe. Everyone has questions about computing. And attendees get to know another place to grab a bite to eat.
Example: A florist partners with a wedding specialist to hold a workshop on how to make that special day more special. Add a caterer to furnish hors d'oeuvres.
Small businesses can benefit by partnering to hold events. A free event generates excitement in the local community. These gatherings help people, and they introduce your business to people who might not know you and what you do.
If your business is not among the examples, not to worry. There are endless possibilities among local businesses to partner for events. Think about it.
Get started. Make a list of five possible partners. Talk to each one. Set up an event--you'll need 2 to 4 weeks to get the word out. See how it goes.
In the future, plan to hold an event every month with different partners. You will be increasing the circle of your clients and customers. You have everything to gain and little to lose.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Reach out with Facebook
Use Facebook to expand your business.
Facebook is easy. It's free. And Facebook leads you through the set-up.
You can do quick entries. Keep them short and to the point. Remember that the recipient only spends seconds on your entries. But they are very valuable seconds to your business.
Add photos--nothing captures attention like a photo. Don't worry about how professional your pictures might look. Use pictures you snap on your phone to show the inside of your retail space. Take a picture of a sale item--a dress or coat, jewelry, the front of your place, the snow in winter, flowers in spring, a street scene.
Get creative. You are reminding people who you are and what you offer.
More and more small businesses are finding that Facebook works for them. Check out these examples.
Example: A retail operation uses Facebook to post upcoming sales, discounts, coupons, perhaps an open house planned for the following weekend.
Example: A garden center announces an all-day hands-on free session teaching homeowners and professionals how to build a patio, a fire pit, a brick wall.
Example: A consignment shop reaches out to Facebook friends to publicize new items arriving and available in the bricks and mortar store.
Example: A law firm uses Facebook to announce upcoming free seminars on elder care, social security concerns, reverse mortgages, and more.
Facebook can work for any small business. Some will work better than others. But you don't know how it will work for you until you try.
You deserve all the help you can get in building your operation--especially when it's easy and free. Go on Facebook.com and let them lead you through the set-up.
Facebook is easy. It's free. And Facebook leads you through the set-up.
You can do quick entries. Keep them short and to the point. Remember that the recipient only spends seconds on your entries. But they are very valuable seconds to your business.
Add photos--nothing captures attention like a photo. Don't worry about how professional your pictures might look. Use pictures you snap on your phone to show the inside of your retail space. Take a picture of a sale item--a dress or coat, jewelry, the front of your place, the snow in winter, flowers in spring, a street scene.
Get creative. You are reminding people who you are and what you offer.
More and more small businesses are finding that Facebook works for them. Check out these examples.
Example: A retail operation uses Facebook to post upcoming sales, discounts, coupons, perhaps an open house planned for the following weekend.
Example: A garden center announces an all-day hands-on free session teaching homeowners and professionals how to build a patio, a fire pit, a brick wall.
Example: A consignment shop reaches out to Facebook friends to publicize new items arriving and available in the bricks and mortar store.
Example: A law firm uses Facebook to announce upcoming free seminars on elder care, social security concerns, reverse mortgages, and more.
Facebook can work for any small business. Some will work better than others. But you don't know how it will work for you until you try.
You deserve all the help you can get in building your operation--especially when it's easy and free. Go on Facebook.com and let them lead you through the set-up.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Let's talk networking
Networking puts a friendly face on your business.
Business networking is an effective way to talk to other business people. It is informal. It is relaxed. And it is effective.
You know the drill. Networking groups are held by local chambers of commerce, other businesses, economic development groups, private companies (e.g., BNI), MeetUp groups (Google MeetUp.com to find groups near you), and others.
Business people come together, meet each other, exchange information, and provide leads to expand your business reach. It's business social interaction.
A networking meeting is a lot more than exchanging business cards. Some people attend these meetings to pass out their business cards to everyone. They press their business card into every hand and then they move on to the next person.
For some, this is networking. Others have a better idea.
A typical networking meeting lasts an hour or two. During this time, you can target and meet 3 or 4 business people. Introduce yourself and begin a conversation--not about you, but about them.
Getting the other person to talk about what they do is an easy start. Quite naturally, the conversation will turn to what you do. Landscapers meet chefs. Bakers meet bankers. Jewelers meet gallery owners.
These can be valuable contacts for your growing business. You might find another tax professional, a future landlord, a lawyer who specializes in debt collections.
Perhaps more importantly, a brief, 15 or 20 minute conversation can lead to new customers--not just the person in front of you, but referrals from others they know. In-depth conversations at networking events can have the effect of expanding your own business.
If you don't know a local networking group, ask around. Or start one of your own--check out that MeetUp.com website. They make it easy to form a group, keep in touch, and schedule events.
Networking is a valuable tool that every owner of a small business can use to advantage. Give it a try. After all, what's an hour or two when it can bring you new contacts and customers.
Business networking is an effective way to talk to other business people. It is informal. It is relaxed. And it is effective.
You know the drill. Networking groups are held by local chambers of commerce, other businesses, economic development groups, private companies (e.g., BNI), MeetUp groups (Google MeetUp.com to find groups near you), and others.
Business people come together, meet each other, exchange information, and provide leads to expand your business reach. It's business social interaction.
A networking meeting is a lot more than exchanging business cards. Some people attend these meetings to pass out their business cards to everyone. They press their business card into every hand and then they move on to the next person.
For some, this is networking. Others have a better idea.
A typical networking meeting lasts an hour or two. During this time, you can target and meet 3 or 4 business people. Introduce yourself and begin a conversation--not about you, but about them.
Getting the other person to talk about what they do is an easy start. Quite naturally, the conversation will turn to what you do. Landscapers meet chefs. Bakers meet bankers. Jewelers meet gallery owners.
These can be valuable contacts for your growing business. You might find another tax professional, a future landlord, a lawyer who specializes in debt collections.
Perhaps more importantly, a brief, 15 or 20 minute conversation can lead to new customers--not just the person in front of you, but referrals from others they know. In-depth conversations at networking events can have the effect of expanding your own business.
If you don't know a local networking group, ask around. Or start one of your own--check out that MeetUp.com website. They make it easy to form a group, keep in touch, and schedule events.
Networking is a valuable tool that every owner of a small business can use to advantage. Give it a try. After all, what's an hour or two when it can bring you new contacts and customers.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Never give up!
The first rule of small business--Never Give Up!
People who run their own businesses are creative, hard-working, tenacious and stubborn. But sometimes they can get confused.
It's an everyday kind of confusion. Not to worry.
Owners wonder if they are on the right track. They worry about lack of money and time. They consider going in another direction. They start to question everything.
They worry about cash flow--it seems to flow out faster than it flows in. They worry about customers and clients--am I satisfying them so they return, and will they refer others to me. They worry about growing the business--am I on the right track. They worry about everything.
Worrying is good. Be stubborn. Be tenacious. Your hard work will pay off. You will create a successful operation. Be patient. Learn to compartmentalize. Separate the problems, and focus on one thing at a time. Tackle confusion by listing the problems. Take one at a time and think about possible answers. Try one approach and watch how it works. Work your way through your list.
Clarify your thinking by concentrating your efforts on what works--no matter how small. You'll find that confusion and worry begin to go away. The right track will emerge.
Remember this: The paths to success are many. What works for you might not work for me. But you are finding your path. And the first rule is: Never give up!
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