Free daily tips, information, advice and ideas
to help you better manage your small business
Social media represents a huge tool for small businesses. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and others extend your reach far and near.
Whether you want to reach more people in your local area or reach out across the land, social media can do the job.
Example: You are a graphic artist turned photographer. You get your portfolio together and publish an e-book on Amazon/Kindle. Make connections on LinkedIn, teasing interest with pictures, and point them to your e-book and your website. If you are looking to connect with an employer, grab your Kindle and show your interviewer what you've accomplished using Amazon's technology. Round out your promotions by posting on Twitter and Facebook.
Example: You operate a gift shop or consignment shop. To attract attention, you post pictures of newly arrived items on Facebook. The word spreads to your regulars--and they pass the pictures on to their friends, enlarging your circle of customers. Reach out and show the world what you have to offer.
Example: You own a restaurant. Get an app so that your customers can check out your specials for the day, make a reservation, and place an other as they leave their offices. When they arrive at your place, their meal is ready. Post pictures of mouth-watering entrees every day on Facebook, and use Twitter to round out the promotional activities.
Example: You run a pet shop--a complete line of supplies but no animals. Nevertheless, you take pictures of your dogs and cats at home and post these on Facebook to attract attention. With a few words, you have done your promotion for the day. People are attracted by the pictures, and they click on your website or they come to your shop.
Using social media can be very effective in getting the word out in the community. Your website can be thought of as your anchor, social media drives people to the website or to your place of business.
Pictures are the key here. Get in the habit of snapping shots of things that will get attention. Then post them--this is your advertising for the day.
Social media is a godsend for small business. You can reach out to the whole world with the simple click of a button.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Sailing through the holidays
Free daily tips, information, advice and ideas
to help you better manage your small business
We are in the middle of the holiday shopping season. Owners of small businesses must promote aggressively if they want to attract buyers of goods and services.
Example: Carlos is a chef with his own restaurant. He regularly posts mouth-watering entrees and desserts on his Facebook page. He puts the word out that he has partnered with local farms to offer fresh, farm-to-table ingredients. He also puts the word out that he has arranged to have his own app so that people can order ahead and the meal is ready when they arrive. He partners with non-profit groups to hold fundraisers for them--especially attractive during the holiday season. It's a rat race, but it is working--Carlos is seeing a steady stream of new faces dining at his place. And they are referring others.
Example: Fran is a certified acupuncture expert. She sees more and more people looking for relief from stress, aches and pains, post-surgery concerns, and other ailments. To increase awareness, Fran brings in holistic practitioners for informational meetings, free demonstrations, question and answer sessions. This had led to more interest in acupuncture and a wider acceptance of its benefits. In addition, Fran is beginning to plan a full-fledged wellness center offering several holistic treatments. During the holiday season, she partners with non-profits to hold open houses and fundraisers.
Example: Guy runs a fitness center. During holiday seasons, people tend to have other things on their minds. To counteract this, Guy is bringing in experts in other fields to stoke interest and attendance. A hypnosis practitioner is set to hold sessions on weight reduction and stopping smoking. A nutritionist will be educating people on better eating habits. Guy is also sending out email reminders to his list of clients, reminding them not to skip fitness opportunities during holidays.
To attract more attention, retail businesses hold sales. In addition, hold open houses, offer a trunk sale, bring in a guitar player, set up talks by experts. How about offering apple cider and cookies?
Small business people are nothing if not creative. And hard-headed. And persistent. Remember to wave as you are sailing through the holidays.
to help you better manage your small business
We are in the middle of the holiday shopping season. Owners of small businesses must promote aggressively if they want to attract buyers of goods and services.
Example: Carlos is a chef with his own restaurant. He regularly posts mouth-watering entrees and desserts on his Facebook page. He puts the word out that he has partnered with local farms to offer fresh, farm-to-table ingredients. He also puts the word out that he has arranged to have his own app so that people can order ahead and the meal is ready when they arrive. He partners with non-profit groups to hold fundraisers for them--especially attractive during the holiday season. It's a rat race, but it is working--Carlos is seeing a steady stream of new faces dining at his place. And they are referring others.
Example: Fran is a certified acupuncture expert. She sees more and more people looking for relief from stress, aches and pains, post-surgery concerns, and other ailments. To increase awareness, Fran brings in holistic practitioners for informational meetings, free demonstrations, question and answer sessions. This had led to more interest in acupuncture and a wider acceptance of its benefits. In addition, Fran is beginning to plan a full-fledged wellness center offering several holistic treatments. During the holiday season, she partners with non-profits to hold open houses and fundraisers.
Example: Guy runs a fitness center. During holiday seasons, people tend to have other things on their minds. To counteract this, Guy is bringing in experts in other fields to stoke interest and attendance. A hypnosis practitioner is set to hold sessions on weight reduction and stopping smoking. A nutritionist will be educating people on better eating habits. Guy is also sending out email reminders to his list of clients, reminding them not to skip fitness opportunities during holidays.
To attract more attention, retail businesses hold sales. In addition, hold open houses, offer a trunk sale, bring in a guitar player, set up talks by experts. How about offering apple cider and cookies?
Small business people are nothing if not creative. And hard-headed. And persistent. Remember to wave as you are sailing through the holidays.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Extending your market
Free daily tips, information, advice and ideas
to help you better manage your small business
Keeping up with what is going on in the markets you serve is part of running a small business. Markets continually change, they mature, and new markets appear. It ain't easy keeping up.
Always give the market what it wants. Customers and clients give you the clues you need. It's up to you to provide the goods and services that will satisfy the marketplace.
Example: Alex is a struggling artist. His large abstract paintings have attracted attention, and he has made sales. But buyers are few and far between. He is confident that in the long run he will be successful. The problem for Alex was how to get through the time it will take until he sells enough of his larger works to support his family. The answer came unexpectedly at a show he was attending. He overheard several people saying that there was nothing inexpensive enough to be considered as gifts for friends. It was a clue to a market segment Alex had not considered. He began turning out small paintings, quickly done, framed, and at reasonable prices. These began selling on his website, at shows, and to gift shops. Now he doesn't worry about income while he concentrates on his larger, more expensive, abstracts. The market is providing him with a bridge to his long-term goal.
Example: Nicole is a Pilates expert. She has her own studio where she sees clients. To exploit people's growing interest in fitness and wellness, she got her instructor's certification. She put the word out on social media and got good response. Nicole now teaches Pilates to others interested in the field while still seeing private clients. It is an extension of what she was already doing, but the teaching sessions bring in additional income. All of this activity has resulted in more referrals.
Example: Mary inherited her mother's small consignment shop. It was long-established and filled with vintage collectibles, games and toys, jewelry and small antiques--no clothing. Mary knew that the market out there was bigger than the locals who frequented her shop. So she reached out on social media, posting pictures every week of new arrivals. She also expanded by using eBay and Etsy to sell long distance. She turned a local destination consignment shop into a bigger and healthier business. The marketplace Mary serves is much bigger than that of her mother's shop.
A big part of managing your business is staying on top of the ever-changing marketplace. Sometimes, the change is in what people want. Other times, technology can propel your business into a bigger marketplace.
Your clients and customers move with the times. Businesses must do the same. To grow, take a step beyond what works today.
to help you better manage your small business
Keeping up with what is going on in the markets you serve is part of running a small business. Markets continually change, they mature, and new markets appear. It ain't easy keeping up.
Always give the market what it wants. Customers and clients give you the clues you need. It's up to you to provide the goods and services that will satisfy the marketplace.
Example: Alex is a struggling artist. His large abstract paintings have attracted attention, and he has made sales. But buyers are few and far between. He is confident that in the long run he will be successful. The problem for Alex was how to get through the time it will take until he sells enough of his larger works to support his family. The answer came unexpectedly at a show he was attending. He overheard several people saying that there was nothing inexpensive enough to be considered as gifts for friends. It was a clue to a market segment Alex had not considered. He began turning out small paintings, quickly done, framed, and at reasonable prices. These began selling on his website, at shows, and to gift shops. Now he doesn't worry about income while he concentrates on his larger, more expensive, abstracts. The market is providing him with a bridge to his long-term goal.
Example: Nicole is a Pilates expert. She has her own studio where she sees clients. To exploit people's growing interest in fitness and wellness, she got her instructor's certification. She put the word out on social media and got good response. Nicole now teaches Pilates to others interested in the field while still seeing private clients. It is an extension of what she was already doing, but the teaching sessions bring in additional income. All of this activity has resulted in more referrals.
Example: Mary inherited her mother's small consignment shop. It was long-established and filled with vintage collectibles, games and toys, jewelry and small antiques--no clothing. Mary knew that the market out there was bigger than the locals who frequented her shop. So she reached out on social media, posting pictures every week of new arrivals. She also expanded by using eBay and Etsy to sell long distance. She turned a local destination consignment shop into a bigger and healthier business. The marketplace Mary serves is much bigger than that of her mother's shop.
A big part of managing your business is staying on top of the ever-changing marketplace. Sometimes, the change is in what people want. Other times, technology can propel your business into a bigger marketplace.
Your clients and customers move with the times. Businesses must do the same. To grow, take a step beyond what works today.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Expand your operation
Free daily tips, information, advice and ideas
to help you better manage your small business
Expanding your small business is easier than you might think. It takes thought, planning and moving ahead.
You can expand your present product lines or services. Or you can take off in a different direction.
Whatever you do, keep your eye firmly on the marketplace. No business succeeds unless it fills the public's needs for products and services.
Example: Jackie is a trained and certified nutritionist. She has been trying to establish her business, but attracting paying customers has proved difficult. She gives talks at health food stores, supermarkets and senior centers. When she decided to begin concentrating on weight problems and healthy eating, her business picked up. Jackie devised programs for both adults and children. She posted on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Her solid background in nutrition gave her credibility with the new people who called for an appointment. Her seminars filled up, and soon she was able to rent a place of her own. It didn't stop there. She partnered with a hypotherapist and together they created more programs to help people manage and lose weight.
Example: Lisa was running a traditional gift shop which she had inherited from her mother. The gifts no longer attracted the attention that they once did. Lisa decided to make a change, updating the gift shop to better appeal to today's market. She contacted artists and artisans, arranging to carry their handmade works on a consignment basis. And she began posting the new items on Facebook and other social media. She now carries handmade jewelry, clothing accessories, stained glass items, small paintings and drawings, unusual objects in wood and iron. Gradually, Lisa transformed the old gift shop into a new destination, attracting more high-end customers from a wide area.
Example: John gradually changed his landscaping business by adding additional items to his list of services. Formerly, he cut lawns and trimmed shrubbery. Today, he installs walkways, fences, trellises. fish ponds, and other things to enhance and improve customer's gardens.
New trends in the marketplace pop up all the time. To keep up, get a trade magazine that serves your type business. Watch television. Troll the Internet.
Keep up with the changing marketplace. No matter your business, it will not be the same next year as it is today.
to help you better manage your small business
Expanding your small business is easier than you might think. It takes thought, planning and moving ahead.
You can expand your present product lines or services. Or you can take off in a different direction.
Whatever you do, keep your eye firmly on the marketplace. No business succeeds unless it fills the public's needs for products and services.
Example: Jackie is a trained and certified nutritionist. She has been trying to establish her business, but attracting paying customers has proved difficult. She gives talks at health food stores, supermarkets and senior centers. When she decided to begin concentrating on weight problems and healthy eating, her business picked up. Jackie devised programs for both adults and children. She posted on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Her solid background in nutrition gave her credibility with the new people who called for an appointment. Her seminars filled up, and soon she was able to rent a place of her own. It didn't stop there. She partnered with a hypotherapist and together they created more programs to help people manage and lose weight.
Example: Lisa was running a traditional gift shop which she had inherited from her mother. The gifts no longer attracted the attention that they once did. Lisa decided to make a change, updating the gift shop to better appeal to today's market. She contacted artists and artisans, arranging to carry their handmade works on a consignment basis. And she began posting the new items on Facebook and other social media. She now carries handmade jewelry, clothing accessories, stained glass items, small paintings and drawings, unusual objects in wood and iron. Gradually, Lisa transformed the old gift shop into a new destination, attracting more high-end customers from a wide area.
Example: John gradually changed his landscaping business by adding additional items to his list of services. Formerly, he cut lawns and trimmed shrubbery. Today, he installs walkways, fences, trellises. fish ponds, and other things to enhance and improve customer's gardens.
New trends in the marketplace pop up all the time. To keep up, get a trade magazine that serves your type business. Watch television. Troll the Internet.
Keep up with the changing marketplace. No matter your business, it will not be the same next year as it is today.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Doing more for clients
Free daily tips, information, advice and ideas
to help you better manage your small business
Clients tend to see you for one thing only. They pigeon hole you. They file you away as a provider of one thing they need.
Joe takes care of my lawn. Mary is my fashion expert. Greg gets the kinks out of my neck. Amy styles my hair. And Frank makes the best coffee in the world.
In business, you must continually remind your customers/clients that you can do more. Otherwise, you'll miss opportunities.
Example: Eli is an independent insurance agent. He has built up a client base filling their needs for insurance--homeowners, accident, life. He frequently reminds his clients that he can write other types of insurance--flood, loss of business, key man or partner insurance. It has brought more call and clients.
Example: Sue is a hypnotherapist. She specializes in offering sessions on weight reduction and stopping smoking. Recently, she reached out to local physicians, informing them that she could help their patients with weight problems and smoking addition. It resulted in more calls. When Sue informed physicians that she could also handle pain management problems, even more calls came in.
Example: John designs websites for clients. When he informed them that he could also set them up on social media, the calls came in. His clients had not made the connection until John laid it out and educated them. This has resulted in additional work--several clients now want their websites redesigned.
Every business tends to settle into a comfortable way of doing business. And the customers/clients tend to settle into seeing you in only one way.
Remind people of all the things you can do for them. It helps to grow and expand the business among a client base already familiar with you.
You can remind people in person of all the things you can do for them. Or remind them on Facebook and other social media.
to help you better manage your small business
Clients tend to see you for one thing only. They pigeon hole you. They file you away as a provider of one thing they need.
Joe takes care of my lawn. Mary is my fashion expert. Greg gets the kinks out of my neck. Amy styles my hair. And Frank makes the best coffee in the world.
In business, you must continually remind your customers/clients that you can do more. Otherwise, you'll miss opportunities.
Example: Eli is an independent insurance agent. He has built up a client base filling their needs for insurance--homeowners, accident, life. He frequently reminds his clients that he can write other types of insurance--flood, loss of business, key man or partner insurance. It has brought more call and clients.
Example: Sue is a hypnotherapist. She specializes in offering sessions on weight reduction and stopping smoking. Recently, she reached out to local physicians, informing them that she could help their patients with weight problems and smoking addition. It resulted in more calls. When Sue informed physicians that she could also handle pain management problems, even more calls came in.
Example: John designs websites for clients. When he informed them that he could also set them up on social media, the calls came in. His clients had not made the connection until John laid it out and educated them. This has resulted in additional work--several clients now want their websites redesigned.
Every business tends to settle into a comfortable way of doing business. And the customers/clients tend to settle into seeing you in only one way.
Remind people of all the things you can do for them. It helps to grow and expand the business among a client base already familiar with you.
You can remind people in person of all the things you can do for them. Or remind them on Facebook and other social media.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Promoting effectively
Free daily tips, information, advice and ideas
to help you better manage your small business
Your small business is never static. Either you are growing or falling behind. Trying to tread water and stay at the same level of business is not a good option.
The reason for this is based on a simple truth. Sooner or later, you will lose every customer you have. They move away, they outgrow you and your products and services, their brother-in-law goes into a similar business, you drop the ball in customer service, and so on.
Your business environment is always changing. What worked last year falls flat in tomorrow's market. The marketplace moves and you must move with it.
Example: Greg is trained and certified in acupuncture. He set up his place and attracted a growing list of clients. To promote more, he offers talks and demonstrations at business and organizational meetings. In addition he arranged to do a brief workshop at the local medical clinic. These activities began to attract more clients to the acupuncture treatments Greg offered. He was promoting--and educating--by reaching out into the community.
Example: Cheryl runs a fitness center. No heavy lifting here--she targets people 40 years old and above, using treadmills, cycles, and the like. To spread the word, she joined several networking groups but the success was limited. She went to MeetUp.com and formed her own group--people looking to solve weight problems, get in better shape, and deal with post-surgery problems. She also used Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media to spread the word. This has resulted in promoting her fitness center far beyond the small circle of regulars she served before. Social media put Cheryl on the map, plus referrals came.
Example: Vicky opened a small neighborhood restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. She knows her reputation is spreading, because new faces are showing up. To promote, Vicky had coupons printed offering one dollar off on any meal. These were designed to suggest the size and color of real money. (You cannot print a dollar bill unless you want a visit from the federal government.) Vicky hands out her coupons to everyone as they pay their bill, encouraging people to take a couple of extras for their friends. Her regulars helped Vicky promote the restaurant. A dollar amount coupon works better than offering a percentage off.
Inexpensive promotional ideas are everywhere. Put on your thinking cap and home in on what works in your business.
Promoting your business is a never-ending activity. Try one method and see how it does. Then try another. Home in on what works best.
to help you better manage your small business
Your small business is never static. Either you are growing or falling behind. Trying to tread water and stay at the same level of business is not a good option.
The reason for this is based on a simple truth. Sooner or later, you will lose every customer you have. They move away, they outgrow you and your products and services, their brother-in-law goes into a similar business, you drop the ball in customer service, and so on.
Your business environment is always changing. What worked last year falls flat in tomorrow's market. The marketplace moves and you must move with it.
Example: Greg is trained and certified in acupuncture. He set up his place and attracted a growing list of clients. To promote more, he offers talks and demonstrations at business and organizational meetings. In addition he arranged to do a brief workshop at the local medical clinic. These activities began to attract more clients to the acupuncture treatments Greg offered. He was promoting--and educating--by reaching out into the community.
Example: Cheryl runs a fitness center. No heavy lifting here--she targets people 40 years old and above, using treadmills, cycles, and the like. To spread the word, she joined several networking groups but the success was limited. She went to MeetUp.com and formed her own group--people looking to solve weight problems, get in better shape, and deal with post-surgery problems. She also used Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media to spread the word. This has resulted in promoting her fitness center far beyond the small circle of regulars she served before. Social media put Cheryl on the map, plus referrals came.
Example: Vicky opened a small neighborhood restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. She knows her reputation is spreading, because new faces are showing up. To promote, Vicky had coupons printed offering one dollar off on any meal. These were designed to suggest the size and color of real money. (You cannot print a dollar bill unless you want a visit from the federal government.) Vicky hands out her coupons to everyone as they pay their bill, encouraging people to take a couple of extras for their friends. Her regulars helped Vicky promote the restaurant. A dollar amount coupon works better than offering a percentage off.
Inexpensive promotional ideas are everywhere. Put on your thinking cap and home in on what works in your business.
Promoting your business is a never-ending activity. Try one method and see how it does. Then try another. Home in on what works best.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
So long, corporate
Free daily tips, information, advice and ideas
to help you better manage your small business
Leaving a cushy corporate position is not easy. I did it, and I can tell you that it is scary. At the same time, it can be very rewarding.
In a corporate position, you have the resources of a big organization to call on. Your computer is suddenly acting up--you call the department that handles such things. You want an electrical receptacle moved--call the maintenance department. You want a raise in pay--sit with your boss.
When you say goodbye to corporate, you leave all this behind. You are on your own. You handle everything. Instead of asking your boss for a raise, look in the mirror.
Example: Mary handled customer service in a manufacturing company. She was very good at it, and she regularly got commendations and raises in pay. But Mary wanted her own business. She considered several options, investigated several possibilities, and then came to her conclusion. Handling customers was the key in any business. It's all about the marketplace and customers. She gave her notice, and today Mary runs her own firm representing a growing base of manufacturers. Hers is a business handling the interface between manufacturers and their customers. The key to her success is her years of experience handling customers--their needs, their concerns, their complaints. Her reputation is such that new clients call her asking to be represented.
Example: Gene went to law school because that was the career path that was common in his family. He passed the bar exam and landed a position in a big law firm. He was on his way. But the thing that Gene really enjoyed happened after a day in the office. He would go home and head for the kitchen. There, he would bake--usually experimenting with cakes. The more he did this, the more he dreaded going to the law firm every day. Gene began creating spectacular cakes for a growing list of specialty clients. Today, he has his own successful cake bakery, often wondering why he got so sidetracked with a law degree.
To leave corporate, concentrate on the thing you're interested in and good at. Turn that into a business. You will find yourself jumping out of bed every morning and you won't mind the long hours.
Before you give notice, however, do a business plan--concentrating on the market for your product or service. And make certain that you have enough funds to support yourself for that first year or two in business.
Saying goodbye to corporate and starting your own business is a major move. Remember, you'll be taking out the trash and fixing your own computer. And then you turn out the lights and get a little sleep.
to help you better manage your small business
Leaving a cushy corporate position is not easy. I did it, and I can tell you that it is scary. At the same time, it can be very rewarding.
In a corporate position, you have the resources of a big organization to call on. Your computer is suddenly acting up--you call the department that handles such things. You want an electrical receptacle moved--call the maintenance department. You want a raise in pay--sit with your boss.
When you say goodbye to corporate, you leave all this behind. You are on your own. You handle everything. Instead of asking your boss for a raise, look in the mirror.
Example: Mary handled customer service in a manufacturing company. She was very good at it, and she regularly got commendations and raises in pay. But Mary wanted her own business. She considered several options, investigated several possibilities, and then came to her conclusion. Handling customers was the key in any business. It's all about the marketplace and customers. She gave her notice, and today Mary runs her own firm representing a growing base of manufacturers. Hers is a business handling the interface between manufacturers and their customers. The key to her success is her years of experience handling customers--their needs, their concerns, their complaints. Her reputation is such that new clients call her asking to be represented.
Example: Gene went to law school because that was the career path that was common in his family. He passed the bar exam and landed a position in a big law firm. He was on his way. But the thing that Gene really enjoyed happened after a day in the office. He would go home and head for the kitchen. There, he would bake--usually experimenting with cakes. The more he did this, the more he dreaded going to the law firm every day. Gene began creating spectacular cakes for a growing list of specialty clients. Today, he has his own successful cake bakery, often wondering why he got so sidetracked with a law degree.
To leave corporate, concentrate on the thing you're interested in and good at. Turn that into a business. You will find yourself jumping out of bed every morning and you won't mind the long hours.
Before you give notice, however, do a business plan--concentrating on the market for your product or service. And make certain that you have enough funds to support yourself for that first year or two in business.
Saying goodbye to corporate and starting your own business is a major move. Remember, you'll be taking out the trash and fixing your own computer. And then you turn out the lights and get a little sleep.
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