Posted on August 13, 2011
Like all small business owners, you want to get more clients but feel that nothing you do is getting the results you want. Rest assured that you are not alone. I have heard this a lot from clients which is why I have put together what I believe to be the key 7 things that you need to do in order to get more clients. Most of the 7 tips are extremely obvious but what I have been finding is that while many business owners are aware of them, they aren't really following them - only read this if you are prepared to make the time to take appropriate action!
1. Take time to define your niche and target market because you can't be all things to all people. You need to know what makes you and your products/services unique so you can position yourself as an expert within your niche. Then you must have a clearly defined market which you can describe in 1 short sentence. There is a lot of information available on the internet to help you do this. You can then ensure that the vast majority of your marketing efforts are targeted directly at your target market in order for it to be effective. For example, if your niche is career coaching and your target market is school leavers, then this is the area you should be focussing your marketing on.
2. Try changing your approach to selling so that you "sell the sizzle not the steak". People will buy from you if you can give them a solution to their problem so stop trying to sell products and services and instead focus on making your target market aware of the solutions and benefits that your products/services provide. Read More...
Posted on June 26, 2011
Small business accounting is perhaps one of the most difficult challenges that business owners perceive. This is because accounting for a small business is not their forte. For most small business owners, they go into a start up because they are good at providing a particular service. Be this a catering business, contracting business or being a wedding planner.
Introduction to Small Business Accounting
To be successful at small business accounting one does not need to be a wizard at math. Being organized in keeping track of your cash flow is the key to good accounting for a small business.
Good accounting for a business also means that you are handling the financing of your business well. Since capital for start up is either taken from loans or from leasing equipment and other assets, you can be sure to formulate a good plan to cover your expenses.
Small business accounting is also important because of the tax implications. As the business owner it is your duty to file taxes properly to avoid getting any penalties.
At the end of the day, accounting simply means keeping the records clean for your business. You take in all of what you have earned and then subtract your expenses, what you have left is your income.
For a start up business that relies on financing, accounting takes a crucial role because it tells you if you are earning or not. Your income is then projected so you can see if you are earning enough to cover any debts or seed money infused into the business. Seeing how your financial standing looks like will guide you in making wiser decisions in your business. Read More...
Posted on May 11, 2011
As a small business you must utilize any marketing channel that you can to help boost your business. E-marketing, otherwise known as internet marketing or electronic marketing, is the most affordable marketing channel available for small businesses. Yet it is possibly the most under utilized marketing channel actually used by small business owners.
So what are the absolute 'must have's' for small businesses right now?
1. A decent website
You simply must have a website! This might seem like stating the obvious but I meet business owners everyday that still do not have a website for their business. And one other word of advice, make sure it's a decent one. Please don't get the kid next door to do it for you because chances are it won't be done properly. A decent website is a great investment in your business.
2. A business blog
Start a business blog on your website. With a business blog you can add regular articles, updates, specials, announcements, product information or resources for your customers. This helps to keep your website engaging and it also helps to attract search engines like Google so they will send more visitors to your site. Read More...