Top 10 Business Tips

One of the best ways to improve your business is to listen and learn from others. Here are some great time-tested tips to help you grow your business:

    1. When you begin a new business, start small. Work at home for a while, until you are sure the business is sustainable. If you invest too much capital into a building or facility, you may be caught short if your business doesn’t grow quickly.
    2. Invest in high quality paper and envelopes from the office supply store, instead of having stationery printed. You can add your logo and address to any document or envelope for a fraction of the cost of pre-printed materials.
    3. Have a website so customers can find and contact you easily. Your website doesn’t have to be complex or difficult to create, but should accurately portray your business. Learn about keywords, and how to use them to make your business appear as high up as possible on a search results page.
    4. Make a marketing plan with concrete goals, and set aside some time each week for marketing and promotion activities. If customers can’t find you, they can’t purchase your product or service.
    5. Use some of the latest internet marketing tools to interact with your customers—try Twitter, FaceBook, or other social media routes to get your point across. Consider starting a blog alongside your website, so people can have a little insight into your life, and the day to day workings of your business.
    6. Have a professional email address that goes with the name or theme of your business, and avoid cutesy or innuendo-ridden names.
    7. When you send a business email, use the same etiquette and quality you would use in a written letter. No one wants to receive business communication done in text-speak.
    8. Buy the best quality color printer you can afford, and you will be able to print out documents, photos, and marketing materials without leaving your desk.
    9. Review your invoicing and billing policies, and make sure all client accounts are up to date. Begin collection activities for any outstanding accounts. It is very easy for a small business to lose track of what is owed to them, and by whom.
    10. If you work from home, have a dedicated business line, and answer the phone in an upbeat, professional manner. You should also have voice mail or an answering machine with a professional outgoing message.