Small Buisness Blog

Hi,

 If your website is your business then this is a very complicated question, but for a lot of businesses their website is basically a business card. If you work in the real world (plumbers, joiners etc) your website is probobly only used to allow people to gain information on your services, after looking at the yellow pages or an advert, before they call you. So it can be only a single page if you want, but it has to contain detailed information on your business and your serices / prices. If it’s just another business card - why bother with it in the first place? The customer has already seen the advert and acted on it by visiting your website.

Thanks,

Andy

Hi,

I think you should join at least 3 business associations - 2 for your industry and 1 small business association.

Most businesses can fit into several associations, and there’s usually more than one association for eahc industry - some industries have as many as 5 similar associations! These are great for learning relevant business news and sub-contracting work.

Join at least one general small business association. these association are more widly known to the publci as their logo is shown on all different types of business cards. they’re also really good for networking and getting new business.

Thanks,

Andy

Hi,

If you’re considering placing a local newspaper advert do not accept their first price. Keep in mind that they are selling space on a bit of paper - it’s very cheap to produce. Also keep in mind that as soon as you buy an advert for your business they WILL phone you up at least once a month offering you new adverts.

The easiest way to get a discount is to say “I’m thinking of running an advert every week this month, do you give bulk discounts?”. Or you can go the more traditional route of saying “£30??? It’s been a slow month, hence the advert. I was only wanting to spend £25 on the advert.”

Thanks,

Andy

Hi,

Different people like to pay in different ways, if you only have one avenue of online payment you’re business will suffer. Most websites offer online credit / debit card payments. Customers will generally use these if the website tself is a big brand and hence trustworthy i.e. amazon or if the business uses a common payment processor that the customer has used before and trusts i.e. worldpay, secpay, clickbank, ibill.

Some people will just want to pay by cheque or postal roder, so you’re going to have to provide them with yuor real address. Do not send them details of a PO Box, they’re wanting to pay by cheque due to its added security - having an address for you.

Paypal and nochex and other online membership payment processors are very good as the customer already uses and trusts them.

 Thanks,

Andy

The reason people are willing to pay a significant amount of money to start a franchise business is to be given a “blueprint for success” and one that’s been shown to work time and time again. Every mcdonalds in a franchise business. There are alot of franchise business from plumbing to supermarkets. Initially they all provide you with the required training needed to run the business and the required tools and advertising. The downsid eis that you pay for it. usually it’ll cost £10,000 start up fee and fromt hen on you’ll pay a monthly fee and you’ll have to buy all your supplies from them.

Starting up your own business is alot cheaper, but you’ll have to have your own trainign orgainised if you need it and you’ll need to research your own marketing campaigns etc.

Thanks,

Andy

Hi,

 It’s good advice to keep track of your business’s sales/client statistics. It’s a mark of success to sell 100 products, or get your 100th client. It’s also a great excuse for a drink! So don’t miss out on the oppertunity!

They can also be useful as a marketing tool. You can show prospective customers your success rates in the last year or so. “We’ve now had 130 clients” is a statement that proves you know what you’re doing. If you work in a success-based industry like affiliate marketing, housing sales or a call centre you can also include statistics on your % success. “We have a 75% success rate in selling homes” etc. It’s really good for marketing, as it shows you know what you are doing while saying to the customer “there’s a slight chance of failure” at the same time. That way they are goignt o be slightly less demanding of you should you fail them, as they knew there was a slight risk.

 Thanks,

Andy

Have you looked at the many, many articles out there offering advice on the top 10 or 20 small businesses you (Yes, You!!!) can start from home? I’m appauled frankly at most of their content. I suppose there are a few oppertunities out there for people who have zero skills, but not many.

 Here are a list of the bad ideas I’ve saw - pet sitting, grocery delivery services, grass cutting (my dad was a professional gardner, so don’t think this is easy without training!), selling any of the various MLM products that need you to recruit members, writing a book (unless you’re a good writer, famous or an ex-special forces member it is unlikly you’ll get picked up by a pblisher). The list is endless.

Ebay selling… lot sof people do make that work, but its more than selling everything that’snot nailed down in your home. You need to have a constant supply of cheap sourced items that sell well.

If you’re wanting to start a small business then get training in something first! Ideally you should be able to market your service/product to the following groups of people - other businesses (locally and nation wide via the net), the general public (again, locally or nationwide via the net).

Thanks,

Andy

Hi,

 Networking is really the cheapest way to meet new customers, and just about the only reliable way of getting other businesses as customers! Offline networking includes going to local parties and business association meetings. Meeting new people an dhanding out your busienss card.

 Online you can network using business forums, chat rooms, email groups. All of those can be “general business” or specific to a certain industry. Its certinly worth a look. But remember your website and email address are your “online business cards”.

Thanks,

Andy

Hi,

 Bringing in business clients is best done through netwroking, as adverts and other promotional tools like mailing sales letters tend to have a low rate of effectiveness. Building up a social connection to other buisness owners will help ensure repeat and loyal buisness.

 How to network?

1) Join buisness associations - trade associations, industry specific associations and general buisness associations.

2) Chat online. There’s many business forums, chat rooms and email groups online. All are potential networking places.

Thanks,

Andy

HI,

Remember to be careful about what you invest in. The way to make a success of your small buisness is to have as low an overhead as possible. Everything you buy and invest in means more work for you to make a profit!

That’s easier said than done, I’m sure. As soon as you place an advert in a newspaper you’ll have other newspaper sales people calling you up saying “We saw your ad in XYZ Paper, we’re looking for adverts from buisnesses like yours! We’ll giv eyou a 70% discount if you place an ad with us!” Be wary - most of these newspapers will be “freebies” that no one really reads and will not bring in enough leads to be worthwhile.

In my opinion you shoudl only buy things that you need for your business to function or items that will cut down your time doing tasks (saving time and money) or things that will make you money.

Thanks,

Andy