1. Hire good help
Good help is not that hard to find. It just takes some thinking outside the square. Perhaps you could start with a virtual assistant (VA) - an admin assistant who works from their own home and could help you answer the phone, follow up website enquiries, send out your email newsletter and so on. There are many VAs listed in the Flying Solo directory, which is a great place to search for help. Reading blogs and magazine columns relevant to the area you need assistance in is also a good way to identify people who might be ideal suppliers. Hire good help and use it to your advantage.
2. Update your website at least once a month, every month
Yes, keeping your website current and fresh with new content is time consuming. But don’t neglect it. As the shop front to your business it contributes greatly to your brand image, which means that it’s important that it’s kept up to date. If you don’t have time to update your website regularly, perhaps your VA could do it for you?
3. Read one blog regularly
Even when I’m busy, there are one or two blogs I always make the time to read. One of them, Nicole Avery’s Planning with kids blog doesn’t technically have anything to do with business – it’s about parenting, kids, school holiday activities, cooking and so forth. Nevertheless, from a business perspective, I’ve learnt a lot from Nicole’s blogging style, including the importance of high quality content, that having an opinion is justified (especially when it’s backed up by research), that consistency is important, and that writing in a tone relevant to your target audience is the key to keeping readers coming back. Choose a blog that similarly stimulates your own thinking, and find the time to read it as often as possible.
4. Don’t discount
Discounting is the most expensive promotion available in the marketing mix. Last year we saw a number of new online business ventures pop up offering discounts of up to 90 percent to local businesses. I bought one of those deals. It was too good to be true and I won’t be doing it again. If you’ve been having any ideas about discounting, I recommend you discount them immediately!
5. Invite someone to lunch every month
Each month I invite someone different to lunch, pick their brain, make lots of notes and most importantly, listen to their advice. I’ve learnt a lot through this process and it doesn’t cost the earth, so give some thought to areas that you need help with and who might be able to assist you to grow or improve your business in that particular area – then pick up the phone.
6. Protect your logo
It’s now more important than ever to protect your brand. If you haven’t already done so then you must make this a priority. As with VAs, there are a number of intellectual property (IP) specialists listed in Flying Solo’s directory. If you’d prefer to go it alone, check out IP Australia’s TM Headstart program, which is an ideal platform for small business owners.
These small business tips aren’t difficult to implement, but will have a lasting effect on your business.
Do you have any similar simple but effective ideas that deliver real business benefits? Please share your small business tips below.
“ If you don’t have time to update your website regularly, perhaps your VA could do it for you? ”
Jo Macdermott from Next Marketing works with Business Owners in Melbourne who require ongoing Marketing support. If you are a Business Owner with a Marketing budget who is too busy to ‘get around to marketing’ then Jo Macdermott is here to help. Jo specialises in tactical Marketing plans that are pragmatic and make a lot of business sense.
