5 secrets to growing your small business
So you've made your own company and you're all ready to start getting customers. Maybe you've taken on staff, or are just working for yourself. So how do you start getting people's attention and building that all important customer base?
5) Make the most of what you have.
So you can’t afford an office space? If you have a
computer and a phone, the world is your office! Make some space from your
living room, set up your laptop in a café or just work from the comfort of your
car.
Sometimes, paying huge sums for an “essential”
resource can be avoided just by changing the way we look at the world, and help
us save for those things we really do need.
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| No room too small |
4) Great customer service means serving more customers
There’s no doubt about it, people will always
return to businesses that provide a high standard of customer service. What isn’t
so obvious is that amazing service often comes down to attitude as well as “what
we can do for you”.
A smiling, helpful person who genuinely cares
about our needs will get a much better response than someone who can answer all
our questions but does so in a rude or dismissive way. Teach your staff (and
yourself!) to throw on a smile and want
to help, and watch your customers return to your business time and time again.
3) Good branding = Good Branding!
Branding is a combination of logo, business
message, website and everything connected to it. A powerful brand will stick in
the mind, a weak or inconsistent brand will not. Think about statements that
are instantly recognizable – “I’m Loving It” or “Every Little Helps” are
examples of branding that has become part of the nation’s consciousness.
Whilst your business may not be large scale, you
want to create an interesting brand and keep it consistent throughout your
company, from stationary to van advertising. Remember – pick something you can be
proud of, as re-branding is time consuming and expensive!
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| Good branding grows business |
2) Keep your campaigns straight
Every company needs a marketing strategy, whether
it’s word of mouth at the local markets or an international social media
campaign. The trick to any marketing is planning. Decide what your marketing
goals are (e.g. more website traffic or more personal recommendations). Work
out when and where you are going to do your marketing, and how often. Make a
schedule and keep to it.
Most importantly, once you launch your marketing
campaign you need to make sure it is consistent across every platform that you
use. Use your branding freely, keep the phone numbers and email addresses
current and checked regularly. If you change something like an office address
or a logo, make sure it’s changed everywhere that it appears. Consistency is the
key.
1) Establish an online presence
When people want a product or a service, the vast
majority of them turn to the internet to help them meet their needs. Any
business, no matter how small, can benefit from having a website that is easy
to access and looks professional. Appearing on the front page of search engines
like Google and Bing will attract visitors to your website and your company.
Your website is your gallery, your show home, your market stall.
By having a well-designed, well maintained and
effective website you show potential customers that you are modern, efficient
and professional. More visibility means more potential customers, and so the
awareness of your business can grow. Using a company like Bath Business Web to create a
website and list it in their detailed online local directories is a great start for
any small business.
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