Whether you are running just starting your journey toward entrepreneurship or you are running an established small business, it is safe to assume that most owners are searching for new ways to improve their bottom line and grow their business. According to some studies, nearly 70% of the net jobs nationally are created by small businesses. They also drive tremendous growth in our local economies. We wanted to help you flourish your business, so we rounded some tips.
LEARN FROM AND CONNECT WITH OTHER BUSINESSES
You should be an active player in your local business scene. Visit your competition and network with other businesses. Introduce yourself and develop a good relationship. You can refer customers to them too. And if you need some help or an advice, don’t be afraid to ask them. Attend or volunteer local events, support other small businesses or partner up with another company to mutually benefit. Participate in trade shows, host a networking event, and attend conferences – make an effort to meet new people.
GO MOBILE
A beautiful place and wonderful products and services don’t guarantee that your business will be successful. And no matter the size of your business, it important to have a presence on the Internet. Make a user-friendly website and social media accounts, and include info like your location, address, etc. Promote your posts on Facebook and you will see results immediately. If you haven’t used their marketing tools, go on Facebook and learn how to use them – you will see your business growing really fast. Use other online channels to network with your existing and potential customers, as well as with other business owners and clients.
PRIORITIZE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
It is of a great importance to plan out your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram posts and activity. It is not a good idea to take a bunch of photos one day and post them all. Think about posting once a day or a few times a week – it is so much better than posting many pictures in one day.
BE OPPORTUNISTIC
When it comes to running a business, often small businesses stick to what they know. That’s not because they are reluctant to modernize, but they are too busy managing the tasks and don’t have much time to educate themselves and find a way to automate those tasks. By learning new technologies, small businesses will save money and reduce operating costs and will have more time to focus on business growth.
FIND A MENTOR
You need to find a mentor who has more experience in certain areas and who can help you navigate the inevitable ups and downs that come with running a business. He can share his advice and lessons learned for growing a business. You also have the option to ask someone you admire if he would be willing to give you a business advice or to mentor you.
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS
You should identify what your true motivation is for starting your business. Then, dream it, live it and never lose sight of it. And remember: work with passion.