Online Marketing your Small Business
For many small business owners, one of the most time sucking experiences is having to deal with the email or phone call from an online marketing company.
These can come in several forms – the unsolicited email that drops into your inbox offering to get your site ranking at the top of Google with the addition of a large number of back-links. Search Engine Optimization is the name of their game and their touting for your business, playing on your insecurity about the current position of your website for the keywords you have chosen.
Or it could be the telephone call from a local listing directory. Initially these are to ‘confirm the details of your free listing’, but the conversation soon moves on to ways in which you could improve the visibility of your company on the internet with one of their enhanced listings. Hold out against signing up for the first offer and you will find yourself pressured into accepting a much better offer, including a whole raft of keywords and areas, for a greatly reduced price. They’re so desperate to get you signed up that they’ll promise you the world in return for a monthly payment.
The thing about online listing directories is that, even though they say they have lots of regular visitors, if their site does not rank on the front page of Google for your search term, then it is unlikely that many people are going to find your company through their auspices.
The thing to remember is that any good online marketing company will not be ringing round or emailing touting for business, these will work on recommendation and referral as one contented business owner pass their details to his friends – although not necessarily his competitors.
The cold callers will offer you all sorts of ways to get onto the first page of Google, all of which will involve you giving them money. But one thing they won’t mention is probably the most effective things you can do to market your own small business online – grabbing yourself a Google Places page.
These are free websites given away by Google to local bricks and mortar companies and which show up with a little red balloon marker at the top or sprinkled in amongst the search results for a particular keyword in a specific location.
The issue of keywords is something that they will talk about, but they will try to push you into phrases for which they already have categories, and probably a large number of free subscribers so that you are encouraged to pay for a premium listing to rise above your competitors.
It’s a good idea to choose your online marketing company wisely because when it comes to marketing your small business, some do not always have your best interests at heart.
How to Compete with Big Business
When a small firms suddenly threatened by the arrival of large enterprises, their natural reaction is to panic.
However, although it can be intimidating to compete with a large company, there is no reason to believe that a small business could not be in the ability to cope with a large one.
As we have previously seen small businesses have advantages to big business, such as better access to market information, greater flexibility to adapt to changes, greater innovation capacity, etc.
So if we want to compete well with large companies, only a matter of reaping the benefits as small businesses have.
Then look at some strategies or tips that will allow us to leverage our advantages, and be able to compete with big business:
Partnering with other companies
An effective way to compete with large companies is to partner or create alliances with other small businesses.
For example, we may partner with other small producers and ensure that each company deals with a part of the production, and thus be more efficient, or we can from all open a new plant without having to leave our businesses.
We also join with other companies and buy in quantity from suppliers, and obtain volume discounts, or can share marketing costs, for example, by throwing together some advertising campaign or organize an event or exhibition together.
Providing excellent customer service
Another effective way to compete with the big company is emphasizing customer service.
For example, we strive to offer a personalized service where a worker meets the same customer during the checkout process or we can try to advise customers on their purchase, first try to understand their needs and preferences, and according to them, provide the product or service referred to him, the one that best suits them.
Another way to get customer service is maintaining contact with the customer after the sale, for example, to call to see if satisfied with the product, or to send cards or greeting cards, or a small gift for being a frequent customer.
Market Segment
Large companies generally tend to address different types of consumers at once, as a way to compete with them would be segmenting the market and direct it to one type of consumer.
Market segmentation and target a single type of consumer will allow us to be more efficient, allowing us to specialize in that type of consumer, better understand your needs, tastes and preferences, so we can design better products and strategies to meet take care or take advantage of these needs, tastes and preferences.
Add products or services that large companies do not offer
Large companies, often for reasons of cost or logistics end ignoring some products or services that we could take to compete with them.
For example, if your business is a furniture workshop, we also offer repair service thereof Serbian likely not offer a large warehouse, or if our business is in a cellar, gourmet products we also sell products that probably a supermarket does not sell.
Having an Internet presence
Finally, another way to compete with large companies is having an Internet presence.
We must take advantage of the Internet, something that big companies often neglected, for example, we can create a website where we can promote our products, where they can sell directly, or where customers can place their orders.
We may also use the Internet to promote and maintain communication with our customers, for example, to create a newsletter, or by sending greeting emails or emails containing certain promotions that may be of interest.
Strategies to Reach more Customers
Here are 3 strategies to reach more customers, taken from one of the latest print editions of My Company, we have considered interesting and worthwhile to keep in mind:
Cards with added offers
While a business card is a means used to maintain contact with customers or clients, can also play another role: that of giving a sales pitch to those who have.
For example, a hairdresser, stylist cards can be used to promote it and contact you, but also for anyone who owns the card can apply a discount to meet a certain number of visits.
This strategy is often useful for small business and have a certain type of audience, in the event that our customers are treated in business, may not be successful, and that what should matter here is the seriousness of the card, the quality of the material, its design and colors.
Giving away promotional items
Another strategy is to send manufactures promotional products with company logo and give them away to customers, for example, to purchase a certain number of products, or as a sign of a special campaign.
These items should be useful merchandising and related to the line of business or the profile of the target.
It is also not advisable to invest in cheap products and poor quality as they could damage the image of the enterprise should find articles that come out of the ordinary, and not resort to the much used pens or pocket calendar that companies either lots or customers easily lost or thrown away.
Some examples: small kits with kitchen utensils (spoon, apron, measuring cups) donated to housewives for gas distribution companies at home, air flow meters donated by taps or gallon jug, key bottle openers, etc.
Alliances with complementary businesses
As a strategist, cooperation between companies is increasingly used in the business world.
Campaigns in two or more companies which working together are positive because they allow sharing a single brand strategy, but they work if they are in the same category (same age) and if both have a similar size.
An example: taking advantage of the tendency to read or catch something while waiting, a company could place on their customer service desk or in your waiting room, another company’s publicity material, not your competition, but one of an item complementary.
The business relationship can start well and then promote, for example, offers package.
What Should You Look for in a Tax Preparation Service?
Since there are so many tax preparers to choose from, it only makes sense that you know what you need before making a decision.
Here are three essential qualities that any reliable tax preparation business will have:
1. Many years of experience. You don’t want a rookie. You want someone who’s been there and done that — hundreds, or better yet, even thousands of times. How do you find out how much experience a prospective tax preparer has? Simple: ask. Here’s how: How many years have you been in the tax preparation business and how many tax returns have you prepared during your career? If it’s less than 3 years and/or less than 100 returns, you are probably dealing with an inexperienced preparer.
2. A broad range of services. You want a tax preparation business that does all kinds of tax returns. And there are many. We usually think of personal income tax returns first, and for good reason, as this is the most common type of return and most likely the kind of return you need prepared first.
But if you are self-employed or run a small business, there’s a plethora of tax returns that you may need help with, depending on what kind of entity you are, i.e. sole proprietorship, partnership, regular corporation, S Corporation, limited liability company. Each of these entities has its own unique tax issues, and each has its own particular income tax return to file. So you want a tax preparation business that is well versed in every type of business and self-employed tax return.
Another key issue is whether your business has employees. If so, you’ll need help with payroll services (preparing paychecks every week), payroll taxes, and payroll tax returns. This area can be quite complicated and you certainly don’t want to do-it-yourself.
How do you find out whether a potential tax preparer has this breadth of experience? Again, ask him/her. What kind of tax returns do you prepare? Personal only, or personal and business? How much experience do you have preparing returns for all five types of entities? (as listed above)
3. Integrity. This is the most important characteristic of all. No matter how much experience a tax preparation business has, no matter how well-versed they are in all areas of tax law, if they are in the business of helping taxpayers fudge on their returns, this is not the kind of business you want anything to do with.
There are plenty of legal tax strategies available to both individual and business taxpayers. Furthermore, never forget that you are ultimately responsible for every amount reported on your tax return. If your return is prepared fraudulently, the IRS will come after you first.
Some Tips to Fund a Small Business
Many of us have the perfect small business idea, but budgetary constraints prevent us from making it a reality. Even if you’ve searched unsuccessfully for sufficient funds to launch a new small business, you shouldn’t lose hope. There are other ways! Here are some tips to help you fund a small business:
1. Create a business plan.
This is a necessary step if you need investors for your new small business. Investors basically want to know if they’re spending wisely by investing in your new company. The business plan lists your goals for the new small business, why you think you can reach those goals, and how you will reach those goals. Creating a business plan will significantly boost your chance of finding investors for your new business venture.
2. Borrow from relatives or friends.
The main benefit of using this method is that you can avoid high interest rates that lends tend to charge. In fact, it’s likely that your friends or relatives wouldn’t charge you any interest at all! But as a word of caution, never assume that you can delay repaying loans from people you know-simply because you know them. As with loans from professional lenders, create a written agreement and repayment schedule.
3. Do the math.
The problem that many entrepreneurs face when funding a new a small business, is knowing approximately how much they’ll need. While they may have a rough estimate, it should be fairly close to the actual funds needed. Put it all on paper. Make an itemized list of the various expenses required to launch a new small business, and an estimate about the costs for each item. Creating this list will make it significantly easier when you need to start searching for funds.
4. Apply for government loans and grants.
Both local and national governments usually have loans for those launching new small businesses. If you qualify for either loans or grants, this can help to fund your new business.
5. Consider moonlighting.
This is a fantastic way to fund a new small business, since there’s no interest involved. The drawbacks are that you’ll get less sleep and will have less free time. But if you want to launch a new business while avoiding major debt, then this is one of the most practical ways.
6. Get funds from your 401k or life insurance plan.
If you choose this option, then do it cautiously. Both of these sources are crucial for the future of you and your family. Never put them at risk in order to fund your new business. Only use a portion of their total worth.
7. Dip into your savings.
While few of us have enough money to fund a new business by ourselves, you can save a whole lot of money (and interest in particular), by contributing as much as you can to the startup costs. While it’s not advisable that you take out a second mortgage on your house, you could dip into your savings. The key is to only contribute what you can afford. Never risk the financial health of you and your family, by contributing too much to your new company.
When launching a new business, these tips will help to get it done. Good luck!
