To coincide with the online publication of “100 Ways to Business Success” – a non fiction title that provides detailed advice on business ideas, trading online and gaining a competitive advantage, amongst many other topics – HowTo.co.uk has prepared a helpful little guide to achieving business success.
With the looming recession and sky high oil prices hitting everyone from Joe Blogs to international airlines, it’s imperative for the everyday business to put the extra effort in to achieve business success. How can you do this? What can you do to ensure you remain a successful business? Here are 5 valuable tips.
Finding Clients
It’s vitally important that you keep a record of where your customers came from as it will help you focus your resources on communication channels that work for you. Low cost ways of creating customers can be effective. Try attending exhibitions, sending out press releases, mail shots etc.
Being passionate about your business is sure-fire way to create a customer and one that does not cost a thing. Customers like passion and energy, so demonstrate genuine interest in the customer’s business.
Strategic Alliance
Today’s businesses are now taking notice of the benefits a strategic alliance can provide, such as a platform to bid for larger products, taking on more interesting work and an enhanced reputation. Building a successful partnership takes time and trust but the benefits tend to be worthwhile, for example, you’ll immediately benefit from increased purchasing power. However, there are some drawbacks such as an imbalance in terms of partner commitment, loss of control and potential loss of customers.
Get Creative
With the everyday mundane tasks, most of us are “running in neutral”, according to author and course leader, Tom Foster. People are generally so busy with day-to-day issues, we lose focus of the fact that creativity is the lifeblood of all businesses. So, how do you rejuvenate stale minds? How can you provoke ideas in employees? How can get your employees from doing a good job, to an excellent job? If you want a successful business, these are important questions to consider.
Making the Most of Temps
Temps can offer an immediate solution to an increasing workload or a member of staff is off ill.
If you do employ a temp, ensure they receive a proper induction and explain to the temp what their role is and exactly what you require of them. Overlap their start date a day before the employee they are replacing leaves. This will help confidence and reduce the chances of other staff being put into unnecessary situations.
Taking Control of your Emails
Fortunately, most email software comes with filter functions, which allow you to filter your incoming emails into separate inboxes, as well as get rid of junk email. Keep an eye on your junk email – it’s advisable to go through this folder every now and then, just in case a non-junk email got slipped into this folder. However, be vigilant. Most emails in this folder are from untrusted sources which may contain viruses. Delete these ones without opening.
It’s important not to fall into the trap of reading and responding to emails every time you see that little email icon appear in the bottom right of your screen. This WILL distract you from your work. Try allocating a certain amount of time in the day to go through your emails.
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-Ends-
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