Are you considering starting your own small business? If so, this article was written with you in mind. Specifically, we’re going to talk about the ten-year-old tips and one big business secret that will help you become financially secure. After reading this article, you’ll be able to start building a successful home business that will give you the financial freedom you’ve always dreamed of. Don’t stop your day job until you get this great small business advice from the pros:
o Collect All The Info You Can: Small entrepreneurs and new business owners collect a lot of data and information. Between books, blogs, and internet forums, you can quickly accumulate lots of facts. Some of the best information is coming from other successful entrepreneurs and business owners that have been there and done that. In addition, you can gain valuable insights from the success stories of other small business owners that have come before you. As you collect your information, be sure to make a note of important tips and pointers that you can use. This is where the pros come in!
o Pandemic Preparedness: Although it’s an easy tip, many small business owners procrastinate on making sure their pandemic planning is up to date. As an example, the recent outbreak of swine flu in the United States was a wake-up call for all the entrepreneurs and business owners to get on board. Now more than ever, entrepreneurs must be prepared for all potential eventualities. Here are some great tips for pandemic preparedness:
o Businesses Need To Be Prepared: Most new business owners focus only on “what if” scenarios. They often forget that their businesses need to be prepared for every possible outcome. To this end, they should include a daily list of all possible events. Include dates and times for events, contacts for government officials, and other necessary resources. Also, always include a list of business contacts that can provide assistance if needed.
o Ecommerce Tips: Ecommerce has increased dramatically over the past few years and has the power to reach millions of potential customers around the world. Yet, this has also brought with it some challenges. One of the biggest difficulties faced by small business owners today is improving customer experience. To that end, implement ecommerce strategies that involve an integrated approach across different stages of the buying process (from researching products to purchasing to delivery). Here are some ecommerce tips for your small business:
o Digital Marketing Strategies: A large majority of today’s consumers spend their time online looking for what they want. By incorporating a variety of digital marketing tools across the various platforms (social media, email, SEO, etc.) you can greatly increase your customer base. Also, these tools have become much easier to use and maintain, which allows you to maintain higher levels of productivity and profitability. To make digital marketing even more effective, consider integration of social media into your marketing plan. Additionally, consider taking advantage of social media marketing services, which can boost your presence in popular social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
o Pandemic Preparation: One of the biggest threats to small-business is an outbreak of a disease that can negatively impact the consumer base. Luckily, there are several Pandemic preparation techniques available. Read “The Seven Day Cure,” a series of articles written by British physician and author, Paul Nurse. Nurse provides readers with information on how to stop an outbreak before it starts, as well as tips for dealing with other issues that may arise.
In conclusion, the future of ecommerce for small businesses looks strong. According to several reports, more than half of all consumers will be interested in shopping online this year. Furthermore, consumers expect to pay more for digital products and services this year, including everything from cell phones to airline tickets. With so many potential customers shopping online, it’s easy to see why implementing an omnichannel strategy is critical to success. Take the next step today by integrating omnichannel technology into your ecommerce business model.
Editor-in-Chief since 2011.