How can you grow your business with limited resources and time? I get it; you’re a business owner. Or, maybe you’re thinking about starting a business and you are kicking the tires before jumping in. How can you get real value now? You may think you can’t afford to spend money on a big time consultant or marketing plan. Even with limited budgets and time, you can move the needle. Here are eight sure fire ways to energize your business on a shoestring.
This is divided up into smaller focus areas and I’ve included some additional resource links to get you started. Let’s start off with the hot topic everyone is talking about, branding.
- Social media – There is a misnomer out there that social media is cheap and you can have any intern or “young person” take care of it. There are costs associated with doing it right, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of folks out there that will be happy to take your money and tell you they can deliver the world on a social media platter. Beware, my friend. Social media is the hot new thing and everyone thinks they can do it. This simply isn’t true. If you have limited time and budget dollars to start off, you can still put you toe into the water. Having a presence on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram or whichever channel is appropriate for your product or service is an outstanding way to get the word out about who you are and what you do.
Recommended reading:
b). Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Social Media Strategy by Neil Patel and Pitika Puri
- Original Content – A company blog or original content on your company website are great ways to take all of that knowledge you’ve got coming out of your ears and use it to draw people to you. You don’t want to give away company secrets, but there are some helpful tips or innovations you can share that will help establish you as an authority in what you do. Give your potential customers a reason to trust you and what you know. This can become an extension of your social media strategy if you use your YouTube channel or LinkedIn profile to push out and extend this message.
Recommended reading:
a). How to Create Killer Content for Your Blog, by Darren Rowse
b). 25 Ways to Create Shareable Content, by Gini Dietrich
- Email – Yes, email is still a viable tool for building your business. Probably not for the reasons you might think though. That little smart device you carry with you everywhere (your phone) has become one of the ways businesses reach current and prospective customers. If you are like most of us, you probably get more than your share of emails every day. This is where the last point comes in. Great content gets folks to open the email and ultimately get people in your door. Another benefit to having a smart strategy for your email is that it helps build contact lists. Just make sure you don’t spam folks. That can get you in a world of trouble.
Recommended reading:
a). How to get 2,400 Percent More Customers by Email by Geoffrey James
b). 12 Do’s and Don’ts of Email Communication, by Bob Whipple, MBA, CPLP
- Public Speaking – Did you know the number one fear on the planet is speaking in front of people? That ranks even above death. The good news is you can get help and it really isn’t that bad, once you know what you’re doing. Volunteering to speak at local networking or industry events is a solid way to get in front of potential customers, as well as establishing you as an authority in your field. There are several organizations out there designed to help you learn this valuable skill. There are Toastmasters chapters all around the world with meeting times that fit almost any schedule.
Recommended reading:
a). Three Steps to Becoming a Public Speaker by Brian Tracy
- Get the Right Folks on the Bus – In his famous book “Good to Great,” author Jim Collins describes one of the biggest challenges business owners face, getting the right employees in place to get your business to where you want it to be. Even if you are a small, small business, you have to make sure you have the right contractors or employees in the right place. What does this have to do with growing your business? A bad employee or bad contractor can kill your business. Conversely, a good employee or great contractor experience can send your business to new heights.
Recommended reading:
a). Three Ways to Find the Right Employees/Contractors for Your Small Business by Ivan Widjaya
b). Good to Great (blog), by Jim Collins
- Love Loyal Customers – Do you appreciate your loyal customers? Not just being nice, I mean having a purposeful strategy to reach out to loyal customers with discounts, added value or acknowledgment. An investment in appreciation can lead to long term, repeat and referral customers.
Recommended reading:
a). Seven Tips for Starting a Successful Customer Loyalty Program by Caron Beesly
- Webinars/Seminars – You have this wealth of knowledge on what you do. Why not create a value add seminar or webinar for potential customers. Again, you’re not giving away the farm here or giving away trade secrets. What you are doing is offering value and building your contact lists while actually educating people. You know more than you give yourself credit for. Share the knowledge and grow your business.
Recommended reading:
a). 15 Ways to Establish Yourself as an Authority in Your Field, by Stephanie Chandler
- Hire a Professional – Getting professional help is not free, but it can be priceless in getting your business to the next level. Take time to meet with professional marketers, public relations experts, like Nfinit Integrated Communications or consultants and hear what they have to offer. Listen and learn and only buy if you can see the value. Whatever you do, plan your work and work your plan. Don’t ever entirely hand over any aspect of your business.
a). Ten Things to do Before Hiring a PR Agency by Jerome Espy
What questions do you have about growing your business? Add a comment below.
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