I recommend having a business plan for a finite period of time, like a budget. If you were writing your first plan right now, start with just the rest of this year. You may find that's not long enough, so change the finish date to whatever you want. You get to decide and make it the way you want, and you can change it when it's needed. It won't work as a tool if it doesn't fit your personality and your business.
You will probably find that you have a longer vision than just 1 year or so, so I suggest you also create an LTP (long-term plan). The LTP does not include the action steps, only the high-level goals and ideas. The purposes of the LTP include keeping your longer range ideas organized, and using it to create future business plans.
Once you have created your one to two page plan, then you need to use it like the tool that it is. Once a month, you should be scheduling a strategic meeting to review your business against your plan. Here are questions you need to ask yourself and any other principals in your business on a regular basis:
Are the actions we're taking getting us closer to our objectives/goals? Are these objectives/goals still the right ones for the business? Do we need to re-prioritize our actions? Do we need to put anything on the back burner for now? What's working, and how can we do more of those things? What's not working, and how can we eliminate those actions? What is the ROI (return on investment) for ALL our investments of money AND time?
This monthly meeting will keep you focused on your plan. It is a good idea to bring sales and spending reports to this meeting, even if you're the only person in the meeting. How were your revenues last month compared to previous months? How are your sales trending versus last year? How are you comparing against your budget?
If you truly want to build a money-making business, no matter the size, it's important to know the answers to all of these questions. You don't need a business degree, a consultant or even a coach to answer these questions. Listen to your instincts and study and you'll be ahead of the game for now.
This process can be challenging for solo-preneurs. Sometimes it helps to talk with a professional who is not vested in your business. If you know someone else who is in your same industry, but who does not compete against you, try buddy coaching/mentoring each other.
Schedule a monthly telephone meeting when you discuss your business plan, brainstorm and plan your next month. You will learn from each other and keep each other focused, without feeling like you're ?taking? from them. For example, if you are a professional organizer who works with home-owners in northern Los Angeles County, you could buddy with another organizer who works with home-based businesses in southern Orange County. Make sure to keep the conversation balanced, and bring in a professional coach when you need one.
Copyright 2006 Audrey Burton
Before a person will commit to making a purchase from you, they need to trust that your products and services will do what you say they are supposed to. Also, if you want to keep your profitable clients, they have to continue to trust that you'll deliver on your promises.
Trust is the basis of any relationship, be it personal or strictly business. Take a look at the following ways that you can build trust and credibility into your small business marketing strategies:
1. Provide examples
Give lots of case studies and examples that outline how you've helped clients and the difference it has made in their business and their life.
Real examples are much more powerful and credible than simply making claims about your service or products.
2. Seek out referrals
We all ask our friends and colleagues to recommend good places to eat or a reliable plumber, because we trust the opinions of people we know.
It's the same for your business; actively seek out referrals from satisfied customers. Implementing a marketing system to generate referrals is one of the most overlooked marketing tactics for small businesses.
3. Get testimonials People always pay more attention to what others have to say about you than any claims you make about yourself and your business. Make it easy for your customers to provide testimonials. Create some marketing systems to facilitate this and then use the testimonials in all your marketing tactics: website, sales pages, direct mail, email communications, brochures and so on.
4. Offer guarantees
None of us like "buyer's remorse" and providing a guarantee of service or results of your products and services will go a long way to help alleviate any concerns people have in handing over money to you.
Make sure you act promptly and with no hassles when you have to fulfill your guarantee. Keeping your word is a huge part of building trust with people.
5. Share your contact information
Nothing raises a red flag more with me than when I cannot find a business's contact details - address, phone number, fax, email address, website, name of their assistant, customer service number, etc.
By listing your contact information on all your marketing materials, you go a long way in showing people you exist, you are a real legitimate business and you're available if they have any concerns or questions.
6. Write articles
Write and submit articles to establish yourself as an expert and to help build a reputation that shows you know what you're talking about, you're willing to share your expertise, and you're "here to stay" - all components towards building trust.
7. Stay in touch
Regular and consistent contact with people helps facilitate trust - they know you're around and interested.
Contact your prospects and clients regularly (via email, phone call, card, etc.) to get feedback, follow up, and provide useful tips.
8. Be a resource
Provide information that is timely and helpful to your prospects and clients. Post articles on your website, send them an applicable, interesting report or magazine clipping, forward an email with details about a great teleseminar or workshop they might benefit from.
9. Let your personality come through
People do business with people, not companies. Help prospects trust you by letting them get to know you. Share your personality and passion in your marketing strategies and communications - for instance, have a picture of yourself on your website, share some tidbits about your personal life (hobbies, likes & dislikes, pets) and don't be afraid to express opinions in your writing.
Take a look at your day-to-day marketing tactic and determine if you are doing all you can to build trust with your prospective and current clients.
If not, try incorporating a couple of the suggestions above and once they're running smoothly and are part of your marketing system, then add a couple more. Keep doing this and you'll be rewarded with long lasting, rewarding and profitable relationships with many people.
Both Audrey Burton & Jody Gabourie are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Audrey Burton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Small Business, Work Life Balance and Credit Loans. Audrey Burton is a practical Small Business Coach. She eliminates business/marketing overwhelm and gets you excited to work on your business again! To sign up for her free, monthly email newsletter, visit her site:. Audrey Burton's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
Jody Gabourie has sinced written about articles on various topics from Advertising Guide, Small Business and Marketing Strategies. Jody Gabourie, The Small Business Marketing Coach, delivers simple, innovative and powerful marketing strategies to help business owners find and keep their most profitable clients. To learn more about how she can help you take your business to the next l. Jody Gabourie's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.