Why is it that when you run a small business, you feel guilty about having a break? Don't worry - it's not just you. It's me too and it seems to be all the small business owners that I speak to as well!
Maybe it's something to do with our upbringing that rewards us for working hard and not taking a break; perhaps we worry that things won't get done in our absence or that new customers won't come through the door; or possibly something else...
But, whatever it is, many of us do feel guilty about having a break from our business. Here's 5 reasons why you shouldn't feel guilty:
1) You actually (believe it or not) deserve it. Especially if you've worked hard all year. It's a good thing to reward yourself and keeps you motivated .
2) You'll be amazed how much better you'll feel after the break - you'll be refreshed and raring to go.
3) When you're on your break, it's also likely that new ideas will come to you - remember all those promises you've made to yourself to work 'on' your business, not 'in' it. Well now's your chance.
4) I'm always surprised whenever I leave my business that I seem to get new customers while I'm away. Maybe it's because you do a whole heap of work before going away to clear your desk that tends to come to fruition while you're away.
5) Finally, everyone else has a break so why shouldn't you?
If you're having a break this summer, make sure you go away and enjoy it and not feel guilty about doing so.
Tuesday 29 July 2008
Sunday 20 July 2008
How are you different from your competition?
Whenever I ask small business owners this question, I'm always intrigued by the answers I hear. From "cheaper" or "great service" to "we've been established the longest". I've even heard people naming their competition and insulting them. Let's have a look at some of these points:
Cheaper - if you're cheaper, ask yourself the question of why. It's very unlikely that I'm going to use all of your competitors, just to find out you're the cheapest one is it? Just because you are cheaper, there is absolutely no guarantee that's going to get you more customers and in fact if you are cheaper, you're going to have to get more customers. To give you an example - let's imagine your target is £100. If you charge £20, you would need 5 customers to get to your target. If however, you charged £50, you would only need 2 and if you charged £100 you would only need 1. When you're starting out, charge the same as most of your competition and then work on building your reputation so that you can put your prices up.
Great Service - to be honest with you, if I was going to use your products or service, I would expect you to have great service. This isn't good enough as a reason to stand out.
Been Established the Longest - so? I don't care how long you've been established as long as you can supply me with what I want and do so with great service. If however, your experience shone through, that might impress me.
Insulting your competitors - not a good idea. I'm not sure how willing I'd be to work with you if you had just insulted a competitor. You don't know who I know and for all you know, my best friend may be the owner of a company you're talking about.
So how can you stand out? The easiest and quickest way to stand out from your competition is to let your passion for your business shine through and strive to do your very best by your customers and your staff. Think about what you would get out of bed for in a morning without being paid and this is what your passion is - and this is how you stand out from your competition.
Cheaper - if you're cheaper, ask yourself the question of why. It's very unlikely that I'm going to use all of your competitors, just to find out you're the cheapest one is it? Just because you are cheaper, there is absolutely no guarantee that's going to get you more customers and in fact if you are cheaper, you're going to have to get more customers. To give you an example - let's imagine your target is £100. If you charge £20, you would need 5 customers to get to your target. If however, you charged £50, you would only need 2 and if you charged £100 you would only need 1. When you're starting out, charge the same as most of your competition and then work on building your reputation so that you can put your prices up.
Great Service - to be honest with you, if I was going to use your products or service, I would expect you to have great service. This isn't good enough as a reason to stand out.
Been Established the Longest - so? I don't care how long you've been established as long as you can supply me with what I want and do so with great service. If however, your experience shone through, that might impress me.
Insulting your competitors - not a good idea. I'm not sure how willing I'd be to work with you if you had just insulted a competitor. You don't know who I know and for all you know, my best friend may be the owner of a company you're talking about.
So how can you stand out? The easiest and quickest way to stand out from your competition is to let your passion for your business shine through and strive to do your very best by your customers and your staff. Think about what you would get out of bed for in a morning without being paid and this is what your passion is - and this is how you stand out from your competition.
Wednesday 16 July 2008
Business Books I recommend
Quite a few people have been asking me recently what business books I would recommend. So here goes:
Get Clients Now by CJ Hayden - brilliant book giving a step by step guide of how to do your own marketing.
Getting business to come to you by Paul and Sarah Edwards - Great if you're stuck for marketing ideas.
Getting things done: The Stress-free Art of Productivity by David Allen - One of the best business books out there about how to manage your time.
Anyone can do it: Building Coffee Republic from our kitchen table by Sahar Hashemi - really good book on starting your own business that takes you through step by step what needs to be done.
Sales on a Beermat by Mike Southon - easy to read book, with some good tips.
You can't teach a kid to ride a bike at a seminar by Sandler - this book completely changed the way I did sales. Really good read.
The E-myth revisited by Michael Gerber - this one should be on everyone's bookshelves.
Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port - Great book to help you redefine what you do with some great marketing tips.
I'll add more business books as I read them.
Helen
Get Clients Now by CJ Hayden - brilliant book giving a step by step guide of how to do your own marketing.
Getting business to come to you by Paul and Sarah Edwards - Great if you're stuck for marketing ideas.
Getting things done: The Stress-free Art of Productivity by David Allen - One of the best business books out there about how to manage your time.
Anyone can do it: Building Coffee Republic from our kitchen table by Sahar Hashemi - really good book on starting your own business that takes you through step by step what needs to be done.
Sales on a Beermat by Mike Southon - easy to read book, with some good tips.
You can't teach a kid to ride a bike at a seminar by Sandler - this book completely changed the way I did sales. Really good read.
The E-myth revisited by Michael Gerber - this one should be on everyone's bookshelves.
Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port - Great book to help you redefine what you do with some great marketing tips.
I'll add more business books as I read them.
Helen
Monday 7 July 2008
Why you should be promoting your business now
Speaking to many small business owners over the last few days, I know that quite a few of them are thinking about winding down for the summer right about now. The school holidays are coming up at the end of this month and I’m sure many people are thinking about going away during them.
The business – well they may look at a few emails or clear up some paperwork, but nothing serious will be going on. The pieces can be picked up in September when the kids go back to school.
Well, if you really want to have a successful business, I’m going to advise against that – you should be promoting now to get business in September. Otherwise you’re in danger of getting into the feast or famine situation.
In reality it takes a good couple of months from the time you start promoting to see business coming in and if you wait until September to start promoting, you’ll see the results in November or December rather than when you want them.
So, even though you may plan to wind down a little over the summer, doing a little bit of marketing may well pay dividends when it comes down to it…
The business – well they may look at a few emails or clear up some paperwork, but nothing serious will be going on. The pieces can be picked up in September when the kids go back to school.
Well, if you really want to have a successful business, I’m going to advise against that – you should be promoting now to get business in September. Otherwise you’re in danger of getting into the feast or famine situation.
In reality it takes a good couple of months from the time you start promoting to see business coming in and if you wait until September to start promoting, you’ll see the results in November or December rather than when you want them.
So, even though you may plan to wind down a little over the summer, doing a little bit of marketing may well pay dividends when it comes down to it…
Wednesday 2 July 2008
What should you give away for free?
One of the questions that I'm often asked is should I give away information for free and if so, how much should I give away?
For years now, I have been giving away free information, but I remember being told by a Business Consultant about 3 years into the business that I gave away too much for free and I should scale back. So, promptly following his advice that's what I did - but what I found is that this didn't work for me. I found that in my business, giving away things for free enabled me to establish my expertise and make people aware of me, so I went back to doing that and I've taken this approach every since.
What I did scale back on though was how MUCH I gave away for free. Prior to my conversation with the Business Consultant, I used to give away most of my knowledge and now I have put some boundaries in place so that I know in my own mind what I'm happy to give away for free and what's not ok. When I meet someone who asks for some advice, I'll happily give away my time and information up to my boundary, but no more.
In terms of what you can give away for free, you could give away samples, free information (in the form of an e-book or a tips sheet), your time, a free audio recording (podcast) and so on. I would advise though sitting down and deciding in your own mind what you're ok to give away free and what you're not - then put this into practice and don't give away for free anything you're not comfortable with.
Then when you do decide to give something away for free, do so and don't begrudge it - just be happy that you've helped someone else out.
For years now, I have been giving away free information, but I remember being told by a Business Consultant about 3 years into the business that I gave away too much for free and I should scale back. So, promptly following his advice that's what I did - but what I found is that this didn't work for me. I found that in my business, giving away things for free enabled me to establish my expertise and make people aware of me, so I went back to doing that and I've taken this approach every since.
What I did scale back on though was how MUCH I gave away for free. Prior to my conversation with the Business Consultant, I used to give away most of my knowledge and now I have put some boundaries in place so that I know in my own mind what I'm happy to give away for free and what's not ok. When I meet someone who asks for some advice, I'll happily give away my time and information up to my boundary, but no more.
In terms of what you can give away for free, you could give away samples, free information (in the form of an e-book or a tips sheet), your time, a free audio recording (podcast) and so on. I would advise though sitting down and deciding in your own mind what you're ok to give away free and what you're not - then put this into practice and don't give away for free anything you're not comfortable with.
Then when you do decide to give something away for free, do so and don't begrudge it - just be happy that you've helped someone else out.
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