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By Andrew Morrison
This time of year, many entrepreneurs are setting budgets,
and putting together marketing strategies to achieve their
end of the year business goals. The fact of the matter is most
new small business owners, spend more time and money than they
should getting their businesses off the ground. Most new small
business owners don't realize the importance of asking the
right questions before the first dime is spent.
Andrew Morrison, Small Business Camp Founder, has written a
book that addresses these very issues. In fact, Mr. Morrison
often tells people "I've made a lot of money, and I've lost a
lot of money". The obstacles that he faced as a young
entrepreneur are easily avoided; and Mr. Morrison has put
together a program to share with small business owners, what
he has learned throughout his career.
Here are a few budget-friendly tips that can be applied to any
business:
(1) Become and Expert In Your Field. Be seen as an expert in
your field by writing articles and books that will appeal to
your target demographic AND your peers. You'll get exposure
for your product or service, and an additional income stream
from book sales. And you'll be viewed as an authority in the
industry, lending credibility to your business offerings.
(2) Know Where Your Clients 'Hang-Out'. Become very familiar
with the trade journals and events specific to your industry.
While you are out to network and market your business, there
are those who are there to learn more about what you do. Build
relationships that stand on common interest.
(3) Get Help For FREE. College students are always seeking new
career opportunities. Offer to teach a student everything you
know about your industry, and in exchange that person can make
sales calls, answer the phone, write articles for you, they'll
happily get involved. The best way to find a student who is
serious, is to speak to a professor at the college. Ask them
to recommend a few students who are at the head of the class.
Be sure that you deliver a worthwhile experience for the
student. You and the student will benefit tremendously.
(4) Barter Your Services. So, you say to yourself "I could be
making triple the amount of money that I am making right now,
if only I were on the web". And somewhere off in the distance
there's a web developer in need of your product or service.
The concept is so simple, yet so few seek out the opportunity
to barter services. Jump on the Internet, check out the
message boards, post a few messages - someone, somewhere is
ready to make a connection.
(5) Follow-up, Follow-up, Follow-up. Far too often, small
business owners drop the ball when it comes to client
relations. If you make an offer by e-mail or telephone to a
potential client, don't assume that they will respond right
away if they are interested. They may put it to the side with
the intention of reaching out to you, and simply forget about
it. Or it may have gotten lost in the midst of e-mail filters
and folders. Unless a potential client responds with
disinterest, follow up at least 3 times.
(6) Positive Affirmations. And lastly, remind yourself that
you are ready for success, and that you are more than
qualified meet the needs of your clients and/ or customers.
There are no failures, only feedback.
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