Category: Business/Entrepreneurship

What To Do If Your Inbound Marketing Strategy Fails

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When it comes to business, marketing is major component to your business’s success. Marketing is a complex aspect in and of itself. The following contributed post is entitled, What To Do If Your Inbound Marketing Strategy Fails.

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You can have spent a great deal of time and effort on your inbound marketing strategy for your business. You will have launched it expecting great things, sure in the knowledge that it is exactly as it should be to bring you the most value for any money spent.

Sometimes, however, those results don’t come. Occasionally inbound marketing strategies, as good as they may have seemed on paper, don’t work in the real world.

When this happens, don’t give up and don’t be disheartened. Mistakes happen all the time, even in business, and the best thing you can do is to work out how things went wrong and start again. If your inbound marketing strategy didn’t do what you had anticipated it would do, here are the next steps for you to consider.

Image from Pixabay

Re-evaluate Your Target Audience

When you first create your inbound marketing campaign, you need to know who your target audience is. If you don’t know who you are selling to, there is no way you can create content – blogs, social media posts, even videos – that will appeal to them. And this, of course, is the whole point of inbound marketing; you need to create content that makes those who are most likely to buy from you do just that.

If no one is buying, despite the content you are creating, then it would appear that one of two things has happened. Either the content is wrong, or the audience is wrong. Either way, your inbound marketing strategy is not going to work and won’t give you the results you need.

The easiest thing to check is your target market. This will require in-depth market research to determine what demographic is most likely to buy your product or service; you’ll need to know their age range, gender, location, and the struggles they might be having that your business can solve. Your content must be relevant to these people, so once you have the right target audience, create more content for them.

Ask An Expert

If you’re not a marketing expert, you might find the entire concept of inbound marketing frustrating and confusing. If you’ve tried to create a campaign and it didn’t do what you needed it to do, or you’ve yet to come up with anything because you don’t know where to start, asking an expert for help is the best alternative. Finding a marketing agency specializing in Saas, or any other kind of specialty that will help you, will be ideal.

When you have an expert on board to outsource to, you no longer have to worry about making a mistake in your marketing. The campaign will be created for you, and although you won’t necessarily be deeply involved, you will have the final say over what to use. Your inbound marketing campaign will therefore be slick, professional, and it will work. Whatever you paid to get it done, you should see returned when you start to make sales.

Start Again

Even if starting again is the last thing you want to do, sometimes it’s the very best thing you can do. If you are struggling to make your marketing campaign work and it is truly failing, there is no point in continuing with it. Instead, stop it completely right away, and try something else.

Business is often about trial and error, and not many people can get everything right the first time. Having this in mind will help you to know when it’s time to cut your losses and start again. As long as you don’t give up altogether, it’s not a failure.

Tips For Running A Successful Restaurant

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The restaurant industry was hit very, very hard by Coronavirus/Covid-19 Crisis/Pandemic. Going forward, if you own a restaurant or or want to start one, you have be be very strategic. The following contributed post is entitled, Tips For Running A Successful Restaurant.

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Pexels

Running a restaurant can be a rewarding job but is also challenging. There’s a lot of competition out there, and you must be able to wow and impress your guests.

The following tips will help ensure that you’re successful in your journey to running a better and more successful restaurant. It’ll require hard work and dedication on your end but stay positive that your efforts will soon pay off. Your goal is to have your restaurant stand out for all the right reasons and get patrons to come back time and time again because they’re pleased with the experience.

Keep it Clean

One tip for running a successful restaurant is to keep it clean and organized. People will be turned off by a chaotic, messy, and dirty place to dine. You must do so now more than ever that the Coronavirus is here and spreading. You need to ensure that your dinners are kept safe and healthy while at your establishment. Your restaurant also needs to be able to pass health and safety inspections that are in place. Hire a team of people to help you achieve this goal, and so you can sleep at night knowing that your restaurant is clean and tidy.

Perfect Your Product

Another tip for running a successful restaurant is to perfect your product. Hire a great chef and ensure that the food you’re serving is outstanding and delicious. Know your concept and niche and make sure you always deliver on your promise. Invest in the right equipment such as restaurant coolers to keep your food and products at the right temperature, and so it doesn’t easily spoil. Create a one-of-a-kind menu that gets people talking and is unique and special to someone dining at your restaurant.

Provide Excellent Customer Service

It’s also vital that you focus your time and energy into providing excellent customer service. People dining at your restaurant want to be treated well and have a pleasant experience. They’re there to relax and have a nice time and a good meal. Make sure that they walk away more than satisfied with the level of service you offer. Greet your customers as soon as they walk in the door and make sure they get seated as quickly as possible. Hire attentive servers who will treat your customers well and get the food served effectively and efficiently.

Promote it

You risk people not coming into or knowing about your restaurant unless you promote it. These days you’re going to want to have a strong online presence too. While word of mouth is one way to get the message out to the public, you should also have an attractive and user-friendly website set up and take the time to promote your business on social media. Collect reviews and testimonials from happy customers so others can read them and have the motivation to want to come and dine at your establishment. Design a memorable slogan and logo that you can use to advertise your restaurant and drum up interest in your business.

What Does 2021 Mean For Your Business?

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Nothing stays the same and that’s particularly true in the business world. We’ve seen significant changes in 2020 and there will be many more going forward. The following contributed post is entitled, What Does 2021 Mean For Your Business?

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We have all been through a very difficult year. Lockdowns forced us all to stay at home, and for businesses, this has meant to possibly shut their doors for the first time in ever. Many businesses have felt the pinch this year, and whether you closed or diversified just to bring in some money during the lockdown periods, and even now when things are still hard, you need to give yourself a pat on the back and some credit for what you have all navigated. However, 2021 is on the horizon and with some positive news stories about the global pandemic it may be time to think about what you could be doing with your business moving forward. Here are some of the things to think about.

Image source – pixabay – cco license

Franchise your business

One of the first things that you could consider would be to franchise your business model. This could help you to maximise your business in a completely different way. You will be able to sell the business model, and then see that the brand message gets much more awareness. It is a fantastic way to spread the word of your business without you having the same workload. It gives you instant money as you are selling the business model, and it can be a fabulous way to make your business more expandable in a different way.

Expand your product range

Another thing that you could consider would be to expand your product range. Right now you may have diversified your business and looked at different options for it to keep going, so why stop now? You could use this opportunity to expand your range of products or even the changes in the services that you can offer. You may even want to look at manufacturing your own products, looking at getting the right tools such machinery or a silicone mold release can help. You may also think about hiring people to help you expand your business in different ways. There are so many ways to expand and next year can be a great one to consider.

Focus on a new area

Maybe your business has changed this year, and because you have had no choice but to diversify, you may want to start looking at things that you can do to keep this up. Perhaps this time has given you a chance to see where your business can move into different directions. It may not have been a choice that you have considered before, but now you may be able to focus on a different area and pursue a new direction. This can be exciting, and many businesses have thrived because entrepreneurs and business owners have had no choice but to change the way your business operates.

Go completely digital

Finally, maybe you have decided to make your business completely digital. Perhaps a shop is obsolete now, or perhaps you have worked from home so much that the changes you have made are much more flexible to make this a possibility. A digital business could save you some money for your business and it could enable you to be more eco-friendly.

Let’s hope these suggestions help you decide what 2021 means for your business.

Five Ways To Market Your Business

Two of the focuses my blog is Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One of the keys to being successful at business is your marketing. As critical it is, not everyone understands the marketing aspect of business. The following contributed post is entitled, Five Ways To Market Your Business.

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Photo by Serpstat from Pexels

2020 has been a year unlike any other, and with the future uncertain, it is more important than ever that you leverage your business to get ahead of the competition. If you don’t currently have a marketing plan or are unsure whether you are doing all you should be to get your business promoted, now is your chance. Whether you are a small business who has just set out or a large business, a good marketing plan is vital to keep yourself in the best position. This year might have seen you have to cut your budget or reign in your spending due to the current pandemic, but you don’t have to spend lots to get great results. Trial different techniques and find out the ones that work best for you and your company. Here are five top ways to market your business for optimal success this year.

Create a marketing plan

No business can successfully market itself without a marketing plan. With a marketing plan, you can ensure that you schedule out everything you need and have a clear direction to follow. It allows you to measure how your marketing budget is being spent and to try out every area to see which one works the best for you. You will know exactly what is going out when and can measure and track success and results. Whether you are a technologies company like Kapa Technologies LLC, a restaurant, bar, or manufacturer, your business will benefit from a marketing plan.

Sort out your website

Your website is essentially your shop front, and so it is important that not only is it functional and informative, but also that it looks good too. If people turn up and your website is slow, laggy, and looks old, it will give them a bad impression of your business and service. People can think if you don’t make an effort with your website, you won’t make an effort with whatever you are trying to sell or offer. Websites are so easy to create these days that there is no excuse for one that is poorly done. Just by searching online, asking for recommendations, or looking at local groups on Facebook, you will be able to find someone who can create you a stunning looking site that isn’t too expensive. You can also find someone who will do up your current site if you don’t want to opt for something completely new; this might save you money if you are looking for something that bit cheaper in the current times.

Focus on your SEO

If you don’t have an SEO plan, it is time to create one. SEO is vital for getting your business seen and showing up on search engines. By having a strong SEO strategy, your business will show up on Google, and you will get found by those who are looking for the services you offer. There are many ways you can improve your SEO, from improving the metadata and on-page SEO on your site to targeting specific keywords, getting backlinks, and more. This side of SEO can be quite technical, so it is worth getting in touch with an SEO company or hiring a specialist to sort it out for you. They will have the knowledge and expertise to conduct a proper plan. If you don’t have the money to hire a specialist, you can also do research on SEO online that will show you how you can improve your presence.

Implement a Social media strategy

Social media is vital to market your business, and there are many different strategies depending on the services you offer. The important thing to remember with social media is that not every social media platform will work with all businesses, and it is best to focus on a few niche ones rather than spread yourself too thin. Think about the types of audience you are looking to attract with your service and tailor your social media to this. Twitter and Facebook are great for sharing news articles or information, while Instagram is very visual so great for sharing images of your product. TikTok is also another very visual platform but is more aimed at a younger audience. If you have a more cooperative service, consider looking at Linkedin as this is where a lot of business professionals have profiles and look for information. You can use trial and error when it comes to social media and see which platform gets you the most engagement – you might be surprised at what works and what doesn’t! Remember if you are posting similar content on all of your platforms to change them to suit each one.

Have a strong newsletter strategy

Newsletters are a great way to stay in touch with your clients and customers and showcase your latest news and offers. It also allows you to stay in their mind and prompt them to visit your site when they might not have done otherwise. Try not to send out too many newsletters that your customers feel bombarded, but don’t do it too frequently that they don’t bother opening them. Always be sure that your email mailing list is compliant with GDPR. When it comes to creating your newsletter, be sure that it ties in with your branding and the tone of voice of your business.

These are just some of the ways that you can market your business. In uncertain times such as this year, it is very important that you get your marketing strategy up to scratch and make it as easy as possible for new customers and clients to reach you, as well as retain your current clients. Remember, your website and your social media are the first things that people see when they come to your business and are the initial selling points. These need to be aesthetically pleasing, technically effective, and really showcase what you are about and what services you offer. Don’t be afraid to try multiple techniques, and if some don’t work as well as expected, to try something else.

Tips For Working At Home When Running A Business

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In today’s digital world, the tools exist to allow people to work from home. If you’re interested in starting a home-based business, this contributed post is entitled, Tips For Working At Home When Running A Business.

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Image source: Pixabay

With the global pandemic resulting in many people having to work from home, as an employer or indeed employee, it can be challenging. This is especially true if you are part of the new working from home economy. It requires a change of mindset, new habits to make it a success. Everyone will need to consider where to work from, what the boundaries are between home life and work life, and how it will impact upon family relationships.

Below are some tips on making working from home a success.

Set up a schedule
Try your best to set your working hours and stick to them. This is important if you have a family at home too. Although don’t be too rigid as working from home can also allow the most incredible flexibility, mostly if you have outsourced work and your colleague is in a different time zone.

Get your systems set up
To ensure you and your employees are able to communicate, access files, and schedule meetings, it’s important to get your systems set up. The integration between your office and home systems will be vital to a seamless operation. This will ensure you and any employees have the necessary equipment and access to continue with the job at hand. You may require additional support to achieve this, but it will be worth the investment.

Ensure your company is seen
Your customers will want reassurance that you are still open for business. This may involve working hard on your internet presence and working to ensure SEO is optimized for your online presence. Contact your customers and assure them you are open, ready for business, and continuing to work.

Socialize
Working from home can be a lonely experience for all involved. Schedule catch-ups with staff members. Set up meetings with clients via the vast array of online platforms. These will ensure you have a strong culture of staying in touch with employees and customers. This also helps nurture relationships meaning your employees and customers will feel valued.

Be positive
Not being in an office can be difficult. In all communication with your employees and customers, have a positive outlook. Also, ensure any written communication is clear and concise. Remember, you will have to communicate in writing more, so ensure you get across the right message in the tone that you want.

Finish your work-day on a good note
As noted above, about setting up a schedule to start your day, ending your day on a positive note and routine is also a great idea. Sign off with a message to your employees and go and do something you enjoy. Ask your employees to do the same.

These are just some tips to help you if you are working from home.
Above all, find out what works best for you and your employees. Remember, you are all in the same boat. Working together to achieve the goals of the company is what you want so getting their input at what works will be vital.

Saving Storage Space In Your Business

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In terms of business, we often think of business resources in terms of money, but another one is storage space. Storage space in itself is a valuable asset and must be wisely managed. The following contributed post is entitled, Saving Storage Space In Your Business.

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Storage space in any business can be a challenging one. As your business grows, so too might it’s workforce, and the initial space you had in your building might become limited. The same goes for any warehouses that you might possess as a business. The more products you start to stock and sell, the more space you need to store them. Here are some storage tips that might help your business save on the space it has and to utilize it in the best way possible.

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Utilize Racking

Racking is a good way of building your storage from the ground up. Without having to take away any additional floor space in whatever building it is, racking can certainly be helpful. When choosing your racking, it’s important to consider what it is you are storing so that it can hold the weight and dimensions of the products easily and without causing any damage to any other products you have underneath it. Tennessee Rack is a great company to sort the racking that you need, and it’s best to use quality racking, rather than anything that could potentially cause damage or be ineffective when it comes to your storage. Utilize racking to your advantage when it comes to saving space because you have plenty of space to likely build up on, rather than having to take up any more valuable floor space.

Go Paperless

Going paperless can be a great way of saving on space because if you think about all the documents you print throughout the space of a year, it can end up taking up a lot of the room. With that being said, it’s good to look at what areas of the business that you can start converting to paperless so that you not only save on the space but your also saving money in the process. It can be a great opportunity to sort through the paperwork, digitalizing what needs to be digitalized and then making sure it all gets destroyed and disposed of properly.

Keep Your Workforce Organized In Their Areas

Your workforce is responsible for the storage space within the business. Their own workstations can be places where they can utilize the space that they have in making sure it’s not overspilling into other areas of the business. Make sure that each employee has a manager or supervisor monitoring workstations and directing employees to tidy up and declutter when necessary. The more you can stay on top of this, the less debris is going to overspill and take up more room.

Invest In External Storage

External storage is one thing to consider when it comes to freeing up storage in your office space. If your staff are constantly tripping over themselves, then why not invest in some external storage. It can be an affordable way of storing everything that is still needed without having to go to the extreme of moving business premises.

Saving storage space is key, so make sure you’re following these tips to free up more space in your workplace.

Successfully Manage Your Suppliers With These Tips

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Depending upon the type of business you’re running, you will be interfacing with suppliers which are critical to your operations. You further want to protect and manage your supply chains at all costs. The following contributed post is entitled, Successfully Manage Your Suppliers With These Tips.

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When you are running a successful business, you need to have positive, reliable and loyal suppliers working with you to get the best out of your business. Successful supplier relationships aren’t always easy to build, and there is communication and trust required to make it work. You have to treat your suppliers with respect, whether they are supplying packaging, IT services or equipment, and you have to respect the contract that you sign.

As a business owner, you need to consider that you want to get the best for your business to run smoothly. Assessing the suppliers out there will get you started, and managing your current supplier relationships is just as important. If you are looking for help in managing those same relationships, we’ve got all of the tips that you need below.

Image Source: Pexels

1. Understand Cost & Value. The supply chain is one that needs to run as smoothly as possible for your business to work well. You need to understand every single cost that you are paying, how it affects the product or service that you deliver, and what value is provided to your customers. You need to know how your suppliers are offering you value, and a true partnership involves you both understanding the cost of the service and the value it provides at the same time.

2. Focus On What You Do For Your Supplier. Your printer and copier dealer is working for you to get you the best deal, provide you the best equipment and more. But what are you doing for your supplier? You have to realize that this relationship goes both ways and you have to be in charge of the way that you behave in this relationship. If someone is going out of their way to offer you an excellent deal, then you need to go out of your way to pay your bills on time and turn to your supplier when you need an upgrade.

3. Plan Efficiently. All businesses, including yours, have to plan properly with their suppliers. You have to accept accountability for your needs and order what you need in good time. Piling on the pressure on your supplier to deliver when you haven’t given them the correct time frames is not the way to go. If you need to push through emergency orders, you’re going to be managing your business in a sloppy way, which is not what you need. Lack of thinking on your part does not constitute an emergency for your supplier.

4. Establish Service Levels. It’s so important that you incorporate the right service levels into your relationship with your suppliers. You can’t just base a relationship on a handshake, so both parties need to talk about their expectations and agree on it all.

5. Agree Your Contracts. Before you sign anything with your suppliers, you would have agreed terms for all of you to stick to. You agree on your payment terms and you need to uphold those terms. Your suppliers will give you the best discounts and deals, but you should spend time ensuring that all sides of the contract are agreed in advance!

6. Communication Counts. If there is a problem with a supplier, you need to share that with them as early as possible. If there is any information that you need to share, you need to do so as early as possible so that they can fix the problem. If you contact your supplier to tell them something has broken down, do it the moment you know that there is a problem. By communicating a problem, you can also communicate the good things. This will keep your relationship steady and working well.

7. Keep Planning. You want to manage these relationships well, and that means planning for the exceptions and not always the rules. Emergencies happen and in complex supply chains, you need to let them know ahead of time how the emergencies will be handled. It’s up to you to analyze why they happen so that you can minimize the number of emergencies possible. Every single strategy with your supply chain takes planning, and you need to agree a solution for emergencies with your supplier. If a copier breaks down and you work in reprographics, it would help to know what you should do in those circumstances.

8. Expect Honesty. You can expect your supplier to be honest with you, so you should offer the same in return. Mutual respect is so important with your suppliers, so make this happen!

9. Make It Work. Your relationships with your suppliers have to be meaningful at all times. When you meet, make a grand gesture! When there are issues, talk about them. Make it work and offer respect!

Prevent Cybercrime In Your Business

Two focuses of my blog are Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. With so much business being conducted online, the potential for cybercrime has increased. It’s thus important for you to proactively take steps to prevent those cybercrimes for you and your customers. The following contributed post is entitled, Prevent Cybercrime In Your Business.

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It’s not unusual to hear reports of the big businesses out there being hit with data breaches and cyberattacks. Bizarrely, it has become the norm to hear these in the news, but most small businesses are not aware that cyber attacks can affect them, too. Consumers always wonder how these attacks keep happening, especially as every company should be taking their business security as seriously as possible.

You have to realize that your business can be on the receiving end of a breach no matter what size it is. You need to do all that you can to prevent cybercrime that could damage your business and there are six solid ways you can do exactly that.

Image Source: Pexels

1. Think about limiting the access that you have handed out to the most valuable data in your business. Every employee usually has access to all of the files in your business, so you need to pull this back a little and limit how many have those passwords of the most vulnerable information you hold. If you prevent as many people having that access, you can slow down how many people can pass off the info to outsiders.

2. Bringing in a team to help you with your cyber protection. You could look into a professional managed IT service provider to make sure that your business is covered 24/7. It’s one of the reasons that some companies are attacked online; they don’t have 24/7 security!

3. You are likely doing business with a wide range of vendors outside of your business. You need to know who these vendors are and how much access they will have to your information and you need to know personally the people who are working with you. If your delivery guy has had a previous record of theft, then it’s likely you won’t want to work with him!

4. Training is so important if you want to prevent cybercrime in your business. You need to make sure that you are not just leaving your employees to carry on and hope for the best. You need to take precautions and training and education are the best ways that you can do that.

5. Keep your software as updated as possible – this is another thing that IT managed services can do. You need to consider that an upgraded software base will keep your business safe. The more upgraded the software, the safer it’ll be.

6. Multi-factor authentication is important if you want to prevent people hacking into your systems. Your data has to be kept private, and if you have more than one layer of password protection, you can guarantee that it’s more private than usual. Cyber Breaches can often occur because there is not enough protection surrounding your online files. You don’t want people to steal your information, so have case-sensitive passwords as well as text authentication to make your business secure.

Cybercrime doesn’t have to be a problem in your company – with these tips, you can take the risk down as much as possible.

3 Sure Fire Ways To Save Your Business Cash

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’re running a business, your goal is not only to generate cash, but also to save cash where you can so that you can generate as much profit as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Sure Fire Ways To Save Your Business Cash.

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Pixabay – CC0 License

As you enter the throes of a global pandemic, your business will undoubtedly suffer. Footfall in the high street is at an all-time low, you will find that your loyal customers are more hesitant to part with their cash, and your overheads are looking precarious. You need to think quickly to stem the outgoings and increase the income of your venture. This is difficult in a time of international crisis as you may need to shift business models swiftly. Follow this guide to discover three sure fire ways to save your business cash.

Supply Chain

If you are a venture that relies on importing components from other areas of the world, your supply chain may have been disrupted because of Covid-19. This could play to your advantage and give you the leverage to renegotiate a better deal financially for your imports. You need a reliable freight carrier that will ensure that you receive what you need on time to fill orders. Don’t simply opt for the cheapest supplier out there if the reviews are appalling. Consider the door to door services of an ocean freight carrier as seen at http://eplogistics.com/ocean_freight.html. These specialists will utilize their transport and logistics links to deliver your components direct to you from your supplier. Shipping container transport also allows you to buy in bulk to negate the potential disruptions your supply chain may face in the future.

Redundancies

While you may not wish to let any staff members go from your venture, this is often one of the only ways to ensure that your startup survives. While your orders remain low and you struggle to maintain a buoyant cash flow, you may need to make redundancies. This will save your business cash in the short term. However, you will also need to consider the hole that a staff member will leave. The work that they were responsible for will still need to be done and you will need to rely more on the staff members that you keep on payroll. This can result in low morale and a lack of motivation. Outsourcing is a possibility but you will need to be careful with your money to remain in the black.

Remote Working

More businesses than ever are having to resort to remote working as described at https://www.forbes.com/sites/amarhussaineurope/. This may lead to your heightened anxieties because you fear the lack of productivity from your staff when they have the option of watching Netflix shows all day. However, giving them the responsibility and freedom to work remotely can be empowering. Morale can increase and productivity can become more fruitful. Allowing working from home can also save you money as your largest overhead – the office lease – can be negated. By going wholly remote, you are welcoming in the future of twenty first century working. Google and Apple are already embracing this business model, so you should too in order to save your business cash.

A global pandemic is unprecedented in modern times. Follow this guide and save your business money to help your venture survive.

Curb Appeal Tricks For Your Business

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you have a ‘brick and mortar’ business, a key consideration is your curb appeal. New customers are more likely to wander in your business has a compelling appearance. The following contributed post is entitled, Curb Appeal Tricks For Your Business.

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The way that your business looks from the outside can make a lot of difference. Curb appeal is one of the many things you need to keep on top of as a business owner and can help to draw in potential customers. When customers or clients walk past or arrive at your business, an outside that looks tidy and smart makes a good impression before they even get inside.

Image – free for commercial use

1. Clean the pavement. Pressure washing is the easiest to thoroughly clean the pavement, your car park, or any paved area outside your business. If the outside is clean, your business will look a lot more inviting.

2. Add some plants. Greenery and flowers are a simple way to add personality and color to the front of your businesses. Fill some planters and put them on either side of your front door. This looks welcoming and also gives visitors the impression that someone is looking after the premises.

3. Give your signage a refresh. If your signage has seen better days or has become faded, it shows that the business isn’t being looked after and this gives a bad impression. Repair any signage that needs to be fixed, and repaint anything that has faded or looks like it would benefit from a refresh. Show off your branding.

4. Sweep outside every day. The outside of your business can easily start to look scruffy, with litter, dead leaves, and cigarette ends gathering. Someone needs to sweep out front every day to clear away this unsightly litter. Before you open for the day, sweep outside so your frontage looks cared for, clean, and ready to entice people in as they arrive.

5. Change your window displays frequently. If your business has a window at the front, make the most of your space for window displays. Show off different ranges of products, and change these displays on a regular basis. If you change the displays, people who walk past the store frequently, such as on the way to work, will notice that there is something different in the window to look at and they could notice something in the window that encourages them to come inside and find out more.

6. Make it obvious what your business actually does. Anyone walking or driving by your premises should be able to tell at a quick glance what your business does. Make sure that your signage makes this very clear.

7. Make sure your parking area is well lit and well sign-posted. If your customers can park at your business, clearly signpost where the parking spaces are so people can find them. Make sure any parking restrictions are also very obvious. Customers will be put off if think they can park, but then get hit with a parking ticket. Make your parking safe with well-maintained parking lot paving and plenty of lights. If people come to your business when it’s dark, they’ll benefit from the lights to help them feel safe. It’s also a useful addition for your staff when they leave at the end of the day.