Online Business Education is a Winner

I don’t think there can be too many small business owners who would say no to having their business being given the once over by a business guru with a wealth of practical experience and the time to devote to picking the operation apart and then making suggestions of ways of making it work better!

The problem is, who would this guru be and how much time would a busy business owner have to put aside to educate this guru in the nuances of the business.

The reality of course is that it’s not going to happen! But that doesn’t make that nagging feeling that most business owners have go away – the feeling that if you could just make a few informed changes, then the business might take off, or this or that problem would become more manageable.

This is where online business courses come into their own. A well researched and presented online business course such as The Small Business Toolbox has many benefits for the busy but committed business owner.

Firstly of course, the business owner doesn’t have to brief anyone about the ins and outs of his business. All the knowledge that is required is right there between his or her ears – all the owner has to do is take that knowledge and apply it as directed by the online business course.

Secondly, the business owner doesn’t have to attend class at a specific place at a specific time. He or she can sit down at the computer and log on to the course anytime they want to.

Thirdly, – no keeping up with the Jones’s here, or waiting for them! With an online business course, you work at your own pace – fast or slow, it’s up to you.

And most importantly, when the course is put together by people who have been there and done that in the world of small business, then you know that you are getting a practical, tried and tested business education that you can immediately apply in your business.

It’s no wonder that online business education is seen as the best way that busy business owners can take their businesses to the next level. Try it for yourself – visit www.thesmallbusinesstoolbox.com

So you want to be an Entrepreneur?

A common folly in many failed businesses is that the initial choice of business was wrong. Many a broken entrepreneur will acknowledge this in hindsight. This is why you need to honour the choice of what business you want to open. It is the first make or break decision you will take as your own boss.

Avoiding the pain of this first serious error is made a little easier if you field the choice with all the faculties you possess. Carefully measure and weigh the successes, skills and talents which led you to believe you could be a successful entrepreneur.

Get away from the starting block in good form by selecting the best draw for your assets right up front.

There are valuable techniques available to assess what will work for you, in your field of expertise and appeal to the market to which you have easiest access.

Initially you may have considered this new venture from a personal viewpoint and analysed your character in the process. The decision to go into business is not one taken lightly so we can safely assume you are passionate, courageous and focussed. Other information gleaned during this profiling period can be a key indicator as to what style of enterprise could suit you. The maxim is “know yourself to excel”.

Proceed step-by-step in the selection of your chosen business.  You may be able to moonlight initially to test the market and gauge your own response to the business sector you wish to enter. If it is a completely new field you could offer to work gratis for the experience.

We often see stressed high level executives turning their hand to a new small business venture in a totally different arena in a bid to escape the hectic pace of big city life. Many have gone from suits and boardrooms to aprons or overalls and deliver inspiring results!

It can be incredibly invigorating to remain in the field in which you work but as the boss instead of the employee. Choices are boundless.

Comparative analyses are vital in your selection strategy. The most graphically illustrative method to date remains a simple ‘FOR’ and ‘AGAINST’ checklist.

Research is critical. Chat with many assorted business people (as well as their staff whose opinions may have a different and enlightening bias) in the environment you plan to enter, listen and discern. Obey your own heart.

You will discover a practical step-by-step guide to key aspects of managing your own small business when you visit TheSmallBusinessToolbox.com.

Your Business needs a Toolbox

Every business needs a toolbox – some literally need a toolbox (if you are a plumber, carpenter etc), but all businesses, especially small businesses and entrepreneurial start ups, need a business toolbox that can supply the business owner with the skills and knowledge to run and grow the business.

A busy small business owner in particular needs to pay attention to areas of the business that may seem of secondary importance right now, but that are vital to the continued health and growth of the business.
Too busy running the business to put together a meaningful and practical marketing plan? Too tied up to take a bit of time to consider growth strategies for your business, or the consequences of continuing on the path you are currently on?

The reality is that by not putting the building blocks of your business in place, you are seriously stacking the cards against your business surviving, or at the very least, prospering. But acquiring the skills and knowledge to run your business efficiently doesn’t have to be a major drag on your time and finances.

At www.thesmallbusinesstoolbox.com you will find a variety of toolboxes that can equip you with the knowledge and skills that will enable you to fine tune your business for optimum performance. You won’t need a degree in business administration to understand the material, and you won’t need a huge staff complement to activate the action plans that you derive from working with any of the toolboxes. What you will get is a structure and knowledge that will guide you in taking your business where you want it to go.

To find out more about a practical, step-by-step programme for your business visit thesmallbusinesstoolbox.com now!

CAN YOUR BUSINESS AFFORD NOT TO?

I have just left a client who has been trying to establish a business which uses a whole range of marketing activities including a fairly significant Internet marketing effort. Whilst many of the other marketing activities were showing reasonable results and he was able to evaluate them using clearly defined criteria, his Internet marketing activities seemed to be producing little or no return.

He had spent not inconsiderable amounts of money on Marketing activities – although when we eventually started to look critically at the numbers, he was clearly trying to get away with doing the Internet side “on the cheap”. This was partly because of some scepticism around this new marketing tool and partly to preserve as much money as possible for what he saw as more conservative or conventional activities – although I would hardly rate Internet marketing as unconventional in this day and age.

Each time we had discussed the allocation of more resource to the Internet side, it was met with some resistance and the “I cannot afford to spend any more there” story. And yet the Marketing results were still not optimal – all other things being considered. At review meetings, everybody was still saying that we should be generating better results from the Internet activities and we had been able to establish that some of his competitors were having considerable success with their Internet marketing.

Eventually the crunch came – budgets had to be cut and something had to go. But in order to decide what he should cut from the budget, we did one final review. Brutal honesty was the order of the day.

We looked at each and every activity with a critical eye – then turned it over and did the same again.  We looked very closely at what he was doing, where he was doing it, how it was being done and who was doing what.

Slowly the realisation began to dawn - the resource he was using to drive his Internet marketing activities was far too lightweight for the job that needed to be done. But that was the only resource that he believed he could afford – how could he throw much stronger resources at something which he did not know was going to work?

It was the old story – he thought that he was doing the right things in that arena but in fact, he had employed a thimble and expected it to generate a waterfall. But how could he now justify upping his spend in this area at a time when he was supposed to be cutting back?

After much soul searching and revisits to every area of the marketing budget, he decided that it was more a matter of ”could he afford not to” than could he afford to!!  He needed to strengthen his Internet marketing area significantly – he went out and found himself a bright young Masters graduate in IT, put the appropriate resources behind the job and has never looked back. His Internet marketing activities are now producing spectacular results.

Frequently in business we are confronted with this dilemma. How often do we allow conventional wisdom to prevail? How often do we not question the paradigms which keep us comfortable? How many times do we doom something or someone to failure simply because we do not provide the commitment and resource needed to succeed?

How strongly do we defend positions because we are too scared to admit we may have been wrong?

Why do we lack the courage to change?

How often do we say “can’t afford to do that” when in truth the business cannot afford NOT to do it.!!!

 

 

Sales Letters – Part Two

Following on from the last blog post on how to write effective sales letter, whether you’re going to send them through the post, or by email. Here are two more writing styles that you should find effective. After all they’ve been tried and tested by the top copy writers of all time.

Ask questions.

Use questions effectively at the start of a sales letter to connect with the ideal customer quickly.

For example: “As a small business owner have you ever stood in front of the mirror and wondered what the heck you are doing in your business? If we told you that you’re just like hundreds of other small business owners and that we have a product guaranteed to help you market your business more effectively, for less than you ever thought possible, would you be interested? And what if we told you this product would cost you less than R500? Visit The Small Business Marketing Toolbox today and find out how easy and effective marketing your small business could be!”

Psychology research tells us that when you ask questions the reader instinctively feels compelled to answer them. In this way you’re involving them in the issue at hand and connecting directly with them and their problems. Many effective sales letters ask a series of questions that are all likely to elicit a positive and strong “yes” from the recipient and in this way channel their actions towards your product.

Also, try offering something for FREE.

An example could be: “Would you like to receive a complimentary newsletter that contains tried and tested tips and advice on how to manage your small business more effectively? Visit The Small Business Toolbox today and subscribe to our e-zine. It’ll deliver sound small business management tools directly to your inbox!”

Why not think of something free that you could offer your customers right now? Perhaps also a free e-mail or printed newsletter? Maybe even a helpful article, report, brochure or booklet. If possible even a complimentary consultation with you or even a discount on their first visit to your business.

These two copy writing skills work very effectively. Take them and adapt them to your business and then use them effectively to increase trial and conversion.