Ask Questions 
Share Tips 
List Your Business 
Coffee Talk with Experts 
Biz Planning | Sample Plans 
Idea 
Name 
$ 
Do It! 
Promotional Merchandise
Managing | Operations
Work @ Home 
Yoga @ Your Desk 
|
|
Expert Answers to Biz Questions
Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.
5 Must-Haves for Your Small Business
Starting your own small business can be an overwhelming experience.
You're not just feeling excited about the new possibilities opening up to you, but you're also anxious to make sure that every choice is best for your new venture.
Starting out is a crucial time, and the decisions you make at the start can affect your success in the long run. Below, we'll take a look at the five must-haves that any small business needs to succeed.
1. A Business Server
One of the first things you should explore is a server solution for small business. Organizations of all sizes utilize server hosting for almost every part of their business, from disaster recovery to application delivery. Compared to hosting servers on-site, these options offer high-speed solutions, affordable storage options, and inexpensive scaling.
A good business server will also come with personalized support, meaning that you'll be able to pinpoint and fix any issues quickly and effectively before they affect your profits.
2. Verified Online Listings
Today, having an online presence is required to run a successful business. Platforms like Google Business Profile or Yelp may already exist for your business since these can be set up by members of the public.
If one already exists for your business, make sure to claim the listing. If not, then create one on your own. This not only provides accurate information to your potential customers but free publicity as well. Customers are also able to comment on verified online listings, which creates both trust and credibility online.
3. A Great Website
The importance of a website that is easy to use, functional, and well-designed cannot be understated. It doesn't matter if the product you are selling or the services you're offering are in high demand if, at the end of the day, your customers aren't able to navigate your website easily.
Luckily, there are several comprehensive and professional site builders to get the job done at affordable prices.
4. Locations Tags
If you have a physical location for your business, it's worth your time to create a location tag viaFacebook. This way, customers are able to tag your business as a location and “check in” to your business. This will get you some free exposure on popular sites like Instagram and Facebook without spending a significant amount of money on marketing.
You can always invest in a solid marketing plan at a later date, but this is a great option for those who are just starting out. These tags can also link back to your Facebook page, which you can utilize for additional publicity.
5. A Customer Relationship Management System
If your business involves customers in any form, then investing in a customer relationship management system, or CRM, will be well worth it. While it may sound like something only large companies need, a CRM enables you to keep track of your customers or clients effectively. Everything from contact information, services rendered, invoices that are due, bills that you need to pay, and incoming requests can all be organized in an easy-to-understand way.
Some CRM software is even available for free, so you don't need to worry about making large payments right when your business is taking off.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it! Five must-haves for anyone starting their own small business. No matter what products or services you offer, each of these options enables you to hit the ground running. Between a customer relationship management system, location tags, a fantastic website, verified online listings, and a dedicated business server, you'll be sure to maximize your profits in no time at all.
|
|
Small Business Tax Center • Idea Cafe Home • Sign Up • Biz Grant Center • CyberSchmooz •Coffee Talk with Experts • People in Biz Profiles • Starting Your Biz • Biz Planning • Running Your Biz • FREE Trade Publications • Marketing • Financing Your Biz • Human Resources • Legal & Biz Forms • Managing Your Biz • eCommerce • You and Your Biz • Gen X • Work@Home • The Fridge • De-Stress • Send an Award • Send an eGreeting • Yoga @ Your Desk • Web Guide • Idea Cafe in the News • About Idea Cafe • Advertise on Idea Cafe • Contact Us • Privacy Policy • Site Map • Small Biz News
Copyright 1995-2024, Idea Cafe Inc. Downloads are for personal use only, not for resale to others, and may not be reprinted in any form without written permission from Idea Cafe Inc.
DISCLAIMER: We hope whatever you find on this site is helpful, but be cautioned that it may not apply to your own situation, or be totally current at any given time. Idea Cafe Inc. and all of its current and past experts, sponsors, advertisers, agents, contractors and advisors disclaim all warranties with regard to anything found anywhere on this family of websites, quoted from, or sent from Idea Cafe. and its related sites, publications and companies. We also take no responsibility for comments published by others on these pages. TRADEMARKS: The following are Registered Trademarks or Servicemarks of DevStart, Inc.: Idea Cafe®, Online Coffee Break®, The Small Business Gathering Place®, Take out Info®, Biz Bar & Grill®, Complaint-O-Meter®, A Fun Approach to Serious Business™, CyberSchmooz™, and BizCafe™.
|
|
|
|