Taking Your Small Business to the Next Level

Setting up your own business is tough. But, sometimes, taking the next step is harder. In the beginning, you’ve got a clear plan of how you want to set your business up, what you want it to be, who your target market is, and where you will be in a year’s time. Along the way, however, these things often change. You may have found your intended market aren’t interested but that you thrive in another area. You spend the first few years muddling along, changing your plans to reflect the market and economy and leaping over hurdles at every turn.

Then, you suddenly find you’ve hit those first heady targets. Your business is working. You’re doing well. Now what? It can be easy to become complacent and just let things carry on. But, with new businesses starting up and new entrepreneurs appearing every day, if you aren’t going forward, you’ll quickly get left behind.

If you are ready to take your small business to the next level, here is what you need to do.

Focus on Customer Service

In the start, you won’t have had much time for the finer details of customer service. Now is the time to tune it up. Spend some time thinking about ways you can improve and make sure any staff know the plan. Excellent customer service is one of the ways to set yourself apart from the competition and develop a great reputation.

Make Sure You’re Still Getting the Best Deals

The deals you brokered when you started out, aren’t necessarily the best value for money for your larger business. This goes for everything from rent and web hosting to suppliers and utilities. You could easily save yourself money by making some switches. Money which can be reinvested in your business growth.

Think Big

When you first set up, your targets were probably relatively small and realistic. If you’ve met them, it’s time to think bigger. Can you target a new market, should you be asking yourself “How do I start exporting?” or is it time to bring a new product to the market place?

Never Stop Learning

One problem small business owners have at this stage is thinking they know it all. Well, you don’t and you never will. Make sure you are always learning and developing. Spend some time taking courses or getting advice.

Look into New Systems

Technology changes and develops all the time. Sometimes at a startlingly fast rate. Make sure any software you are using is still the best for the job it does, consider investing in better computers and equipment and look for any updates. Staying on top of the game when it comes to technology and systems is an excellent way to keep your business fresh and ensure it can grow.

When it comes to pushing your business to the next level, it’s important that you keep an open mind. Try to think big and set yourself both long and short term targets. One problem a lot of people have is that they just don’t know what to do next. Take some time to think about where you want to be in 10 years, then start following these tips to help you get there.

4 Simple Instagram Story Tips For Startups!

At the beginning of the month Instagram stories turned 1 and it’s already surpassed Snapchat! In fact, half of the businesses on Instagram have used stories in the past month.

I must admit, I was a little slower to tag along until I experimented and realised just ONE story alone gave me 260 views last night!

It’s also a fantastic selling tool, so here are my 4 tips on how to use Instagram stories for YOUR business.

Story Shares

Story shares is a brilliant way of collaborating with other Instagrammers and here’s how it works. If I was selling a travel product like a new backpack, I would look for travel companies with a similar amount of followers to me. I would then approach them and ask them to share my product in their story feed and to tag me in it. In exchange I would also advertise a special holiday offer of theirs in my story also tagging them.

This mutual exchange is a brilliant way of attracting new followers and expanding your reach and best of all it works!

Product Launches

Use your stories to launch a new product, event or special offer and remember to add the date and price. We want to be as transparent as possible here. 

You can also tag in any collaborators that you may be working with or WISH to work with. Your story will refresh itself after 24 hours. Stories just isn’t about photos, you can also take short videos of behind the scenes too and share it with your consumer base.

So if how about sharing with your viewers your team? Or the manufacturing of a product? Just remember to make it fun!

Repost Content

Didn’t get as many hits on that blog post as you would have liked? Then advertise it in your story! Add your website URL to the story and a brief overview of what the blog post is about. Remember to use the hashtag feature to add in brands that you wish to see it!

Advertise Your New Client!

Are you B2B? Just signed up a new client? Nothing will earn you brownie points better than sending out a tweet introducing their company on your social media feed, so why not use their photo and tag in their company on your Instagram story too? 

You can even use stories to introduce a new partnership or a new member of staff!

So here are 4 simple tips to create more engagement, connect to your audience base and drive traffic!

Any questions? then get in touch!

Starting Out In Hospitality: The All Important First Steps

When you’ve always dreamt of opening your own business, you can often feel like you’re waiting to get started. You may have a million ideas roaming around in your mind, but it can be difficult to figure out where you need to begin. It’s highly likely that you would have a business plan pulled together to help you get started and plan out your growth, but it’s often difficult to know what you need to execute first. Above all else, you’re going to want to ensure that you get those all important first steps straightened out, and that’s to set up the establishment itself.

A Venue

Finding the right spot is often the biggest challenge that you can be faced with. Sometimes, you may find yourself having to wait until the time is right, and the venue is right – and this can take months or even years. But, the venue and location really can make or break your business, so you need to be able to find the place that’s going to work the best for you. Make sure that you hold out if you’re unsure on a particular venue. You’ll only harm your businesses success if you rush into a decision that isn’t really what you want.

Suppliers

You also need to ensure that you’re able to find the right suppliers too. As a restaurateur, you’re going to need food and beverage suppliers, which can often end up being in double figures. So it’s important that you make these contacts early. Finding suppliers for your restaurant can often be tricky, so this is something that you should be researching as soon as possible. Your produce and supplies can often make or break your business, so you need to get your choice right.

Furniture

Although both points above are two of the most important parts of setting up your hospitality business, there are other essential elements that you won’t be able to launch without. Like furniture. You need to furnish your restaurant, but you need to do it in a way that will complement your vision and the food that you’re serving. If you’re going to create the right atmosphere, the furniture you choose will be a crucial aspect of making it a success.

Payment Facilities

But you also need some more functional aspects installed into the business as well, like payment facilities. Although dining and kitchen equipment is essential, you also need the technology to run your business. So look into the options you have, such as a payment scanner for restaurants and booking software to ensure your covers are catered for. You need to make sure you have everything in place so that your everyday operations can run efficiently.

Customer Facilities

Then you also have the customer comfort essentials to consider as well. You’re going to want to make sure you have things like a coat room and restroom in place. Because both are finishing touches that will make a difference to the overall look and feel of your restaurant. So make sure that you choose designs and styles based on your vision, and don’t cut corners unless you really have to.