SEO

The Beauty Of Meeting Your Customers Face-To-Face

• by Viking Wanderer

While we’ve all been in lockdown, the share price of popular video conferencing app Zoom has skyrocketed. COVID-19 means that we’re now more reliant on our technology than ever before to stay in touch with each other. 

But when the current episode passes, we will return once again to the real world and meeting our clients, and customers face-to-face will become the norm. 

Meeting people in person at a custom exhibition stand or in-store isn’t just a relic of the past. It is fundamentally connected to who we are as human beings. Sometimes, we let technology and efficiency get the better of us. We believe that just because communicating over the internet is cheaper and faster, it is somehow superior. 

But that’s not how things work. Sure, you can see somebody’s face and watch their expressions, but there’s nothing quite like being in physical proximity. There’s no substitute. 

In this post, we’re going to take a look at the beauty of meeting your customers face-to-face. Here’s why it is so vital for people in business. 

You Appear More Authentic

The internet is incredible at connecting people, but it also cheapens our social interactions. There’s no cost involved in opening Zoom on your laptop and calling whoever you want. 

The same is not valid, however, of meeting in person. You have to back up your story with actions. You can’t just spam webinars ad infinitum. You need something that feels tangible and real to your customers. 

Appearing in person at a tradeshow or live event also helps you to look more authoritative and genuine. Customers get to see your body language – a critical yardstick they use to judge your competence. The more impressive your in-person interaction, the more likely they will be to remember you and seek you out in the future. 

You Can Market More Effectively

A banner ad on a website or a video on social media can help drum up business. But there’s nothing quite like an in-person interaction for making a sale. It feels so much more intimate and memorable than the generic advertising that you so often find on the web. 

Of course, when it comes to in-person interactions, you have to be more selective. You can’t afford to waste your precious time, interacting with every potential prospect that comes your way. You need a way to home in on those people who are most likely to buy from you. 

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers here for how to do this. It depends primarily on your judgement. 

You Can Form Partnerships And Upsell

Customers want solutions, but sometimes the only way to get them is to work in partnership with an outside agency. Forming a collaboration over the web is a massive challenge – anyone who has tried internet dating will know this. But creating one in person is much more comfortable. It feels so much more natural. And it opens up inherent opportunities for upselling. 

Don’t be afraid, therefore, to meet your customers face-to-face. It could be one of the best decisions that you make. 

SEO

Boost Your Bottom Line

• by Viking Wanderer

Small business owners all want to be successful, which means that they are all mindful of their bottom line. If you run a small business, chances are you are always on the lookout for ways to increase your earnings, boost your business and shield against any future financial issues. Here are a few things that could help you with that:

Raise your prices

Have you evaluated your prices recently? If not, it might be time to do so. So many small businesses are so worried about being competitive that, although they offer more than fair prices to their customers, their prices are not at all fair to them. If you’re undervaluing your goods and services, raising your prices would be a really good way of boosting your bottom line. As long as they’re still fair, people will still buy, so realise your worth and value your business!

Automate more

It has never been easier to automate many aspects of your business, thanks to the likes of inc-systems.com/services/managed-it-services/ who offer excellent managed IT services. Why bother? Because the more processes you can automate, the fewer employees you will need and the more productive your business will be. If that doesn’t boost your bottom line, I don’t know what will!

Cut your expenses

It’s no fun, but cutting down on your expenses is a key way to boost your bottom line and get your business running as efficiently as possible. The key is to identify those expenses which are truly frivolous or unproductive such as overly expensive office space, or an excess of stock that doesn’t sell. Take your time and evaluate each and every business expense before determining what brings value and what you can drop.

Transfer debts

If you have business loans and credit cards, depending on the status of your business, you may qualify for new lines fo credit with lower interest rates, and transferring old loans over could save you a pretty penny.

Branch out

A great way to boost your bottom line and build up your business is to look for new opportunities. This could mean investing in a new product line, pursuing a new target market or teaming up with a company in a related niche to reach more people and do some cross-promoting, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box.

Focus on marketing

Taking the time to work on your marketing strategy can pay huge dividends, especially if you are able to trim the fat, hone in on your ideal target market and hit upon a message that they cannot ignore. This means doing a lot of research and a great deal of testing, but if it brings in more customers, it will be more than worth it.

Keep learning

The more you know, the more skills you have, the better you will be able to run your business, generate new ideas and increase productivity, so even though you’re a busy business owner, you should never stop learning whether that’s by reading industry magazines, attending industry events and training or going back to school.

Time to boost your bottom line!

SEO

4 Ways To Make Your Small Business Look More…

• by Viking Wanderer

Starting your own business is a rewarding experience. You get to be your own boss, organise your own schedule, and dedicate yourself to something you really care about.

But as anyone who has ever built a business from-the-ground-up will tell you, the early stages are pretty tough. The first few years will be a lot of hard work, and it will take time to find your feet. Not least because as a small business, you’re competing against established organisations who simply have greater  resources at their disposal. 

So how can you help your small business compete against the household names, and give the impression of professionalism you need to earn your customers’ trust? If you’re looking for a few ideas, check out the list below. 

Invest in a Stylish Website 

In the internet age, your website will very likely be the first point of contact your customers make with your business. And as we all know: first impressions are extremely important. 

So make sure to invest time (and money, if you can) in a clean, clear, stylish website which shows your business in the best light. It is also a good idea to secure your own domain name, as this will help direct customers to your site and can improve your online marketing. 

Outsourcing The Little Jobs 

One of the major disadvantages a small business struggles with is a lack of employees. At the start, you might find yourself so distracted by admin, or budgeting or whatever else, that you can’t pour the time and dedication into your service that you’d like. 

A simple solution for this problem is to outsource these smaller tasks. And one of the most valuable in terms of saving your time and projecting a professional front, is an independent answering service. These guys can take the phone calls and the simple admin off your hands so you can focus on your job. So check out the best answering service for small business. 

Use Social Media the Right Way  

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are invaluable resources to help promote your business and communicate with your customers. So if you’re not already, it’s time to get acquainted with these websites and start using them to your advantage.

However, it’s important to remember a bit of social media etiquette when you’re online. It’s no good giving your customers space to talk to you and then not bothering to reply – or worse, replying in a way that seems rude and sloppy.   

So make sure your social media pages are properly maintained, take the time to respond to people promptly, and avoid posting anything inappropriate.  

Play Hard to Get (…Sometimes) 

This does not mean turning down jobs (we’re not crazy!). But when starting out with a new business, it’s important to stay busy and treat every little job with the utmost professionalism. And that includes the days you’re not technically working. 

When someone calls you, make sure you’re somewhere quiet, answer them formally, and take your time processing their request. Nothing is more off-putting than feeling like you’re the only customer this business has! So even if your diary is looking a little sparse, accept the job but don’t make it painfully obvious that you’ve got nothing else to do.