Small Business Matters

New year, new start – tips for a successful 2012

Firstly we’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very happy new year from the SmallBizMatters team. Here’s to a great 2012.

Today’s post is by Clive Birnie, managing director of Severn Delta, the company behind the Sarah Smith cleaning products.

So here we go, heading into 2012.  This time of year seems to lead inevitably to a mental audit.  I can’t do much about your willpower for your New Year’s diet but here are my suggestions for good New Year’s resolutions and ways to improve your business this year.

Making the most of the Christmas holidays

'Tis the season to be jolly but if you run a small business, you might find the drop in trade and the disruption that occurs over Christmas a little unsettling. Many small business owners simply can't bear to turn off from their business completely for over a week.

However, the slowdown can provide a chance to recharge your batteries as well as assess some areas of your business that may have gone unnoticed recently. 

If you’re one of those business owners who can’t close the door on business altogether, here are a few ideas that will help you to make the most of the holiday whilst still getting some rest and relaxation.

Making the most of craft events

At this time of year many businesses selling handmade goods or gift-related items are busy attending sales events. Emma Maudsley, the creative mind and hands behind SockMonkeyEmporium, gives her advice on preparing for and making the most of such events.

One of the most exciting parts of being a crafter is being able to get out and about at craft fairs. These could be as simple as a school fete or as complex as a major event at a historic house or football stadium. You can find information about events in your area through various internet sites - stick it in Google and see what comes up.
 
There is normally a fee involved in taking part; make sure you know what is being provided for you - the table is usually provided but not all events include chairs, especially if you need more than one. If you need access to electricity you should certainly ask the event organisers if you can be placed in a suitable space.

Also, be sure that the fee involved is a figure you feel you can afford. I have been offered tables at events ranging in price from £10 to £100 and I price it by monkeys - £10 is one monkey. If I don't feel I would sell more than 10 monkeys at an event then I certainly wouldn't be paying a £100 fee.

Preparation is everything

Prior to the event make sure you are organised. If you have Facebook and Twitter tell people where you are going to be.

Five ways to get more traffic to your website

By Joe  Carstairs

Unfortunately, many people don't realise that their website is sitting in cyberspace completely unnoticed. Unless you direct traffic towards it, it simply won't be seen.Therefore, just as you'd invite people to your office for a demo, you need to be directing people to your website. 

It might seem intimidating but there are simple steps you can take to make it easier than you think. Here are five easy ways to get more traffic to your website.

How to choose an accountant

Last week we looked at some of the essentials for keeping your business financially fit. 

 One of the top tips given by the Intuit experts in their recent financial fitness workshops was ‘get an accountant to support your business’ – even if you’re fastidiously keeping good finance records and getting paid on time, an accountant is still essential and something you shouldn’t skimp on. Accountants know tax inside out and they’ll help you save money, time and stress.

So, how do you find one that’s right for you? Here are some ideas.

Size doesn’t matter in the global marketplace

This post is written by Linda Kozlowski, Director of Global Marketing and Customer Experience for Alibaba.com. 

With many businesses feeling the impact of the current economic uncertainty, it’s no surprise that the outlook for 2012 is less than rosy. Without a positive change in economic conditions, many small and medium businesses, particularly those that operate with small teams and limited resources, could cease trading altogether. More than ever, reducing operating costs and driving revenues are essential to survival. It will be the savvy businesses who are willing to adapt their approach that will come out on top.  

Social media mistakes to avoid

Getting the hang of social media can be a daunting task and some small businesses avoid using it because they don't want to become the next notorious catastrophe.

The key to mastering social media is researching the different channels and planning how to best utilise them. However, this process can take time, so we've outlined a few of the most common mistakes to help you make sure you avoid them.

Not tailoring your content for specific media

How an innovative start-up landed big-name backing and a Kindle advertising deal

A new service, launching today, has seen a start-up company gain day-one advertising investment from insurance firm Hiscox and become the first service outside of Amazon to offer advertising on Kindle content in the UK. 

clipDO uses a browser button called a bookmarklet to ‘clip’ news articles and other text found on the web and send that text directly to their Kindle e-reader all with one click. clipDO offers Kindle, and soon tablet users, a new and simple way to access the news and other information online. The service is entirely free because it’s supported by advertising.

We spoke to clipDO’s founder Jon Slinn about how he made it happen.

Marketing on the cheap: Free and low-cost marketing ideas for small businesses

So, your product is great, the business plan is so sound your bank manager has already booked his triplets into Eton and you’re mentally picking out the colours of that holiday home in the Bahamas you’ve promised to buy yourself as soon as your business makes you stinking rich.

Just one problem: you don’t have any customers. Why? Because no one knows you exist yet. As a small business it's unlikely that you're in a position to run five-minute ads in between X Factor and Jonathan Ross, and that double-page spread in The Times may stretch your 12-quid advertising budget just a little too much. Hell, you can’t even afford any PR. 

So, what are you going to do? The answer is low-cost/no-cost marketing.

There are plenty of ways you can get your company’s name out there – we’ve already talked a lot about the possibilities of Twitter and Facebook on the blog, for example. It doesn’t end there, though; all you need is a little imagination and a bit of smooth talking - things you'll already have in spades as a small business-owner. Try these ideas:

Reciprocal Marketing

 Keep an eye out for brands that you may have some crossover with and ask if they’d like to do a little reciprocal marketing with you. Say, for example, you run a stables and you know someone who sells equestrian equipment - some publicity for them on your website could well lead to them doing the same for you, meaning that both business are exposed to new customers. 

This could be a blog post or even a small banner ad – the important thing is that you’re both widening your customer base with little effort or outlay.