Whatever ambitions you have for your business, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a few simple suggestions to get you going. And, if you’d like a little more support or advice, your local business adviser is always there for you.
Build a cash flow plan – monitor what’s coming in and going out weekly or monthly
Put money aside for contingencies – you’ll be in much better shape if customers don’t pay on time, or unexpected costs and shortfalls come up
Stress-test your cash flow – for example, if your debtors take an extra 30 days to pay or if your creditors want payment up front, how will this impact your cash flow?
Tell suppliers if you need time to pay – the earlier you speak, the more flexible they may be
Spread the word – build relevant content people will want to follow and share, on channels like Facebook and Twitter
Don’t just focus on sales –customers don’t want a sales pitch every time they log on. Keep your content varied and engaging, for example ‘Send us a selfie with one of our products’
Images and hashtags – Facebook posts with images get 87% more shares, 35% more on Twitter. Use hashtags to make it easier for your customers to find, share and engage
Build a network of influencers and engage with them – don’t just talk at your audience, talk with them. Invite feedback and encourage advocacy
Respond to complaints quickly – customers expect a speedy response and the longer you take the more public their dissatisfaction will become
Learn from your existing customers – ask who they used before and why they switched
Recruit the best staff from your competitors– they can often bring all the positive aspects from your competitors and add them to your business
Identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – and do the same on your competitors, so you get insights and gain a competitive advantage
Stay on top of the competition – identify new competitors and new routes to market before your customers do
Develop a marketing plan – work out which advertising will best deliver on your ambitions
Be relevant – show insight into your customers’ needs and what interests them
Build your brand identity – your customers will recognise your brand better when you consistently use appropriate imagery, logos, colours, typefaces and tone of voice
Test your advertising – before going to market, make sure your audience understands the key messages and the advert is making a positive impression on your customer