It’s safe to say that it takes a certain type of person to start a business from nothing and nurture it into something. Entrepreneurs are full of fight and spirit with a heavy dose of self-motivation that is for sure. But while it takes guts and ambition to start something, could you be running your venture more effectively?

As something often starts off as a dream the reality can be harder to get a grip of. You have a lot to think about from making sales to promotion, as well as administration and other things like stock. The question to ask yourself is whether you could be running your small business more effectively? With that in mind, here are some of the things to think about.

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Do you make the most out of your social media presence?

Let’s be honest here, social media is huge and with so many people taking to their Facebook or Twitter profiles to share their lives it’s now become an essential part of running a business. Having a good social media presence can make a business, fact. Posting the right level of status updates with just the right amount of information and not appearing spam-like is hard to achieve. I think one of the main essentials any small business owner needs to consider when it comes to their social media presence is that they remain professional at all times, while still humanizing their business, so the consumer knows there is a real person at the end of the keyboard. If you are clever with the content, it could skyrocket your business profile.

Could you outsource?

You can’t always do it all. As much as you probably want to. A business isn’t just about making a sale, there is much more that goes on behind the scenes. This is when you may want to look at outsourcing. There are many departments that can benefit from being managed externally. You could, for instance, seek IT SUPPORT SERVICES provided by IT service-centred agencies. This could enable you to facilitate better remote and network device monitoring, patch and asset management, endpoint protection, data backup, and remote desktop access among others. Similarly, if you’re in need of marketing expertise to reorient and optimize your strategies, you could consider reaching out to a marketing agency. This step will educate you in terms of the the advertising agency services that they offer. Or perhaps you need a virtual assistant to help with things such as administration and record-keeping. Think about where you may need some more attention and look to outsource. This will help you to focus your time and energy on the areas of your business where you can make a big impact. Or, if you don’t think that you need an entire marketing agency but you do think that you need very specific help, there are companies that can help. For example, you might need direct mail advertising to cover this part of your advertising while you’ve got a good handle on the rest.

Do you have a customer support team?

Don’t neglect the power of customer support when running your small business. You need to respond to clients, customers and leads as quickly as possible. More importantly, you must provide good answers to the questions and solve all of their problems. Thomas Ligor, an expert in sales & marketing, explains that investing in a customer support team whose main goal is establishing high-quality customer service will improve relationships and boost customer satisfaction. 

You need a team in place to maintain exceptional levels of customer service. After all, many customers will leave businesses and never return if they feel the support isn’t up to scratch. It’s something you must focus on if you want your business to succeed. 

Do you promote your business locally?

People want to shop locally and small these days, it’s fast become a trend that the consumer would rather support a small business than a large corporation. So this is something that any small business owner needs to be all over. A great tip is to ensure that you are seen as the local expert in your field. Get your message heard and advertise within the local community. A useful idea is to be involved with a local charity, sponsoring them and gaining advertising. Local businesses of all kinds do this and it can help the community. Tresca Brothers Concrete is a great example. It can be a great partnership to make as the charity receives much-needed funds and you are not only doing good but also being associated in the right way.

Do you ensure that your business premises are up to standard?

Your business premises can speak volumes as to how a business is run, especially if it is the place where you will do business. Be that trade or with the general public. Many people can forget this small detail, and often it could jeopardize the opinion being formed about your business and brand. Take pride in your space just as you would your home. A great tip is to ensure that the areas are cleaned regularly to a high standard. It is a small thing but it can have a big impact on how somebody feels when they walk into your business premises. If you don’t have a customer-facing business, you still need to think about the space in which you work. It can have a positive impact on how you feel when working.

By ensuring your business is up to standard from proper signage to workplace policies, you avoid anything bad from happening to the company. For example, if you’ve got a construction business, the proper signage helps avoid a construction accident.

Have you thought about your brand as much as you should?

Finally, your overall brand is a decision that shouldn’t be made lightly. Your logo, straplines, and even your website should all be carefully considered to match what you are trying to achieve. A recognizable or eye-catching brand can help improve business. You also will need to consider your brand story. This is what will grab the attention of potential customers and clients. They may be able to relate to your brand story or feel something towards it. You could also look to use feedback and compliments that you have received from previous customers that could help solidify your brand.

Let’s hope these tips help you to run your small business more effectively.