mySMBcommunity Blog

Have you ever started your own business?

If you have, you would probably know the amount of effort, pain and frustration that goes into it. It is never as easy as others describe it and an almost never-ending effort in itself. There are costs involved and the administration involved which can be a headache.

Indentifying what business you should do itself is a huge effort. You need to know what you are good at and what you would enjoy doing. Ask yourself what business you are interested in, very honestly.

Then it comes to snagging the first few sales. How do you convince your customers that they should buy from you as opposed to the more established businesses? You would need to give them good reasons why they should buy from you. Tell them what you can offer that your competitors can’ – that all important competitive edge.

Once you clinch the first few sales, things would get slightly better because you could use the first few sales as examples or case studies to promote your business.

Starting a business also means not having a life until the business is more established and profitable. It is also pure frustration to see your efforts head nowhere. But these things take a lot of time and a lot of effort.

However, having your own business can bring you more joy once you become established because you are doing what you love and every sacrifice was worth it.

So if you have embraced social media for your business and have started using these platforms for marketing purposes.- Well done!

But, don’t get carried away by the number of fans or followers you have. Of course it is encouraging if more people follow you or become fans of your business page to receive updates. But that is not everything.

Focus instead on establishing more meaningful business relationships using these platforms. Don’t shove sales pitches into their news feed. Instead, engage your fans and followers with sincerity.

Every interaction with your friends, fans and followers should focus on how the business can benefit people. Remember to cut back on the sales pitch!

It’s the meaningful interactions that matter, not how many fans, friends or followers you have. The number of connections you have is not terribly important but the number of meaningful connections is.

How many of you use Twitter for your business? I do. Even though I tweet quite a bit, I am still learning a lot about Twitter every day. I started off confused then finally started getting the hang of it. Now, I am suitably impressed with the way some people I follow tweet. They seem to have all the information in the world to share and never seem to run out of things to say.

If you are into Twitter, then there are lots of ways to make using it a whole lot easier.

I found this good article today Lost in the Twitterverse? which I think can help all out there who use Twitter especially for business. It’s a good article which tells you what tools you can use to make tweeting easier. The good thing about the article is that it is clear and easy to understand. And not too lengthy too. Good for the busy business owner.

Twitter can get crowded, but don’t get lost in it. Get started on using the recommended tools and websites to make tweeting much easier. Who knows, you could turn it into an experience worth tweeting about.

Have a great weekend!

Social media is the “In” thing. It may seem intimidating to some people, but if you do your research, you will find that social media can help you grow your business online.

Some easy ways to get started:

1) Sign up for Facebook. It is free and once you sign up you can l have access to many free applications and functions on Facebook to help you in your online business. Facebook reaches out to millions of people and gives your business a good reach.

2) Get a Blog – Blog…blog …blog. A blog is free and helps you create some publicity for your business. Keep the contents fresh and get readers to leave comments. Don’t use a blog to keep promoting your business. But use your blog to create valuable contents that can be shared among readers.

3) Use Twitter. Sign up and start tweeting! Many big businesses have reported growths in sales after using Twitter.

For us at mySMBcommunity, Twitter has been an excellent Social Media tool. We have established a following, had our tweets re-tweeted and are among Sydney’s top 1000 in Twitter. And we continue to climb the ranks. Most importantly, many more people read our blogs and articles thanks to Twitter and we have more traffic to our website. It’s our own personal story of how social media has helped us.

4) Use You Tube – Make a short video and post it on You Tube. Don’t try hard to sell something in the video. Perhaps you could post an instructional video of how to use your product. Put some humour into the video and remember to make it something of value to others rather than a video that just reeks of sales tactics!

Why put off using free tools? Get started on these and you may just see your business grow.

Imagine this: You worked so hard through university to do well. Or rather all your school life to get your degree. You’ve done it! Then after graduation comes the stark reality: It’s time to get a job. You send out countless resumes to many companies. Not much results. Why? Because they all want people with work experience.

Now it’s time to think of something else : You are the business owner looking to hire someone to fill in a certain position in your company. Would you hire someone who has relevant qualifications but lacks work experience?

Well everyone has to start somewhere right? The question is, who will give these newbies a chance.?Who will take them in and groom them? Would you?

Many companies who have been around for years often hunt around for experienced and motivated people to bring in more profits. They rarely pay attention to those who are inexperienced but motivated.

Actually, at times, not having experience in any particular industry can be an asset. Just think about the other side of the issue. When you hire inexperienced employees for the company, they will grasp new things with enthusiasm and can fit  more easily into the company culture. They have no biases or pre-conceived notions.

Of course, the downside of hiring an inexperienced employee is the amount of effort you would have to put into training them. You would have to teach them everything in a step-by-step manner.

Still, training an inexperienced employee according to your business work strategies can be good for your business.

A person who is teachable is employable.

Who will you hire? The experienced? Or will you take a chance on the inexperienced?

Customers can be so demanding. Ask any entrepreneur and he or she will tell you at least one story of a demanding customer who can really consume all your time for a pittance.

That’s right. And if you are an entrepreneur who hasn’t had such luck with facing demanding customers then…..good on you. I hope you don’t meet them.

Until I met the demanding customer, I used to think that being your own boss was “easy peasy” (I quote my six year old on this). But no, when the demanding customer shows up it can really get you on your toes and make your blood curdle just trying to please them.

From those I have met, the worst of the lot are those with a limited budget. Now, I’m not trying to run anyone down here because we all need to make ends meet, put food on the table and pay the bills. What I am saying is that those with limited budgets to spend usually want the best value for the least amount spent. Fair enough. Not all who have limited resources are terribly demanding but yet quite a lot are.

They tend to pick on things, try to squeeze you to lower your costs and can be very mean when you can’t go any lower or have to charge extra for additional products or services. That’s when you really feel that the journey to being an entrepreneur is just not worth it.

But this is the price you have to pay for being in business. Just like when you are in a job….think awful bosses, bossy line managers and gossipy, back-stabbing colleagues. In business, it’s the customers or maybe the suppliers or business partners but mostly the customers.

Whether you are in business or in a job, there will always be problems. Problems arise mainly because we deal with people. People are the most problematic especially when they want to get stuff but have limited financial resources. So they tend to snap when they do business with you.

Unfortunately, you would have to take it (easier said than done). Snapping back or showing your fangs back at them is not going to help either. I have learnt after some hot headed arguments (regretfully) that it is best to remain cool and calm and state your point firmly but politely. It works! Because how could you possibly keep shouting at someone who is calm, firm and yet polite? And my, how foolish you would look?

So the next time the demanding customer shows up, don’t show him your fangs, show him your Mr/Miss Cool As A Cucumber look. Let nothing he says rattle you. State your terms firmly. Stay polite always. Let them say what they want but you stay cool because you represent your business.

This method does not mean you always get to keep the customer but it means that you have done the right thing no matter what and you should be proud of your integrity.

If all fails then apply the SUMO – SHUT UP, MOVE ON.

I shut my mouth here too (excuse me while I put away my fangs….).

Social media rocks! It is great and it helps in many ways – that’s if we use it WISELY!

Today we look at the Top 5 social media screwups of 2009

Have we been guilty of of any of those social media gaffes listed? Like unintentionally following porn on Twitter or airing our grouses online (hey your boss or employees could be reading your grouses!)

Perhaps we are truly getting more bold, having seen more and more people release personal information online. And then looking even more foolish when we hit the “reply all” button in emails with some inane comment.

Social media should be used responsibly and not inappropriately. For small and medium businesses it should be used to enhance the business – giving appropriate and useful information to customers and among the employees within the company. Whether you are the boss or the employee, don’t air your grouses online.

It will most likely be found out and you will most likely look like a fool.

So think twice…no…think thrice before you update (blogs, Facebook, Twitter), follow (Twitter) or reply (all social media forms). Don’t risk looking like a social media fool!

I just told someone yesterday that the word “overwhelming” is generally a negative word to use to describe something. Today, I am using it (is it not ironic?).

Firstly, take a look at this article:

Service excellence versus customer satisfaction

Before, we were complaining about service standards in Singapore or rather the lack of it. Now, we are venturing into an overdrive – Customers are beginning to feel overwhelmed by the sales assistants eagerness to help. Too much is also not a good thing.

It’s a fine line really. When should one step out and help and when should one back off and let the customer browse?Some customers want recommendations but some prefer to be left to shop on their own. It depends on the situation and what the customer wants and expects.

Perhaps one could gently let them know that they are ready to help should the customer require assistance and leave them to shop in peace.

That’s why quite a few people who are experienced in the retail industry have told me that it’s never easy handling customers – there is truth to that!

But what we all can take away from that article above is that it is still very important to care for your customers and assist them when needed but it is unnecessary to overwhelm them.

Service with a heart – Yes!

Overwhelm – Don’t!

Can you believe it’s just a few days to Christmas and then another brand New Year? We can’t.

We can’t even believe we only started this portal a mere 3.5 months ago! It’s been a journey and will continue to be but we still aim to support Small & Medium Businesses and help them grow. We also aim to build a good business community of business owners who wish to network and get their business known. It doesn’t cost the earth to be a part of My Small & Medium Business!

In the new year, we will have more articles, interviews and resources for business owners. More networking events and seminars too for you to network and get your business known.

We’ve used quite a few social media tools for mySMBcommunity. We’re on Twitter, Facebook, You Tube (more videos coming up) and we blog! The positives of social media for us – Our tweets are often retweeted and our most ardent supporter  wrote us an email to continue blogging. Here’s a section of what he said:

“Never seen a business blog that’s quirky, addictive and real!”

Thanks Dan! – Your support is incredible!

We also were a part of the NSW Small Business September which has also been encouraging.

Hmm…we’ve only just begun (not so long ago). We still have a long way to go, but we promise to be back soon with a new look, more content and more resources that you can benefit from.

Thank you for your support. We couldn’t have started this without you. Have a very Blessed Christmas and a Wonderful New Year 2010!

Cheers to all small & medium businesses – you rock!

Sincerely,

Sue John & Gary Gopinathan
Founders

My Small & Medium Business

www.mysmbcommunity.com

There’s a quote that says, give your customers what they want, not what you think they want. This holds true in the business world.

If you have been in business, you would probably agree with that quote. It became more apparent to me last week when I was invited to a newly opened restaurant cum bar. It was a mere four week old operation.

Nice decor, not too big, friendly wait staff. Not bad at all.

The owner who was also the chef came out to greet us and welcome us to this new set-up. The staff were well trained. They easily handled a full house of diners (who were invited by the same friend who invited me).

The food was good. But was was truly impressive that I took away with me that night was this:

Now I am not a good drinker (wait, did I hear you mouth the word “killjoy”?). Whatever. The host wanted me to drink the champagne the wait staff offered me, but I couldn’t. Maybe I could handle a little wine, but that would be it. Besides, I didn’t want to feel tipsy especially when I may be needed to drive back home. So I politely declined the drink. I just didn’t feel like drinking although everyone there was. Instead of giving me “the look” or persuading me to drink, the wait staff said in a very polite manner: “Can I get you a special special?” The she whispered “like a soda in the same manner. No one will know.”

I said yes immediately. She gave me the “special special”. No questions asked. No awkward glances. My soda looked almost like the real thing. No one asked me why I wasn’t drinking. I didn’t need to explain why I wasn’t. Best of all, when it was time for a toast. I raised my glass confidently.

Cheers!

Everyone was none the wiser about that beautiful champagne glass that carried a mere soda. I got away with it without feeling embarassed.

She came back later and asked if I’d like another “special special.” I said “yes, why not?” And she winked.

I got what I wanted that night, spared of being the odd one out at a party. Frankly, I’ll go back there again. Great staff. People who know service is important and do not impose what they want on me. They respected my wishes. No questions asked.

Now,can we all do the same in our various businesses and give our customers what they want instead of what we think they want?