5 steps I take to improve my small business
Not all of us have the capital to start a small business from home, without it growing as a side hustle first. So while I, and many others, juggle two jobs, a couple of tweens, a menagerie of pets and all the possible family appointments, clubs and wanting to actually GROW the business, these are my five top pointers for keeping myself on track.
Time, Effort and Money
You’ll need to invest in yourself and your business to grow, check out my five top picks.
Invest in a business coach
I signed up to one of Nicky’s free 5 day courses a couple of years ago and have never looked back. I swiftly joined her membership and have been well supported ever since. Nicky and her group provide me with the accountability and motivation I need to help me keep Mhudge going, and smash the goals I want to achieve. Owning your own business can be overwhelming and having someone in your business camp can make all the difference. And you should pay them. They’re experts in their field, not just friends and family who love you and are yes people (although we love those too).
Network
You don’t know who you’ll meet until you get out there. Your face, the face of your business, may be remembered to someone who needs you and your service. Yes, we can all spend hours online searching, but nothing makes an impression quite like you, whether you’re loud, quirky, confident, an expert in your field, your enthusiasm for your business sells itself when you talk about it in person. Find your local networking meetings on local facebook pages, or Chamber of Trade and Commerce group. Try a few, and try them more than once, you’ll find at least one that fits, lots of potential clients, and definitely people that can help.
Only sell your best work
As a product based business, I’m only as good as my last bag of fudge. I’ll never compromise myself or my business by selling anything I’m not 100% confident in. Don’t sell something that feels not quite right, word gets around and it’s not worth it.
SEO
Wow - I had no idea of the jobs I would have to undertake when I started my business, and to be fair, this is one you can easily outsource (would recommend!). However, if you’re like me, and go into website designing alone, I also fully recommend watching, reading, saving and loyally following SEO and website experts and dutifully implementing all their hints and tips. I’ve been following Aime from Studio Cotton, based in Bristol for years. She has a very easy to read format and makes website editing feel less like unchartered territory than before.
Invest in photos
Time, effort, money. Whether you are product or service based, your customers and clients will want to know you, they’ll want to know what they could have, and what they’re getting when they invest in you. Make sure you’re putting out a good picture, that best reflects and showcases you. If you put out poor images, it doesn’t sell ‘this person cares about their business’. Show how much you value your business and that your customers should too. Dorte has been my friend for about 12 years now and she’s taken countless beautiful pictures of my boys. Over that time, Dorte has also offered online short courses on product photography, stop motion, keepsake films, that have all added immeasurably to my otherwise very basic understanding of photography. You can follow Dorte on Instagram or check out her website and blog.