As an entrepreneur, finding new ways to take your business to the next level can be tough. If you’re operating in a competitive environment, it’s easy to feel like you have to race to the bottom in order to win over new clients. But there are alternatives, as we outline below…
- Facebook and Google Ads
Perhaps one of the best resources for small and medium-sized companies is Facebook and Google Ads. Being able to pay for prime positions on search engines and news feeds can help you reach a much wider audience and increase your market share in no time at all. You should, of course, measure your ROI whenever paying for advertising and optimise as much as possible to reduce your average cost per acquisition. In time, you’ll find that the ads pay for themselves, and can be left to run with relatively little involvement from you or your team.
- Social media scheduling tools
Another vital tool to add to your arsenal is social media scheduling platforms. Businesses simply must have a presence on networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, but if you’re too busy or don’t have the capacity in-house, such tools allow you to prepare content in advance. An alternative to consider is working with a company that offers affordable social media management services; you can hand over the responsibility and leave it to the professionals.
- Facilities management companies
Rather than worrying about cleaning, security, grounds maintenance, office design, call centre services, and hard maintenance such as refits and boiler replacements, consider working with one of the best UK facilities management companies in the industry, Precision Facilities Management. Knowing that your business will be managed by a professional firm will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on more important tasks, like growing your business and finding clients. Outsourcing is also one of the best ways to save money.
- Call centre outsourcing services
Speaking of outsourcing, a quick word on call centre solutions. Whether you could call prospective clients to sell your products or deliver customer service over the phone, being able to hand over the responsibilities to another company will give you more time and allow you to better budget. Smaller organisations may not be able to accommodate a full-time receptionist, call handler, or customer service representative, but could outsource to a company that can manage such services on their behalf. Shop around for the best deals.
- Growing your personal brand on LinkedIn
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn for building your personal brand online. As has always been the case, people buy from people, so having a strong presence online will make it much easier for you to find new clients. Post content, get involved in discussions and debates and make it clear that you’re an authority in your industry. Over time, you’ll become the go-to resource and will receive recommendations from your connections and clients.
Do you have any other interesting resources for small businesses? Let us know and check back soon for more advice on running a successful business in today’s challenging times.