Kick-starting your Business
Before you dive into a new venture make sure you have a robust plan. . When starting off it can very easy to go off on a tangent being side tracked, be careful, this can waste of valuable time and money. Ensure you research your product/service, find out who your competition is and be realistic that there is real demand for what you’re planning to sell. Ask your self, what is your USP - unique selling point? Remain flexible and move with the times, be prepared for the unexpected and see changes as opportunities as opposed to barriers!
I left The Apprentice in 2008 during the ‘boom’ times and suddenly the recession hit. Businesses now have to be run like a tight ship; cost control, not relying on an overdraft, providing the best customer service and we’re all going back to basics. Now is a brilliant time to start a business if you see an opportunity launch it - somebody else’s downfall could be your step on the ladder.
My business School Speakers launched in September 2010 after spotting a gap in the market for quality speakers in schools right across the curriculum and so far so good. The response has been great which is really satisfying. We are helping teachers and inspiring students all over the UK!
Growing your Business
Business is all about who you know, contacts and nurturing relationships. As competition heats up building more personal relationships with partners, suppliers and customers can really help you stand out from the crowd, develop and grow. Target your dream contacts and approach them via social media (Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook), email, letter or phone. I use sites such as Linkedin with great results. I believe in the ethos ‘TLC’ – touch, love and contact your approach to your customers. Do you understand what they want? Are you talking to them regularly and in the right way? Be flexible in your approach as one size doesn’t fit all. Resources such as www.businesslink.gov.uk can help but learning from the experiences of your peers by joining business social networking sites can also be invaluable. Have no shame in self promotion to boost your business and ensure you have a voice on issues that affect you. Remember as an entrepreneur growing a business your personal profile is almost as important as your business, the two go hand in hand.
Marketing your Business
My golden nugget of business advice would be to network and PR yourself – this costs nothing apart from your time. Business is all about contacts and you need to drive awareness about yourself. Business cards will probably be the best investment you’ll ever make. Ensure you have an auto-signature on your email so people have your contact details easily to hand.
There are also plenty of online tools to market your business and as it's free to network with people online - make the most of it. Twitter and Facebook can help you make contacts, drive awareness and market your products to new customers. You also need to think carefully about your website - it needs to work well on search engines and be easy to use for potential customers . It's easy to spend a fortune on a pretty website, but it needs to deliver the goods too, so make sure you get this right. Take the time to find the right person/agency who can deliver both.
Staying competitive
You need to be available 24/7, business isn't 9 to 5 anymore. Get a smartphone and mobile broadband and you will be able to stay in touch on the move and work efficiently in between meetings. Especially in the current climate you need to stay competitive and ahead of your game. Long gone are the days where to be in business you need an office, you can work from anywhere!
The secret of my success is that I love what I do and it’s crucial to be passionate about what you do day in day out. I work very, very hard, listen to my instincts and just go for it!
Above all, don't give up - particularly at the moment times are tough, but have faith and keep going. I was nicknamed a Rottweiler for my tenacious approach, I chose my goals and go after them. If you want something to work you’ll make it happen.
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