One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, “How can I be sure my new business will succeed?” There is no crystal ball that can accurately answer that question. However, if you are serious about starting a business there are five steps you can take that will begin to give you a clearer picture. By following these steps you will gain tremendous insight into what lies ahead. Whether this reality-check convinces you to dive in, or hold back, you’ll be well served by what you learn. While we are huge proponents of founders developing a well written business plan, the steps below can be followed even before you start your small business plan.
Step 1: Write a simple elevator pitch to see if your business idea is compelling to others. If you haven’t created an elevator pitch before, you can stitch together the essentials very easily. Write a one sentence answer to each of the following questions. What problem will your company solve for its customers? Who has this problem and how large is that group? What will make your business unique so that customers will buy from you instead of a competitor? Finally, what are your qualifications to run the business? If you force yourself to write and re-write the very best one sentence answers to each of these questions, you will have the elevator pitch you need for this purpose. Now, try out your elevator pitch on 10 people you trust and respect to get their feedback and reaction to your well-formed business concept. This is the warm up for steps two and three.
Step 2: Talk to would-be customers to find out if there is a true need for your product or service. When you are thinking about starting a business, you obviously feel there is a void in the marketplace. Don’t wait until you open your business to find out if the need for another business is real or imagined. Armed with your elevator pitch, go have face-to-face discussions with future customers. You are not going to them to sell, or pre-sell. You are doing market research. After describing your business by generally following your elevator pitch, go into “ask and listen” mode. To get the information you are seeking, ask questions like, “How are you currently meeting your needs for (insert the products or services your company will provide)?” Listen carefully-this is the voice of the customer. In step one, you spoke to friends and respected colleagues. In step two, you are talking to people who currently buy products or services like those you will be selling. Select individuals who will be focused on the content of your ideas and less concerned about simply wanting to be encouraging.
Step 3: Become an expert on the competition. Identify 5 other companies that are already doing what you plan to do. Learn as much about them as you can. One of the best things to learn is if they expanding or shrinking. You want to …
Most business owners who are new to the world of email marketing are not familiar with the appropriate etiquette they should use. It is possible to use email marketing as an effective way to communicate with customers. Continue reading for more email marketing tips regarding email etiquette.
Identify and appeal to your audience. After you have gotten a few readers subscribed, come up with ways to induce them to get their friends signed up. Always make sure there is “subscribe” link in the emails you send so that those who receive forwarded copies can easily sign themselves up if they are interested. You can use this method to make your list grow organically.
Always have one clear message in each email. You don’t want your consumers to be overwhelmed or bored by the content in your email. Create a message, keep it short and make your point. Your consumers will like it when they are not bombarded with unnecessary information.
Don’t over use words like “Buy now!” the way you go about it. People may view your emails as being spam-like and not want to purchase from your company any longer. They understand you want sales, but build a solid relationship and stay professional. Your customers will be thankful for this, and there’s a good chance they’ll make a purchase.
Try using different techniques when you are email marketing. You could look for reading material in a library or online. You may also be able to find local seminars or workshops to attend; pay attention to the classifieds and bulletin boards.
Try out new formats with your email. Put your important information and any new offers near the beginning of your messages. Try out different approaches to see what gives you the best reaction. Once you find what works, continue to use it. This way your readers know exactly what to expect and where they can find what they would like to read.
Make sure you only email subscribers who give you permission to do so. If your emails are considered spam, you won’t be taken seriously. You could lose customers and get reported for sending unwanted emails.
Don’t use a lot of graphics in the emails that you send. Many email clients don’t allow images to load, so sending a highly graphic-dependent message is useless, as many of your subscribers will be unable to make sense of it. Also, your email is likely to end up being sent to junk mail if it contains too many graphics.
Always have a link for people to easily unsubscribe or opt out of your email list. Don’t fail to provide an unsubscribe link and don’t bury it so deep in the text that it cannot be found. You want each of your users to feel like everything is their choice, and you are not forcing them into anything.
As the article above advises, it is highly recommended that business owners practice proper protocol in their email marketing program. Being rude to your …