Are You a Small Business with Big Dreams?

So, You have finally got your business off the ground! The sleepless nights and long days of running errands and doing research, even neglecting family and friends, have all paid off. In reality though, this is just the beginning - literally.

Whether you offer goods or services, you must be commended for taking the necessary steps toward fulfilling your dreams. You saw a need in the market, realized you had the knowledge,skills and passion to fill that need and started on your entrepreneurial adventure.

But now that you have set up shop, what's next? How do you attract your ideal customers? How do you earn their loyalty and trust? And the biggest of them all, how do you keep your business afloat?

While your big dreams may be unique to you, these burning questions certainly are not. That is why we have put together the following list of what we consider practical tips that entrepreneurs can follow in order to successfully grow their business and stay afloat.

Anyone looking to find customers must constantly be in 'Market Mode'. As a new business , you must constantly be on the lookout for business opportunities. Who are your ideal customers and where do they hang out? Skillfully yet politely introduce yourself and your business. Ensure you do this in as short a time as is effectively possible. Leave a business card or exchange contact details and be sure to follow up.

This leads to our next tip. Network. You can never underestimate the long term benefits of networking. Sign up for networking events in your area. Most will require a registration fee, however there are a few that will not require a fee, such as offered from time to time by the Ministry of Tourism via its Tourism Linkages Network. You can follow their activity at www.instagram.com/tourismenhancementfundja.

At these events, there are excellent opportunities to establish mutually beneficial business relationships as wells as to meet potential customers. People also share their successes and mistakes, which are "golden nuggets" for newbies in the field.

Another advantage of attending networking events is that they allow you to remain current in your field. Yes, you might periodically need to upgrade yourself by way of short courses or further education, but attending these events is an excellent way of keeping up to date with changes in your industry.

Yet another way to boost your business' visibility is to volunteer to speak at events. You would be surprised at how many organizations such as educational institutions, charitable organizations and others that are looking for subject-matter experts to present to their groups. A great place to start is to volunteer at your alma mater!

If you need a little help in the area of Public Speaking, make an appointment with one of our experts. We offer affordable one on one packages to business professionals like you.

By way of your marketing efforts, tell people about your services and include an introductory special or a free sample of your product or service. What customer doesn't like promotions or free samples? After all, if they are going to keep doing business with you, they first have to try out what you are offering.

And lastly, advertise, advertise, advertise! If you are not on Social Media, sign up now. There are great benefits to be derived from having a steady following on Facebook, Instgram, Youtube, Twitter and more, depending on the nature of your business of course. These platforms provide the stage you need to be in constant communication with new, current and prospective customers. They are assured that your business is an authentic one and they can reach out to and get responses from you in real time. Social media allows you to affordably track your follower growth, your engagement, and how successful your ad campaigns are. They can also direct traffic to your website, which is where you really want your customers to go to find out more about you, subscribe and actually purchase your product or service.

At TOVO, we can totally relate to the fact that start ups do not have a lot of funds at their disposal. As a result of this, we tailor our Advertising and Social Media Management packages to fit the budget of businesses like yours. For a free consultation on how to get ads like this at an affordable rate, please contact us.

Remember, "the biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams" May all your (business) dreams come true!

TOVO Communications

tovocommja@gmail.com