5 steps to maximise success and boost sales in 2012

With 2012 nearly upon us many UK business owners will be wondering what trading will be like in the coming year. There are so many outside influences like the Euro crisis that will have a spin off effect but there are certain basic steps businesses should concentrate on to help maximize chances of success in 2012.

 

1. Relationships/Networking – fundamental to the life blood of a company are the people who will use or recommend your services or products. Servicing both existing customers and suppliers and building relationships with new ones through networking events is a free form of marketing.
2. Marketing – It is inevitable that most UK businesses will look at cost cutting in 2012 but in a downturn cutting marketing activity is not advisable. You need to maintain or increase your spend to stand out from your competitors. Customers are spending and you need to make sure you are their first choice – concentrate on not only offering great value for money, which will be most consumers’ priority in 2012, but also added value such as service, relaibilty and integrity. Also if you haven’t already embraced Social Media it needs to be an integral part of your marketing in 2012- it’s free, easy to use and sends a very personal message about your company.
3. Business Plan- probably more than ever it needs to be a working, evolving plan that grows and changes with your business and the pressures it faces in the coming year. For example you may not have thought of expanding in 2012 but with some businesses struggling the opportunity could arise to increase your market share by acquisition. Have you thought where to go for private funding as inevitably your bank won’t help?
4. Cost Cutting – keeping a tight control on costs will be vital in 2012 but not if it hurts your business. Consider all the options when looking at reducing overheads – it may be that a fresh pair of eyes in the form of a Business Mentor could actually save you money despite an initial outlay. The experience of a successful business person who has been through tough times in the past could be invaluable to SME’s and Start Ups.
5. People – your employees represent your company and the impression they give to prospective customers is vitally important. Employees need to have a sense of pride in the company they work for. Creating that environment is largely down to management but by delegating and allowing employees to make recommendations on the day to day running of the company they gain a feeling of involvement and pride in the success of the company.
6. Websites – make sure yours is really working for you and that it’s not just bringing traffic to the site but converting it to actual sales. Again there are specialist companies who will overhaul your site and make recommendations to achieve this. Is your site easy to navigate? Are your contact details on every page? Do you have the right keywords on your Home Page? Is the site constantly updated?

In a 2011 survey 81% of respondents said they liked to source information on line before buying and preferred to purchase from a business that had a website.

 

 

 

 

 

With 2012 nearly upon us many UK business owners will be wondering what trading will be like in the coming year. There are so many outside influences like the Euro crisis that will have a spin off effect but there are certain basic steps businesses should concentrate on to help maximize chances of success in 2012.

 

1. Relationships/Networking – fundamental to the life blood of a company are the people who will use or recommend your services or products. Servicing both existing customers and suppliers and building relationships with new ones through networking events is a free form of marketing.
2. Marketing – It is inevitable that most UK businesses will look at cost cutting in 2012 but in a downturn cutting marketing activity is not advisable. You need to maintain or increase your spend to stand out from your competitors. Customers are spending and you need to make sure you are their first choice – concentrate on not only offering great value for money, which will be most consumers’ priority in 2012, but also added value such as service, relaibilty and integrity. Also if you haven’t already embraced Social Media it needs to be an integral part of your marketing in 2012- it’s free, easy to use and sends a very personal message about your company.
3. Business Plan- probably more than ever it needs to be a working, evolving plan that grows and changes with your business and the pressures it faces in the coming year. For example you may not have thought of expanding in 2012 but with some businesses struggling the opportunity could arise to increase your market share by acquisition. Have you thought where to go for private funding as inevitably your bank won’t help?
4. Cost Cutting – keeping a tight control on costs will be vital in 2012 but not if it hurts your business. Consider all the options when looking at reducing overheads – it may be that a fresh pair of eyes in the form of a Business Mentor could actually save you money despite an initial outlay. The experience of a successful business person who has been through tough times in the past could be invaluable to SME’s and Start Ups.
5. People – your employees represent your company and the impression they give to prospective customers is vitally important. Employees need to have a sense of pride in the company they work for. Creating that environment is largely down to management but by delegating and allowing employees to make recommendations on the day to day running of the company they gain a feeling of involvement and pride in the success of the company.
6. Websites – make sure yours is really working for you and that it’s not just bringing traffic to the site but converting it to actual sales. Again there are specialist companies who will overhaul your site and make recommendations to achieve this. Is your site easy to navigate? Are your contact details on every page? Do you have the right keywords on your Home Page? Is the site constantly updated?In a 2011 survey 81% of respondents said they liked to source information on line before buying and preferred to purchase from a business that had a website.

WHO NOTICED ITS ACTUALLY 6 STEPS??