3 Simple Rules for Business That Work Online and Offline

The last week or so has been hectic, to the point I missed blogging on Tuesday and fell asleep in the bath…

To much information? Quite possibly. But the hecticness (is that even a word?) has inspired me to share my rules for business based on this last weeks experiences.

I work with small businesses. Well okay, micro-businesses – from sole-traders upwards with the focus on local marketing. It’s great!

• No long waits for decisions
• No committee’s and meetings about meetings
• I get to speak with the most inspiring people who truly love what they do and I learn something from every one of them.

But it’s not all sunshine and happiness. There’s the flip side too. This week, the flip side reared it’s ugly head a lot.

3 Simple Rules for Business

What are your personal rules for business? Pop them in the comment box

1. Keep your promises
This needs to be the first rule of business and it’s one that seems to be broken often. It’s so frustrating to be let down.

Twice this week I have been forced to find alternative suppliers of services because of broken promises. The thing is, I am not unique in the fact that I will not go back to be let down again either. A broken promise isn’t loss of one sale, it’s loss of repeat sales too.

It doesn’t take much to pick up the phone or drop an email to let your client know what is going on.

2. Mix old school and new school for success
I admit I am biased. I work online, I am much more comfortable behind a computer screen. This newfangled stuff is what I do.

The benefit of mixing old and new techniques to market your business was driven home to me last week. I went to my first network meeting of the year (a whole other story) and met John. I was interested in his services but somehow did not have his business card when I got back.

So I did what I do best, I searched.

I knew his first name but couldn’t remember his last name. I knew his line of business and where he was based. Could I find him online?

No

And if I can’t find your business online with that information, normal people won’t be able to find you either.

There was a happy ending though. John is old school. He followed up his contacts. A great lessoned learned – combine the old and the new for maximum reach.

3. WIIFM
It doesn’t matter what medium you choose – online or offline, when it comes to advertising your business remember those letters. Burn them into your brain. What’s In It For Me?

A guy came knocking at the door last week, delivering leaflets. Business was slow and he was trying to drum up trade. Not only is he not online and doesn’t want to be (booo hisss!) the leaflets were the usual thing you see.

A big bold business name at the top – who cares?
A long list of services – so what?
A guarantee and free estimates – great! Shame they were in smaller type and barely visible
A list of phone numbers

Kudos to him for getting off his backside and pounding the pavement. So I stopped him for a chat. Unfortunately, he was so blinkered in his vision for work now he couldn’t see a semi warm lead when it was stood next to him waving.

I may not want his services right this minute, but I do have work that needs doing and told him that.  I even cheekily offered him a service swap.  At the end of the conversation there was still no WIIFM – no benefit for me to take the leap and book in right now.

I’m not a master advertising copywriter or speaker, I doubt you are either. The good news is we don’t need to be. Simply address the WIIFM question and don’t forget to collect their contact details to follow up!

Those are my three rules for business that I will be sticking to this year, can you add more? Pop them in the comments box below