10 Tips for Business Owners

10 Commandments for Business Success

1. Know what makes your business unique. Tell everyone.
   
   
2. Perfect your "30-second commercial." Be ready to tell anyone and everyone, in just a few sentences, the most important benefit you offer.
   
   
3. Network. Network. Network. Everywhere you go/everyone you meet is an opportunity for marketing. People like doing business with someone they have met personally. Networking can even be successful with individuals who are not potential customers. Chances are they know someone who is.
   
   
4. Create an image that your customers can relate to. Project it with signage, merchandise layout and policies. Flaunt it in your promotions.
   
   
5. Remember anything that is seen or heard by a customer or potential customer should represent you and your business in a way that will make you proud. This includes your store's décor, your sales reps' grooming, and professional brochures.
   
   
6. Create an ambiance in your business. This can be done with music, color scheme, scents, etc. Invoke a mood/image/effect that will make your establishment stand out. Make patronizing your business enjoyable.
   
   
7. Create ads/promotions that your customers and potential customers can believe in and respond to. Include "call to actions" in all of your promotions.
   
   
8. Listen to your customer's concerns and complaints. Quickly attempt to remedy any dissatisfaction.
   
   
9. Keep your personal problems to yourself. Your customers and prospects have their own problems. They want you to serve them.
   
   
10. Target your market through service, convenience, image, and promotion. Highlight the benefits that are most important to your target market. Emphasize those benefits that no one else offers.