Start by making one phone call.
Start by posting ten flyers.
Start by attending one networking event.
Start by knocking on one door.
Start by posting one advert on Facebook. 
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Just start today.
And repeat tomorrow!

Action has magic in it – it tells the universe you are serious.

Jo x 

A strategic alliance is when you and another business go into a loose partnership to help each other make extra profits.

For example, a tree surgeon may refer work to a gardener, and vice versa. They may give each other 10% of the price tag of any referred work. Suddenly, each has a ‘scout’ working for them. The number of suppliers the tree surgeon may do this with is unlimited, although it’s probably wise to work with only one of each type of business.

Please shout if you need help with this, or join us for one of our online small business coaching groups. 

Jo x

Let's be honest, being a small business owner can mean our needs are often at the bottom of our list of priorities, with marketing, paying bills and dealing with customers way further up the list than self-care!

At the end of the day, if you don't take care of yourself then no-one else will! You are responsible for you, and if you are not at the top of your game then everything suffers – your health, your business, your relationships, and your sanity.

Schedule some time in for you. Do the things you love, whether that is exercising, reading, bubble baths, socialising or just sleeping in. You have to make YOU your biggest priority.

Your business will be better for it. 

To your success
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Jo x

-Can you honestly say that you have a clear vision of where your business will be at the end of the next quarter?

When was the last time you took a step out of your business and planned your key business strategies for the next 90 days? 

Many small business owners are so busy reacting to the day-to-day challenges of running their business that they never get around to planning...

According to research, over half of us say that distractions are preventing us from working properly. (I think the other half were distracted and didn't read the question properly!)

Distraction is a big problem for most us – with smartphones, social media and chatting at the top of the list of things most likely to distract. And if you're lucky enough to work from home, the distractions can get even worse! Then you've also got kids, pets, daytime TV, washing and cooking to contend with...
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So what do we do about it? How do we stay focused and avoid distractions during the working day? 

I'm always surprised when clients don't revisit their old clients or customers as a way of generating business. These people already know and trust you, so why wouldn't you? Often you just go off their radar. 

Call or send a reactivation letter, email or text reminding them of who you are and what you can offer them. (Assuming you have your GDPR sorted of course!) 
 
Ask how you can get their business back. Offer them a great incentive to buy from you or use your services again. Quite often a simple phone call or text will bring in new business. 

Try it – you will be surprised!

Jo x

P.S. As always, if you need help, either pop along to one of our online Mastermind sessions or contact me for a 1-2-1.​

When you've been in business for a while, it can be really easy to have a closed mind about the stuff that you think you know. For example, have you heard yourself say any of the following?
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• Telemarketing doesn't work for me.
• I tried that years ago.
• Flyers don't work for me.
• That's not right for me.
• Networking doesn't work for me.
• That won't work in my business.
• My business is different. (I've heard this one A LOT!) 

 
While you may have tried stuff in the past, who's to say it won't work now if you...

Develop a good USP (unique selling point) or a strong guarantee.
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What could your business do differently that no one else does? What do you do better than anyone else?

This may involve thinking outside the box, but you need to find something that impresses your customers and makes them say, “Wow, that's great!”, and then shout from the rooftops about it.

Sometimes this may be something that you're already doing, so write a list of everything good about your business, product or service and see if you can tweak it to make it unique.