Do you want to make your small business an absolute success?
Over time I've found many small business owners are usually missing some of the most fundamental things in their businesses.
Here are just 7 fundamental things that will help you make your business an absolute success just like the lady below!
Tip #1 - 'Indirect' Marketing
Now before you roll your eyes and scream "Oh gosh, not another one!" hear me out.
First of all, your marketing is not just your flyers, ads or sales pieces, but rather things like adding copy to the back of your business cards, the presentation of your products, how your employees speak to your customers, how your business smells (yes I said "how your business smells"), what your office looks like, how you dress and how you reward your customers/clients. 
There are so many things but, all of these things will get you more word-of-mouth and free advertising/referrals. Nothing beats having a REAL person say you and your company are the best things since sliced bread!
Tip #2 - Sales & Marketing
Okay. Here's the scoop here. Many small business owners often mistake "sales and marketing" as interchangeable terms and activities. The terms are different and generally not the same.
Marketing includes the activities involved in and the process of generating leads or traffic to your business, phone calls to your company or a list of people interested in your product or service.
Sales is the actual act of interacting with the customer/client and collecting the money for your product or service. Your sales force is not your marketing team. Your marketing team is not your sales force. However, your sales force's success or lack of success in treating your prospects and customers with care and respect (now that's a part of marketing!) will resonate throughout your business.
Tip #3 - Website/Technology
In this day and age, for a business not to have a website that helps it to build relationships and drive more sales is unthinkable.
The potential for businesses to create loads of increased revenue is tremendous just by forming online relationships with current customers/clients through the technology of email.
A business can literally create a special offer, email it to current customers/clients and sell out in a day!
Tip #4 - Systems
Oh, boy! Here's another one. If you are in business and intend on staying in business and growing that business, systemizing your processes is an absolute MUST!
It may mean buying software or creating a manual system, whatever, depending on the procedure. Having a systemized and predictable process of doing things is like breathing - without it you CANNOT survive!
Tip #5 - Accounting
Here is a little rhyme made up by Rasheed Ali:
"Money in, money out;
Where does the money go?
If you do not book it first,
How will you ever know?"
Accounting, Finance or Bookkeeping whatever you call it is simply essential for running your small business as efficiently as possible. Besides if you don't track your income you may never know where it's being made.
I've met quite a few people who have books that looked like my two-year old granddaughter could have done by banging on my keyboard! Are you guilty of this too? Set up a good accounting system - or have a "pro" do it for you.
Many business owners find great revelations or insights into their business by getting an in-depth analysis of their books.
Tip #6 - Research
Now this may be a little intimidating for some novice small business owners. Spend some time researching the buying habits of your current customers/clients. You may find there are covert reasons people purchase items from you. You might also be surprised what people will tell you.
Additionally, your customers/clients buy your product or service for different reasons. They do not all buy for the same reasons. Learning the main reasons your customers/clients buy will not only help you serve your market more efficiently, but it will help you to create more value for your non-consumers.
This way you're covering your major angles and providing greater quality for consumers and converting non-consumers into paying customers. Can you say, "More Sales?"
Tip #7 - Emotions
Now you're probably thinking, "WHAAA?" Well let's put it this way; When you go to a store, any store, and buy something you need or want, what are you doing? Are you using logic or intellect? NO Way! You're fulfilling some emotional need.
Human beings rarely buy something for logical reasons despite popular thought or what some know-it-all tells you. SO how do you apply this to your business? Well here's one thing you can do:
When a customer/client walks in, phones, emails and asks a question, have someone honestly and sincerely answer their question. Find out exactly what they really need or want. Then follow up to see if their needs or wants were sufficiently met.
Show them you care and they'll reward you with their money over and over again!
These are just some of the dozens of different things that can and will help you make your small business more profitable. By applying any one or all of the above tips you are almost guaranteed business success.
STOP! Read these tips again. See how you can apply them to your business.
Adapted from an article by Rasheed Ali
