How to Double Your Small Business by Thinking Differently
Posted by Jason Rudland on Mon, Feb 06, 2012 @ 02:53 AM
When I started Get Me In Google! I had a self-limiting belief, which could have cost me half my business. Like a good Inbound marketer I started by writing out a personas for each of my typical target clients. One thing they all had in common was their location – they all existed in the UK. Although I didn't specify (back then) I had the picture in my mind they were all in England, and probably in or around London. Today, half of my business comes from outside the UK. It stands to reason if I can double my business by being a global small business, so can you.
Get Your Internet Marketing Working
Okay, so I'm in the Internet marketing game, so it's easy for me to say this. However, its astonishing how many businesses don't take their Internet marketing seriously. They tinker around the edges maybe automating their social media, or they do a little PPC and they may even hire an SEO firm to 'get optimised.'
Tinkering really doesn't cut it today (if it ever did); if you want your website to be a provider of a stream (or torrent) of high quality leads you must adopt Inbound marketing and make your website a profusion of knowledge, tools, resources, advice and remarkable content. Think of it as one of those market stools where the fruit & veg are beautifully manicured and neatly ordered into rows, and so plentiful it spills onto the street in an explosion of colour and fruit & veggieness magic.
Set Up For Global Domination!
Operating a global small business is pretty easy, but there are some prerequisites which are essential to make it a reality:
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Get used to online meetings. I hear lots of business owners saying how their service is a personal one and a personal relationship is essential. But, is that not true of every business? You don't actually have to meet people to develop a great relationship. Use video conferencing and online meeting software like Skype & GoToMeeting. You'll probably save a fortune in petrol too.
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Put your finance operations in the cloud. Most accounting packages now have the option to eMail invoices & statement. Accounting packages like Kashflow even have plugins which can automate the credit control process. You will also need to get used to people paying you via direct bank transfer or PayPal.
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Use Google's non-search functionality. When I get down to the nitty-gritty of money, I always have Google open so I can convert my prices into the local currency. For example if I need to quickly convert £1,000 into US Dollars, I simply type '1000gbp into usd' and click search. I also make frequent use of Google's 'time now' function. If you need to know if it's a good time to call someone in Las Vegas, simply type 'time now las vegas' and click search.
Remove yourself from a dreary economy
There is lots going on in the UK & EU economies right now, and many people are struggling. One great tactic you could use is to focus your efforts on another country where the economy is doing better. I have found businesses in certain other countries to be able to afford more, and more switched on to what I sell.
Develop your product or service
Not every product or service is a natural fit at first glance. For example, if your business model involves visiting the client regularly, you may need to develop a slightly different model so you can deliver it remotely. Don't just dismiss it out-of-hand. It could be a very expensive decision!
