How important is Networking to you and your business?
by Hazel of Assisting U Virtually

Why?
* to grow your business
* to connect with the right people
* to create a support network around you.

There are a number of ways to network but you need to find out the best way for you and your business.  Whether it is online via social media or face-to-face in networking groups, or both - there are so many options.

Networking face-to-face is important because you can form a relationship which is based on both of you making a commitment to help each other grow and a trust forms.  This will not happen overnight  but if you connect at a networking function, you should ensure that you commit to continue to keep in contact, not to bug the other person but to slowly build up a rapore.

There are a number of options of networking groups, you can join your local Chamber of Commerce, women's groups, organisations have their own groups and breakfast groups exist.

Social media is the way of the future too in terms of networking - you can build up a following by offering advice to followers on the various forms of social media.  As an expert in your field, by posting updates and posts, you will offer realistic advice which will eventually lead to a growth in your customer base and an acknowledgement by the community that you really are an expert in your field.

Don't sit back and think that the world of networking is scary - instead, back yourself and your business and promote it - know your worth and let everyone know.  Be happy to network for others as well because this will increase the trust between yourself and others too.

Assisting U Virtually

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1. Go for Growth “Business Routines”
2. How a small business owner can utilize a Virtual Assistant (VA)?
3. 10 Steps to Strategic Networking

Sometimes it is easier to work out if you can utilise the services of another business if you realise that your business is very much like another already outsourcing their admin and other services.

So, we thought we would outline one case study of a small businesses utilising my services and how:

Case Study 1

A husband and wife team own their own business –  a cleaning business - where both of them are working in the business.   The wife is trying to work in the business and undertake all of the admin as well.  They also have 3 children.

Their admin includes invoicing, marketing briefs and newsletters, providing quotes to new customers, sending letters and tenders etc etc.

Ultimately, they need to create a website and other marketing solutions for their business and work out a networking campaign suited to their business as well.

They are not sure what to do – there is no time for admin and it is all catching up on them.

RESULT

They haven’t processed a BAS to the ATO 3 times in a row so there are now fines on top of what they owe.

They haven’t invoiced any of their clients for several weeks.

Any monies owed to them hasn’t been chased and therefore they do not have a cashflow in their business (and subsequently their personal lives).

Customer details hadn’t been captured into a database and therefore updates were not being carried out and kept up to date.

They need a streamlined Contact Sheet when a customer contacts them and a system for their filing and documentation because paperwork is building up and they do not know how to control it.

ANSWER

They cannot afford to employ anyone on a permanent basis so they decide to find a Virtual Assistant but are concerned because they do not want their information to be offsite.

A Virtual Assistant, although mainly works offsite (virtually) can attend a client’s office onsite at least once (or perhaps once a month).

The VA is employed and she/he:

• pulls together all of the invoicing required and ensures all invoices are completed and sent;

• chases up outstanding payments from customers;

• creates a filing system (onsite initially) and does the initial filing for the husband and wife team – explaining to them both how it works so that they can easily file everything away as they complete something!.

• all customer details are brought up to date in an easy to use database which the VA has created; and

• all invoices/expenses are entered into an accounting package and sent to the business’s accountants or senior bookkeeper for BAS to be completed.

All in all:

The Admin has been Assessed, A VA has Assisted and the business has an Answer!  

The business can now choose to keep the VA on, on a hourly basis, a project basis or to do the work themselves!

Hazel
Assisting U Virtually

You may also interested in:

1. How a small business owner can utilize a Virtual Assistant (VA)?
2. What is the importance of Networking?
3. The Advantages of Working in a Virtual Office

BLOG – Go for Growth (20 September 2011)

I had the wonderful opportunity to represent My Business Help at the Go for Growth Seminar with Verne Harmish providing practical advice on various aspects of business, including small businesses.

So let’s take you through a series of blog posts which will hopefully give you an insight into how Verne’s experience and advice can assist businesses across the board from small to large business.

Verne says “Routine Sets YOU Free!”.  What does he mean by this?

Well, my understanding from listening to him is that you need to set aside time each day for a face to face meeting with your senior executives – the same time every day.

Why would you do this? 

Well, it is a time for you (the CEO) and your senior management to specify specific issues each individual is having and to get it sorted straightaway.  It is also a time to ensure you know where your business is at, where your competition is at and get ahead of it.

What your team can sort through in 15 minutes by being face to face is much more effective than any email communication or adhoc meeting you may feel is necessary.

Verne provided so much practical advice but his suggestion was to put all of his ideas through a filter and then pick or choose the ideas which suit your company but you must make sure that you implement them – not just choose them.

Learning is important in the growth of a business.  Why?  What I learnt from Verne is that you should never stop learning.  His comment, “if you don’t read then you barely have an advantage over someone who can’t read”, really stuck in my mind.  How often do we take time out to sit back and read a business book to give us great insight into how and what we could do better.  On the weekend, switch off your blackberry or iPhone and read a book.

What type of book may depend on your business but he gave quite a few examples which I would like to share in this blog:

‘Where Good Ideas Come From’ – Steven Johnson

‘Hidden Champions’ – Hermann Simon

‘How Companies Win’ – Rick Kash and David Calhoun

You can also obtain free advice by clicking through to Verne’s website: http://www.gazelles.com/index.html.  There is an amazing amount of downloadable forms, articles and more for a small business owner to download and learn from.

Hazel, Assisting U Virtually
For
My Business Help

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1. WIN a ticket to the Go For Growth Workshop by Growth Faculty
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There are various ways but it really does depend on the individual business.

It could be that a business owner decides that they do not want to attempt any admin and therefore a VA would do everything from typing through to database entries, phone answering to bookkeeping.

Other businesses only use a VA to undertake one or a couple of the following:

-          social media creation and updates
-          blog updates
-          typing and transcription
-          bookkeeping or data entry to MYOB
-          powerpoint presentations
-          collating business cards and adding to a database
-          e-newsletters

A new business could utilize a VA to assist with the set up of their office, systems and procedures.

A Virtual Assistant is a cost effective tool to add to your business.  There are no payroll overheads and as a VA has a professional background in everything admin, a business is in a win-win situation.

How can you tell if you need a VA?

-          When you are getting bogged down in paperwork.

-          When you are working so many hours but not making any money.

-          If you want and need to network but do not have the time.

-          When there is no flexibility any more.

-          When you are missing deadlines or important phone calls.

Do not lose sight of your business and why you commenced your business in the first place.  Seek assistance from a professional admin provider - your VA.

This is based on our first interview with mybusinesshelp.com.au on Alive 90.5.

Assisting U Virtually
www.assistinguvirtually.com.au

You may also interested in:

1. Virtual Assistant (VA) Case Study
2. The Advantages of Working in a Virtual Office
3. What is the importance of Networking?

Subscribe to the My Business Help Newsletter and you will recieve a code to receive $100 OFF the Go For Growth Seminar

ALSO go into the draw to WIN a ticket to the workshop valued at $750.

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1. Go for Growth “Business Routines”
2. Workshop – Low Cost, Highly Effective Marketing Tips for SME’s
3. Workshop – Marketing Essentials for the Start Up Business

Attract customers and ensure the ongoing success if your small business with this no-nonsense guide. Whether you own a bakery or a boutique, a plumbing or a finance business, this book gives you straightforward strategies to find more prospects, build your customer base and secure market share.

Small-business guru, Carolyn Tate empowers you to apply hundreds of high-impact and creative ways to market your business without breaking the bank.

You can purchase Small Business Marketing for Dummies here.

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1. DIY Marketing Ideas List
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No-one attends a networking function to be “social” regardless of what they say. Networking is a business development activity full stop.

Of course, this means that everything you do should be strategic and done correctly. Here are 10 steps to ensure you are networking strategically for your business and in the most effective way possible.

Step One – Be Selective

Just because you have been invited to something, doesn’t mean you need to go. Is it the right market for your business? If not, don’t go.

Step Two – Dress Appropriate

Put simply. You can never be overdressed but you can most certainly be underdressed. Don’t take the risk. Remember you are your brand.

Step Three – Do Not Sell

If someone asks “what do you do?” this is your chance to briefly tell them and turn it into a way of “teaching” them something from your area of expertise. If you are smart, you will ask them what they do and somehow share your knowledge in a way that will help their business.

Step Four – Mix It Up

Make sure you don’t stick with the same person or group of people at a function. Always leave them wanting more and mingle with the rest of the crowd.

Step Five – Be Strategic

Don’t just rock up to a function without a plan. Ask yourself: What do you want to achieve? E.g. meet an accountant, or meet two new people.

Step Six – Don’t be a Snob

You heard me. Don’t despise small beginnings. Just because you perceive someone as a smaller business or not that connected doesn’t mean they don’t have a Pandora’s Box of value to share. Likewise with larger businesses, they too are run by everday people.

Step Seven – Have Fun

Walk in with a smile on your face or don’t bother going. No-one wants to listen to your life story or your troubles. Keep the mood upbeat and positive.

Step Eight – Business Cards

Too many times I have asked for someone’s card and they say “oh I don’t have any on me”. Carrying your business cards everywhere you go in life is mandatory if you run your own business. Note: this doesn’t mean handing them out like lollies at the local fete. Wait to be asked.

Step Nine – Follow Up

If you have asked for someone’s card or someone has shown interest and given you their card then follow them up. Within the next week and with some helpful tips to remind them about what you do and why they should stay connected with you. Don’t stalk them!

Step Ten – Say NO

Many times people want to “catch up” for coffee or to chat. Remember, people think of themselves not of you – that is your job. If you don’t have the time or can’t see the value then politely say no.

Do you have any tips you would like to share?

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3. The One Page Strategic Plan for Your Business

So you’re thinking of starting a business?  You’ve probably got a great idea, an exciting product or a service that your going to provide – the foundations of any good business, but what are you going to call it?

Like many start-up businesses you may consider mixing your name with your partner’s name and come up with something like Jotom or Bevmax.  Although that may mean something to you (and your partner) it says very little to your customers.  Your business name should communicate what you ‘do’ or ‘how’ you do it.

The name should be a short as possible – long business names do not perform as well as shorter names because they are harder for potential customers to remember or even spell when searching for you on the Internet.

Imagine Qantas today if they were still marketed under their full name of Queensland and Northern Territories Airways System.

Avoid generic names like Green Printers or Cars Online as these will be harder to register as a business name and a domain name.

Start with a list of ten or twenty ideas and show them to your friends, family and business associates to comment and select their favourites.  By doing this you are get in return some instant ‘market research’ from a mixed age audience, representative of your future customer base.

Ask yourself – does the name create a ‘positive’ feeling for my business?

Next check the business name availability through ASIC’s free company name search at www.asic.gov.au then if the domain name is available at www.netregistry.com.au  Every business today needs a web presence and your domain name is your ‘online’ street address so it is important that you register a domain name as well as your business name.

Now that you have your new business name there is one more thing to add your positioning statement.  It’s this one liner that will set your business away from its competitors – like FedEx’s ‘absolutely, positively overnight, Hungry Jack’s ‘the burgers are better’, Bose ‘better sound through research’ and Saab’s ‘move your mind’.  Your positioning statement should offer a benefit and give the customer a reason to buy from you and not your competitor’.

So armed with your new business name and a dynamic positioning statement all you need now is the logo – but that’s another story …

No related posts.

Running your own small business can be wonderful, although it can also be very overwhelming, stressful and tiring. Often we get distracted by the many different “hats” we must wear, and don’t find the time to stop and assess whether we are happy, and if not why and how to fix it.

If the passion you once had for starting a small business is running low, then you are probably trying to “do it all” which may eventually leave you feeling drained and possibly very unhappy – questioning whether you should continue on in business.

So, here are some simple yet highly effective tips to help you get back to enjoying what you do most:

Learn from others.

Including their mistakes, successes and anything else they want to share. Join a local business group or a business chamber and ask as many questions as possible.

If you don’t like doing it, don’t.

Outsource it instead. Remember that you are the boss and you if you don’t like doing it, your clients will know and that isn’t good for business.

Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should.

Have you found yourself in a meeting with a prospective client saying “yep, sure we can do that” when it isn’t even in your service offering? This is a bad habit to keep. You end up stretching yourself thin for a service you most likely cannot provide effectively or make enough money on. Just refer it on and stick to your core offering.

Don’t expect so much from yourself.

I find that small business owners are big on massive to do lists on a daily basis, only to be disappointed they didn’t tick them all off. Set yourself THREE tasks to complete a day. If you achieve more, bonus.

Have a vision board.

A personal one and professional one. Write down the reason why you started working for yourself, was it for a new car or a better lifestyle? Do you want your business to move into an office in 5 years? Cut out pictures that represent your “vision” and stick them on a board and place it in your office for motivation.

You will be surprised how happy you will feel taking control of your business and remembering the reason why you started your business in the first place.

You may also interested in:

1. Why You Should Only Market Your Business when You are Happy
2. 7 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Business
3. Keeping Your Customers Happy

Recently at a meeting of fellow business owners, Peter from the Linked Training Group shared with us all a free template of a "one page business plan" in which his business has been following. This is something so many of our readers have asked for so I checked it out and was quite impressed.

You still have to put in the work although the end result is something that is clear, succinct and you can place it on the wall of your office to be reminded every day of where you and your business is headed.

This plan was developed by Gazelles and a great way for you to reclaim focus on your business goals and be motivated. Download your free copy of the One Page Business Plan and follow the instructions.

All the best.

You may also interested in:

1. 10 Steps to Strategic Networking
2. Do You Need a Facebook Fan Page for Your Business? Part One
3. Do You Need a Facebook Fan Page for Your Business? Part Two