| . |
|
SMALL BUSINESS : Good Small Business PracticesGood small business practices require good business etiquette. To succeed in starting a small business, it's not enough to be the first, the best, or the most competitive. It's not enough to monitor trends so you know when to make strategic changes that will keep your small business idea alive in any climate. Nor is it enough to develop creative solutions to maximize the bottom line. Politeness and courtesy never fall out of style. The truth is that customers, clients, suppliers, and other small or large businesses will want to do business with you only if they feel comfortable with you. If they suspect you're being manipulative or deceitful, they won't hesitate to go elsewhere. If they feel you've treated them curtly or with disrespect, they're not going to stick around, no matter how good a deal you offer. Small business ethics is a simple matter of treating others the way you'd want to be treated. Not just customer service, it's about using good manners with everyone you come into direct or indirect contact - being polite, remembering to thank them, keeping your word. Small business etiquette matters because everybody, without exception, wants to feel special. If you succeed in making customers, business partners, and employees feel important and welcome, you've gained very valuable assets - their loyalty and alliance. Shift Your Attitude Good small business ethics often starts with an attitude shift. Regardless of the specifics of your business idea, always remember that you're not dealing with cold, heartless technology. You're dealing with real, live people. The voice at the other end of the line is a person. The words in your email box were typed by human fingers. So no matter how rushed or stressed you are, take a deep breath (to calm down) and always treat the person at the other end with courtesy - even when that person fails to do the same with you. "Don't burn bridges" applies here. Consistently treat everyone with courtesy and respect, and watch what a difference this makes. A belligerent customer can become your most loyal repeat buyer, and a lukewarm vendor may warm up to your manners, deciding it could be a refreshing change to conduct business with someone so well-mannered. Stay Honest The easiest way to get a bad reputation is to deceive people. Be honest in your everyday small business dealings. Don't string a vendor along when you've already decided to go with another supplier. Don't promise a customer next-week delivery when you know the product won't come in for at least two weeks. Good small business etiquette means telling your customers and business partners the truth regarding matters that affect them. Give Thanks It takes but a moment to thank somebody, but what a strong, lasting impression it makes! There are countless ways to express your sincere appreciation, including:
Reply To Everyone No doubt, you get many emails and calls each day, and maybe plenty of snail mail, too. Make sure you or your staff members reply to every message or inquiry that comes in. If you don't, you run the risk of losing potential customers and small business deals. If you and your staff can't manage the load in-house, consider hiring an outside service or a college intern to handle incoming inquiries. Keep A Positive Tone In every piece of correspondence that leaves your business, whether it's a carefully written announcement letter or a spur-of-the-moment email reply, be sure to maintain a cordial, positive tone. Read your letter or message again before sending it on its way. As you review your letter, keep in mind the Three P's: professionalism, politeness, and positive-ness. Your message should embody all three. Mind The Details And while you're at it, double-check the recipient's name and address. Spelling every name correctly is an important element of small business etiquette. So is getting the person's gender and title right. When you mind these important details, you're showing the recipients that you truly care enough to earn their business! Information to pick the best Small Business Credit CardFinding the best small business credit card means doing a little information research. For entrepreneurs seeking a small business credit card, the shopping list includes more than just APRs and airline miles...Starting a Small Business IdeaYou have thought out an angle for starting a small business idea that is going to revolutionize the industry. Are you willing...Good Small Business PracticesGood small business practices require good business etiquette. To succeed in starting a small business, it's not enough to be the first, the best, or the most competitive...Ergonomics and Modern Workspace DesignToday, few small businesses need concern themselves with a lot of hard labor, but workers are breaking their backs at a whole new kind of grind, spending up to fourteen hours...Small Business LoansSooner or later most small businesses need to get a small business loan, whether to get the operating capital for business startup or to finance an expansion. But whether...American Small BusinessesEven today, the American economy is by no means dominated by giant corporations. Fully 99 percent of all independent small businesses in the country employ...Other Related Articles: How to Look for a Small Business PartnerBelow are some ways on how to look for a small business partner to increase cash flow for your small business in a recession. Business partners are a good idea...Recession Resources for Small BusinessIn addition to the Clinton Foundation’s entrepreneurship program, there are plenty of other free recession resources out there for small business owners...Phone System Service Solution for Small BusinessWith such an assortment of phone system services on the market, small business owners need help cutting through the clutter so that they can figure out the best solution for their business...Rewards for Small Business EmployeesIt's not news that small businesses around the country are struggling financially. Millions of businesses can't afford to give their employees raises or bonuses. But that doesn’t mean you can’t show those employees that you care and appreciate their services...How to Cut Small Businesses TaxesIf you want to cut your small business taxes, you need to do some planning well ahead of tax season...Small Business Recession Marketing April 20, 2010There is one thing small businesses can do to take control of their future in a recession, and that is to increase their marketing efforts. Spend money on marketing because that is...Tax Hikes for Small Business Coming April 17, 2010High earning Americans and very profitable small businesses will soon see their taxes increase. With the passage of the health care reform bill and the ...Health Care Reform and Small Business March 22, 2010The sweeping health care bill passed by the House of Rep. Sunday and promises a sea change in the way that small business owners purchase and provide health insurance ...Avoid Fraud Charges in Small Business Feb 17, 2010Fraud credit card charges in small business is a big concern with Merchants especially online credit card fraud and it is rising at a significant rate. ...Business People Weigh Credit Card Options Feb 11, 2010Small business people who rely on their company's credit card to purchase big ticket items or finance day-to-day operations won't see any benefits from this ...Legal Pitfalls for Small Business Owners Jan 21, 2010Small business owners often don't think about legal issues until they actually get hit with a lawsuit or decide to sue someone. Unfortunately, costly cour ...Bartering in Small Business can Help Jan 20, 2010When Carrie Kerpen (of Buzz Marketing) was looking to get her small marketing business off the ground, she knew she had to build one thing: credibility. ...Sales Meeting to Introduce your Product or Services Jan 18, 2010The goal of your sales meeting should be to deliver a powerful message for the face-to-face and online audience, and make it accessible to as many people ...Tax secret for small businesses Jan 14, 2010For 2 years, Dr. James Smouse tried to convince his younger business partners to participate in a cash balance pension plan, a unique defined-benefit plan that offers small business owners the opportunity to make hefty, tax ...Advice: Retirement Plan for your Small Business Dec 23, 2009Key Elements to Selecting a Retirement Plan Company for your small Business. Make sure the retirement plan company understands what services they need to provide your company. ...Six Tips for Handing Down the Family Business Dec 11, 2009For many small business owners who plan to pass the family company onto heirs, a big part of retirement planning is succession planning. ...Small Business Customer Satisfaction Dec 9, 2009Most of this business research is intended to help small businesses understand their customer base and increase customer satisfaction and drive sale ...Free valuable tips for small business Oct 21, 2009So a small business advertising agency turned to its board of six volunteer advisers in areas such as sales, marketing, finance, ...Social Networking not working for small business Oct 13, 2009Few Small businesses in the U.S. have adopted social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter for business uses, according to research ...Blue Cross debuts low cost small business plan July 29, 2009Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota believes it has a cure for small businesses struggling to pay health-insurance premiums ...Small Business Strategies for the Summer June 3, 2009Summer time is a time for picnics and pools, seaside and sunshine. But for many small businesses, summer means fewer people calling, ...Investing in Small Business is Important May 1, 2009Americans understand how important small business entrepreneurs are to our country according to two recent polls. ...Making a Home Office Work with your Small Business at Home Apr. 19, 2009Whether you want to start a small business at home, becoming an independent contractor or telecommuting from your home office part time ...Starting a Small Business in a Down Economy Apr. 16, 2009In early 2002, Jim and Janeen Miller retired early from their jobs and was starting a business selling quilting supplies and sewing machines. ...Tax Basics for Small Business Owners April 8, 2009Business taxes are one of the most important issues facing small business owners. And like a company's profits, its annual tax bill will in part reflect the ... |
. |
