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Top 10 Rules for Small Business Success
1. Target You are not all things to all people. Decide on your niche--narrow your focus and broaden your appeal. 2. Be Different If your competitors are doing it, don't. Stand out from an overcrowded marketplace where so much of the advertising and products look the same. 3. Build a Team Don't hire an employee to fill a position. Employ a person to be part of a team to build your business. 4. Be Fast Time is the most precious commodity. When delivery is expected Friday, show up Thursday afternoon. Return calls and emails now. 5. Say Thank You A lot. Tell your customers and employees how much you appreciate them. Better yet, do it the old fashioned way: take pen to paper and write them a note. 6. Be Consistent Make sure your business has a consistent look and feel. A customer must get the same flavor from everyone within your organization. Always. 7. Smile Throw out the reasons you think people buy from you like price, product quality or your warranty. They buy because they like you. 8. Fanatical Optimism The glass must always be half full. Attitude will always win out in the end and infect all of those around you. 9. Sell Soft Don't ever hard sell. Solve problems. Satisfy wants. Do what is truly best for your customer. 10. Leave Your Comfort Zone Never accept the idea that this is the way you've always done it. Never accept that a new idea or technology could never work for you. Brian Grinonneau is the general manager of McMann and Tate Advertising, an agency that works exclusively with the small business owner to help them stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace where much of the advertising and products look the same.
MORE RESOURCES: News provided by Yahoo! News and Google News Head of U.S. Small Business Administration in Jacksonville to talk 'microlending' Small business owners feel pressure from new competition Head of U.S. Small Business Administration in Jacksonville talks microlending Small business lending fund will profit taxpayers - Treasury Small-biz advocacy group pushes health insurance co-op idea in Springfield - Crain's Chicago Business (blog) Velazquez on "Small Business Administration Information Technology" Bill Aims to Simplify 1099-Ks for Small Biz - Reuters Many small business owners favor "Buffett rule" |
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