Pt 3: 6 Steps to Boosting Your Small Business

Whether you’re just starting out, beginning a new campaign, or just wish to breathe some new life into your small business, there are some easy, ‘right-now’ steps you can take to push your business to the next level.

3. Throw a party!!!
Yes you heard me right, throw a party! Whether your home business is service or product based, you can have people round and either have a casual ‘come when you want’ open-house, or a more scheduled party environment.

Make it special; if you’re new to the business it can be your launch party. Invite all your friends, colleagues and anyone else you want to take interest in your business. Offer light refreshments, possibly even find a theme and make an event of it.

Even now, Sonia and I are in the throes of preparing for our annual Butterfly Tea Party, in the ‘open-house’ style. It’s a big deal, a bit comfort-zone-stretching, and runs all day; from 9 in the morning to 9 at night. It’s in aid of the Children’s Hospice UK, so people have an extra, charitable, motivation for coming. People have come to expect it and ask us when the next one is scheduled. We serve drinks and cakes, our products are on display to buy/order, we also invite other home-business owners whose products/services might complement our own; and we have the opportunity to build relationships with people in a relaxed, informal environment.

Don’t think I’m suggesting yours needs to be this large, or even this small depending on your ambitions; you can get great results over afternoon coffees or a sociable evening. The primary point is to start establishing a network of people who are familiar with what you are doing, and with whom you have built those essential relationships; not only are they more likely to become your customers, but they will spread the word as well.

Get out of your comfort zone, push your boundaries, and let other people know what you’re doing and why; but most of all… have fun. Keep it simple, duplicable and enjoyable and you will inherently have people wanting to learn more about you and your business.