It's not an exaggeration when I say that many companies I come across still use suffixes such as gmail, yahoo, and hotmail in their business email address.  Firmly believing that in order to appear more professional and capable, businesses should have a business email address that reflects their business domain name.  Thus I'd fully intended this post to look at how such an address can easily be set up, for free, using Google Apps.  That was until Google Apps announced that they are now going to be charging new users for their service...

Of course, this prompts the question of whether 'free' is better for your business.  Some may also argue that Google provides a great service and as you're using it for business purposes then you should pay for it.

However, The Business Greenhouse's experience of working with startups, sole traders, microbusinesses and even small businesses, suggests that business owners will want to make their money go further so if free options are available they will explore them.  

So if you're a business owner wanting a more professional-looking email address, here are three free alternatives that we've found to Google email:

The noise from the fireworks is still reverberating around the neighbourhood, and now it's time to make sure that news about what your business can do does the same.  It's Day 3 of our business fireworks series, and we're talking about one of the best ways to win you more business...

Many business owners say that word of mouth is their best form of advertising.  And it's true.  Faced with a decision about which of two similar rockets to buy, would you go for the one that will apparently do what it says on the tin, or will you choose the one that a friend or colleague has recommended because they've seen it whizz, bang and zoom first hand?  Odds are, you'd go for the tried and tested option; their description and experience will have helped to win your confidence and trust that this rocket will do what you need it to.

It's well known that consumers and clients need to develop that confidence and trust in what you have to offer before they'll make any decision to buy from you.  However, don't wait around waiting for existing clients, friends, colleagues and others to recommend you.  It's unlikely that you'll see many results from this passive approach. 

You need to start asking for referrals instead.  Don't run a mile just yet!  It's probably not as tricky as you think.

Who can you ask for referrals?

In a nutshell, it's love and happiness that will bring you referrals.  Think:

• Friends and family - people who love you
  
• Happy customers - especially those who love the work you've just finished for them, or think your products are the best thing since sliced bread
  
• People who know the people you can make happy by solving the problems and challenges they face
  

If people are happy with you and are happy that you have made them happy, or can make them happy, they are likely to help you spread the happiness!  Sorry, that's a lot of 'happys'.  

Go ahead.  Make a list of everyone who you think would be great refer-ers of your business, get in touch and ask them to pass the good news on.

Who will you ask?

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to share it with your friends, colleagues and others whom you feel would benefit <referral request ;o) >

You have some amazing news to announce, but how do you get the media to sit up and take notice? 

Many small business owners want to get media coverage to help raise the profile of their business.  Arguably, this is a great idea.  There's the potential for 1000's of people to hear, read or see more about what your business does and how it could benefit them.  

However, getting the media to actually put information about your business in the paper, online, or on the radio or tv can be a tough job.    The Business Greenhouse has spoken to many business owners who have put in time and effort to try and make this happen, but failed to get any coverage.

Our experience of writing news releases shows that to be successful you have to get your target media interested enough in what you have to say (covered in Part 1 of our PR mini-series).  You also have to know how to tell the media your story, and for this a news release can help enormously.  

If you can structure a news release properly, you should have a good chance to 'sell' your story to your target media - essentially tell them why they should cover it.  Here's our guide to structuring your news release:

News releases, or ‘press releases’, are a tried and tested method of getting information to journalists, even with the increasing popularity of social media.

Here at The Business Greenhouse we have a lot of experience in writing news releases, so we thought we’d share some hints and tips in a ‘mini-series’.