I don’t know about you, but I’m back in the office today refreshed from a break over the festive season with a ton of ideas about what I want for my business this year. 

Are you in the same position?  How are you going to make sure your business is a success in 2013?  These are my thoughts:

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 final day of our firework inspired series, and one final area that you can work on in order to help your business rocket onwards and upwards.  Enjoy your achievements and celebrate your successes.  But how can such frivolity boost your business? 

Public fireworks displays can certainly draw the crowds, but how do you attract people to your business?  

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) >

Today we're on Day 2 of our fireworks inspired week looking at how to inject some of that rocket fuel and vibrancy to your business.

Yesterday, we focused on setting your goals and so giving your business direction and purpose.  Today we zoom in on our next hot hint - something of which here was certainly a lot of in our neighbourhood last night!  

Happy 5th November!  If you're planning a spectacular fireworks night with friends and family, why not add some rocket power to your business as well?

Join us all this week, when we'll be sharing one quick fire action point a day to help put some more bang into your business!

First up...Set your goals

Catherine Wheels are pretty, but you don't want your business going round and round in circles - you'll feel busy, but your business won't be going anywhere.  You may feel disillusioned, your business may have plateaued and you may have lost your spark.

Now is the time to rocket for the moon and stars.  Decide the path your want your business to take, make sure you and your staff are on board to keep your plans heading in the right direction, light the blue touch paper and hang on!  Well, less of the hanging on...rather more of the controlled steering, the fireworks analogy was taking over...

So how do you set your goals, and what goals should you set?  It may be useful to consider:

• the values you hold for your business
• why you started your business
• what you want your business to do for you
• where you want your business to be
• who is involved
• what you define as success for your business

Make sure your goals are focused and realistic too by following the S.M.A.R.T. acronym:

• Specific – define and focus your goals and state exactly what you want to achieve i.e. ‘increase sales by 5% in the next 3 months’ rather than ‘get more business’

• Measurable – state numbers in your goals, it will help you review your progress as well as determine to what ends you are working

• Attainable – be realistic. It’s great to be ambitious, but be aware of setting goals that are too far out of reach.

• Relevant – think about the times in which you are working, consider trends, economic climate, target customers and so on

• Time-based – set a timeframe in which you want to achieve your goals to focus your efforts further and to establish by when you want to see advancement

Can I make a plea and ask that you write your goals down?

Writing them down, even on a sticky note, will help to make them real.  Put the sticky somewhere where you can see it regularly will help to keep you on track and give you chance to review how you're going along the way.  Keep your bright, shiny, new goals in your head and they can be squeezed out by the day to day running of your business activity and you'll start that circling business again.

What goals are you going to set for your business?  Let us know!


If you want to do more to boost your business, The Business Greenhouse is holding a FREE interactive workshop in Bristol, UK, on 15th November 2012 and again on 29th January 2013 to help you 'Get what you want out of your business'.  Register for your place at: http://www.eventbrite.com/org/2785249216?s=10518116

The worry of not pricing business products or services correctly is a common theme amongst those The Business Greenhouse meets.  The topic cropped up again in a discussion in an online networking group this week, so we thought we'd share our hints and tips on how to get the best price for your product or service.

I recall the last bank holiday when I was lucky enough to have had a great weekend away with my lovely family.  However, on that holiday I came across small business owners cutting their own free time short for the sake of their business: a commercial tyres specialist packed his things and went home, bringing his family with him, because some new jobs had come in; a cycle hire person extended their opening hours to help boost business; a roofer left his family to their own devices while he finished some jobs and caught up on the paperwork.

For them, a bank holiday was not a chance to relax, but a chance to catch up and bring in new business that is vital for their success.

Everyone I’ve spoken to in the last week has asked the same question: how can I get more done in the time I have?

Coincidentally, this is also a question I’ve been considering myself recently – odd you might think for the owner of a business that offers outsourcing and opportunities to take on some your workload! 

As with most small business owners I can work long hours, at weekends, and find myself snatching 5 or 10 minutes here and there around my family and other commitments.  With bigger demands on my business, I need to be more productive.

So I’ve spent some time evaluating how best to address this, and I thought I’d share my discoveries and look at how they could help you to be more productive: