Business groups like the Chamber of Commerce provide many excellent marketing opportunities. The members of these types of business groups are all business owners and many of them will fit into your sweet-spot profile. What better way to get to know the decision makers in these businesses?
Maximize Your Exposure in Business Groups
Don't simply join a business group and remain a passive bystander. To get the most out of your business group experience you need to get involved. Here are some tips:
When you join one of these business groups immediately make yourself known to the Executive Director, the office staff and the officers, as well as the people on the board.
Volunteer for a committee. This is an excellent way to meet and really get to know some of the local small business owners.
Speak at the meetings and events.
Exhibit and take out a little table at the next expo or event held by the business group. These are usually inexpensive and are a low risk proposition.
Send a direct mail to the business group members on the master list introducing them to your company and your services.
Invite the whole business group membership to seminars or events you are holding.
Attend and network at the business group meetings regularly; 8 or 10 a year is a good number.
There are no sure things but the active members of a business group, the board, and the committee chairs tend to be loyal to the inner circle of their fellow business group supporters. It’s almost like a fraternity or sorority.
The Bottom Line on Business Groups
The key to getting the most out of a business group is to be an active member. Keep your name in front of the membership. Remember to do your follow up. You want the business group members to know your name and think of you first when they have a computer issue. If you are patient and persistent your business group membership will pay off.
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Business Groups - Market For Maximum Effectiveness
Business Growth - Rate Control For Maximum Success
Business growth is something we all want. During startup, however, you have to balance your business growth rate with your ability to keep on top of the business launch. You don't want to get overextended because that will cause you to cut corners and your future success may suffer.
Controlling the rate of business growth is difficult to do especially if you are moonlighting. In this situation you have so many more balls to juggle because you have work issues to deal with as well as business issues. The key to effective business growth control is excellent organization and planning.
Micro manage for Business Growth Control
During your startup it is more important than ever that you micro plan your major projects. If you sell a 10 node network you will probably quote it by the number of hours for server installation, cabling infrastructure, taking care of the ISP and the telephone company, and taking care of the desktop. To control business growth you need to take this type of calculation to the next level and develop a detailed hourly spreadsheet to account for your hours each week:
Put your total hours and tasks required into a spreadsheet
Break down each of the tasks week by week
Estimate the number of hours you will need for each item during the week
Add in some cushion time to deal with unanticipated issues
Add general administrative tasks, work and family responsibilities, and leisure time requirements into the spreadsheet as well
This type of planning exercise will help you control your business growth because it will be easier to see if you are overextending yourself. An overextended person is a stressed person and a stressed person is not an effective business manager or service provider.
The Bottom Line on Business Growth
To control business growth the best thing you can do is to make sure you have a handle on everything you are working on. Break large projects down into smaller pieces. Fit your projects into the other responsibilities your have whether those are work or family related. Take a look at your weekly responsibilities and ensure you are not spreading yourself too thin in any one area. This micro management approach will ensure your business growth rate does not spiral beyond your ability to keep up.
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