Why I love being my own boss

I have been running CKPA for just over 12 months now and absolutely love it. Why?

• I am the boss and have only myself to answer to
• I get to implement all the good ideas I had back in the corporate world that nobody listended to
• I can choose who I work with by selecting the right type of clients
• I currently work with a great bunch of clients
• I decide my working hours and style depending on what is going on in my life

Why am I telling you this? I don't really know but I am loving my job and my business. I am even going to be working remotely next week with the help of technology from (hopefully) sunny Cornwall. Can you do that without taking holiday?

For business owners, don't you think you need a break before we head in to Autumn. To find out how CKPA can support you and your business, contact us now.

Until next time,

Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions

The hidden power of networking

By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success

We all make use of traditional forms of getting new business in – advertising, direct mail, brochures etc but networking is one form of marketing which, has been under-utilised. Until now that is. Small business owners are finally beginning to understand the power of networking and what it can do for their sales figures.

But what is networking?
In its most basic form, it’s word-of-mouth advertising but originated by you, not your customers. It involves taking every opportunity to raise awareness of your product or service amongst the people you meet. At a more sophisticated level, networking can be achieved by taking advantage of the formal networking groups or events that have been arranged purely with the idea of putting potential partners together. Perhaps the most famous example of effective networking was the First Tuesday group, which during the height of the dot-com era, was the primary way of getting new business ideas across to the people with the dosh!

But how can you, as a small business owner, become a more effective networker and take full advantage of the opportunities presented? We are going to give you some key tips and ideas on how to be a better networker.

What are the key advantages of networking?
Networking has some very good advantages over the traditional type of marketing:

• It’s free! Talking to someone costs nothing except your time
• It’s targeted marketing in that it’s likely the person you are talking to has a direct interest in your product or service. Consider newspaper advertising, which will mostly be read by people who have no interest in what you have to offer
• It’s face to face marketing unlike direct mail, adverts and telephone calls. You have the immediate opportunity to establish rapport and get an understanding of the person’s problems
• You have the chance to mix with business owners in other industries, which may open the door to new opportunities you had not previously considered
• It’s not only a way of creating business but also a great way to solve problems and seek advice. Why sweat over a solution when someone has probably already experienced and solved the same problem? Ask and find out who can help you

Where to find a network
Finding a place to network, where like minded business owners are present, is not that difficult. Whilst you should be networking all the time – taking the opportunity to promote yourself whereever you can – it’s more effective if you can meet people who are there to do the same thing; you can get onto the same wavelength that much quicker. Here are some possible networking opportunities to think about:

• Your local Chamber of Commerce or Business Club - as well as hosting their normal meetings (which are great networking opportunities anyway) they may hold regular networking sessions which are dedicated to putting business people together
• Business Link – with their remit of helping local small businesses, some of them may already hold network meetings where they bring together a batch of ‘new recruits’. Check out the Business Link website for details of your nearest office and give them a call
• Trade Associations – your industry may have an association which holds regular meetings. Whilst you are dealing with businesses in the same line as you, so making it difficult to get new business, you will still be able to find solutions to problems and pick up new ideas. Who knows, if you establish good rapport with another business, they may be happy to refer surplus work to you or tap into a unique specialisation you may have?
• Seminars – keep a look out for seminars being run for small business owners. As well as being informative, they are a great networking opportunity, especially over coffee and lunch when you have the chance to start a conversation going along the lines of, “How do you think you’re going to apply that point we learnt this morning in your line of business?” In just this one question you will have found out what business they are in and one of the problems they are currently facing. If you’re lucky, you may be able to offer help as well – one extra sale!
• Anywhere and everywhere – remember to network all the time! Never miss an opportunity to tell people what you do. You may only get a successful hit in one out of a hundred contacts, but one sale may be enough to make it all worthwhile!

Where and when are meetings likely to be held?
Formal networking events can be held over breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast sessions are popular because it allows business owners to start the day on a positive note, leaving the remainder of the day free for ‘business as usual’. However, how good are you at holding a sensible conversation at 7 o’clock in the morning? If you don’t look or sound your best in the early morning, then you had better find an alternative!

The best networking events are where you are free to ‘work the room’ and not be tied to a table with food being served.

Hotels and pubs are popular venues but if you are attending events hosted by Business Link then you may find them held at their offices.

What to prepare
As with any marketing promotion, any networking should be thoroughly prepared for. Badly presented sales pitches lead to lost sales; the same goes for networking. So what should you do before attending a networking session?

Step 1: Know your products and services inside out. If you are only just starting out, make sure you are fully briefed on all the in’s and out’s of your product.

Step 2: Write and rehearse an opening statement to the question “What do you do?” This may sound an easy question but try thinking an answer on the spot and at the same time making it some good! Not so easy. Write a clear and concise statement, which encapsulates everything about your business. Remember, this is your chance to impress! Having decided on your opening line, rehearse, rehearse and rehearse. It has to be word perfect and confident sounding.

Step 3: Make sure you have enough business cards. You don’t want to scribble your number on the back of a napkin! Not very professional.

Step 4: Double check the venue and time. You don’t want to turn up late and miss any opportunities or appear to be lacking in time management skills.

Step 5: Dress to impress. Make sure you are neat and tidy – everything a successful small business owner should be.

Step 6: Leave your house / office in plenty of time to make sure you don’t arrive totally stressed out

You’re off!
You have arrived at the venue and if this is your first time, what are you likely to do? Find the nearest corner and pray that someone doesn’t approach you! Networking, especially the first time, can be nerve-wracking. It does take a degree of confidence but over time this gets better.

© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz

Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.

For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz

To find out how CKPA can help with your company's networking - contact us now!

Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions

How to get your first customer

One of CKPA's target markets is start up businesses and I think the most popular question they have, regardless of industry, is how to get their first customer. I saw this article and thought it might be beneficial.

By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success

Starting a new business is always tough. You have spent hours and hours putting your Business Plan together, sorting out the financing, arranging your office and buying equipment. And the big day arrives - you have to get out there and secure your first customer. It all looked so easy when you were planning, but now this is real and doesn’t seem as effortless as you thought.

What practical steps can you take to ensure your business gets off to a flying start?

Put a plan in place
If you didn’t write a Business Plan (tut tut!) then putting pen to paper is your first step. You have to carefully plan what you want to achieve and what you are trying to do. A Plan will help crystalise your thoughts and ideas and act as a spring board for creative thought.

It will also be a useful boost when you come to review your progress against what you set out to achieve – a cause for celebration or a kick up the backside!

The key element in your Plan is to spell out exactly who your typical customer is going to be. Are they young or old? Well off, or on the look out for bargains? Single or married?

Once you have clearly defined who you are after then chasing your first sale becomes easier.

Email all your contacts
You may not think that personal friends and family may be interested in your product or service, but don’t forget that they have friends and family as well and so can help spread the word!

Email every one in your address book and tell them, if they don’t already know, that you are starting up in business and need their help. In your email describe what you do and the products you offer and request that they forward it to everyone in their address book. A bit ‘spammy’ I know but when such a note comes from someone you know then it doesn’t seem so bad.

For those family and friends who don’t have email, call them, write to them, to officially launch your business. Very quickly word will spread and enquiries and orders will start to flood in.

Ask for a referral
It’s possible you may have ‘road-tested’ your business before you decided to go full time. In that case you will already have a small database of customers. Ask them if they can provide you with some names of people or businesses whom they think may be interested in what you have on offer.

A referral, or positive recommendation, is a powerful and easy way to give your business a kick start. If you want, why not offer a small gift, or a discount on the next sale, for all customers who refer someone to you? This gesture will further cement your relationship.

Tell everyone you meet
Be a walking advertising board for your business! Find any opportunity to tell people, especially strangers, what you do. Be enthusiastic! Have a rehearsed opening which encapsulates everything about the benefits and problems your business offers and solves.

Take your business cards wherever you go and leave them all over the place! Supermarkets, restaurants, shops, anywhere where people will find them.

Be a media star
The local newspaper or radio stations are always on the look out for stories which are of interest to the locality. Don’t expect them to run a story along the lines of ‘And today, Joe Bloggs has just started in business doing …’. Your story needs to be interesting and have an unusual slant. Did you travel the world and come up with your idea whilst riding a train in India? Did you have a flash of inspiration following a shocking experience? Carry out a survey which shows that local people are crying out for a service such as yours. Think of something that will grab the editor’s attention and this will increase your chances of appearing in print.

Build relationships
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t get a sale on the first approach. Sometimes you have to be patient. A way of achieving your batch of first sales is to concentrate on building a relationship with your prospective clients. Keep in touch, remind them you are still around and, assuming you have targeted correctly, they may eventually place that coveted order!

If you are about to start your business get planning right now and start to implement some of these ideas to get your new business off to a flying start.

© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz

Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.

For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz

CKPA can help any business start up in the beginning stages of business - contact us now to find out how.

Until next time,

Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions

Impressions count

How do you present yourself to your clients?

We all know that first impressions count and that we don't get the chance to make a second first impression!

Lets say that you have an important meeting with a potential new client. Now this is worth a lot of money so is a big deal for your company. Do you turn up to the meeting all casual and not really making much of an effort - what do you think the potential new client will think to the quality of your work from this impression?

Or, do you turn up all suited and booted ready to represent your company with the right image?
Remember, the way you present yourself and your business to clients tells them how important they are to you!

So how can CKPA and a Virtual Assistant help you and your business to present the right image? Some areas we can help include:

• Telephone Answering - divert your calls when you are in a meeting, on holiday, don't want to answer calls so that you never miss an important call again
• PA & Secretarial - let us organise you with diary management, travel arrangements etc
• Administrative - typing letters, reports, proposals, updating database, presentations etc
• Events & Meetings - organise any type of event from a new product launch, sales meeting to Christmas party
• Creative - send out newsletters, website design, desktop publishing etc
• Projects - your office may be relocating, having a recruitment drive and don't want hassle of dealing with applications
• Accounts - sendingout invoices, credit control etc
• Virtual Office - email management, fax service etc

Contact us now to discuss your needs and see how we can help.

Until next time,

Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions