Outsourcing

What is Outsourcing?

Outsourcing is a process in which a person or a company delegates a task, project or ongoing work to a third party. Often the third party is an individual or team of people located in another country. This is often referred to as “Offshoring”. Either way, the result is usually the same.

Basically, outsourcing is a contracting transaction which is undertaken by an “outside source” rather than work that is performed “in house”. It is an excellent way to reduce costs and increase productivity because the people doing the work usually live in a country where the standard of living is much lower than in western English speaking countries such as USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and England.

Outsourcing for Small Business

Recently, outsourcing has created immense interest amongst Business owners.....in particular, local Small Business operators, Internet Marketers, Network Marketers and Direct Sales people. However, the relative newness of the industry is reflected in the lack of knowledge or awareness by the Small Business community. Those who have used outsourcing services are usually positive about the benefits in cost savings and increased profits.

Offshore outsourcing in Asia has been utilised by the large multinationals, in particular the banking and insurance industry and telephone companies, for many years now. But, it has not been until recently, that the small business owners have been able to access these resources. In fact, most of us did not even know that outsourcing was available to “the little guy” until recently. And even if we did know, we didn’t realise how affordable it could be.

What Sort of Work is Outsourced by the Small Business Market?

Whilst the larger businesses will outsource technical support, telesales, IT, software development, data entry and recruitment services, the Small Business owner outsources tasks such as email support, web design, video production, SEO and Social Media Marketing. To hire a person to do this in England, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand would be out of reach of most of us. Yet, with the recent rise of the Virtual Assistant (VA) you can now compete with the multinationals. A good VA is cost effective, enthusiastic, friendly, helpful and very well trained. Of course, this is not to say that all of them are well trained and cost effective. You may need to test a few Virtual Assistants until you find “the right one”.

There is, however, an easier way to find a quality VA. Follow this link for more information on hiring a Virtual Assistant that is right for your business and the costs involved. Follow this link for more information on hiring a Virtual Assistant that is right for your business and the costs involved.

Personal Development

Personal Development – What Is It?

Personal development can be measured in a number of different ways. People often consider formal education to equate to growth and success. But it goes much deeper than that. It can often seem a little daunting because it can involve changes in values, self image, habits and lifestyle.

So, do you have to change everything? Well, no. Not necessarily. Personal development can help you succeed in many aspects of your life and business. It can also reduce stress.....something that business people know a lot about. You may have heard that having a Business Coach can help you to develop a Success Mindset.
People like Tony Robbins, Bob Proctor and T Harv Eker are the masters of success and their shows are always a sellout....and, for good reason. They are "The Masters Of Change."
But,don't wait for them to come to town. There are plenty of experienced local Business Coaches ready to train you at the right price.

Reflection Is Vital

Personal development focuses on reflection. Where you have come from, where you are now and where you want to go is just the starting point. What you are prepared to do about it is critical. Becoming the person you aspire to be takes self discipline. The ability to say “No” and mean it is essential. You must choose to learn and grow each day. Just imagine what your life would be like now if you had just changed the way you thought and acted in the past.
You must constantly strive to excel. This doesn’t mean that you must be perfect....just better than you were. Remember that your biggest limitation is yourself. Relax and don’t take yourself too seriously. Know that you can always improve your life.
Personal development can give you the success you deserve but you must want to improve your life and be willing to make the effort to get results. It can help you to understand how to cope with your emotions and how to think clearly and logically.
Negative thoughts cannot be totally blocked out, but you will be able to control your feelings to a large extent. It can change you for the better.....forever.
Development comes in many different forms. It can be personal growth and education.....or it can be coaching and improvement of employees, sports teams or your sales team. Common techniques include goal setting, faith, developing plans and taking action.
Personal development can help you obtain everything that you always dreamed of, as long as you have a clear goal and unwavering belief. It will enhance your business life if you let it. It will give you, and your workers, the self confidence and reliance to make decisions, learn new skills and become empowered.

So, Where Do I Start?

Personal development can start by simply reading an inspirational book, attending a seminar, listening to a CD or watching a DVD. Your growth can be accelerated with the assistance of a competent Life or Business Coach. Skills, attitudes, and habits can be changed over time. Personal and Business Success is a learning curve. Each task takes time, but it’s worth it. In the end, it’s all about Balance.

Where Can I Get a Coach?

You can look for a local Life, Success or Business Coach by entering a Google Search, OR....if you prefer an Online Business Coach, simply complete the form and one of the SBA Guys will contact you within 24-48 hours.

Sales Tips

Small Business Sales Tips

Sales are the life-blood of every business.
Keeping yourself up to date with modern sales tips and techniques is vital in the 21st century. Those tired and worn out sales strategies of the 80's and 90's will no longer cut it in this fast paced world.
However, some things remain unchanged.
If you are looking to grow your business (and if you are not, then you are going backwards!), you need to generate ongoing sales.
There are only two ways to get more sales:-
1. Sales from new customers
2. More sales from existing customers
Clearly, you must tailor your marketing and lead generation strategies to meet the different priorities of prospects and existing customers.
Once you have engaged with a new prospect, it is essential to have a sales process that focuses on generating trust and building a relationship.
The sales process for existing customers needs to be a little different, leveraging the existing relationship and focused on a better understanding of the customer’s situation and future needs and wants.
Furthermore, different processes are needed for face-to-face situations and web-based interactions. Attracting new customers via the web requires a “give before you get” attitude that builds trust and develops a relationship over a period of time.
A very significant proportion of businesses spend most, if not all of their time and money trying to attract new customers. In focusing everything on “new business”, they pay little or no attention to their existing customers. Are you one of them?
It costs between 5 and 10 times as much to gain a new customer as it does to grow an existing one. Existing customers continually “disappear” if they are not looked after.
Indifference (not price, not quality, not competitors) is the most commonly quoted reason given by customers, for changing supplier/service provider.
Furthermore, if you fail to take care of your existing customers, you are denying yourself the most cost-effective, high quality source of new customers – referrals.
Successful businesses are “systemised” businesses. They identify, design, document and implement effective systems to ensure consistent, high quality engagement with their markets, prospects and customers.
Here at Small Business Assistance, our mission is to provide you with access to thought leadership, ideas, tips, tools, processes, systems, software, case studies and resources to enable your small business to achieve peak performance in a highly competitive environment.
We believe that to be a success in sales, you need to be not just selling but..... Selling Effectively.
Your feedback, comments and contributions are actively encouraged, most welcome and much appreciated.

Marketing Tips

It has been said that if you are not marketing, then you are not in business. These days it is not sufficient to have just a shopfront and a flashy sign.
And if you are selling online, it is not all about a professional looking website loaded up with graphics and new products. You need to create an image that your visitor finds interesting and believable.......and that’s after they have found you.

Attracting Buyers

And, just how do they find you online? Most businesses have no idea how to attract online visitors.
You need to inform and educate first. The online visitor will only buy from those they trust and building trust takes time.
You simply must learn to stop selling from your website and start educating. Offer free advice and give away relevant newsletters, reports, eBooks and “how to” manuals.
Attract “raving fans” and they will spread the word for you.
Whether you are selling online or offline, you need a marketing strategy. You need to let the buying public know just who you are and why they should buy from you......Now!
What is the difference between you and the guy across the road? If both shops look alike and your products and pricing are similar, who will get the business?
All things being equal, you’d expect that each business would get an equal share. Yet, this rarely happens. The reality is that one business will get the majority of customers and the other one will eventually close down. Why?
Superior Marketing and Sales Techniques combined with a professional, friendly and honest approach to management and customer service will win out all the time.

Keys To Lasting Success In Business

One of the keys to lasting success in business is effective engagement with your customers. Target marketing, regular client contact and superb customer service will win customers, keep them and continue to attract others. Networking with other business people will help you to gain quality referrals and expand your customer base much quicker.
The most important tip I can give you here is to "stop selling". Instead, offer assistance, educate and solve problems. Do this and you will be a success in business.

"Buyer behaviour" can be a funny thing but there is a science to understanding what makes people tick.
For more information on his subject check out this article on the "Psychology Behind Buyer Behaviour".

For creative strategies and tips on creating a Marketing Plan
click here.

Profitable Business - The Key Mistakes

To construct a profitable business, during the initial start up phase you will need to plan, research and finance your business. You will also need to set up a record keeping system that complies with your country’s current business and tax legislation. Start up costs may include the purchase of computers, office equipment, furniture, tills, machinery, vehicles and tools. You must also consider what business structure is right for you. Will you be working alone as a Sole Trader? Will you register a business name? Will you operate as a partnership or company?
Each of these functions is very important when putting together a profitable business, yet at this point many new business owners fail to pay enough attention to planning and research.

Planning and Research

In the rush to “get started in business” most new business owners put advertising and promotion first. However, knowing your market, your competitors and your business goals before you start your business can never be overstated. In fact, research is absolutely critical in the early days of your business. Thorough research enables you to find your niche, target your true market and learn if you have a viable and profitable business idea that allows you to have confidence in your advertising and promotional strategies. Until you know what sort of demand that you have for your product or service, you are just flying blind.
Knowing your market and how to reach your customers is often the difference between success and failure in business. A profitable business relies on accurate information.

Effective Research

Effective research can tell you who your customers or clients are, where they live, their age bracket, sex, marital status, income and almost anything else that you need to know about them. Government Departments have demographic information on almost anything you can think of.
The advent of the internet has put all sorts of relevant statistics at our finger tips. Social Media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are now bringing us closer together and allowing us to engage with a wider audience.
In the 21st Century there can be no excuses for not conducting in depth research on your business idea. The trick, though, is to know what information is important and what isn’t.

Systematic Approach

We found that having a systematic approach to research, assisted us to launch our business easily and with confidence. We were lucky enough to find probably the most comprehensive online system in SiteBuildIt. SBI makes business research, web construction, marketing and sales really simple. It provides almost everything you need to get started in business all in the one package.....and at a price that everyone can afford. We absolutely love SBI. It keeps us focused, the owners forum is fantastic for learning tips and strategies, and the company is continually adding more business tools.
If you want a strong web presence and you want to make money on the Net, you must check out SBI now.

Your Website

Your website should tell the world who you are and how your business can help them solve a problem. Knowing your market can help you laser target your products or services to create solutions to the problems that they need help with right now.
For example, if you are selling a range of sporting goods and clothing, you may find that your primary market is the 18-30 year old single, professional males and females. These people generally have lots of disposable income and like to be seen in the best running shoes and apparel. They like the fact that you run a clean, well stocked shop with knowledgable staff.

Your website must reflect the "feel" of your shop. Give your website visitors quality information and reviews on new products and industry information. Produce a newsletter or a blog. Tell them that your business is now on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Take control of your business, keep your good customers to yourself and attract new customers at little or no cost. Learn to engage with current and prospective buyers through your website. If you haven’t got a website or if your website is pulling no traffic, you are not alone. This is the case for most business owners and often prevents them from have a profitable business.
While researching our business we checked out lots of options before we settled on SiteBuildIt (SBI) which offers an all-in-one online profitable business solution. If you have a website that you are not happy with, or if you don’t yet have a site of your own, it may help to check out the many useful features offered by SBI.
More information can be found here about SBI and choosing your profitable business.

Starting In Business

The First Five Important Steps

This article was originally written for the individual who is thinking of starting in business or the person who has just made the decision to get started. However, after writing it, I realised that it is just as relevant for the experienced business owners amongst us.
No matter what our level of experience, we need to be continually reviewing and revising our business plans. So.....here are the Five Basic Steps we all need to consider when going into business.
How many of these have you forgotten?

Step One: The Idea

• What sort of business do you want to start?
• Why did you choose this particular business?
• Will you buy an existing business or will it be built from the ground floor up?
• How will it make you feel?
• Why will it make you feel that way?
• Are you sure that this is what you really want?
• What hours will you need to put in?
• Is it a 'seasonal' business?

Step Two: Research your Idea

• Is there a market for your product/service?
• Is your product in demand? Are there more people demanding your product or service than there are providing it?
• Have you surveyed your target market to see what they really want or need?
• Who is your 'ideal' customer/client?

Step Three: Workout the start up costs

• Will you be working from home, an office or a shopfront?
• Will you need to buy a vehicle, a computer, furniture etc?

• What licences/accreditation/insurances will be required?

• Will you need employees? Do you know what your legal obligations are to your employees?
• Will you hire Contractors?
• What are the hidden costs eg. rent, electricity, phone bill, water, advertising, office or shop fitout?

Step Four: Write your Business Plan

Your Business Plan should focus on:
• business structure (eg. Sole Trader, Partnership, Company, Trust),
• your business name,
• what you want your business to do for you,
• your Unique Selling Proposition
• what price/s you will charge,
• how you will advertise/promote yourself,
• where your customers will come from,
• when you expect to start making a profit.

Step Five: Keep Good Records

• Do you know what business records you need to keep?
• Do you know what cash books or Record Keeping software you may need?
• Do you know what tax deductions you can claim?
• Will you use an Accountant/bookkeeper?

Summary

Until you have addressed these business basics, you really can't be sure that you have a viable business.
This does not mean that your business will fail. However, ignoring one or more of these steps reduces your chances of long term business success.