Shine a Spotlight on Your Professional Service Firm
Some professions build it and they grow. Others have to grow it before they build it. And then there are those who are just trying to make a go of things in the face of major hurdles. No matter what your situation is, we've got some helpful tips for you on how to better highlight your professional service firm in this competitive world!
We'll talk about the top ways you can promote yourself, plus all the best tools that will make your life easier when establishing your own solo venture.
First, let's talk about the top ways you can promote yourself and your business.
Networking is, without a doubt, the best way to get clients. And it's hard to beat a personal recommendation that comes with a lot of credibility. Any job seeker is going to be interested in your credentials and what you have to offer. Thankfully, this avenue is just waiting for you in the form of your personal contacts!
Think about several of your current clients as potential prospects for your business. Reach out and strike up a conversation with them. Get their contact information – either verbal or written via email. When the time is right, do something fun together like go on a hike or visit an art gallery.
After the initial contact is made, you can invite your new contact to a networking event. If it's not too far away, take them and their family out to dinner or an amusement park. Make sure to include any invites and other relevant documents in a portfolio that you can easily send over to potential clients.
If you have a blog, have some fun with your writing as well! Write an article or two on your experiences and expertise in the industry that you work in. You could also do a "How To" guide for other service professionals who may be starting their own firms. These individuals will not only appreciate your input, but it may be just the thing that gets them to call you for a consult.
Promotion is all about standing out from the crowd. You can be sure that if your website or blog looks like everyone else's, then it will get lost in the shuffle. You need to give people a reason to visit you . . . and stay! So, look into making a site or blog of your own where you can state your expertise and areas of specialty – both onsite and offsite – as well as display some of your own work and images.
Another excellent way to promote yourself is through social media platforms. Again, the key is to promote yourself in a way that stands out. First, you have to decide what platform you're going for. If it's LinkedIn, why not create a blog or site where you will showcase your expertise and share some awards or accolades that you've received? You could also go for Twitter and start tweeting about industry news. You can also use it to highlight the lead generation videos and other resources on your site.
Another great marketing tool is through blogging which allows people to interact with you in a personal way. They can ask questions and leave comments so that other users can see the questions being asked and comments being made. This will make it easy for others to find you and connect with you on a personal level.
Of course, once you've got all of this set up, the next step is to drive people to your site or blog! Get creative! The easiest way is through social media, but there are many other ways as well. Consider trade shows which allow you to reach an extensive target market in one fell swoop. You could also send out email blasts or mailers. Try advertising through billboards or even print ads in relevant magazines and newspapers.
Now that you know how to promote yourself, let's talk about how to make your life easier as a business owner. Now that you're out on your own, there are many more things that you have to do because you're the boss. To get things off on the right foot, here are some helpful tips!
First and foremost, don't forget to file your taxes every year. If you use software or have a CPA, make sure to keep track of all the information that you need to get the job done. Many CPAs will help you file if you don't have the necessary information. Don't forget that April 15th is right around the corner!
Second, set up a 401k plan if your annual income is over $600. The money in this account can be used for investing and tax purposes. It's money that will stay with you and not get sent off to Uncle Sam. Plus, it can help add some extra padding to your retirement fund. Talk with your CPA about how much of an annual contribution you can make and how it can benefit your business in the long run.
Third, you'll want to make sure that you keep proper records and business receipts. If your professional service is specialized, then make a habit of taking pictures and attaching them to any paperwork so that you can track the progress and deliverables easily.
Fourth, don't keep all of the cards in the box. You have to constantly be talking to people about your service firm . . . you might as well use this edge when it comes to networking for leads or clients. You could form a LinkedIn or Facebook group where you can discuss potential clients with other professionals in the field. You could even create ads on Craigslist, Gumtree or something similar. The more people know about you and your firm, the more you're going to get in touch with that next client.
Fifth, focus on your finances. You will get a tax form from the bank that details all of the money that you've earned and all of the expenses that you've incurred throughout the year. Make sure to organize your books on a regular basis so that you can quickly find what you're looking for when it's time to do your taxes! This way, if there are any questions about how much something cost or who paid for it, then it will be easy to find out.
As a small business owner, you need to focus on a lot of different areas. Take care of the things that you can control and don't worry about what you can't. You have to be proactive and make sure that your business is in a position where you're ready to go at all times – even if it doesn't feel like it all the time! A lot of these tips may take some practice, but if you put in the work then you should be able to get what you need from your service firm . . .
Conclusion
Now that you've read all of the points above, what will you do? Are you going to make a concerted effort to incorporate every single one of these tips into your business, or are you going to put them on the back burner until later? If so, reason with yourself. Are these things really important to your success as a small business owner? For many, they may not be. However, don't neglect these areas just because they're easy for you . . . because it could be much more difficult for others!
Make sure that you consult with someone about how good your work is and how you can measure and improve it.