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Stay in touch - Sending a card in the mail, an old tradition with a new age twist
Business Planning
Stay in touch - Sending a card in the mail, an old tradition with a new age twist
"the true art of networking is to first connect,
then to simply stay in touch" - Sue Henry
Most small business fail to get what they want because they simply do not follow up or stay in touch with the people that they meet. Sue Henry has been helping small businesses build strong, lasting relationships with their customers for the last eleven years.
One of the most over looked methods of staying in touch is to send an old fashioned card in the post. In today's fast paced world of the internet many small business owners take the easy and quick route of staying in touch by sending emails. Which in itself is a great method; it's quick, cheap and easy.
What most do not think about are the MAJOR NUMBER of emails that a business owner will receive in their day. Making the chances of your email standing out and getting the attention it deserves very slim.
The fast paced world of technology also has it's MASSIVE ADVANTAGES and along comes innovation for sending your handwritten card direct from your computer, technology has been made the process quick, cheap and easy.
This simple system allows you to create your own professional and customised message, in the form of a greeting card or post card, for your customers, new business contacts, family & friends. You simply select a card from the catalogue (or create your own design) write your message and press ‘send’ , the card is printed, placed in an envelope, an Australian stamp put on it and it's posted to any letter box in the world.
The system is easy to use, cost effective amd comes complete with:
- An Online card catalogue with thousands of preloaded, ready to use card designs for almost any occasion or communication purpose;
- A customised card tool which allows you to design and create cards using your own graphics, logos, photographs and handwriting;
- An Online Contact Manager system where you can record names, addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and other useful information about your customers and their businesses;
- An Online Calendar and Reminder system that will never again let you forget birthdays or other special occasions.
Like to learn more or give it a test for FREE?
We would be happy to create a gift account, so you can have a play with the web-system and send some cards for free. Please click here to trial for free
Alternatively email your name and postal address to us here and we will send you a card
Business Planning
If you fail to plan you plan to fail! Not rocket science bit it is the number one thing small business owners do not do for themselves. Here are 7 useful tips you must know about business planning:
1. Time is a business plan’s best friend
Allocate your business time, for a business to become profitable it needs a good plan and it needs time. Time to think about what you want, time to plan for how you will get what you want, time to assess what's working and what's not, time to work on the business.
2. All Activities must be on the plan
All activities that you undertake for your business must be productive for the business. Ensure you are engaged and focussed on the activities to move forward by accounting for then in your plan, if it's not in the plan THINK CAREFULLY before doing it. You could become easilty distracted and waste time, money and effort.
3. Don’t over complicate it
Do what works best for you, there are literally thousands of formats you can use to develop plans for your business you need to pick a combination that works best for you. The more direct and simple you keep your plans the easier it is to work with them and the quicker you will get to what you want. Summarise your plan to one page project sheets for success.
4. Be Realistic
A business plan is a tool that can help guide you and keep you on track, simply writing it will not bring success you will need to take action! Therefore be realistic in what goes in your plan, it's great to dream big - while doing that keep a firm grip on what you can actually do. If you need assistance seek the person most qualified to help you with financial forecasting, marketing initiatives, sales strategies, market research etc.
5. Remain objective
As bsuiness owners we are not alwats the best reviewers of our own work, attempt to remain objective when writing your plan and frequently ask yourself questions as if you did not know the business as well as you do. Think from your financiers point of view, your customers point of view, your employees point of view and from a potential buyers point of view. Ask an expert or business friend to review it for you.
6. Share your plan
Ensure that all parties with a vested interest understand your plan, use the content to engage and motivate the people that work with you to ensure the succesfull implementation of your plan.
7. Review you plan against your results
Review the viablitiy and usefulness of your plan against what is actual in your business. Make this a priority on a frequent basis.
Need a hand to develop your business plan?
Try the Easy Business Planning Template Tool
