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How to Design Your Small Office

Some people think that a small office space is stifling and will negatively affect your productivity. But if you decorate and organize it a certain way, it can actually be a comforting and cozy yet professional place to get stuff done. Here are a few tips for how to decorate your small business office.

Keep Feng Shui in Mind

By definition, Feng Shui is the Chinese art or practice of creating harmonious surroundings that enhance the balance of yin and yang. Yin is negative and dark while Yang is positive and bright. The interaction between both sides is thought to maintain the harmony of the universe and to influence everything within it. Your small office space should emit that feeling of balance. Start by choosing a bright and vibrant color to paint the walls. Blues are more peaceful and productive, greens stand for growth, red is energetic and inspiring and yellow represents happiness.

Your office furniture can be the “dark” contrasting element, with a formal metal file cabinet and a professional black chair. Position your desk so that you have a view of sunlight illuminating the room every morning. If there are no windows in the room, place an inspirational picture on the wall that is in front of the computer desk to get a similar effect.

Carpeting and Lighting

Attempt to choose carpets or area rugs that have neutral colors that will not over power the room. For instance, charcoal gray carpeting compliments a wide variety of different color schemes. However, if you have wood floors that are in good condition, you may just want to invest in a patterned area rug.

For an office, choose bright, day light bulbs. Day light bulbs soften the room and add to its ambiance. If possible, choose a low, soothing wattage, because your computer monitor will emit enough light. Overhead track lighting with a dimmer is a preferred choice, because you can adjust the lights depending on the task you’re completing.

Choosing and Positioning Your Office Furniture

Being that you’re working with a small space, be very conservative about the size of the furniture in your office. If all you’ll be working from is a laptop, then just get a small square desk with a few shelves below it for your printer. If you’ll be using a full computer and need to accommodate a lot of equipment, dedicate one wall to a rectangular desk where you can keep everything in one place. This way you have plenty of room to move around and to place a file cabinet in another corner of the room if need be.

It helps to draw out a quick floor plan when you’re decorating a small office so that you get a good idea of the space you’re working with. Your office should be a comfortable and relaxing place for you to work. If the design is done properly it will also exude positive energy and inspire productivity.

Sales Tips: Selling Products In Person

Selling products in person at trade shows and special events can be intimidating at first, but with practice, effort and technique, anyone can become a top seller. Items that are often sold at these types of in-person events include:

–          clothes

–          electronics

–          books

–          jewelry

–          antiques

–          food

–          crafts and special creations

Use the following sales tips as a starting point for success when selling in face-to-face scenarios.

Use Your “Best Stuff” to Get Their Attention

One of the first senses that a potential customer will use when evaluating your product (with the exception of food maybe) is his sight. You must get the customer’s attention by first enticing him visually. The way you display the items is very important — make sure that the area is clean, tidy and well-organized. Put your best or most eye-catching stuff front and center on the table to force them to take a look, then you can present your other items as his interest grows.

Make It Easy for Them

Make it as easy as possible for a potential customer to find what he needs when he comes to your selling table. For instance, if you’re selling clothing at a fair or fashion show, separate your clothing into style, color and size order. This is also a way of showing that you take pride in your inventory, which makes it seem more valuable.

How to Greet a Potential Buyer

The way you greet your potential customer in a face-to-face selling situation is extremely important. A genuine greeting shows that you are polite and courteous. Start by first making direct eye contact and offering a warm smile. Say “Hello or Good Morning” — whichever fits the situation. Follow your greeting by simply asking, “Is there anything in particular you are looking for?” Give the potential customer time to respond. If the customer responds “yes” or “maybe,” then you know that you can further assist them. If his response is no, then smile and simply tell him, “Okay, just let me know if you need any assistance.” When you follow these simple tips you are making the buyer feel at ease to browse.

Be Willing to Negotiate – To an Extent

Negotiating can be a slippery slope and a bit intimidating, but with time and practice you can master this skill. Obviously, your goal is to make a sale but your ultimate objective is to make a profit for your business. In a negotiation, you have the upper hand because you are the only one who knows what you actually paid for the item. Use this information to determine the best price you would be able to offer on each of your items for sale. If you have a customer who is suggesting a price that undercuts your cost for an item, just remain calm and make a different offer, which may include throwing in another low-cost item for free. This shows the customer that you are willing to work with her and also that the item is valuable (worth having).

There’s one last bit of advice to add to this list of sales tips that you should always keep in mind when selling in face-to-face scenarios at special events, trade shows, flea markets and community fairs: treat everyone with respect, whether they buy or not. You never know if a non-buyer might one day become your biggest customer.

Face-to-Face Sales Tips (Trade Shows, Retail Stores & Festivals)

Selling online or over the phone requires a lot less pressure compared to selling in face-to-face scenarios. Online you simply present your pitch in written words and wait for someone who needs that solution to grab a hold of your message and make a purchase. When selling over the phone, you don’t have to be self-conscious about your appearance or gestures. But in a face-to-face selling situation, you have the potential buyer right there, in your face, waiting to see if you have something that they need or want.

Come Armed with Visuals

When you put yourself in any face-to-face selling opportunity, always come armed with some type of printed or visual media. The media should either attract the attention of potential buyers or educate them on features. It assists your pitch. For instance, if you are selling an invention at a trade show, make sure that you have a video playing that demonstrates how it works, or an educational leaflet to give to passersby. Either one attracts the attention of potential buyers and puts you in a better position to convert the face-to-face sale.

Let Them Touch It

If you sell a physical product, put it in the potential buyer’s hand. When a customer holds an item in his hands, the chance of a sale increases. The potential customer takes “ownership” of the item when she holds it in her hands, feels it and plays around with it. Some people will find it hard to let the item go. So as soon as someone comes up to your table or booth, pick up one of your products and offer it to them—then start talking to them about it.

Ask Questions

Some sales people make one common mistake when selling in face-to-face scenarios—they talk too much. They are so eager to sell the product or nervous that they talk themselves right of the sale. Let the customer talk to you—ask her questions related to her needs or desires. Listen intently and show her that you care about her needs and issues. Then present your product as a potential solution.

When selling in a face-to-face situation it is important to be aware of yourself, but you must also be aware of the potential customer’s needs, desires and behaviors. Relax, be prepared, put the customer first and watch as the rest of the pieces fall into place.

 

How to Motivate Employees to Love Their Jobs

Anyone who runs or manages a small business knows how difficult it can be to keep employee morale high. According to a recent Gallop poll, 70 percent of Americans don’t enjoy showing up to work each day. This just won’t do if you want your business to thrive—your employees play a vital role in the success of your company. If you can somehow motivate them to start to love (or at least strongly like) doing what they do, it will be beneficial for everyone involved.

Don’t Neglect Praise

It’s essential to give praise to your employees when it’s deserved. Many managers feel as if doing so will show a weakness of some sort, but it can actually serve to improve the employee’s job performance by leaps and bounds. Relate this to your own life—if your spouse or a loved one gives you genuine thanks and praise for completing a task, doesn’t it make you want to do it more and even better the next time? One caveat: be sure that you’re being genuine in your praise; you don’t want your employees to think that you’re reaching or being patronizing with them.

Limit the Rules

It’s important for every workplace to have rules, but restricting your employees too much will most likely cause them to develop a strong distaste for their jobs. Don’t lose an otherwise very strong employee because he took a seven-minute bathroom break instead of five—that type of nitpicking is counterproductive and doesn’t look at the bigger picture for your business. Give employees room to breathe if you want them to love their jobs.

At the same time, if an employee is completely disrespectful of all of your business rules even after several warnings, it may be best to let him go and give another qualified person a shot at the job. Too much contention with an employee who refuses to get with the program will create a tense relationship, and tension is a strong barrier to motivation.

Reward Employees with Meaningful Gifts

One of the best ways to get your employees to truly love what they do is to show your appreciation with gifts from time to time. A pat on the back is nice, but giving your employee a pair of tickets to the next home game of his favorite basketball team is even better. The gift has to be meaningful, which is why you should know a thing or two about each of your workers’ interests besides their work performance. The occasional meaningful gift shows that you have good will towards your employees, and they’ll respond to this in ways that you might not have ever expected.

To put it simply, employees who love their jobs are more productive. Since your job as a small business owner is to increase productivity, getting them to love their work more is highly beneficial to you and your company’s performance. If you can keep the level of motivation high, everyone involved will have something to gain.

Social Media: Which Sites Are Best for Your Small Business?

If you want your small business to thrive in this day and age, it’s crucial that you have some sort of social media presence. According to an article from CNN.com, about 75 percent of small businesses utilize social media but don’t know how to use it effectively. Take the time to learn more about the top social media sites and which ones may be best for your small business.

Facebook: The Mother of Social Networks

According to a 2013 research study by GlobalWebIndex, Facebook is by far the most popular social network in the world. Using Facebook properly and regularly can get you clients as close as next door and as far away as the other side of the globe. It can be a beneficial online tool for both B2C (business to customer) and B2B (business to business) companies. When users like your page, they receive updates. Make the most of your Facebook account by giving useful insights and posting links to current industry news. Grow your brand using this popular social media site by posting images related to the culture of your company. For instance, if you have a fun and laid back company culture, you might post photos and videos of your employees doing fun things like throwing a football around at the company picnic. Telling stories about your business also grabs the attention of Facebook users. Stories and pictures help potential clients connect and relate with your small business on a more personal level, which could persuade them to call on your company.

Also, Facebook is the perfect place to get feedback from customers so that you can better focus your advertising efforts — read the comments on your page to find out which products and services people like the most.

Twitter: The Conversation That Never Ends


Twitter is a powerful site for your small business because it allows you to send information about promotions, events and special news to clients in seconds. It is a useful social media solution for both B2C and B2B companies. With Twitter, you can build your customer or client base by generating conversations that illustrate your knowledge and experience. The quickest and most effective way to reach potential customers is to find and answer questions that relate to your business using the advanced search feature of the site. Ongoing engagement between you and your target audience builds trust and sets the foundation for Twitter followers to become customers. Twitter users will be more likely to visit your website or establishment if they trust your advice and opinions.

LinkedIn: The Potential Employee Directory

There comes a time when even the smallest small business needs to hire people to help the business reach its full potential. LinkedIn is the social media site to use when you’re ready to start hiring people. LinkedIn is a hub for people seeking new jobs. It is full of professionals advertising their resumes and experience. It can be a very useful tool in screening potential new hires before you consider setting up interviews. The site also offers recruiting services where you can post job openings and publish keyword-rich information about your company.

LinkedIn is also a great site to use if you sell to other businesses. One simple way to generate business contacts is to join a few groups that relate to your business. Provide useful information and advice — when you become established in a group over time, potential clients will want to know more about your company.

Pinterest: The Place for Creatives

If you run a creative small business, such as a graphic design company, art gallery, tattoo shop or beauty salon, Pinterest may be the ideal social media site for your company. Pinterest allows creative people to post visual images of their work and interests instead of text. So if you have a beauty salon, you might post before and after pictures of your clients. An art gallery owner can post the newest additions to the gallery’s collection. A graphic artist can post his entire portfolio on Pinterest to attract new clients. The images link back to your business website so that people can check out more of your work and contact you for inquiries. Some online experts believe Pinterest is the next big thing in social media for small companies.

Of course, there are plenty of other social media sites besides Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest that could help your small business gain more exposure, but it’s better to focus on a few popular sites than to spread yourself thin on dozens of different sites. It’s important to note that no matter what social media platform you use, the key to success is building a good relationship with your target audience.

3 Keys to Selling Success for a Small Business

You’ve probably heard that the ability to sell to people is something that you either have or you don’t have—an innate talent. But in truth, it is something that you can learn through experience. You must learn how people think and make decisions. People who are successful at selling usually come to a sales transaction equipped with confidence, information and intuition.

Confidence

People are very perceptive and they can detect when you’re unsure of yourself. If you show that you are unsure of yourself, that might mean that you’re unsure of the product or service you’re selling as well. Avoid stumbling over your words, shuffling about or glancing around nervously. Look the potential customer directly in the eyes and tell him what you’re selling. Remember that you, as a person, reflect on the product you’re selling—in many cases a customer chooses you, not the product. So carry yourself with confidence whenever you are talking to a prospect. Practice pitching your product or service in the mirror or to a trusted friend who will give you constructive advice.

Information

If you master every feature of the product or service you’re selling, you increase your chances of converting sales. Customers are bound to have questions—every time you intelligently answer a customer’s question, you remove a potential barrier to making the sale. Also, once you identify the customer’s needs you can easily match them to the product’s features.

Also, when it comes to selling, people usually need to see it to believe it. Do a product demonstration if possible or offer a free trial of your service. Provide the potential customer with as many samples as they need to be convinced that what you are selling is great.

Intuition

Intuition is not something that is easily taught when it comes to sales, but it can come with experience. An expert salesman eventually comes to a place where he can predict how a potential prospect will respond to his product and pitch. He learns how to read faces, gestures, body language and comments from the potential customer to know what he should say or do to get the sale. If you don’t have this ability, ask a more experienced sales person to mentor you.

Of course these are not the only traits you need in order to become a successful sales person—having an awesome product or service is a large part of the formula. However, when you go in prepared with plenty of confidence, information and intuition you’re putting yourself in a good position to start pulling in some sales.

 

Online Business Tips: Choosing a Product to Sell

Selling products online successfully depends largely on how aggressively you promote your website, but even more important is the product that you choose to sell. In the early stages of planning your new website, take plenty of time to brainstorm a list of products that you might want to sell in your online store, then ask yourself a few questions that will help you make a final decision in the matter.

How Many Competitors?

You do not want to set up the millionth website selling bedazzled cellphone cases. Yes, phone cases may sell, but you will be getting a very thin slice of the pie—if anyone happens to find your website. So before you decide to select a product, find out more about the competing online sellers, if any exist. If you do find a number of competing sites selling the same items, explore whether the site is doing a good job of presenting their products. Do they have high ranking on search engines? Would you have some sort of strong competitive advantage compared to these other sites such as a much better price or better quality?

Where Will You Source It?

You have two main options for supplying an online store: you can either manufacture the product yourself or order from a distributor. So before you choose a product to sell online, figure out how you will source it and how quickly you will be able to either manufacture or receive it from your distributor.

Do You Have Knowledge of the Product?

Another question to ask yourself: do you have any expert knowledge of the product that you plan to sell? While it isn’t necessary, it is a competitive advantage. For example, if you have intimate knowledge of automotive parts, knowing the ins and outs of each type of part is very important to potential buyers. They may ask you questions via email or phone and if you can answer as an authority the chances of a sale increase. Also, when you know plenty about the product that you’re selling online, it is easier to write informative product descriptions that entice sales.

Does It Ship Easily?

The next question to ask yourself is how easily you’ll be able to ship the product to buyers. The shipping process should be as simple, straightforward and affordable as possible if you want to maintain a profitable online business. If you plan to sell large, fragile, perishable or odd-shaped objects just keep in mind the complications that may arise, as well as the additional costs.

When you’re done answering these questions for all of the products on your list, evaluate them all side by side. Make your final decision based on how well you believe you can profitably market, ship, source and sell the products in your online store.