How to Grow your Business and still Save Money

[BarbaraKParker]

Hello guys, I need your opinion on how do you keep your business successful and still save a lot on your daily company expenses?

What are the things that you do, any process you have in mind?

Thank you

[NinaBug]

what kind of business do you have?

[JKansas]

Make yourself look as big as possible on a budget. Use phone services like my1voice, or google voice to have a 1800 number that forwards to your cell. Definitely buy a dot com address and have it hosted so you don't use a gmail address. Use myfax or similar for a fax number that forwards to email. Work very hard on brochures and digital advertisements to make your company look like it hired the best to design it.

Things like these are all affordable and make you look like you have a high end phone system with receptionist and it department. They also make your life easier.

As a disclaimer i don't work for or rep any of those companies, I do use them all though.

[BarbaraKParker]

what kind of business do you have?

A small business online. Managing some websites. Something like that.

[bluestellar]

You mean what type of useful resources to use?

[Gary Barzel]

A small business can save a lot of money with some simple, low cost changes in the use of utilities and other resources. Some cheap energy-reducing products include: CFL light bulbs, a power strip that stops drawing energy when devices are turned off, timers, and light sensors. Resource-conserving practices include: shutting down computers when not in use, reusing shipping material, and printing double-sided pages. You can also purchase second-hand equipment and furnishing to help reduce costs.

[BarbaraKParker]

You mean what type of useful resources to use?

Yeah... that is one. A good tool is always needed.

[Carmen11smith]

Use as many free or cheap resources as you can. Craigslist is a great one for advertising locally. Social media networks are a must especially for online businesses, it is the equivilent of word of mouth marketing. One thing that I do recommend spending some time or money on is your site, make sure it looks professional. If the website does not catch potential customer's attention than you will definatley lose business, this is especially important for an online business because the appearance is all that you have since there is very little actual contact with the customer.

[bluestellar]

Are email lists useful?

[hboss]

The Best way of Promoting Your business and get the Proper benefits..U have to concentrate on good marketing and good planning.
From which you can get the Proper benefits from your product.
Dont get fed from business if u dont get the profit..Just concentrate on your work..

[The Stealthy One]

Use as many free and open-source tools as you can find. Skype is great. Gmail and Google Docs, too.

A word on doing things yourself versus hiring a professional might be in order.....while you can save $$$ up-front by performing certain actions yourself (specifically, legal and accounting tasks), this doesn't always pay off long-term. If you are inexperienced and this is your first venture, you will find it can be easy to overlook seemingly simple matters that become major issues later on. Because of this, I would never suggest cutting costs when it comes to legal and accounting matters. It is much better to build a strong foundation on both fronts at the start then risk losing your business later on because you had no clue what you were doing when starting out.

Other tips - offer internships. Often, you don't have to pay, and it is relatively easy to partner with local unis for things you might need, such as a Website or graphic design work, or even the creation of a marketing campaign. In addition, you can even find "free" interns for office work and the like. Quality won't be exceptional (these individuals are learning, after all), but you get a chance to help someone gain valuable startup experience while also limiting your financial contribution at the outset.

That's what I've got from a few quick thoughts, anyway.....

[BarbaraKParker]

Yes, helpful indeed.

[Jimpaxx]

Use social media in your business.

It will help you market your business and its totally free. If used properly, it will give your business a boost.

Get this free ebook from socialmediabusinessguidedotcom about social media for business owners

This might help you

[BarbaraKParker]

Social media has many uses when it comes to online marketing. Thanks! another good one