We all need to tighten the purse strings in the first few months of setting up a new business. However the issue with that is that there are some areas in business where we really need a little helping hand to get us going in the right direction. If you are wondering how to get the help you need, without blowing your budget, then read on for our top tips on how to do just that.
Free PR
We all know the importance of PR, in the beginning of our businesses, however it is not always easy to know how to go about getting it. In order to get free PR you are going to need to position yourself in a unique and original way in order to peak their attention. Instead of the standard running through of the benefits of your company why not instead focus on what your company stands for and what your unique approach is to tackling a problem or issue in your industry. Thinking from the perspective of the press and PR agencies, is important in order for you to be thinking what would interest them and get your business publicity. So work on valuable content, original positioning and a creative way of selling the unique nature of your business and the publicity should come rolling in.
Look Bigger
Websites, brochures and business cards that have home addresses are a common mistake but one that can make or break a business. No client is going to feel full of confidence working with a business that is operated from home. Therefore it is advisable to tweak the appearance of your business in order to look completely professional and to be able to build trust and credibility with your clients and within your industry. Research a physical address with a virtual office company in order to register your business in a prestigious city centre location where you will also be able to enjoy the benefits of having your mail collected and your phone calls answered on a weekly basis. Being able to put an impressive, commercial city centre address will drastically alter the perception of your business.
Business Swap
Rather than paying for a social media strategist or a a freelance content writer why not consider ways that you can business swap. Rather than money exchanging hands perhaps you have something to offer them, from your business, that could result in a mutually beneficial relationship. Perhaps you can pay a freelance writer, for a landing page write up, with free home office equipment if you are a furniture e-commerce site. Or maybe you can pay for your five hour a month accountant fee by offering a year’s free subscription of your business organizational software and tools. Thinking about what your business offers and the type of professionals that would benefit from it could bring about new relationships that may start with a little ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’. Of course it doesn’t always work, but there is no harm in asking if you generally feel that you are offering something of value to the other person.
Thinking creatively about the ways that you can build partnerships with people and how you can grow your business using the resources available to you, will go a long way in helping you to get your startup off the ground and moving in the right direction.
