Five Tips for a Better Small Business

Are you wondering what can make your small business stronger? If yes, read along to see five tips that talk about how to grow your business and make it successful.
 
Building your own small business is not always done easily. With hard work, determination, perseverance, and tips from experts building a successful one can be achieved. Below are words of advice from experts around the web, highlighting 5 key tips for building and maintaining a successful small business. Below each tip you will find links to additional tips.
 
 Tip 1: Use Free Social Media Resources as Market Research
 
Twitter is an excellent source, rich with information about your competitors and customers. Utilize Twitter to scope out other businesses similar to yours and see where they are succeeding and where their customers say they are failing.
 
More tips from Small Biz Trends:
 http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/06/success-tips-for-small-business.html
 
Tip 2:  Stand Out
 
Ask yourself, what makes you different than everyone else? What do you provide that others can’t? Answering these questions helps you identify what makes your business unique which is important in strengthening your small business. You can and apply this information to your company’s message and utilize it in your marketing.
 
More tips from Small Business Administration:
 https://www.sba.gov/blogs/10-tips-help-you-build-and-grow-stand-out-small-business-brand
 
Tip 3: Keep Detailed Records
 
We’ve all heard the saying “history repeats itself,” but it isn’t often that business owners understand the importance of keeping a detailed history of their business records. Whether it be your earliest receipts of purchase for equipment or detailed records of your sales and your clients, maintaining a clear and accurate record is important for all businesses. This will allow you to make better forecasts of business flow, it will allow you to know where your business stands financially, and could help you identify and create strategies to grow your business.
 
More tips from Investopedia:
 http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/make-money-in-business.asp
 
 Tip 4: Utilizing your Business Credit
 
Many small business owners make the mistake of using up all of their personal capital to initiate their business or to keep it going. This shortens the longevity of a business as there is the potential of running out of cash, and puts your business at risk for closure. How can your business stay afloat? By utilizing business credit, which can be used for investments which will help your business grow. There are many sources online which educate small business owners on how to obtain loans, and what are the best types of investments for your business which will provide a greater return. Whether it be investing in employee training or new technologies, utilizing your business’ credit is the difference between a successful business and a failing business.
 
More tips from The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-crawt/three-simple-ways-to-grow_b_9473244.html
 
Tip 5: Make a Lasting Impression
 
One of the most important aspects of running a successful small business, which is often overlooked, is delivering exceptional service. More often than not, small business owners have multiple roles within their business. You are the accountant, the marketer, the salesperson, and fill in any other position which your business calls for. Having these multiple roles can stretch your courtesy thin; however it is important to always keep your customers satisfied. Make it your goal to always provide the best customer service possible, so that you can assure repeat business and free advertisements from satisfied customers.
 
More tips from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/nicoleleinbachreyhle/2016/02/28/3-small-business-tips-uniquely-aimed-at-entrepreneurs/#7305033059d8