Does Your Business Keep Working When You Are Off-duty?

20 Must-Have Tools for Any Business

1. Business cards: Come on, small business owners. What are you waiting for???
You can order business cards online, even design them yourself with VistaPrint, inexpensive and professional-looking.

2. Letterhead. And thank-you notes. Get ‘em. Then use them. You will stand out.
In a business-world filled with rapid-fire communication via e-mail and text-messaging, it feels really nice to get an actual letter or note card. That human touch goes a long way in building relationships.

4. Bio: Printed, for use when speaking, doing press releases, sending promotional kits; on your website, so people who are looking for you online can get to know “the real you” a little better.
Your bio should exist on the web in several incarnations. You can get plenty of free publicity from your LinkedIn profile, a SquidWho page, and from pages directly on your business website.

5. Capabilities brochures, sells sheets, mini-portfolio: The humble brochure is not dead, but so many folks who create them, apparently, are. Get fresh with the design of yours. Include tips, quips, something to make it a giveaway that’s tough to throw away.
Make sure that every piece of printed collateral also exists as a PDF and JPG and is posted to your website. These links can be used to e-mail clients and probable purchasers your sales and marketing info, while also bringing them to your website. We just mentioned “website” for the second time, don’t have a website yet? Contact Stephen for help with that project!

7. Packaging: For service businesses—maybe not so obvious, but this can include binders or presentation folders for proposals… these days even office-store supplies can be minimally customized for your company. For products—ready for the cliché? Think outside the box. Seriously.
If you need a little inspiration, just do an image search for “Creative Packaging Solutions“, you will be amazed at what people have come up with.

8. Hang tags: For products—some people keep these as if they’re business cards. Make sure yours has plenty to say.
Once again, a simple image search for “hang tag” will bring up 1.6 million images. Be sure that your website and contact information are on that hang tag.

9. Website: Think I shouldn’t have this on the list? Check it out—Over 45% of small business owners still don’t have a website. Jump now!
Sorry to keep plugging this, but if you don’t have a website yet, please - help our business grow and contact Stephen for help with that project!

10. FAQs: A subset of your website, but too crucial not to get its own mention. Answer your customers’ questions, not the things you wish they’d ask.
I have to disagree with this point, I believe that you should have both sets of FAQ available for your readers, because there are a lot of common questions, and you also want to educate your readers and probable purchasers about their choices. Many times the people that come to your website do not know what it is that they do not know - the dilemma of the “unknown unknowns”. Make 2 FAQ pages, and make them easy to find.

12. Blog: The ultimate communications tool for small business. If you can write interestingly, and can develop a consistent pace, you should do it. Even if it’s only once or twice a week.
More about blogging here in the Blogging Channel.

13. Press releases: Go modern and e-release for free with prlog.
PRLog is a free online press release service. You can submit your press releases at no charge. All of their services are free. Notice the emphasis on “free”.

14. Get interviewed: A fast-growing site to help you become a resource for reporters is Peter Shankman’s If I Can Help a Reporter Out. If you’re the expert in your field, and you want others to know it, mix this in with traditional methods, building relationships with local reporters.
“Each day, you’ll receive up to three emails, each with anywhere from 15-30 queries per email. They’ll all be labeled with [shankman.com] in the subject line, for easy filtering. If you see a query you can answer, go for it! HelpAReporter.com really is that simple.”

15. Traditional advertising: Why is everyone more excited to get customers from around the globe than from around the bend?
Well, depending on your business, customers from around the globe may or may not be more exciting. In any case, it is important that your traditional advertising includes your website and contact information, so that probable purchasers can get more information about you and your business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

19. Public speaking: If there is a better way to communicate with prospects than to, umm, communicate with prospects, I don’t know what it is. I didn’t say 20 easy tools! Try to find a luncheon to speak at, a workshop to teach, a panel to be a part of… get out there and talk about the problems your potential clients face every day.
Joining your local Chamber of Commerce is a fairly easy way to book a speaking engagement, these groups are always looking for presenters at member meetings and get-togethers. Also, Toastmasters - find your local group and join.