Tips, Tricks & Traps

1) Learn how to delegate and do it more often.
Learn how to delegate and do it more often. Be more picky with who you hire. It's an employer's market. Make it work for you.
2) Most people need between 6-9 hours, but most people give up sleep when they're under stress to finish more work.
Most people need between 6-9 hours, but most people give up sleep when they're under stress to finish more work.
3) Promote your business regularly and consistently.
Promote your business regularly and consistently. Keeping your name out there is important to attract new and keep current customers.
4) Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to deal with stress.
Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to deal with stress. It releases endorphins and gives you a natural "high."
5) Make business planning a monthly event.
Make business planning a monthly event. Compare what you did the same month last year. How can you change it or make it better?
6) When you have something important to get done, make sure to block off a period of time when you can work without being disturbed or distracted.
When you have something important to get done, make sure to block off a period of time when you can work without being disturbed or distracted. Put your phone on voice mail, shut your door, or go someplace to work where no one can find you.
7) Learn something new.
Learn something new. Attend a workshop or seminar to refresh your ideas. Many aren't new, they just have gotten stale.
8) Avoid foods high in fat, sugar and sodium.
Avoid foods high in fat, sugar and sodium. If you are going to be out all day, make sure to pack healthy snacks and don't skip meals because this will lower your energy levels.
9) Join a new business organization or networking group.
Join a new business organization or networking group. Find one that will give you the most return on your investment.
11) Give something back to your community.
Give something back to your community. Whether it's mentoring students, making a donation to a local charity, or just having a customer appreciation day.
12) Put time for you on your calendar.
Put time for you on your calendar. Take a walk, get a massage, or just read a book while soaking in the tub.
13) Set realistic goals and deadlines.
Set realistic goals and deadlines. Those are much easier to achieve. You will feel accomplished when you do.
14) Don't make do; get a new one.
Don't make do; get a new one. Sometimes you have to make do with that old equipment. If so, budget and plan for a new one. Set budgets and stay within them.
15) Focus on the positive things in your life and say to yourself at least one positive thought each day.
Focus on the positive things in your life and say to yourself at least one positive thought each day. Don't waste your time worrying about things you can't change or always planning for the worst.
16) Drop what's not working for you and move on.
Drop what's not working for you and move on. If it didn't work, scrap it and do something else.
17) Keep developing a list of loyal customers.
Keep developing a list of loyal customers. Market to them regularly (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi, or annually) Whatever your budget allows!
18) If you haven't been raising your prices each year, start NOW!
If you haven't been raising your prices each year, start NOW! Use a formula that makes sense without making your customers wonder why the price is 3 times what they paid last time.
19) Market whatever sells the best for you!
Market whatever sells the best for you! Don't get in a war with your competitors over pricing. If your product is good, your service is GREAT, and your price is fair; most customers will buy!
20) Customers are starting to go back to buying quality over quantity.
Customers are starting to go back to buying quality over quantity. You just need to educate them!
21) Don't spend all your dollars in one place.
Don't spend all your dollars in one place. Get Innovative!
22) Gone are the days when folks would travel long distances to shop at your store.
Gone are the days when folks would travel long distances to shop at your store. Ask yourself, when was the last time your asked the locals to shop your store?
23) Keep a To Do List or daily planner and make sure to include time for yourself and time for stress reduction activities.
Keep a To Do List or daily planner and make sure to include time for yourself and time for stress reduction activities. Give priority to the most important activities and do those first.
24) Don't feel guilty when you have to tell others no.
Don't feel guilty when you have to tell others no. Taking on additional projects or work for others when you are busy will only cause you more stress.
25) Shopping Local offers that friendly service we all miss from the "good old days."
Shopping Local offers that friendly service we all miss from the "good old days." Ordering online can be expensive when you add in the shipping costs.
26) Shopping at a smaller store saves you money since there are fewer items to tempt you and it's easier to stay on budget.
Shopping at a smaller store saves you money since there are fewer items to tempt you and it's easier to stay on budget. Shop a bunch of smaller stores and you'll spend less. More is definitely NOT better!
27) Homemade gifts are always appreciated because they're made with love which is an ingredient you can't buy.
Homemade gifts are always appreciated because they're made with love which is an ingredient you can't buy.
28) Outwit Bad Check Passers.
Outwit Bad Check Passers. Consider an extremely high fee for returned checks posted in their store to warn customers. Accepting Debit Cards can help eliminate accepting checks all together.
29) Give people something for FREE and they will feel obligated to return the favor.
Give people something for FREE and they will feel obligated to return the favor. When you help someone, it creates a natural desire to return the favor.
30) Give potential customers a taste of your offerings.
Give potential customers a taste of your offerings. When customers are excited about your product or service, they are much more likely to upgrade or buy more. Samples are Good!
31) Make it "Extra Special."
Make it "Extra Special." Don't just sell lemonade. Put in that extra sprig of mint. Make everything you do something "extra special" and clients will take notice. Not only will they come back for more, they'll tell their friends.
32) Don't Be Afraid to Tell Your "Neighbors" (Network!)
Don't Be Afraid to Tell Your "Neighbors" (Network!) Don't be afraid to tell friends and colleagues about your services. You never know, they may talk to your next big client later that day. Swap business cards (your little marketing postcard) everywhere you go.
33) Do What You Need to Do to Be Seen.
Do What You Need to Do to Be Seen. It's NEVER enough just to put up a sign. Get Involved!
34) Be Persistent.
Be Persistent. Keep asking every potential customer or client to buy.
35) Build Anticipation.
Build Anticipation. Don't just launch your new website; let people know its coming. Drop hints, show them screen shots, and make them look forward to the big day.
36) Find Good Partners.
Find Good Partners. Seek partners that make sense such as a partnership with the local pizza shop and the movie theatre. Think outside the box and determine partners that can enhance or improve your business offerings.
37) Advertise Your Popularity.
Advertise Your Popularity. Don't be afraid to advertise your popularity. Place download counters, comment counts and subscriber numbers in prominent places. Just make sure the stats are high enough to warrant a little bragging.
38) Use free publicity.
Use free publicity. It costs you nothing and builds credibility and awareness. So look for opportunities to be involved with community activities.
39) Speak at local organizations.
Speak at local organizations. Every organization is looking for speakers for their monthly meetings, so offer to share your knowledge with them. You'll get exposure to groups as an expert and meet lots of new people who might be potential clients.
40) Write articles for newsletters, newspapers, industry journals and your own website.
Write articles for newsletters, newspapers, industry journals and your own website. Sharing information builds name recognition, which helps bring in clients.
41) Create a website.
Create a website. Websites are a must. You're missing a great opportunity if your business doesn't have a presence on the web. It's a very cost-effective way of letting people know about you and your products and services.
42) Partner with others.
Partner with others. Look for businesses with complementary services to create cooperative advertising campaigns so that you have a pool of dollars.
43) Look at ways that you can get more involved in the organizations you already work with.
Look at ways that you can get more involved in the organizations you already work with. This helps build your name recognition by being involved on committees.
44) Networking is the most effective way to meet people.
Networking is the most effective way to meet people. People like to do business with others they know. Networking takes very few dollars, but it does take a time commitment because you must be consistent in your networking efforts.
45) Price it Right!
Price it Right! Don't be the cheapest. Don't be the most! Price your good and services right making sure you cover yourself for slower times.
46) Update Your Voicemail.
Update Your Voicemail. Practice your message as many times as you need to so it sounds smooth. Then, record your new and improved voicemail message. Include a greeting before you say your business or organization. Keep it simple and as short as possible. Speak clearly and concisely. Don't forget to smile when you're recording your message.
47) Update Your Insurance Policies: Raising your deductible can make a big difference in the cost of your premiums.
Update Your Insurance Policies: Raising your deductible can make a big difference in the cost of your premiums. If you pay for your own insurance and you're healthy, consider switching to a Health Savings Account.
48) Give Awesome Service!
Give Awesome Service! Want to start some buzz in this economy? Then, give all your customers the best service ever. They will tell others.
49) Re-Train Your Staff: Just like rolling through the stop sign, we all need to be trained and re-trained.
Re-Train Your Staff: Just like rolling through the stop sign, we all need to be trained and re-trained. Schedule regular staff meetings. Keep your employees informed on promotions and provide customer service training to refresh their skills.
50) Tell Them The Price and WAIT!
Tell Them The Price and WAIT! Educate your customers on why your product or service is worth buying. Then, give your customers a chance to absorb the information you give them. Finally, ask for the sale and don't lower your price. You can't win them all, but, you'll win most!
51) Incentives Work!
Incentives Work! Develop sales contests for your staff that can be fun, educational, and good for the bottom line.
52) The Three Most Important Things in Business: Exceptional Customer Service, Products and Services Customers Want Most and Reasonable Prices.
The Three Most Important Things in Business: Exceptional Customer Service, Products and Services Customers Want Most and Reasonable Prices. Businesses falling to the wayside have often let the customer dictate price. That's no way to stay in business for the long haul.
53) It's NOT How Much You Charge .
It's NOT How Much You Charge ... It's How Well You Service!
54) QuickBooks - Help Your Business GROW!
QuickBooks - Help Your Business GROW! Make and Save Money. Create invoices, pay bills, and track expenses FAST! Save Time. 70% of users say they save 3 or more hours a week. Peace of Mind
Be ready at tax time next year with complete and accurate records.
55) Do Something!
Do Something! Don't wait for anyone to step in and fix the problem. That takes way too long! If you haven't been proactive in developing your business, there is NO time like the present.
56) Those that Don't May Fail!
Those that Don't May Fail! You've worked hard at your business and maybe now you're just a bit more tired. But, that's no excuse. Get your employees together and get motivated to do something to improve your piece of the pie.
57) Be Innovative!
Be Innovative! Maybe it's time to sublet some space in your store. Maybe it's time to renegotiate your lease, insurance, loan, etc. Maybe you need to pay your utility bills every other month just so you have some cash flow for marketing.
58) Sell More of What You Sell Most!
Sell More of What You Sell Most! It's always harder to sell the stuff you want to sell. Go deeper on quantities of items that sell better. Eliminate or switch to special orders on those that don't.
59) Small Increases Work!
Small Increases Work! Have you ever calculated what adding 10 cents to the retail price of a product over the course on one year's sales? If you're trying to maintain your old price, that will hurt you. You need to do the same & then plan an annual increase right before your busy season starts.
60) According to Jim Collins, Good to Great, Stage 1: Obtain Disciplined People - Get rid of the employees that don't belong & replace them with those that fit!
According to Jim Collins, Good to Great, Stage 1: Obtain Disciplined People - Get rid of the employees that don't belong & replace them with those that fit! It's a buyer's market - I say, "Start Shopping"
61) According to Jim Collins, Good to Great, Stage 2: Maintain Disciplined Thought - Keep it Simple!
According to Jim Collins, Good to Great, Stage 2: Maintain Disciplined Thought - Keep it Simple!
62) According to Jim Collins, Good to Great, Stage 3: Develop Disciplined Action - Slow & Steady.
According to Jim Collins, Good to Great, Stage 3: Develop Disciplined Action - Slow & Steady. That's the way to grow a business. Or, turn it around. Remember that it didn't happen overnight and it won't get instantly better overnight.
63) According to Jim Collins, Good to Great, Stage 4: Build Greatness to Last - "BHAGs - Big Hairy Audacious Goals"
According to Jim Collins, Good to Great, Stage 4: Build Greatness to Last - "BHAGs - Big Hairy Audacious Goals"
64) Beating Credit Card Fraud: Accepting credit cards can be a tricky business.
Accepting credit cards can be a tricky business. No one wants to turn away a legitimate customer or give the thief merchandise or services for FREE. If you haven’t had a staff meeting recently, before the holiday season, is definitely the time.
65) Beating Credit Card Fraud: Always ask for Identification.
You may ask for identification anytime you are presented with a credit card. Many cardholders even write "Ask for ID" on their cards to prevent unauthorized use. Most credit cards clearly state that they are not valid unless signed. Point this out to any shopper who has an unsigned card and say to the customer, "May I check your ID to verify your signature?" Address the customer by the name embossed on the credit card. If he or she does not respond, you should definitely ask for identification.
66) Beating Credit Card Fraud: Learn to recognize a credit card's built-in security features.
All credit and debit cards have distinctive characteristics that help protect consumers and merchants from forgeries. Each time a customer offers a card for payment, look for the following security features:

a. A hologram that changes color in the light.

b. A signature panel that resists erasure and protects the cardholder's signature.

c. A magnetic stripe that transmits specially coded information.

d. An embossed account number on the front of the card that matches the number printed on the back.

e. VISA and MasterCard have a CVC2 and CVV2 3-digit codes on the back of the card for additional security.

f. If you receive a credit card that seems suspicious, request a transaction authorization over the telephone by calling the code 10 (or "call for assistance") hotline number supplied by your payment service provider.

67) Beating Credit Card Fraud: Utilize the Address Verification Service (AVS).
Internet retailers, mail order/phone order merchants and other business owners who process card-not-present transactions should always use the AVS before they ship merchandise to customers. The service confirms numerical address information with card-issuing banks, and it returns codes that tell merchants whether the figures match. Using the AVS is simple. To request a response, you must submit the numerical part of your customer's address as well as his or her five-digit ZIP Code, then complete the sales transaction. Within seconds, you'll receive an authorization code, along with an AVS response.