My name is Robert Downs and I worked for the Federation of Small Businesses in Greater Manchester as the area’s development manager.
What advice would you give to SME's
If I was to give any advice to business. People starting out in business or you thinking about being an entrepreneur and setting up on their own it, seek advice.
Do not go into running your own business blind because you don’t know what you don’t know and there are people out there. Plenty people out there who be able to give you advice and guidance. There are organizations like the FSB who will guide you through those first early year steps,
Networking
That’s really, really key for small businesses who was starting out to network network network. It’s not just about winning news prospects. Finding new business. Networking is about reaching out to people who’ve been there and done it before. Who’ve trudged your path that you’re going to be on, they’ll give you advice. You’ll find most small business owners are actually really happy to share what they’ve learned along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask that.
Marketing & Sales
And if I was to say anything else that a business should take on board when they start out is getting your sales and marketing strategy right because without doing sales and marketing properly, you don’t have a business. You need prospects to come in the door. You need to be to engage with new clients, new customers win business, get them in, convert them and that’s how your business will take off. So you.
I think what a lot of small business owners perhaps don’t understand when they set out is that when you are the owner, you are the cheap cook and bottle washer. You are the marketing and sales manager, you are the HR manager. Youve got to be on top of everything and money. You are on your own. You’re a one-man band you. You’ve got to ask for help if you don’t know what you’re doing. You’ve got to ask for help because you will get it wrong if you don’t.
