Small Office, Home Office Information

It’s quite common for small businesses in our line of work to experience a downturn in business at this time of year and so many small small businesses similar to ours tend to take a break around Christmas and may not re-open for a week or two.

I was interested to read just yesterday that the small business advisor for the leading bank here in Australia suggests that taking a break like that can be one of the worst things a small business can do because it totally disrupts their cash flow. Toni and I were happy to read that because we’ve never taken a break like that over Christmas - instead we find that work just doesn’t stop for us and often we pick up new customers at this time of year because so many of our competitors are closed.

This year Christmas has turned out to be like all the others - we’ve picked up a new client and we’ve been deluged with work from many of our regulars.

Right now we’re working on:

1. Sales and search engine text for a custom water fountain site

2. Sales and search engine text for a coffee table and room-divider site

3. 10 articles for a cigar smoking site

4. A new brochure for one of our regular customers here in the town where we live.

5. A complete makeover of signage for another of our regular customers here in town … plus a logo … plus a major expansion of their website.

6. Ongoing text work for a small media company client in the United States and another in Spain.

7. A proposal for an e-commerce site for a small business here in town.

I know Toni has some other work stashed away in her client book too but I’m not game enough to look at it just yet. I think those seven jobs are quite enough to keep us busy over this quiet period

If things are going to be quiet for you over the next few weeks perhaps it’s a good time to look around for new business because we’re going to be doing that too. When you stand still you stagnate and your cashflow begins to dry up and without money coming in your business is doomed.

Have you ever wondered how your potential clients perceive you? They say actions speak louder than words so how do you act when you’re out socializing?

Do you let your hair down and go a little wild … or do you really go wild and have a “good time” that’s hard to remember the next morning?

Toni and I went to a small business Christmas function here in town on Friday night. It was interesting to see how the owners and employees of some small businesses behaved as the evening went on. It was also interesting to hear the comments of others as they watched that behaviour deteriorate.

Sometimes you can do more damage to your business than you may realise when you’re trying to have a “good time”.

Your word is your bond … when it isn’t what does your small business really have left to offer?

If your business doesn’t live up to the promises you make - or you don’t live up to the promises you make - then your customers will vote with their feet and tell others too and your suppliers may not want to know you either.

… well sometimes it’s like herding cats.

If you run a small business with a few employees and interesting challenges every day then you’ll know what I mean.

And this clip should make you laugh and it also happens to be a rather effective ad too

 Toni Livesey