1. There is no such thing as "free-time"
Boy is this true! You might remember the day that you worked for an employer, shoot you might still be working for an employer and just thinking about how awesome it would be run your own business! Something that might be crossing your mind, is all the "free-time" you would have when you work for yourself! I know, I know your drifting off into dream land, sitting on an island beach somewhere with a Mai Tai in your hand! Wake up! That is exactly what this is, a dream! If you think working for yourself is going to give you free time, you really should think again. Sure you might have a schedule that has now become more flexible, because you are not driving into the office everyday, or say your schedule is not 9-5pm. But in reality, what happens, is your free time becomes obsolete. You are not going to a job everyday where someone is telling you what needs to be done! You are doing the work, creating the product, testing the product, promoting the product, doing the books, doing the social media, writing the blog etc! Your one job just became 20 jobs! Your spare moments become a quick post, a chat with a fellow entrepreneur, a meeting with a possible client, and a quick Groupon post about a discount you will be offering! You are essentially, living, eating, dreaming, your business! Do I miss my free time? Not a bit, I just feel like my time is always more productive now. Thinking constantly about what I can change, about what I can do better, what my clients need in my market!
2. Social Media is more important that you think!
OK, so most of us have a Facebook account, Twitter and a Business Website. Some of us have a an Instagram account, or a blogging site. Does anyone still have MySpace? LOL I think this shows that most people are on the Internet for some reason or another. If they aren't using a computer, they are using a smart phone or a tablet. People are getting on the internet. People rely a lot on websites, and social media to tell them that they need and what they can't live without. If you are NOT on social media and you have a business, you are missing out on your own free advertising and all of your clients doing free advertising for you! On Facebook for example, you can link your Facebook Business page right off your personal profile. So all your friends can see your business. FOR FREE. So lets say when you are running a special, in my case, a discounted photography session, I share it on my personal and business page. "Sally" sees my post and likes it, now all of the sudden, all of her friends see my post in their feed, just because they are friends! See where I am going with this? Your possibilities are endless, and the amount of people you are reaching for free, is well , pretty amazing! Did I say already that it's FREE? So if you are on any of these social media sites, use them, if you aren't, hop on you tube and have a lesson! I recently joined Instagram, my girlfriend, who is also a Tog said, "why are you NOT on here" I felt a little silly and had no idea how do it! So I spent about an hour, learning how, setting up an account, and like magic, I am an instagram pro! We are so lucky to have this kind of technology at our finger tips! Remember, FREE Advertising! You can't go wrong!
3. Connections, Connections, Connections!!
DO NOT LIMIT YOURSELF. DO NOT BECOME THE BUSINESS PERSON THAT DOESN'T SHARE AND HELP OTHERS!! I cannot stress this enough! The more you open yourself to learn insight from others in your field, the more you will flourish. The more insight you offer to others, about your expertise, the more you will GROW!! Do you hear what I am saying? Do not act like you have it all, do not make others feel like they are insignificant because we have all been at the beginning stages at one time or another! We all started at the same place, THE BOTTOM! Being the person who is willing to help, take time to teach, and to treat others equally will reap the benefits in business, and even more in life!
4. Failure is good!
What? I am so confused, how could failing at something, possibly be good? Well OK, I don't want you to fail at something that could potentially give you a bad name, or ruin your business. But I do want you to fail along the way. Lots of times we get this air about ourselves when we succeed. We all need to lose a little. Failure, gives us drive and drive gives us an innate desire! Without it, where would we be? We all need to be knocked down a peg or two. We need to be reminded that we are not perfect, and that when those challenges arise that is what makes us who we are!
I love this quote from Thomas Edison, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
Use your failures to grow and your successes to celebrate your growth!
5. Don't say yes to everyone!
A fellow photographer friend of mine shared this with me, after about 6 months of saying yes to everyone! She told me that when you are a photographer, by trade, your clients will interview you, for a job, check your references and your style and see you if you are the right fit! She told me, you should be doing the same to them! As much as you are trying to sell your work, there has to be a common fit. A give and take relationship that will help this work relationship run smoothly. People ask me all the time in my line of work if I get tired of doing weddings because of all the "bridezilla's". I said no, because I don't work for brides like that!!!! They always look at me kind of puzzled like, huh? The reason I don't have bridezilla's is because you can absolutely see all of those traits in a meet and greet! I have a nice list of vendors that I am more the HAPPY to send the bridezillas too! Because honestly, if you are working with someone who is high maintenance and never going to be happy, what makes you think that they will be happy with your work? Be selective, be picky, and I am saying this because it will not only be good for you, but good for your business!
6. People will take as much as you are willing to give!
OK, this is sad but very true! I know that when I was starting out with my business, I was just simply stupid when it came to this point. I think when we start our businesses we are so excited to have clients, that we give away a lot! It comes from an area of default, we say to ourselves, "well I am new at this, and I guess it really won't matter if.." STOP!!!!! It does matter! Giving a discounted price at first, is fine, but if you continue to give deals or discounts, or add more to the already base product, people begin to expect it! Or they begin to tell their friends about this "cheap" deal! The last thing you want your business to be, is called CHEAP! For just a minute, think about Coach Purses. Are they cheap? NO. Are they good quality, YES. Will people pay top dollar for them? YES. Will the middle class, pay top dollar for them, YES! So case and point, don't be the CHEAP one! If you deliver your product, as you say you will, with all of these points in mind, your customers will want to hire you, without the "deal"
7. Quick Delivery makes repeat customers
When you are working with your clients, I can not stress this point enough! In dealing with my clients, they love a quick return! But guess what, so do I! The more I sit on editing a session, the less intriguing it becomes! The excitement dies off, and so does my desire to get it done! I have learned that my quick return time makes my clients really happy, but it also does the same for me! Now, I do tell my clients, a week or maybe 3 to 4 days when posting a gallery or a sneak peek, but then I surprise them, posting a sneak peek that night, or the following morning. I also follow suit on getting their gallery to them early as well. Everyone's business is different, but use your ability to make your schedule so that you have the time to make the quick return. When you do, you can almost guarantee a repeat customer and probably a referral! It's a no brainier! Now if you run into snag, talk to your customer, don't put it off, but I will touch a little more on this in #10!
8. Being Prompt is key
Don't be late! Plain and simple, no one likes to wait! If you tell a client you are going to meet them at a certain date and time, do it! If you say a product is going to arrive at a certain date or time, make sure it is! When people spend money on a product, they want what they are promised! Being late is rude and it will give you a bad reputation!
9. Reputation: IT matters!
We live in a world where one can run a business from their own home. So technically, we could wake up late everyday, work from home in a pj's without brushing our teeth or taking a shower. We could spend our nights out late partying and posting all over Facebook about it. We have our own business, so why does it matter? Well along with running your own business comes integrity. Comes responsibility. Comes Reputation. I know I sound like your mother, I am sorry. But she was right! The way you carry yourself in public and in private, can and will affect your business! If I am constantly posting about the partying I do on the weekends, and how blasted I got...how will that affect how others see me? Some people say, but your profile is personal, people who hire you, they will never know. Well how did people know before the internet and facebook? GOSSIP. Trust me. It will hurt your business in ways you can only imagine. Keep your reputation clean. Be the honest, hard working citizen that you claim to be. You want your clients to trust you, because they are giving you money for a product or service that you sell to them! You want your clients to know, that you are reliable! When people refer us to a friend, or co worker, they are not only referring your service, but they are also referring you as a trustworthy individual!
10. Customer Service is #1
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT! You might be wondering why I saved it for number 10? Well it is proven that when people read an article or blog they generally remember the last part of the article! So if you walk away with anything after reading this, please remember Customer Service is #1!!!!! Treat people the way you want to be treated, this is the golden rule right? In my house hold with 4 kids, this is the most important rule! If you want to be respected, respect others. Respect their time, their money, their commitment to you, their trust in you, their hopes for you. When people chose the small business, over the big company, it is FOR THE CUSTOMER service! We are lucky being a small business, because if we make the effort in this area, we will be remembered! Take the time to be on time, take pride in the details, make the extra phone call, send the Christmas card, Add the boutique packaging! People will remember that! Even if you run into a delay or a problem, communicate with your clients, a personal call or stopping by and talking with someone, face to face will do a lot! Remember, without your clients.. Your business would NOT exist!
Have a wonderful day.. The Blended Family Mom Tog
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