New Business

[Dee Green]

Hi Im new to this site , i am going to start up my own business but need to know where to start with marketing etc , all help/advice would be greatly appreiated.



Cheers
Dee

 

[Scousejock]

depending on what the business is will depend on how you should market it to your target audience

 

[future_business_success]

Will it be a business that operates from an office/shop or purely an online business?

 

[Dee Green]

Sorry I was really quite vague , I am wanting to set up business in chasing companys debtors (Self employed Credt Controller), Its a field I feel that there is oppertunity for as many small business spend time chasing money when they could be spending their valuable time creating new business instead , I am actually a bookkeeper, however wanted to start up business doing this then expand to a full range of bookkeeping as I get established .

 

[Dee Green]

Will it be a business that operates from an office/shop or purely an online business?

I will run my business from a home office.

 

[ruthxxx]

Good luck sounds a great idea, I used to work for a small company and wasted hours chasing money when I was the sales manager!

 

[PayPoint net]

Hi Im new to this site , i am going to start up my own business but need to know where to start with marketing etc , all help/advice would be greatly appreiated.



Cheers
Dee

We have a number of marketing resources from e-commerce marketing tips to social media for businesses which you may find worthwhile.

Hope they help
Siobhan

 

[polygon]

For a small startup ecommerce store, that dosnt have the money to pay for SEO right at the start, is researching my own seo and learning more than enough to startup?

I have seen the prices some peopel are charging and ther is no wya I can justify it at the start. I have been reading quite alot of about and marketing, and I feel I could do my own seo on my ecommerce store. Hope it works.

 

[Truemanbrown]

Sorry I was really quite vague , I am wanting to set up business in chasing companys debtors (Self employed Credt Controller), Its a field I feel that there is oppertunity for as many small business spend time chasing money when they could be spending their valuable time creating new business instead , I am actually a bookkeeper, however wanted to start up business doing this then expand to a full range of bookkeeping as I get established .

First thing, I would as contact accountants to offer a partnership.

A lot of accountants will have SMEs who are not very good at credit control. If you have an arrangement with an accountant then they will recommend your services to their clients.

Second, go to networking meetings. You will be bound to meet people who will require you service.

 

[future_business_success]

For a small startup ecommerce store, that dosnt have the money to pay for SEO right at the start, is researching my own seo and learning more than enough to startup?

I have seen the prices some peopel are charging and ther is no wya I can justify it at the start. I have been reading quite alot of about and marketing, and I feel I could do my own seo on my ecommerce store. Hope it works.

In regards to SEO their is so many factors involved with it not just within the website itself but also off the website such as press releases, articles, blogs posts and link building.

Link building is a strong SEO method but you have to make sure that these links are relevant and not brought links.

On page SEO has lots of factors involved so it will be interesting to see how you get on with it.

 

[domains]

Hi Dee

Welcome to UKBF

At least you are looking at starting the right way round! Marketing and who you market to are really important in startups, a lot of SME/B2B home workers etc miss the whole point, why go and do loads of stuff if you have no one to sell your niche onto!

What sort of chasing are you planning on doing and what sort of companies / people would you like to deal with day to day?

 

[Dee Green]

First thing, I would as contact accountants to offer a partnership.

A lot of accountants will have SMEs who are not very good at credit control. If you have an arrangement with an accountant then they will recommend your services to their clients.

Second, go to networking meetings. You will be bound to meet people who will require you service.

Thanks for the advice , I think that will be one of the 1st things I do , I have some Marketing events to attend in November and along side letting people know what im about and what I can offer I also want to be able to let people know what I have already done to achieve my goal , the more I can do now the better I can sell myself

I have heard marketing on facebook and linkedin is really good so will be starting on that asap...

 

[Dee Green]

Hi Dee

Welcome to UKBF

At least you are looking at starting the right way round! Marketing and who you market to are really important in startups, a lot of SME/B2B home workers etc miss the whole point, why go and do loads of stuff if you have no one to sell your niche onto!

What sort of chasing are you planning on doing and what sort of companies / people would you like to deal with day to day?

I would like to offer services to small to medium companies who spend valuable time on chasing monies owed to them when in this financial climate need to be spending time getting the work in and not having to worry about being paid for work done , I feel there is a hole in the market for this kind of service , many sole traders dont have the funds to employ someone part/full time to do this and I feel I could ease the pressure..

Some people find if their cash is tied up they dont always have the funds to start new jobs!!

 

[GraemeL]

Hello Dee,

Your problem is knowing who to target?

Maybe you could approach some small accountants and try to get them to commend you to their clients who are not in control of DSO's?

Also, you will need to think carefully about how you charge. Your clients will be expecting their money 'on time' even when you have no idea how strictly the terms have been explained to the client in the first place.

 

[Dee Green]

Hello Dee,

Your problem is knowing who to target?

Maybe you could approach some small accountants and try to get them to commend you to their clients who are not in control of DSO's?

Also, you will need to think carefully about how you charge. Your clients will be expecting their money 'on time' even when you have no idea how strictly the terms have been explained to the client in the first place.

I am already planning on approching acountants in the area, I have a lot of ground work to do with regards to pricing , I need to know what potential customers would expect from me , I dont want it to be complicated , maybe it would be in my intrest to offer an invoicing service to potential customers or recommend they dont just issue hand written invoices and have a proper layout with the credit terms clearly stated , as I say I still have a lot of work and research to do .:|

 

[domains]

A few on UKBF need chasing Good starting point to see if it works!

 

[Dee Green]

I have just beenn speaking with a colleague and she said I may have to be governed by the FSA , does any one know if this is correct :|

 

[GraemeL]

I have just beenn speaking with a colleague and she said I may have to be governed by the FSA , does any one know if this is correct :|

No idea - doesnt seem obvious that you would be - but best to check.

 

[Mitch3473]

Sounds like a great idea.Unless you've had experience in debt collection/mangement it wont be easy.

 

[Dee Green]

Sounds like a great idea.Unless you've had experience in debt collection/mangement it wont be easy.

I have had over 16 years accounts experience and most of them in a credit control role or role where I have had credit control duties , so im hoping its going to be ok but we will see.

 

[Fred_the_frog]

Vista Print do 250 free business cards (Well, they used to if they don't still do them) so I recommend getting some of them and look up some small businesses in your area and give them a card. It might sound obvious, but if they know you exist then they are more likely to go to you.

Good luck!