Money Saving Tips for Your Business

Here are a few tips to get you started saving money in your business. This is especially good for start-ups and businesses on s shoestring budget.

1. Dropbox

This is a phenomenal time saver. It may take a little time to get to know how to use it but the benefits of having your files wherever you go, even on your phone are worth a lot! If you are at a client's and you forgot your contract or a report that you wanted to show them, you can easily access it and send it to them without breaking a sweat. If you lose your paper files, no problem if you have saved a copy in Dropbox. This program is really easy to use and saves a lot of frustration.

2. QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks online version is very similar to QuickBooks desktop except...you and your accountant or bookkeeper can access the program from anywhere. This is great for invoicing on the go (so you don't forget to send an invoice), collecting payments on the go and also producing reports on demand for your bank, shareholders, etc. Time is money and having information at your fingertips at all times is crucial.

3. Vistaprint

This company helps you make your own marketing materials very inexpensively. Business cards, brochures, flyers, signs, banners and even clothing with your message and logo on it. If you are cash poor and time rich, I would suggest trying your hand at making som materials...it might not be a bad idea to watch a few YouTube tutorials first. Which brings me to the next point...

4. YouTube Tutorials

It is important to continue to invest in yourself. If you stop learning, you stop growing. Take time to watch some YouTube tutorials on areas you would like to improve on such as: public speaking, closing sales, managing inventory, marketing tips and many more. It's like having a free teacher in your home.

5. Facebook

Facebook has a complex set of algorithms designed to make Facebook money. To post something on your business page and hope that it reaches everyone who has liked your Page is wishful thinking. Facebook offers you an option to 'Boost your post' and this means for a bit of $$, you can reach almost everyone who is part of your page. Again, a YouTube tutorial or two about how to write posts that people will actually read, is a good use of your time.

6. Canva

This is a program that allows you to design social media posts that are eye-catching and will grab attention. Social media like Facebook and Instagram are important tools for reaching today's internet based audience. Even if you are not computer savvy, you should at least have a basic knowledge if you are wanting to reach a larger market. Canva will allow people with very little knowledge to create great posts!

7. VOIP

This stands for Voice Over Internet Phone and it is a phone that, instead of working on a telephone wire, works from your internet connection. Ideally for people in urban areas (although some rural areas use it successfully also), it is a great way to save on your business phone bills which can be very costly.

8. Creative Marketing

Marketing can take on many forms. The best marketing I have found is word of mouth. You can use many ways to get people to talk about you (in a positive light) but the best way is to go the extra mile. Send out Thank you cards after you land a sale, give a gift certificate to a person that referred you to someone, send personalized follow up emails to someone 3 months after they have been to see you, send out birthday cards to your clientele (maybe offer a discount on a service you have?) or call a client if you hear they are in the hospital or have lost a loved one. It's all about relationship and being genuinely interested in people will keep your clients talking about you in a positive light to their friends.

Like this article? Please consider sharing on social media! Erin offers regular training sessions in how to save your business money and how to use social media to gain clients. Contact her for more details.