Tagged: tips for small business

Building the Right Reputation for Your Small Business

 Article Provided by Pierre Zarokian from Reputation Stars

Marketing Techniques for Small Businesses

Professional reputation is not only important to develop when you have a high profile career, but it is also important to develop for your small business. The reputation of your small business is going to dictate whether your small business is successful or if it fails. However, while knowing it is important to have a good reputation when running a small business, most small business owners do not know how to develop the right kind of reputation for their company.

Tip #1 – Create a Profile of the Ideal Reputation

The first step in developing a good reputation for small business is to determine what your company’s ideal reputation should be. For example, your company’s ideal reputation may be based on your competitive drive, your professional aggression or the quality of products that you produce, or it may be better for your company to have a softer more nurturing reputation.

Tip #2 – Identify Opportunities for Publicity

Publicity is going to be one of your most important tools for shaping your small business’s reputation. Publicity can be bought, however, it can be more effective if you look for opportunities for “free” publicity. “Free” has been put into quotations because there is no such thing as “free” publicity. There is always a “cost” for your publicity, whether it is a financial donation or your time. Great opportunities for “free” publicity include taking part in charity events and taking part in community programs.

Tip #3 – Be Consistent

Consistency is very important when you are trying to develop a good reputation for your company. Your efforts need to be focused on the profile for the ideal reputation at all times. If you sway back and forth between foci you will confuse your customers and you will hurt your chances of creating a solid reputation of any type. Your customers may even see you as a weak company because you cannot commit to one focus.

Tip #4 – Infuse Your Company Culture with Reputation Characteristics

It is important to integrate the characteristics of your idea reputation into your company’s culture. This can be accomplished by formatting your company’s guidelines, mission statement and other documents so that they reflect the characteristics that you are striving for. You will also want to provide your employees with training to develop the ideal characteristics in them as well.

Tip #5 – Lead by Example

The final tip for building a reputation for your small business is to lead by example. As the owner of your small business your actions, both in private and in business settings is going to impact your company’s reputation. This means what you do as an individual can either help or hurt your company’s reputation. This is why it will be important to participate in events and activities, make charitable contributions and take part in community committees and boards in order to enhance your small business’s reputation.