Paula Groves is OBDC’s Vice President – Business Consulting. This is part of her ongoing series of best practices and tips for small business owners. Never miss a tip by signing up for our newsletter.
Many small business owners find there is an overwhelming amount of stuff to do. Because you are chef, cook, and dishwasher (sometimes quite literally), it is difficult to plan ahead and set priorities when they are hidden by the flames of the fires you always seem to be putting out.
Despite this sense of overwhelm, there is a lot of truth in the expression “failing to plan is planning to fail”. For many entrepreneurs, developing an online strategy is often moved to the back burner. Because online results build momentum overtime and don’t often address an immediate need, many business owners question the value of trying to learn a technology that constantly changes and takes an enormous investment of your most precious resource – your time.
You may not realize that going online can actually make you money by growing revenue and profits even while you sleep. Developing an online strategy may make it easier for customer to reach you when you can’t reach them.
In addition, you don’t necessarily have pay money for a website in order to build your online presence. Many online options are free, such as Facebook, Yelp, Instagram, Linkedin and some online directories.
You don’t have to figure this all out by yourself. Make an appointment with OBDC, and let us help you determine if developing an online strategy is right for you. Email Paula for your business consulting appointment today at paula@mainstreetlaunch.org.