Business woman saying no

While marketing your business can open up doors,  it can also close doors if etiquette is not practiced.  In the past six weeks, I’ve witnessed several poor business practices that it propelled me to share some Business 101 basics. Of course, you don’t know what you don’t know; so, here are top 5 top marketing No-No’s in to avoid:

 

No Poorly Designed Business Cards & Flyers

Your business card is a marketing tool that will enable people to remember who you are and contact you at a later date for business. With that in mind, a poorly designed business card could potentially get tossed.

For instance, if your card contains illegible fonts or if your contact information has changed and you cross out the outdated information and write it in ink, not only is that unprofessional, but potential clients will think twice about doing business with you.

In addition, business flyers should be professionally appealing. I received a letter from a realtor that made copies of a misspelled and handwritten note to me. Who knows how many she printed and mailed!

Remember, image is everything!

 

No Get Rich Quick Fix

Don’t get me wrong; I respect those who choose Direct Sales or Multi-Level Marketing as a business. If you are successful in building a team and selling a viable product, that is great!  However, I am not interested in this type of business model. And, I am not particularly interested in getting on a conference call with someone in the up line; or watching a 15-minute video. Furthermore, I don’t like being harassed when I politely decline the offer.

The majority of women who choose this as a business model get caught up in the ‘get rich quick fix.’ Believe me, there is no quick way to wealth in business, or, I’d be all over it!  I’ve seen many women spend a lot of money on these models with no ROI (return on investment).

I believe in starting a business the traditional way; that is, from planning to the launch. In addition,  advice others to start a business that you are passionate about; that you’ve enjoyed doing as a hobby; or that you have expertise in.

 

No FREE Money

And I repeat, no FREE money! There is so much misinformation out there about the government having grants for startup and expanding businesses. The truth is, there is NO free money to start or expand traditional business models. I’ve consulted with women who have spent endless hours researching that FREE money opportunity when it rarely exists.  Most of the time, they are seeking funding to expand their business.  That time can be spent to finding free or low cost marketing opportunities.

From time to time, there are FREE recources  for micro business models, but you must meet stringent guidelines.

So, all of the energy poured into finding FREE money; could be used to organically grow your business; to streamline and budget; or research business loan options.

 

 No Being Late To Appointments

Recently, my husband made an appointment for an appliance repairman to come out at 9:00 am. At 9:30 am, the repairman called to say he was stopping for parts and he was running late. Really? Well, we’ve never used this company and thus far, wasn’t impressed.

Now, I understand that things happen; however,  what do you think a new client will think about you and your company?  Remember, first impressions are extremely important.

And by the way, after 10:30 am, my husband called to cancel the appointment. The repairman’s response, “I am making preparation to head over to your house.” Again… really!

 

No Unprofessional or Derogatory Posting

This one makes me shiver because the internet’s reach is infinite! I’ve seen some very ‘poor judgment’ in posting on various social networks. Many of the culprits have links and hash tags leading back to their website. You should avoid publishing anything that casts your business in a negative light. Remember that potential clients and partners, and followers can misconstrue your conversation, tone and intentions.

Image is everything! And, your business is your livelihood, so treats it that way.

 

In closing, what ‘No No’s’ are you guilty of OR have encountered from other business owners?

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