Somethings work regardless what your
business is.
Sometimes
the most valuable advice comes from your fellow entrepreneurs, not the CEO of a
Fortune 500 company. At Facebook, we know that behind every business is a
person, and behind every person is a story – with insights and advice to share.
That’s why we created the Small Business Council which consists of
entrepreneurs who share a common belief in the importance of serving their
customers, their communities, and each other.
Each year we meet with
our U.S. Small Business Council members to hear from small businesses across a
variety of industries, sizes and geographies. Earlier this year I had the
pleasure of meeting our newest 2017 Small Business Council members to learn
from them and help them support their communities and fellow businesses.
Here are a few of my
favorite tips directly from the Small Business Council members past and
present:
Learn from and connect
with other businesses.
“Visit your competition
and introduce yourself. Nurture and develop a good relationship with them.
Refer customers to them, as well. It's give-and-take and there really is enough
to go around. Don't be afraid to ask them for help or advice.” – Kay Martinovic, Kay’s Designer Consignment, Ormond Beach, FL
Go mobile.
“We would often say to
ourselves ‘If you build it, they will come!’ We built a beautiful place with a
delicious menu offering, but they did not come. We had a website and social
media accounts, but no real budget or strategy to promote our business. We
turned to Facebook, started promoting posts and saw results immediately. We
have not stopped promoting posts and creating marketing campaigns on Facebook
since then. If you have not already done so, create a Facebook Page and learn
how to use their marketing tools with their online training program called
Blueprint; you will set yourself in a path to grow your business, really fast.”
– Manuel Bucio, Razpachos, Chicago, IL
Prioritize quality over
quantity.
“It’s important to plan
out your Facebook posts and activity. It’s not a good practice to take a bunch
of pictures one day and post them all. One thought out, strategic, well branded
post a day or a few times a week is so much better than posting 10 pictures in
one day without a strategy.” – Julie Walton Garland, Walton’s Antique Jewelry, Franklin, TN
Follow your dreams.
“Identify what your true
motivation is for starting your business or for pursuing your particular path
in life. Then study it, dream it, live it, and most importantly, never lose
sight of it. And always, always, always pursue with passion, desire, and the
most definiteness of purpose.” – Jonah Sandler, Scene75 Entertainment, Dayton, OH
I believe that whether
you’re just starting your business, or have been at it for years, advice from
fellow business owners can be invaluable. You never know when words of wisdom
will strike a chord and inspire you to grow and change for the better. I
encourage you to check out the Small Business
Council website to learn about these and other successful small
businesses.
-Katherine Shappley
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