3 Ways Entrepreneurs (sometimes unintentionally) Make It Look Like They Are No longer Open for Business

Has this question ever crossed your mind?

“I wonder if that person is actually still open for business?”

Part of my job is to look at where we create constriction within our businesses, and how we keep money away from us. When something about your business says, “I’m not open for business” (even if it only appears that you are no longer open for business), that is where your money stops. Potential customers will wonder if they should even bother to inquire about hiring you.

 

Here are 3 ways that entrepreneurs (sometimes unintentionally) make it look like they are no longer open for business:

 

1. You stopped sending out newsletters.
Currently, I am on the newsletter lists of at least 5 service providers who haven’t sent out a single newsletter in months (and one of them hasn’t sent out a newsletter in years.) I know that one of the entrepreneurs has changed his marketing methods, but I have no idea what happened to the other business owners. This lack of online communication is enough to make any customer wonder if a business is still open.

If writing newsletters is part of your own marketing plan, be sure to commit to send them out regularly. I send newsletters roughly once a week, and sometimes a little less often when I’m traveling for work, or if I’m working on a big project. You may want to begin by sending your newsletters 2 or 3 times a month, and then work your way up to once a week, which is ideal.

Newsletters are definitely not the only way you’ll find clients, but they are a valuable way to let people know that you are indeed still open for business. If at some point you need to take a longer break from email communication, simply let your list know about the pause, and send a few very brief notes to their inbox during your time away, just to say hello.

 

2. You let your website hosting expire.
Sometimes I click through website links and find a generic placeholder page from the company that the domain name was purchased from. When I find a site like this, it gives me a big reason to believe that a business is no longer in business.

Sometimes a disappearing website isn’t intentional, like when a credit card expires, but if left unattended too long, this can be bad for business. Be sure that your website hosting and domain name ownership automatically renew each month and year, so that your site is always present. Otherwise, people may begin to wonder if you are open.

 

3. You no longer talk about your business through a social media channel that you once used for business engagement.

Social media channels shouldn’t only be full of business chatter, but if you have used a certain social media channel (such as facebook or twitter) to talk about your work and your services, and then you completely stop talking about business there, people may begin to question whether you are still in business.

I suggest having a good mix of personal and business posts on social media. It lets people know that you are a friendly human being with a thriving life outside of your office, and that you are open for business. And once you start posting via a social media channel, don’t stop.

 

That is the message behind all of this.
Don’t stop.
Just keep going, even with little steps.

 

 

© 2014 Ava Waits