StepUp September: 30 days to change your mindset and your business - week two
Posted: Mon 7th Sep 2020
September provides a chance for entrepreneurs to reinvent themselves and their business.
This is the second article as part of our advice packed StepUp September campaign that is sharing daily bitesize business lessons that can make a difference to you and your business. If you missed the first article, you can catch up here.
Over the next month, we are encouraging you to make learning intentional and we've invited Enterprise Nation friends and members to share their top business lessons along the way.
We will be publishing them each day on our blog as well as creating a conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Get involved!
Monday 7 September
Tip of the day: Spend time mapping out your main competitors
Whether you're a start-up or growing business, it's a good idea to keep a close eye on your competitors as it could help future proof your business. Competitor analysis is not about copying, it's about getting an understanding of what your competitors are doing to help you identify threats and areas of opportunity.
You can also think of it as a method to help differentiate yourself and ensure that your business stands out from the crowd.
Tip provided by Enterprise Nation adviser member, Judith McElhinney.
Recommended resource:
Watch this free recording on how to do competitor shopping for your retail business.
See what's coming up in our daily Lunch and Learn webinars. These free half hour sessions are a great way to up-skill when it comes to marketing, mindset, money and more!
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Tuesday 8 September
Tip of the day: Reach out to a potential mentor on LinkedIn
Surround yourself with advisers and mentors, at all stages of the business journey, and this will stand you in good stead. One of the most important things an entrepreneur can do is network. With a lack of physical events currently, use LinkedIn as a platform to connect with interesting people.
Your ideal mentor may get lots of approaches, so think about how you and your message will stand out in their inbox. There are great tips on how to gain the attention and interest of mentors to help with that.
Tip provided by Lauren Malone, events and campaigns manager
Recommended resources:
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation often gets asked about mentoring and she wrote down her top tips to finding a mentor.
There are hundreds of business advisers offering one hour free calls on the Enterprise Nation platform. If you haven't yet joined Enterprise Nation, we're offering six months free membership to help small business owners during this challenging time. Sign up today using coupon code COVIDFREE at the checkout.
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Wednesday 9 September
Tip of the day: A/B test different types of creative and copy in your Facebook advertising
An A/B test on your Facebook advertising allows you to quickly compare different variables to see which one performs best. Once you know which creative and copy is generating more clicks and conversions, it can dramatically improve your return on investment.
Tip provided by Enterprise Nation adviser member, Henry Marshall.
Recommended resource:
Watch a video from Amazon Small Business Accelerator e-learning with Henry Marshall, founder of Silvertip Digital, to learn about managing social campaigns and measuring return on investment.
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Thursday 10 September
Tip of the day: Find a purpose that your business fulfills
If you haven't already done so, think about how to connect your company to a purpose. Having strong brand values will help engage new and existing customers.
In fact, recent research found that brands with a high sense of purpose have had their brand value increase by 175% over the past 12 years.
Tip provided by member Sanjana Narang, founder of @_youhumanity
Recommended resource:
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Friday 11 September
Tip of the day: Set yourself a target of cold calling 10 potential opportunities
Want to scale your business and attract new clients? Of course, you do! In order to get started, preparation and focus is key. Avoid time wasting by starting with a clear call list and objectives. Make sure you are clear on your message, have a good opening 'hook' and you're able to articulate the benefits your organisation offers.
Tip provided by Polly Dhaliwal, head of platform at Enterprise Nation and founder of Girls in Movement
Recommended resources:
Read 'Start with Why' by Simon Sinek. No matter what stage you're at with your business, this book helps you set or refocus your goals. It gets you to think about the reason why you started the business in the first place.
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**We hope these practical business tips will inspire you to take on new challenges and learn new skills this September.
If you have a business challenge that you'd like to recommend to the community, engage with us on social using the #StepUpSeptember hashtag and we'll be sure to share!
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