Having started my business career using the more traditional bricks and mortar business route I know only too well how difficult it can be to increase sales for a small business. Sadly, nowadays it is even harder for local businesses to survive as more and more of us opt for the more convenient route of ordering our goods online… But are there any “tactics” that small businesses can employ to lure more of us to buy their goods or services?Mobile Marketing-Promoting To The ConvertedMany local businesses miss out “big time” as they waste too much valuable time and resources chasing new customers when the real money (and consistent income) comes from marketing to existing customers. After all, people who have already bought from you will already be aware of the quality of your product or service and providing that the buying experience that they had with you was good, then chances are that they will buy from you again and even encourage others to buy from you as well… They just need a little prompt or reminder that you are still open for business.One of the easiest and most instant ways to promote to existing customers is to use mobile marketing. Let’s be honest most of us now carry our mobiles with us 24 hours a day and more texts are opened straight away than any other form of communication.Indeed, most of us now provide a mobile phone number as our first point of contact as opposed to the more traditional landline contact number. Therefore all you small business owners out there need to make a point of storing these valuable mobile numbers and start using them to promote your business via a cheap text messages. Don’t worry of you don’t know how to get started as there are affordable training packages out there that will show you step by step how to set a mobile marketing campaign.The best way to achieve instant results for your business by using this method is to promote an offer or a promotion. Let’s be honest we all like a bargain so simply offering, for example, a free glass of wine to customers who book a table at your restaurant on a quiet evening will help to attract more business. Even though it will cost you a glass of wine, you will more than make up for it by filling empty tables with paying customers.Mobile marketing can benefit other small businesses too including texting appointment reminders for businesses like dentists or doctors, luring people into car showrooms via Bluetooth messages, promoting special offer up sells for businesses like beauticians or health spas. There are endless benefits that using mobile marketing as part of your local business marketing can offer, not least of all that it’s cheap, quick and offers instant results.What Is A Business Without A Good Website?I am amazed by how many local businesses are still not online. Given the ever growing popularity of the internet, small business that are not promoting their business online are losing out on massive income potential and are passing that business onto other business savvy owners instead.Creating a website for your business does not have to cost a fortune… In fact some websites even offer free templates that you can use. You then simply need to purchase a domain name and some hosting for your website. If you lack the confidence or knowledge to do this yourself, there are websites out there that offer a way of outsourcing this task to others quite cheaply, simply check out outsourcing sites for that offer that type of service. Often you can put a bid on the outsourcing websites that will invite people to bid for the work. This can be a great way of getting the best value for your money.Again, there are training packages available that offer step by step training on the best ways to create a website for you business together with the cheapest ways to drive traffic to the website including how to get onto page 1 of Google.Without a doubt, regardless of what small business you own, it is vital to have a good internet presence to ensure consistent sales for your business.Business Blogs- Seeing The Bigger PictureIt’s often quite challenging to persuade small businesses to start blogging. They fail to realise that writing a blog can significantly increase sales for their business; most sadly fail to see the bigger picture.Blogging takes time but if you are consistent, your business will begin to see dramatic results. Blogging for your business can help you to connect with people, especially if you are careful to write in a style that is unique to you and that you offer valuable content. If you are careful to offer useful advice within you blog, then you will help to promote yourself as an expert who people can trust, which will result in the reader buying from you rather than your competitor. It doesn’t matter what business you own, whether you’re a dog trainer, a piano teacher, a shop owner or a driving instructor, writing a blog can offer an affordable and fun way of getting your business noticed.You can then drive traffic to your business blog by sharing the link to your blog on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. There are also opportunities available, (for a small monthly fee) for small businesses to use existing high ranking blogging sites to promote their business.These are the 3 ways that I personally consider to be the most effective way to increase sales for your small business. They are methods that I have personally used, with success, within all of my businesses as they are affordable and create instant results.

The overwhelming majority of senior citizens on retirement income need extra income to supplement their retirement income. Other than competing with younger workers who are hired before elderly citizens, there is an alternative. The best option is to start a Home Based Business Opportunity on the Internet. For senior citizens in the age category of 65 and over, this is what will provide that needed supplemental income to survive. Due to the current recession the age category for retirees and senior citizens may include those starting as young as 55 years old drawing company pensions.If You Accept the Challenge What Will You Need?o You will need a state-of-the-art computer with high-speed Internet access and at least basic computer and Internet skills. If you do not have these skills, not to worry, you can acquire needed skills independently by searching for the many FREE tutorials available on the Internet. Keep in mind that you will be in a constant state of learning. It is your responsibility to keep updated on new advancements and changes. The Internet and information technology are evolving very fast and you cannot afford to be left behind whether in business or not.o Next you must determine if you can do this and if you really want to accept the challenge of starting a home business opportunity. It requires hard work, determination, self-discipline and self-motivation. It is best to start your business with a network marketing company offering a home business opportunity on the Internet.What are Some Benefits of a Home Business on the Internet:o The best are tax advantages the IRS extends to you because you are running a legitimate business from your home. You can take deductions for mortgage payments or rent, part of utility bills, cost of your computer and many others that will give you a healthy refund.o You are your own boss, unlike your last job before retirement, you set your work hours.o You get to spend more quality time with your spouse, grandchildren, friends or simply time for more of your favorite past time.o You work completely from the comfort of your home.Remember, this is to supplement your current retirement income. Of course, if you want to become rich, you certainly have that option The success or failure of your home based business opportunity all depends on you. If you do it the right way, you will be successful and start earning a good sized extra income. There are so many business and income opportunities on the Internet that you are bound to find one that is a good fit for you. All you have to do is think about what you have just read start researching for more detailed information. Check everything out thoroughly before making an informed decision.

If you run a home based business, most likely the question of whether or not you should be dressing up for work probably never occurred to you. Quite frankly, this is one of those issues that are just not that important to your business bottom line. However, get it wrong and it could become something that just undermines everything else you are doing right in your business. No, it won’t make or break your business, but it can be one of those things that drag on you in an insidious manner. So try to get this aspect of your business right from the start.It is obvious that no one wants to have a home based business where you have to get up every day and dress formally. That is no fun. However, there are going to be times when it is extremely important for you to dress the part and be a bit more formal. Those times are most likely associated with interacting with the public or your clients. That is the obvious part about whether or not you should dress up or down in your home during business hours. There is however another important aspect that you need to give some consideration to and mundane as it may sound, it is important. And here it is – what impact does clothes have on your day-to-day outlook as a person.The way one dresses in the workplace is important not only because you are in a formal environment, but because it also has an effect on you. It is not different at home if you are running a home based business. Should you get dressed up every day in your home while working? Of course not. But you should at least get away from the doing business in your pajamas mentality. If you are going to be in your pajamas and working, then you are probably sending yourself a signal that what you are doing is not all that important. That there is no sense of urgency and you always have all day to get the task done.So it is important that you consider how you dress while running your home based business. At the very least, have clothes that are designated for work even if they are very casual. Running a home based business means taking responsibility for a lot including how you motivate yourself and what messages you send to yourself. Clothes and how you dress is a large part of that message.