Business

lifestyle Business

Selling to humans

by LEE LAM, Founder and Managing Director, Your Startup Partner

Do you remember that you sell to ‘people’? That might sound a little odd, but it's surprisingly easy to fall into the trap of thinking of a 'customer' as a faceless, emotionless avatar.

And you can forget that the person you are connecting with is just that - a person.

Either way, you need to be able to give them a great experience of your business – even if they do not end up buying anything straight away. A warm welcome, some kindness, a little understanding, no pressure enquiries – all help to build a sense of trust in you and your brand which will last long after the conversation ends.

This means that your dealings with them are going to be sitting inside a day that could be every bit as messy and complicated as your own (admit it, we are all a bit messy). And this will affect how they want to interact with you and whether they are genuinely ready to become a customer. They may be really open and pleased to see you and hear about how you can help them. Or they may not.

The year of the young entrepreneur

A new generation of entrepreneurs is appearing in 2022 and they have high aspirations to succeed in the world of business according to IW Capital. This year is set to welcome the rise of a new generation of entrepreneurs - with 70% of 16 to 25-year-olds planning to start their own business. Research has found that 89% of Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) say they would like to run their own business and 86% believe that 2022 will be the year of the entrepreneur.

WIND DOWN ON FRIDAYS!

Could your business do with more business? Would you like to meet with other like-minded people who are also looking to grow their business? Do you like the idea of collaborating with other businesses to grow?

The Friday Wind Down takes place bi-weekly on a Friday from 4.30pm - 6pm. The meetings cost a nominal fee of £5 plus booking fee to attend and everyone will get a 60-second opportunity to 'sell the sizzle' about their business followed by a collaboration round. To find out more email fridaywinddown@gmail.com And while today may not be the day for them to turn from a lead to a customer – it could be any day in the future. Just because you cared enough to recognise the day they are having and adjusted accordingly. Even though it’s great to have a particular approach that always seems to work or one carefully designed customer experience strategy, the first step is always to understand what is going on for the customer first. And sometimes that means giving them space. Because after the last couple of years, a little compassion will go a long way.

The benefits of local collaboration

BY CHAS JORDAN, BROMLEY BUSINESS NETWORK Increasing numbers of businesses are looking to collaborate with each other as a means of boosting business and reaping the benefits of strong business relationships. If you haven’t considered collaboration before, here’s three reasons why you should rethink your strategy: 1. It boosts efficiency: When there’s a particularly demanding project in the pipeline, teaming up with others means that you’re held accountable. And this works wonders for both your productivity and how efficiently you get the job done. 2. Access to new opportunities: Working with new people – both within or outside your organisation means that you have the opportunity to hear about new ideas, meet new people and discover new processes or ways of working – a win-win. 3. It’s cost-effective: If both parties can benefit from services that will benefit their business and no money needs to change hands, then it’s a great way of saving money. Not only that but it also helps build trust with other companies as they get a taste of what you can offer and how you work – it’s just up to you to impress them. Why not pop along to the Bromley Business

Network to explore more about collaboration with local businesses? See bromleybusinessnetwork.co.uk

Britain's economy saw its fastest annual growth rate on record last year - rising by 7.5% throughout the year. This comes after businesses throughout the UK showed great resolve by adapting to restrictions caused by the Covid pandemic. According to Luke Davis, CEO of IW Capital, one of the most impressive sectors in the UK business scene is the small business sector. SMEs throughout the UK saw impressive growth throughout 2021 and have continued this momentum into 2022 with more than half of SMEs reporting a rise in earnings in the last quarter of 2021 versus the same period of 2020. The small business eco-system is predicted to be a 'boom' sector this year for UK business with SMEs looking to drive employment and investment numbers. SME investing represents an exciting opportunity for UK investors, providing them with tax benefits and a realistic chance to maximise their returns. In 2021 there were a record 319,000 new businesses registered in the UK, with the overall number of small businesses now standing at 5.5 million, with recent research showing that two-thirds of the UK workforce want to start their own company. This shows a continued desire, caused by the pandemic, for individuals to start a business of their own in the UK. Davis said: "The UK small business sector is in an exciting time. SMEs have worked so hard throughout the last year, not just to survive but to prosper and with restrictions ending the small business sector looks set to revel in the opportunity to grow significantly throughout 2022. "SMEs are set to drive employment and investing throughout 2022 - with nearly half of UK SMEs looking to hire new employees after a promising start to 2022 and UK investors ready to back start-ups and newly formed businesses SMEs are ready to make 2022 an impressive year and grow as much as possible.”

THE ’DREAM JOB’

New research by flatshare site, SpareRoom, reveals that the ‘dream job’ for Gen Z’ers and Millennials is no longer one they are passionate about and love doing, but one that provides security, money and good work-life balance.

The results show that nearly a quarter (22%) of young people aged 18-40 now crave a career that offers job security over one they actually like. In fact, 60% of 18-40-year-olds say they have changed the features they look for in a job after a year living in the pandemic; 86% now see a pandemic-proof career as key going forward and 61% see a good work-life balance as more important after living in a pandemic.