Something I’ve noticed while working with small business entrepreneurs. They do not take referral networking and managed IT (including cyber security) seriously enough, which can help businesses grow.
Referral networking and strategic partnerships
Let’s face it: referrals are quite valuable. They are the most effective approach for businesses to acquire new customers. So, why wouldn’t everyone be actively working on this to expand their business? Sure, we see owners sharing information in social media groups, but when pressed to actively, rather than passively, commit to growth and assistance from other businesses, they fall silent. Why is it not a priority? What are the reasons? We all want more clients, and actively working together to spread our networks is the way to do it. Someone else promoting your business is always more beneficial than trying to do it yourself. Almost all of what you post about your business is disregarded, 99% of it. When someone else posts, it provides social evidence and raises awareness about what you do, increasing your chance of winning that next customer or client.
In addition, would you want to work for a company that lacks communication skills and is unable to commit to growth? I would not. Many businesses have declined referral networking due to financial constraints. Do you realize how absurd that sounds? When things are slow and you’re concentrating on marketing, it’s the ideal moment to focus on strategic partnerships.
Choose the correct organizations that can assist you not only with referrals, but also with lowering your company’s costs and increasing earnings. If you have the opportunity to receive specific services to enhance earnings and efficiency through a partnership or trade, prioritize and make use of it without hesitation.
Managed IT (MSP): Managed Services Provider
I am confident that your company is not as efficient as it could be. Do you get things right the first time when it comes to technology? How much time are you wasting on activities that you should not be doing? This is where managed IT enters into the picture. Sourcing your technology to a company that will handle it for you so you can concentrate on your business. Managed IT further ensures that systems such as email, computers, printers, and networks are properly configured, and that you have someone to rely on or call when things go wrong so you don’t have to scramble.
Having a proper IT department or MSP can make your life a lot simpler. Ours, for example, allows you to offload administrative work and is not confined to technology support.
Cyber Security
Do you want to do business with a company that isn’t doing everything it can to protect your information? Nope. I don’t either. The majority of small business owners we’ve met fit this description. Whether it’s an insurance agent using a personal email address, a doctor’s office that ignores HIPAA regulations, a realtor who is so compromised by phishing that the entire business goes down for a week, or a school that does nothing to keep their student machines up to date, there are an infinite number of examples. Cybersecurity goes beyond antivirus, and many people do not even have good antivirus (I’m looking at you, Norton, McAfee, Avast, and AVG). Cybersecurity involves constantly covering the entire attack surface. This includes password security, data encryption, email protection, employee training, breach monitoring, and much more. It is too much to handle on your own.
Not taking cybersecurity seriously endangers both others and yourself, so it is crucial to prioritize it. I don’t care if you’re a single person who rarely deals with personal information or a larger SMB with 100 workers and millions in annual revenue. There is risk at all levels, and it is worth protecting. Being proactive is more cost effective than being reactive, and your heart will thank you.
Interested in experiencing what I’m talking about and get some of these benefits in real life at no cost? Sign up for our Partner Program at: https://myaz.tech/referyourbusiness
