Hello my Business Networking Link friends and readers, this evening I thought I would write a blog post about business strategies… So what is a business strategy and how can it help your business to blossom and grow?

Well, a strategy is all about how, when and why… It is setting long and short-term goals AKA a plan of action to achieve your business objectives. So the long and short of it is, your business strategy should be able to tell you in which direction your business is going.

Like with any new goals or targets in life, a business strategy will need to be frequently reviewed and monitored to increase your chances of success. It is easy to get lost in the moment, work hard and not clever when you are setting up a new business! The purpose of a business strategy is to help direct and channel this energy…

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I was speaking to a friend / fellow businessman earlier this week about his goals, targets and business… After a discussions about 2011 so far, the economy and life, he went on to ask if I would write a blog post about our own month end process.

Month end to me is an allocation of time at the end of each calendar month to look over the month passed. If you keep a daybook and update your company accounts on a weekly basis then this allocation of time does not need to be massive! We often have a coffee in the afternoon, along with a 30/45 minute chat about our own facts / figures… Remember, a company is only as good as its accounts, so if you do not keep purchase and sales ledgers, check the bank daily etc then I can imagine month end being a nightmare! Our month is officially sealed when all of the month end processes are complete…

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Are you waiting for the right time to make your move, maybe you are trying to generate some savings in the bank prior to ending your day job? Ok, I think having savings to cover any quiet days, difficulties generating sales, wages, rent etc is a good idea. But, looking for reasons not to start a business is easier than you may think! Also, starting a business with very little money (even no money) is not impossible!

I say this speaking from experience, working with what you have, starting small and keeping an eye on your spending is one possible option! You would be amazed how much you can achieve in business with little money and a ‘work hard’ mentality…

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On Friday my wife and I went out for dinner with the owner of Portsmouth, Southampton, Chichester and Valencia Language Colleges… The crazy thing is, he had about 10 of his head teaching staff at the meal (people we had never met) plus us… Ok, it was not a networking event, however it was a great night and also a privilege to be invited and told our services (Web Design and SEO) had helped him to achieve what he has today!

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Today I would like to ask the question; How do I make my business stand out from the crowd? We all know about a USP (Unique Selling Point) and yes they can help create a unique brand identity… Some of us have also heard about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and how it can boost business via the web… However, what this blog post aims to look at is how one business can stand out from a crowd filled with inviting USP’s and companies already investing in SEO!

Advances in technology (primarily the internet) have opened many doors for innovative businesses to develop and grow… But with these advances have come bigger and better competition, making the task of standing out from the crowd much more difficult!

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So what is the 80 / 20 rule in business? Well, the awesome Wikipedia quotes:

The 80 / 20 rule was named after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who noticed 80% of land in Italy was possessed by 20% of its people; he then developed the principle by later noticing 20% of the pea pods in his garden contained 80% of the peas! So there you have it, in a nutshell (or a pea pod!) the 80 / 20 rule… Now we need to apply this rule to our day-to-day work and the development of your business!

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As owner of your own business you will need to be able to manage multiple projects and juggle a variety of different tasks when necessary. Your to-do list may look one way at 9am and another at 11am, welcome to the world of business, a fast paced, ever changing way of life that offers as many challenges as rewards.

I have met business owners and entrepreneurs over the years that knew a little about a lot, rather than a lot about a little! Two other characteristics that jumped out with these individuals was a thirst for information and a passion to do better, a mind-set that helped them manage multiple projects and create successful businesses.

Yes, knowing how to manage multiple projects in business requires a certain mind-set; getting stressed or overwhelmed when things are difficult will not get the job done! Managing multiple projects is a handy skill to have when running a business, so being super organised and having a to-do list set in stone each day can really help you tackle multiple projects effectively, even manage multiple businesses!

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Are you looking to start a new business, leave the security of your 9 to 5, and invest all you can in terms of time, energy and money into a new business idea or concept? Starting a new business is one of the scariest things you will ever do, you are jumping into the deep end of a pool often filled with sharks, and it is down to you to either sink or swim! That said; being in business and creating your own brand is one of the most exciting and rewarding things a person can do!

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Have you recently found time is not on your side since setting up a new business?

Maybe you are searching the web for time management skills, free time management solutions, tools or general tips on how to cram more hours in the business week?

Well, first things first… Welcome to the world of business, a fast pace and difficult existence that tends to challenge us all from time to time! Managing your time (and the time of others) is just one of many factors you will need to address now working for yourself or employing staff, good time management in business will ensure both growth and success… It also means you get the job done on time!

Firstly, if you are running a business or working towards a goal half-heartedly then I would say stop now, re-boot and think things over! You should always be 100% committed to the task at hand, believe in your brand and feel passionate about what you do! I am not saying time management in business is ‘work every evening / weekend or else quit’, however in the early stages of a business your company will need some extra TLC, just like a new-born baby needing its parents at the drop of a hat (or stinky nappy)! Remember; if running a business was easy, then everyone would be doing it!

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Dear reader, today I thought I would list my top 10 tips for successful business networking. Are you considering a networking event in your local area? Maybe you are looking to drum up some new business or increase brand awareness? Whatever your reason, these are exciting times because business networking can open many new doors and create new business opportunities. So, here we go… My top 10 tips for successful business networking:

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