Whether you’re an established business or an enthusiastic entrepreneur, staying one step ahead of the competition is key. Traditional marketing techniques are being overtaken by innovative approaches to brand promotion - and mixing up your marketing methods will keep your brand fresh. A guest post from Display Wizard

Why is this one of the hardest things to do in business? When did we all become so frightened of making a phone call? In truth, it became real scary when we started calling it a ‘sales call’. But it’s just a phone call all the same.

If we start from the premise that customers dislike inconsistency, inconvenience and incompetence then we must also understand that customers won’t like chaos or confusion.

I’m back and I’m full of energy, enthusiasm, clarity and drive. Why? Because I’ve had a nice long break. My brain had rest, allowing it time to clear out the irrelevant junk that was bumping around in my head.

A couple of weeks ago 3 of my clients were asked to present at a business success conference. All had grown their businesses over the last 3 years and were asked for their top 5 entrepreneurial tips for growing a successful business. Here they are:

Your business is all set to go; the stationery is printed, the phone is on, the internet is pulsing at the modem, you’re about to make your first contacts! The excitement is building! Stop!

Ever feel that your staff believe that a customer should come last? Let me explain.

If you are a gardener, it’s all about the Chelsea Chop this week. The premise is that if you prune or cut back plants now you’ll get a better crop of flowers, just a little bit later. I do it every year, and it works! The same works in your business.

It takes years to build a great and valuable reputation and it only takes minutes to destroy it. Understanding reputation and reputational risk management are both crucial to the success of your business.