Member Article

SME money saving tips from Deal Jungle

Outsourcing

Any business needs a bit of help now and again but for many the cost of hiring another full time employee make progression prohibitive.

The solution - use an outsourcing site such as peopleperhour.com to find your ideal contractor. You post the job, set the parameters and wait to be contacted (usually very quickly). At DealJungle.com we have found the best way to get the best out of these sorts of services is be very specific with your requirement and you can end up with a great contractor without contracting a headache.

Marketing

As a new or young business it is essential you spread the word about your offering as widely as possible – by any and all means.

To use a lazy truism, word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising, but the hardest to control, so why not use your associates for referrals and references; link to each other’s websites at the very least.

Creating an e-newsletter is an often underrated way of communicating with your customers. It’s advertising directly to them, cheaply.

Use YouTube, or video hosting sites that deal exclusively with business, such as Startup TV. As words are slowly supplanted by moving pictures, there’s never been a better time to start using online video, communicating to unrestricted audiences worldwide.

Other ways of getting your philosophy to the market are by guest speaking and at business exhibitions, and blogging. More actively, why not become a campaigner: if you disagree with a governmental policy, speak out!

Bid Contracts Regularly

If you have not received competitive bids for your insurance policies, internet service and phone plan for several years, do so. Rates change over time and vendors do not automatically lower their customers’ rates without a request, even if they are offering lower rates to other customers.

Take advantage of increasing competition in markets. New companies may have entered the industry, shaking up the incumbents by offering lower rates or more beneficial packages.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Michaels .