​This blog will show you the dos and don'ts of making conversation. People generally love to talk about themselves but you don’t want to put them off having conversation by offending them by accident. 

I was recently at an Optometrist appointment and the optometrist asked me some questions that made me feel slightly uncomfortable, suspicious and whether they were appropriate to ask a stranger.
They started off harmless but I soon found that it began to cross over from general interest to interrogation type questions.

He asked about what I do for a living, do I work from home etc.
The next one was if I had always lived in Dunedin. ? When I replied that I grew up in several places in Central Otago, he followed it up with why we moved to Dunedin? Then what did my father do?
I politely replied that he worked as an engineer on the Clyde Dam before he went to Beaurepairs before his premature death from a motorcycle accident at the age of 29.
He quickly back tracked and apologised and then moved onto checking my eyes.

This got me thinking about where the line gets drawn when asking questions in a business atmosphere.
There are certainly topics to avoid such as religion and politics as they can easily turn from being a polite discussion if the beliefs are shared into an ugly war of words if opinions differ.
It can be treacherous territory if you ask the wrong questions.

1. Do ask how their day is going and listen for cues for other questions regarding the original question. Such as “Have you had a very busy day?" Yes, I have been flat out working on client projects before the Christmas break" "Oh, what is it that you do?" (Safe question as it won't be opinion based) "I am a virtual assistant" "What does that involve?" "I undertake administration tasks for other business owners....."
Don’t get to personal in asking information about clients or employees. This could be a potential client and if you are spilling the beans on one client, you may do it to them too!
 
2. Do ask if they have any plans for the holidays. This is a safe question as they can either describe partially or in full their plans or say nothing and then you can move on.
Do not ask how long they will be away for. This can be seen as a ruse to find out how long their home will be unoccupied for.
 
3. Do ask if they are into a particular sport and if so, did they happen to catch the game?
Do not ask if they saw the news regarding a recent murder or suicide. This could be too close to home and the person may even be related to a victim.
 
 
The other thing you need to be cautious of is the fact that you may not know who you are talking to; they may know you or someone you know.

Avoid asking questions that could be dark, gloomy or negative.
You want your clients and customers to walk away feeling happy and positive. Not reminded of a horrible event or having debated with someone regarding a political belief.
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Keep questions that involve opinion out of it and you should be safe.  

A system or software program that allows you to store, recall and use information about your customers and clients.

Think of it as a library and each book is designated for each customer or client. 
This book contains information specific to your clients habits, purchases, demographics and interactions with your business. 

Every phone call, email, purchase can be recalled easily to help track sales and if you are looking to find customers who live in a certain location or meet a certain criteria, you can easily bring this information to the forefront.
Analyze this information to help narrow down your target market or create campaigns based on a specific criteria. 
Automate responses when your customers interact with your website therefore creating a stronger sales funnel.

There are a wide range of CRM software available and it will depend on the size of your business, specific needs and future goals as to which one will suit you best.

A cloud based solution is a more cost effective solution where the user pays on a subscription basis. The downside to this is that you are more vulnerable to security issues as you have no physical control over the storage of the data, maintenance and security systems.
On-site systems are available however they tend to be higher in cost and the onus is on the business to maintain the software, updates, security and administration. These types of programs are available by purchasing the licence upfront with no on-going costs.  

Prices range start at $0 - $199 USD per month and will increase depending on your level of need. 
Popular CRM's are Zoho, Insightly, Sales Force and Infusion Soft.

Working from home is such a fun idea! You can wear what you want, you can sleep in, you will have more time for friends and family, heck you can even pull a sicky, head to the beach and not worry about someone catching you!

You want this to be a successful business don’t you? In order for your customers and clients to take you seriously, you need to take your business seriously too. The earlier you implement the following habits and tips to run a business efficiently, the sooner you can reap the rewards. 

Do you have any other tips for working from home? What works for you?

For tips on starting a home business, please read So, You Want to be Self-employed? 

Being an employee or a self-employed business owner each has benefits and pitfalls so you really need to be prepared for what is about to occur!
Owning your own business is hard work and will involve long days for the first month or two if you plan on doing it alone.

A profitable business doesn't just happen, it can take time to build a customer base, cover expenses and start putting money into your pocket but with a great idea and work ethic, you can achieve your goal.

Your idea needs to be a product or service that is currently not available and meeting the needs of your ideal customer. If you can provide it, then you are off to a great start. 

I have compiled a list of eight area's that you need to implement BEFORE you start trading. 

You must research your competition. These are the other businesses that may be providing the product or service you wish to offer. Where are their strengths? What could you do better? 
Check the internet for both local and International markets.
Will you be the only one selling this idea? 

You will need a name to trade under. This name will need to be catchy and memorable, while telling your consumer what it is that you do or sell. 
If you were to search Google for this product or service, what word (s) would you look for? 
As above, research and make sure that no-one else has this or a similar name to avoid possible trademark and copyright infringements. 
You should also consider whether you may expand in the future and if that name will still fit. 
Check the companies register to see if the name has already been used. 
Check to see if your business name URL is also available. Don't forget to check the .com, .co.nz or .nz versions. 

A business plan is imperative to all businesses especially start-ups.
This is where you assess where you are currently at, your end goal and how you plan on getting there. 
Your business plan will need to be reviewed every 3-6 months initially and then at least once per year after the first year or so. Use these times to reflect on where you started and how far you have come. 
Download your free business plan template here. 

The first step is to have funds in a business bank account right from day one. Setting up a business cannot be done completely free. 
Plan ahead and create a financial forecast. How much will you be selling your product for? What are your expenses? How and when will you pay for certain things? 
Keep all of your receipts from the very first cent spent. 
You are technically in business as soon as you spend money on the business so discuss your tax obligations with the Inland Revenue Department. They are actually quite helpful and have a specialist that you can have an "In Person" conversation with. 
Decide whether you will become a Sole-trader, partnership, company or a non-profit organisation. each one has it's own tax rules.
To register as a company, see the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website. 
Have a bookkeeping system or software setup that can record your income, expenses and create invoices or alternatively hire an accountant.

Design or have your Logo designed by a Graphic Designer.
The logo, like your name, will represent your business and you will also need to research this to ensure that you are not copying someone else's design. 
Check Iponz for further trademark information.
Your logo is a very powerful tool in marketing as if well known, you will remain at the forefront of your consumers mind. Take Coca Cola and Google for example. 

Make sure that if your idea's, logo's and names are original, that you have them trademarked. This prevents other people using those same idea's and legally being allowed to.
Do this as early on in the process as possible. The Iponz website has the information regarding copyright law, legal obligations and the process if you believe someone has stolen your Intellectual property. 

If your business will be relying on product sales, then you will need to have plenty of stock on hand. 
Make sure there is enough to meet initial demand, more on the way and if the supplier or manufacturer can also meet the demand. 
Take note of any potential Custom Duties if importing from overseas and also check to make sure your product is not on the prohibited list.

The most important revenue gathering tool you will have. 
Set up focus groups to test your product. Avoid using family and friends as they are not always comfortable being totally honest with you. 
Think about where you will advertise. Will it be on Social Media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram? Set these up in order to begin advertising.
For the point of sale, direct your traffic to a website where you have all of your products, information about you and your company and methods of contacting you. 
Ensure that you have an ongoing marketing plan. The saying "You need to spend money to make money" rings true here. 
Know who your target market is and where to find them. Know what information they are looking for and use it to your advantage. 

Having a solid plan of attack, knowing your ideal consumer and being able to meet the needs of that consumer will set you on the right path in building your business. 
The option of doing it all yourself is possible however there are some areas that should be done by a professional.
If done right the first time, your plans will work in your favour. 

If you need a hand with any of the above tasks, Alleviate Virtual Assistance can tailor a package to suit your needs. Get in touch to discuss your options.