Small business owners come from all walks of life. And while most are certainly experts in the services and products they sell, they may lack the finance and marketing backgrounds necessary to grow in today’s ultra-competitive world.

That shouldn’t stop anyone from opening a business. That’s because there’s a trove of resources online and in every community across the country that can help any business operate efficiently, target their customers and appear professional. Using a combination of their own know-how, affordable computer programs and local professional services, small business owners must focus on the following five crucial areas of their businesses to increase the likelihood of success:

No. 1: Create a powerful brand image with consistency.

Your brand image is what both current and prospective customers think about your company. This image is developed through repeated interactions with customers, so it’s essential that you send them consistent messages. This means having the same look and feel in all forms of marketing, including direct mail, online, email, and more.

For a brand image to accurately stick in the customers’ minds, it must be true to its product and services and the company must live up to all its promises.


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