Entrepreneurial Inspiration - Richard Branson’s 5 Top Tips to Starting a Successful Business.

1. Listen more than you talk
We have two ears and one mouth, using them in proportion is not a bad idea! To be a good leader you have to be a great listener. Brilliant ideas can spring from the most unlikely places, so you should always keep your ears open for some shrewd advice. This can mean following online comments as closely as board meeting notes, or asking the frontline staff for their opinions as often as the CEOs. Get out there, listen to people, draw people out and learn from them.

2. Keep it simple
You have to do something radically different to stand out in business. But nobody ever said different has to be complex. There are thousands of simple business solutions to problems out there, just waiting to be solved by the next big thing in business. Maintain a focus upon innovation, but don’t try to reinvent the wheel. A simple change for the better is far more effective than five complicated changes for the worse.

3. Take pride in your work
Last week I enjoyed my favourite night of the year, the Virgin Stars of the Year Awards, where we celebrated some of those people who have gone the extra mile for us around the Virgin world. With so many different companies, nationalities and personalities represented under one roof, it was interesting to see what qualities they all have in common. One was pride in their work, and in the company they represent. Remember your staff is your biggest brand advocates, and focusing on helping them take pride will shine through in how they treat your customers.

4. Have fun, success will follow
If you aren’t having fun, you are doing it wrong. If you feel like getting up in the morning to work on your business is a chore, then it’s time to try something else. If you are having a good time, there is a far greater chance a positive, innovative atmosphere will be nurtured and your business will flourish. A smile and a joke can go a long way, so be quick to see the lighter side of life.

5. Rip it up and start again
If you are an entrepreneur and your first venture isn’t a success, welcome to the club! Every successful businessperson has experienced a few failures along the way – the important thing is how you learn from them. Don’t allow yourself to get disheartened by a setback or two, instead dust yourself off and work out what went wrong. Then you can find the positives, analyse where you can improve, rip it up and start again.

Star In Your Business Video, Even If You Hate Being On-Camera.

We work with a lot of business owners from coast to coast, and we always encourage them to take part in their Website Business Video. Their passion always seems to percolate up in the presentation and persuade in way that a 'spokesmodel' never can. That special personal contact has so much power with a prospect that is shopping around. People want to know the real person behind a business, especially with small and medium-sized companies.

However, many people truly hate seeing themselves on camera, or don't want to go to the time and expense of doing the whole lights/make-up/studio set-up necessary to look as professional as the typical TV production most people accept. Our solution is to do a voice-over with a music bed, and live video or motion-cam graphics. Check out our friend Deb Gorham in this example! 




Mel Hopkins is the founder of Q7 Marketing. Learn more about Q7's small business marketing services at GotUfound.com or click to email for more information

Web Video - Why Your Business Needs YouTube

Why is Web Video a great idea for your business? Imagine being able to give your 'elevator speech' about your company to prospects looking for a business - just like yours. We ALWAYS recommend hosting your video on YouTube. Why? Because Google owns it, so they help you 'get found'. Having the appropriate information about your company embedded means your message will get found by the searchers you want to speak with. Need help with that? Contact us! Also, YouTube lets you embed that video on your website. Here is a great example of a company introducing itself to potential customers that we produced.



Mel Hopkins is the founder of Q7 Marketing. Learn more about Q7's small business marketing services at GotUfound.com or click to email for more information