Small Business Ideas for Starting your own Business

Getting the right name when starting your business.

Many small businesses start by trying to get the right name to describe the business that the owner wants to set up. It could be as simple as "I want to set up a hair salon or a restaurant." But as Shakespeare asked "What's in a Name?" The answer is quite a lot. You need to give thought as to the likelihood of registering the name, getting an internet address and maybe a trademark. The first step is therefore to do some homework. A good place to start is the local government business name register - such as the New South Wales Department of Fair trading.

Your small business is defined by its name, so it is a good idea to get it right upfront at this stage of the business startup.

You should also think about the future. Think about where your business will be in 3 or 5 years. For example, let's assume you are selling homemade fig jam. You could consider the name "Just Figs Jams Only". This is great - but - is it a good business idea to restrict your business to just figs? What will you do in the future if you decided to expand and start selling strawberry jam or marmalade? How silly will you feel if you have to have your strawberry jam labelled with the business name "Just Figs Jams Only"?

Online Business Ideas

The world is the internet today. So a web presence is absolutely necessary for starting your own business. This is where ZimboPages can get you started in a flash. You can have your own ZimboPages web address within a week or so - no need to wait for the development of a fully functioning website. And, even better, when you get your website, in due course, it can be linked to your ZimboPages listing to help promote the exposure of your website on search engines such as Google. For more information to join ZimboPages http://www.zimbo.com.au/pages/register.cfm

How to be found on the Internet

How will customers find your business? How will potential customers check you out? Do you have an excellent presentation that inspires customers to pick up the phone or walk in the door?

Increasingly, many businesses may be just an internet business or a small business operating from home. These businesses don't have the retail premises that customers can walk past to gain exposure. Many businesses only use mobile phones, so they will not be found in a telephone directory. These new business operators need a web presence. However, it is quite surprising that even an internet search will not find many small, local businesses.

A ZimboPages listing gives many of our clients great internet search findability - to read more see our article "Best online business ideas"

Best Business Idea - Active Promotion

Anyone can open a shop or get a domain name. The best businesses, large or small, succeed due to active promotion. Once you have a ZimboPages listing, you should put the ZimboPages address on all of your business cards, brochures, flyers and documents. The great pictures on our visual directory listing of your business is something you are proud of, so tell everyone about it. Some of our clients love it so much that they have printed off the listing in full colour, laminated it and hung it up in their premises!

A great benefit compared to other directories is that you can login to your ZimboPages and add:

• Special offers
• Staff picture and profiles
• Product updates and news
• New and replacement pictures
• YouTube and video links

More importantly, Zimbo offers a range of additional features and products, such as:

• Fridge Magnets promoting your ZimboPages listing
• Calendars also promoting you and your ZimboPages entry
• Search Engine Optimization packages - SEO
• Printed copies of your ZimboPages directory listing brochures for customers
• Talking animated presenters on your site
• Video team available to shoot your corporate videos

Look out for our upcoming article on Small Business Marketing.

This discussion is of a general nature only and is not professional advice. So, if you are not already a ZimboPages client - join today at http://www.zimbo.com.au/pages/register.cfm