In the first instalment of this series on budget tips for small businesses we’re going to explore two popular options for saving money on your small business expenses and maximizing your profits. Each week we’ll take a look at two common practices for small businesses: one that works and one that doesn’t, and why that is the case for each one. First up…
Coupon Codes: They work!
Almost all companies have coupon codes. Sometimes they might call them promo codes or voucher codes, but they all do the same thing: get you a great deal and save you money! You can get coupons for almost anything: website hosting, travel, software and services, retail and tech items, and so much more. This is a budget tip that really works, I mean it’s hard to lose with this one. CouponFeed is our go-to website for getting these codes, you can visit their homepage here.
You need to buy something for your business, if there is a coupon available why would you not use it?! I think a lot of people don’t realize how many coupons are available out there, and they don’t bother to search for one before they make a purchase. Remember that they are not just for brick and mortar retailers, and they are available in way more places than just the local grocery store flyer! Before you buy anything online, if they have a spot for a coupon or promo code do a quick Google search. Let’s say you have a business trip coming up, you can travel for less by using promo codes for booking hotels and flights. Just because it’s a write off doesn’t mean you can’t save!
Outsourcing Content: Be Wary
Outsourcing is becoming more irrelevant as search engines increasingly penalize websites full of low-quality content. But why is it still so popular? The truth is that even though there is a lot of misinformation out there, anyone can learn why outsourcing is so dangerous by reading the article below.
Quality
At one time websites could get away with creating content with a few relevant keywords and an eye-catching title. But social media visibility is now highly valued and even great content will be buried in search results if it only has a few shares and likes on sites like Twitter and Facebook.
Most outsourced content, although packed with valuable information, isn’t unique or interesting enough to share online. Webmasters and bloggers will have more success if they learn how to create winsome content, either on their own or by hiring a writing team.
Voice
Voice is another problem with outsourced content. Pieces written by different authors usually lack a consistent style and point of view, also known as voice. Just like any other product, your content will confuse your audience if it is too unpredictable. Contradictions and factual errors will also frustrate your readers and can easily slip in unnoticed, especially if you rely heavily on outsourced content from different sources.
Uniqueness
Many websites publish a flood of cheap outsourced content. While this seems like a smart strategy at first, it usually ends in disappointment when they don’t meet their own lofty expectations. This failure is due to a fatal misunderstanding that viewers want a lot of content and don’t care about quality.
You need to realize that since there is so much content online on almost every topic, you need to stand-out from your competition if you want to attract a large audience. Without a commitment to be unique and offer excellent content, you will always struggle to pull your website out of mediocrity.
Opportunity
Outsourcing worthwhile content takes a lot of your time, whether you are communicating with authors, making corrections, browsing content, or doing other managerial tasks. But is this the best way to use your time?
The answer is usually no, especially if you run an opinion-based website. Time is a precious resource, and yours is better spent creating backlinks, finding your unique voice, and growing your presence on social media.
Now that you know why outsourcing is so damaging, you can focus on improving your traffic and page rank the right way. Your audience will thank you.