Gary Cerasi of Creative Business Strategies offers some tips about taking your business to the next level

By Ken McEntee

Taking the correct steps to grow your business can sometimes be as stressful as getting it started in the first place, says Gary Cerasi, CPA, owner of Creative Business Strategies. Here, Gary offers some tips about taking your business to the next level.

Q: What should I do to grow my business?
A: Proper marketing is one of the most important things. These days, marketing is internet driven. You need to know how to boost your name in Google searches and social media sites like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Face-to-face contact with prospects sometimes gets lost with today’s online focus, but going to business shows and having a booth can work very effectively as well.

Q: How do I reach my target customers?
A: First you have to figure out who your target audience is. To do that you have to know what problem your product or service solves, and who has that problem.

Once you establish who can benefit from your product, that’s when the marketing part comes in.

Q: Who can help me with an effective marketing plan?
A: Sometimes just brainstorming with your staff or the people who actually interact with your clients can spark some fantastic ideas. But a marketing specialist can be very helpful.

We can refer you to some trusted marketing companies with a track record of producing results.

Q: Should I buy another company to grow?
A: Sometimes an acquisition makes sense, but a leveraged buyout—using debt to acquire the company—can ruin the profit and turn a good deal into a bad deal.

Be sure to research the facts to ensure what the seller is telling you is accurate and truthful.

You can learn more about growing your business by scheduling a no-cost consultation with Gary, at 440-546-9359. Creative Business Strategies is located at 192 East Wallings Road, in Broadview Heights. You can learn more at CreativeBizStrat.com.