Entrepreneurs are always looking for ways they can upgrade their business operations and set themselves apart. It is a cut-throat world out there, and it is getting more and more challenging to set yourself apart from the competition. Unless you are continually updated with the latest trends and innovations, it is incredibly easy to lose out. 

Everyone is on the lookout for the latest thing. However, there is some sense in sticking to tried and tested methods and tricks. Being in business is much more complicated than they tell you it is in a business degree. While you can use technology to dazzle your way through, don't forget to look back at these time-tested business tricks straight from people who've been there, done that! 

Packaging Upgrades 

The traditionally used boxed packaging leaves a lot to be desired. For small items, they're are needlessly large and unwieldy. They get lumped in with larger items when you post them, and your products get damaged, leaving customers dissatisfied. You end up paying more for shipping these heavy boxes, and your profit takes a hit. 

Instead of going for the one-size-fits-all approach to standardize your branding, consider diversifying your packaging. If the order is small, choose lightweight packaging options like bubble mailers or envelopes. Larger orders can still be shipped in boxes, but your customers will appreciate the extra effort you take to ensure a painless, hassle-free experience for them. 

Personalized Stationery 

When you go to a large company meeting, one of the things you take for granted is that they will usually provide you with a pen with their name and logo emblazoned on it. Even though it's such a little thing, you still remember them every time you take the pen or notepad out to use. This is the power of passive marketing. Passive marketing techniques have been overshadowed by online and social media marketing recently. But that doesn't diminish its efficacy. 

Personalized stationery usually costs pennies more to purchase for you. However, the recall value they provide can be invaluable. They also make excellent gifts you give to clients when they come in that will forever put you in their good graces. Additionally, they will associate the positive emotions they experience with your business, ensuring a better relationship in the long run. 

Visual Marketing 

Humans are intensely visual creatures. 90% of the information we process is visual, and we are geared to understand visuals the most. When you're marketing, this can be a boon and a bust. The world is so full of advertising that it can get difficult to distinguish yourself from the crowd. This is where infographics come in. Infographics are informative graphic representations of ads. 

Instead of audio voiceovers or written paragraphs, you process your message into the smallest words and numbers. Use different types of graphs to get salient points across, and suddenly you'll see an uptick in your ROI on advertising. Since you're already paying for some sort of marketing and advertising set up, you don't have to pay extra to make this happen. You can introduce this idea to the mix of posts you do weekly and quietly laugh your way to the bank! 

Hyperlocal Delivery 

Ever since the pandemic hit, the logistics industry has become incredibly important. Everyone is under mandatory quarantine, but their needs haven't stopped! People are still shopping for what they want online. As a small business, it can difficult to compete with the big corporations when it comes to delivery. This is why now is the perfect time to establish a hyperlocal delivery infrastructure. 

Making a website or order form online is incredibly easy. You can set up a basic order form using Google Forms within a minute. You can also choose to invest in a better website that reflects your aesthetic and branding values. Hire an employee to make deliveries to your local customers. This is an excellent time to start building this side of your business for an instant boost in sales. 

Soft Services 

Soft services are some of the most overlooked parts of a business. When you sell a product or offer customer support, those are hard services you are offering. These things are part and parcel of your everyday business model, and you would not be able to operate without them. On the other hand, soft services are extras that you offer to your customers to entice them to come back. 

Examples of soft services include offering valet parking for your customers, offering personal account managers who will be available during business hours for their issues, and even gifts or bonuses. Soft services go a long way to ensure repeat customers who come back not just for your product but also for the experience you provide.