What to Buy This Black Friday for Your Business

The end of the year is near, but you don't have to wait for New Year’s to set your business up for success. You can take action now by securing all the business and tech solutions you need during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Black Friday is on 26 November this year and many retailers have already started to share discounts on products. You may have already been tagged online for Bumper Black Friday deals or received email newsletters on pre-sales offers. Here are Buying Tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday:

• Plan and create a Wish List – Go through your business’s inventory and check what is needed to make the running of your business easier.

• Set up a budget – Then look ahead of time at how much the products cost to later compare how much you will be saving on it.

• Do your research – Try to follow your favourite retailers on social media and sign up for email newsletters to get the latest news on Black Friday deals.

• Check the fine print – Be sure to check shipping costs, service charges, and return policies, like a 30-day return window.

In this week’s newsletter, we share:- What to Buy This Black Friday: Business Tools for Success- Download: The Tech Buyer's Guide

- Free WhatsApp for Business Workshop- Financial Management Tools and Advice

Have a great, productive week ahead!

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Get your FREE WhatsApp for Business mini-workshop now!

You only have 2 days left to register for a free webinar on how to use “WhatsApp for Business”. In just 60 minutes you will learn:

• How to set up WhatsApp for your Business

• How to navigate the business tools to help automate your system

• Use WhatsApp for business to enhance your customer experience and drive your leads

 Join Startwise on 25 November at 11 am to learn how WhatsApp Business can amplify your marketing efforts, automate your customer service and grow your SME!

What to Buy This Black Friday: Business Tools for Success

This Black Friday look out for the products by brands we recommend, below:

Accounting software – Why do you need it? You will be able to do tasks like record transactions, send invoices, store receipts, and track sales taxes, cash flow management, as well as tax management – from anywhere, whether on your desktop or cell phone.

We recommend: SageDomains and Hosting – Why do you need it? The benefit of a website includes helping to market your business online and providing a secure platform for new customers who want to buy from you.

We recommend: 1-gridE-commerce website builder – Why do you need it? You can set up your e-commerce shop without the help of a web developer; it’s cost-effective and provides ready-made storefronts.

We recommend: SquarespaceEmail marketing service – Why do you need it? Email marketing can also help to drive traffic to your website or e-commerce store. Some of the online marketing features include the function to create social media ad campaigns, manage social sharing, and set up reports.

We recommend: (1) Active Campaign, (2) Constant Contact, (3) GetResponse, and (4) Mailchimp. Payroll & HR Software – Why do you need it? This tool helps you with standard tasks like sourcing candidates, managing employee records, performing payroll calculations and issuing payslips.

We recommend: (1) Zoho, and (2) Breezy HRPOS systems – Why do you need them? It is an alternative way that customers can pay for your products. Additional benefits are the speeding up of the checkout process and being ability to save and organise sales data.

We recommend: (1) Ikhokha, (2) Wappoint, and (3) YocoBusiness Courses – Why you need it? The biggest advantages of online courses are lower costs, flexibility and convenience. Entrepreneurs can use online courses to up their knowledge, whether it’s their financial management or basic coding skills.

Our recommendations are in this article: A Comprehensive List of Free or Cheap Online Courses for Small Business Owners

ALSO READ: 8 Non-Negotiables Cybersecurity Experts say you Should be Doing to Keep your SME Secure

Financial Management Tools & Advice to Ensure A Successful Business

• Read about the financial management must-do’s, definite don’ts and the tools all small business owners should be using – in this article.

• Learn about how to set financial goals for your business – read all about it here

• 8 Key things your financials can tell you about the health of your business – read more

Download any of these free templates for your business:- A Business Plan for Startups- Income Statement template- Cash Flow Forecast- Finding Your Breakeven Point- How Much to Charge for Your Services

ALSO READ: Cyber Security Best Practices For SMEs

The market is saturated with so many tech products, and with all the noise, it can get daunting to choose the right product for your business. The SME South Africa Tech Buyer’s Guide provides the support and guidance that YOU need throughout the buying journey. What's inside?

• Strategies on how to buy the right business solution or tech

• Main features and benefits to consider

• Recommendations for top brands

Download your FREE copy now and start your journey to business growth!