{"id":568,"date":"2017-04-29T11:59:59","date_gmt":"2017-04-29T09:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sage-new-clone.local\/en-za\/blog\/?p=452"},"modified":"2026-01-29T16:03:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T14:03:53","slug":"5-challenges-facing-small-business-owners-in-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/5-challenges-facing-small-business-owners-in-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"5 challenges facing SMEs in 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness planning<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t5 challenges facing SMEs in 2017\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Keir\t\t\t\tKeir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sage plays an active role in the small business and entrepreneur landscape, naturally, as our accounting software solutions are tailor made for them! We put a question to the community:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a small business owner, what is the biggest challenge you\u2019ve faced this year?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with responses from our own community, we also collaborated with the Female Entrepreneurs South Africa Support Group, who shared their top entrepreneurial challenges with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the top 5 challenges faced this year, along with our top Sage Advice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Collecting customer emails<\/h2>
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     <\/strong>Sage Advice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Growing your database of customer, or potential customer, emails for ongoing email communications is a great way to keep your business front-of-mind. But quality is key. There\u2019s no point in purchasing a list because you\u2019ll be sending out your well-crafted e-newsletters straight to spam. Practice these simple tips and you\u2019ll be able to build a list of highly engaged, and welcoming, customers. To suit different businesses, we\u2019ve divided our tips into offline and online methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Offline<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    For brick-and-mortar stores, it\u2019s likely you have a sign-up sheet already sitting on the counter, so customers can opt-in when they pay for their items. Instead, catch your browsers at an earlier stage of their decision-making process. They\u2019ll be looking around your store, so position your email sign-up sheets around the aisles. A catchy headline works a treat, and you can choose to include an incentive for their email, which will both encourage them to sign-up, and also to buy that item they have in their hands. \u201cJoin our mailing list for 10% off your purchase today\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Online<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    On your website: Most websites embed a newsletter sign-up box on the homepage, or as a pop-up. However, online business specialist Ramsay of Blog Tyrant<\/span><\/a> suggests you move you email collection invite to your \u2018About\u2019 page. He saw a huge increase in his sign-up rate when he moved his. It seems, according to Ramsay, that people want to subscribe while they are reading about you, (or your business).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On social media: If social media is part of your marketing strategy, make sure you post a call-to-action and link to your online sign-up form. Pin it so it always features at the top of your profile, and doesn\u2019t get lost in daily posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Facebook has created a specific advert format called Lead Ads<\/span><\/a> that allows you to collect email addresses. Read up on what works well, and invest a small test budget to trial some contests. You can include an incentive for customer emails, such as a free quote, or a discount code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Admin, admin, admin! And finding the time to do it<\/h2>
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      Sage Advice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Simply put, admin is any task you do in your business that doesn\u2019t directly, or indirectly, generate income. So the least time you spend on it, the better. That said, you need to keep a clean shop. Here are our top tips for reducing time spent on admin, so your time can be better spent making money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Use technology!<\/strong> Digital tools can save a lot of time. Some are free, others you have to pay for, but it\u2019s worth a small upfront outlay so that you get those few extra hours a month to spend on money-making activities. Check out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n