If you own a small to mid-size business and need to find a trusted professional to address the needs of said business, there are a variety of routes to choose from as you are starting out. Depending on what it is that you need you may feel like you are trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack – especially if you don’t have a huge network of contacts built up.
Let’s say you are in the process of levelling up and you are ready to set out building a second location for your business. You may have already selected a great location, an architect, and builder, but you still need someone to do some outside consulting. You may need to find a structural engineer in your area to come out to your job site to do some initial assessments.
Here are a few tips to keeping your search quick and efficient-whatever it is that you are searching for.
Online Business Directory Search
The best way to set out on your search is to get online and start looking for directories in your area. In the UK, there are several online directories that you can rely on to search for exactly what you are looking for.
The benefits of these directories are great and include being able to set your own budget for the job that you need done, to being able to set a time frame for the job, additionally you can even specify where you are at on the decision-making spectrum. The more options that you specify regarding your task, the easier it is to match you with the best possible person or company to take on the job.
Importance of Online Reviews
Another great way to get quality information regarding professionals, companies, and vendors that you are looking to hire or partner with is to take the time to check out the reviews that are associated with each potential vendor or building professional online.
Simply type their name, or the name of the company into your favorite search engine online and you should be presented with a wealth of information.
Pay attention to both positive and negative reviews while you search. It is very possible that an excellent building professional could have one or two negative reviews from clients that were unrealistic to deal with. Always keep that in mind when you see these one-off’s.
Business Community Referrals
If you are more of a word of mouth type of person and you prefer to get your own recommendations and referrals from other professionals in your own business community, you can take this route as well.
You can start with your local merchant’s guild or chamber of commerce. These groups usually have lists of recommended professionals that serve the local community that you can contact to get further information. If this isn’t an option in your area, contact your fellow business owners and do some networking.
Whichever route you choose to source professionals for your business, ensure you are taking your time to make the best decision for you and your company.
