Business terminology can be complex, especially when you’re trying to do something new. We all want to be on top of our game, and that means having the right business knowledge and understanding of the industry we work in.
SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) need to understand the industry lingo and jargon to thrive in business and not run the risk of being left behind.
Here is a curated list of ten business terms that all SMEs should know.
1. Target Audience
These are people who need your product or service. It allows you to choose who you make your product or service for, and by knowing who your target audience is, you can tailor your offering and approach to best suit them. To understand what they want, we need to use lots of different kinds of research. Which also requires different kinds of questions to be asked.
2. Business Plan
A business plan is a document that explains what you are going to do and how you are going to do it. It consists of a combination of descriptions, estimates of cost and revenue, and forecasts.
Business plans are a vital part of the process of starting a new business. A well-written business plan lays out how your idea will be profitable and demonstrates that you’ve thought about it carefully before you start.
3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is the process of optimizing your website to get it ranking in search engine results pages. It is a type of marketing that tries to get people to see your website when they search for what you sell.
4. Returns on Investment (ROI)
Return on Investment (ROI) is a financial ratio that measures the return gained from an investment. It represents the minimum return generated by the money invested.
5. Cash Flow
Cash flow is the amount of money that comes into and goes out of a business on a daily basis, and It is used to determine if a business has enough cash to meet its short and long-term obligations. This is one of the most important aspects of managing a business.
6. Value Added (VAT)
VAT is a tax on products and services. Sellers are usually required to pay a value-added tax on taxable goods and services. The current standard rate of VAT is 20%, with the reduced rate coming in at 5% and the zero rate, of course, being 0%.
7. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is the money spent to acquire a customer through marketing, sales, subscriptions. So, if you want to know what your business is worth, start by figuring out your CAC.
8. B2B (Business to Business)
B2B (Business to Business) is a branch of marketing that focuses on selling to other businesses. It refers to the sale of goods and services between two businesses.
9. Distribution Channels
Distribution channels are those mechanisms that transfer the ownership of a product from the original producer to the end-user. These can be direct (manufacturer sells to end-user) or indirect (manufacturer sells to a distributor, who then sells to end-user).
10. Conversion Rate
Conversion rate is the percentage of visitors that take a particular action, such as making a purchase or taking another desired action on your website. Improving your conversion rate is crucial when you are running an e-commerce site
Takeaway
Making yourself knowledgeable about these terms can be highly beneficial when it comes to your business goals, particularly in the growth of your business. So, take some time to learn them and start using them in your everyday business life.
