Step up your business
Do you sometimes feel you’re on a hamster wheel, working harder every day but not really getting very far?
I think it’s quite common, particularly in a recession. If you are running your own business there’s more temptation to be tactical and working ‘in’ the business rather than ‘on’ it. And if you work in an organisation, you might find you are coping with the same (if not more) amount of work with less resources. So there’s no surprise that everything seems harder…it takes longer to get the money in these days…negotiations are tougher…decisions to proceed are difficult to pin down…
It’s very easy to fall into the trap of becoming busy fools. Where we are not actually achieving very much even though we are working our socks off…but there is something we can do about it. Things we know we should do but never actually seem to get the time to do. And it can really make a difference and help you step up your business to the next level…find out more.
Step up your business
To step up your business you first need to take a step back. Unless you step back and look at what is happening in your business, you will continue doing the ‘same’ things. By doing the ‘same’ things you’ll often achieve the ‘same’ results. So this is about looking at what you do. What you do well, what you could do better, and what you could do differently and making it happen. It’s not reactive, it’s about being strategic. It’s about understanding what you want to achieve and then devising a plan of how to get there.
OK, so you say, how do I do that. Ask yourself these five questions and see if you can do things differently…
- When was the last time you really looked at what your competitors are doing? Maybe there’s an opportunity you are missing or there are new kids on the block. Keep your radar on all of the time.
- When was the last time you took stock of your client’s situation? Is the recession hitting them hard? Is there new legislations or technologies that are affecting them? The more you know what is keep your customers awake at night, the more you can help them.
- When was the last time you reviewed your products and services? Are you putting all your efforts into products that actually have a low growth potential and low market share? Put your efforts into your ‘stars’ – the products and services that have a greater growth potential and you sell them already.
- It’s worth stepping back to look at where your customers come from. Who are your customers? If you are continually chasing ‘new’ customers, particularly in new markets you are making it very hard for yourself. It’s much easier to sell existing products and services to existing customers and markets. Do this first before you sell into new markets and new products.
- And here’s a big one. How often do you review your processes? If you are running around like headless chickens but your figures don’t reflect the activity chances are your processes need serious attention. We’ve all been busy fools at some point or other, it’s not a nice feeling. Sort it out.
If you need help in your business sometimes it is easier to get a third party in to help you unblock those issues and help you step up your business. First Impression runs marketing strategy sessions for small to medium sized businesses. Give us a call to find out more on 01457 857111 or contact us send us an email.