7 Ways to Grow Your Business
It is a new year and most of us have set personal and career or business goals. Entrepreneurs and business owners, in particular, should focus on building their brand with S.M.A.R.T. goals. Our resolutions ought to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.
There are a lot of negative predictions and fear mongers prophesying a future of gloom and doom. However, I believe that 2020 will be your most productive year. A banner year! We are going to see endless possibilities and if we prepare with a S.M.A.R.T plan, we can capitalize on it. Let me share seven principles with you that will infuse immediate growth in your endeavors:
- Market your product and services. A friend recently told me, “Sandy, I don’t want my business to become a best-kept secret in town.” He’s right! I believe you have the best product on the market; however, unless people know about it, you are not going to make much progress. Brainstorm with your team and find S.M.A.R.T ways to market your product.
- Update your marketing materials. Make sure they have relevant information. Your website is the first place potential customers will go to in order to learn more about your product. So get rid of stale content, and make sure that each link and all the buttons are still working. Over 52% of all online traffic is generated through mobile devices. Be sure to check your website on your phone and make certain that it is mobile-friendly.
- Get people to talk about your brand. Word-of-mouth communication is the best advertisement. You want people to talk about your brand with their friends. Create short and focused content on social media that will entice people to hit the “share” button. Remember that sharing is selling. Consider posting a video about your product and services that is less than two minutes. Make it educational, inspirational, and practical as it focuses on quality, benefits, and reliability. Offer a solution, peace of mind, or satisfaction as a result of buying your product.
- Sell something! Nothing will happen to your business unless someone makes a sale. Sales are the lifeblood to your business; therefore, it should be one of your top priorities. Do not get bogged down into perfecting your sales pitch, analytics, or back-office data. There are two ways to increase sales: increase the sales to your current customers and obtain new customers. You should work on both of these areas. One of the best ways to do that is by asking satisfied customers for referrals.
- Pay attention to customer service. People do not buy products and services, they buy the experience of you. The key to customer service is “custom.” Do you have a custom-made system that ensures customer satisfaction? Are you flexible to accommodate customer requests? Do they feel valued and appreciated to keep coming back? Have you considered a rewards program? Are you warm and inviting? Would you shop at your own establishment?
- Invest in your team. Do not focus on simply building your business. Invest in people and they will build your business. Your team is the face of your business and every one of them are part of your sales team. Treat them right. They are the most valuable asset you have. What are you doing to enrich their lives? Are they getting a reasonable share of the profit? Keep in mind that people are motivated by encouragement, trust, responsibility, opportunity, flexible schedules, recognition, and appreciation – not just financial compensation.
- Call in favor. Declare favor by talking about and bragging on God’s goodness. You will see more of whatever it is you are thanking God for. Thank God for favor before a sales presentation or an important meeting. Favor will take you places you cannot go on your own. Favor will open new doors for you. Favor will promote you even when you do not feel qualified. Favor will bring you the right connections. Favor will take you further faster. Wake up every morning and declare favor over yourself, your family, and your business.
Friend, I believe that 2020 will be your most productive year. Walk in obedience to God. Thank God from whom all blessings flow. Keep a positive attitude of expectancy. Sell something every day. Honor God by honoring people. Build up your team and treat your customers right. Believe that God wants to bless and prosper you so that you can become a blessing to the world. I pray and declare that this will be your banner year in business.
“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV).
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