You have decided that you want to hit it big on your own and not be another number in a big corporate company. You have a perfect idea, have done your market research, and started your business. It’s going well, and now you are thinking about expanding. However, going from a good business to an exceptional business requires a few techniques.
Be Ready to Go the Distance
You know already about putting in the long hours and sacrificing a few social events when you decided to start your business. But, going to the next level is more than that. This is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to stay focused on the end goal, especially in times of frustration where you ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” You might not see the results right away but keep at it. Increasing your revenue and client base, no matter the type of business you have is brutal. In addition, there are competitors and economic changes to consider.
Become a Purple Cow
You might have had an original idea for a service or product when you started your business, but just like weeds, competitors will start popping up. They will challenge you with impressive advertising or lower costs. Where you were the only fish in the pond and happily making money, you find yourself not alone anymore. Competitors’ primary objective is to take your customers. Now you have to find out how to stand out from the rest. Tim Fargo said, “Your friends will believe in your potential; your enemies will make you live up to it.” You believed in your potential when you decided to start your business; your competition is making sure that you become exceptional. So how can your business be different from the competitors? To know the “how,” you first need to know the ins and outs of your competitors. What are they doing? How are they doing it? Then, it’s time to start becoming creative. Add an extra service or rewards program, like: on your fifth order, delivery is on us.
Rate Me
You might believe that you are providing excellent customer service, but how do you measure it? Smiling customers are all dandy, but what are they saying about your product or service behind your back? There are a few rating systems you can use for customers to either rate your service or the overall experience and give you the reason why. There are many ways to get your most disgruntled customers to come back through your doors. And that is that you are listening to their problem. Don’t just nod your head while thinking about the next task you need to complete on your to-do list. Really listen, take notes of what they are saying to you, read back to them what you believe the issue is, apologize, get right on it, and most importantly, let them know what was being done regarding their complaint. If the customer feels that you are taking them seriously, they will come back to support you again. Another benefit of having a rating system is knowing exactly where you lack in your service and product. It will be easier to fix these because there is no trial and error. The saying “the customer knows best” is very appt in this regard, because who makes your revenue grow? The customer. The rating system also is like a golden goose. Customers can lead you to come up with new products, or they can even be so magnanimous as to hand it to you on a silver platter by giving it to you.
No Restrictions
You have always dreamed about moving your company into the top floor of the skyscraper building, but times have evolved. Working remotely is the new norm, not just for the cost-saving aspect but also for convenience. If you need to hire an employee, you are not restricted with options because they can work from anywhere in the world. Just imagine the well of potential talent you can access that your competitors don’t because they refuse to move with the times. Suppose you are worried about how to make sure that your team stays on the same page and on track with projects. In that case, there is multiple project management software available. And some options are even free!
CRM
In the beginning, it was easy to manage your clients on normal excel sheets. But you soon find it hard to find time in the day to update those sheets. Efficient administration is the key to push you over the finish line. There is again multiple software available on Google to do the job. Still, you will end up having to download two or three software to manage your whole CRM. Doing a bit of research, you will find a few software available that can offer you the entire holistic approach you need, like CoachCalendar.com or even Keep. Having good CRM software will not just help your client relationship, but it will also build your brand trust.
Marketing Hulk
You have been marketing your business in the past; that is why your business is good. Now is the time to bring out the big guns to become exceptional. No, you do not need a huge budget to accomplish this; you need to be innovative and keep up with the times. It’s all about digital marketing. Become aggressively active on social media with Google ads, Facebook, ads, blogs, content writing, teaming up with a social media influencer, and more. Studies showed that the average person spent 2 hours and 24 minutes a day on social media in 2020. Ensure that your business is visible while your current clients and potential clients surf around their social media pages.
While taking your business into the next step of exceptional and thinking that you don’t have time for a specific area of your business, outsource it. If IT is giving you a headache, look for a reputable managed IT solution. Does marketing look like a rollercoaster without the harness? Get professional in on your strategy. There are ways to make the process a little easier for you. But don’t kid yourself and think that it will be a breeze. You have never bled, sweat, cry and have sleepless nights before then you will have, but always remember the end goal. It will be worth it.
