The advancement and prosperity of small companies is essential for economic growth and stability. Starting a new business can be tedious while making sure that business is successful can be daunting. Building a company from the ground up is a noble task and you need to make sure you have all the tools you need to make it grow into something great. Coming up with a business growth plan is a smart and effective way to make sure you stay on track. Here are ten tips you can use to make sure your business venture is successful in every way.
Choose a Name and Logo That Suits Your Business
Your business growth strategy should begin with what you decide to call your company. The name of a business is often the first thing customers learn about it. Both the name and logo should give some type of impression as to what the business stands for. When a customer begins to search for a company, search engines and word of mouth should lead them to straight you. The name recognition will be able to get people’s attention and the logo will make sure your company can be easily picked out among all the others.
A new and expressive symbol for your company will build your brand and become a symbol for what you set out to accomplish. Having a rough idea to show an artist or graphic designer will give them insight as to what you want the world to see when they look toward your business. An impressive logo to go along with your name is the first step in getting your brand out in the world.
Show Everyone What You Stand For
You know what type of business you have. Make sure others know it as well. By using efficient marketing strategies you will be able to get your brand noticed by potential customers and competitors as well. For a new business spending money on promotional items is an added expense that many cannot afford. Thankfully, with the growth of social media, it is easier than ever to get noticed.
When you set up a Facebook and Twitter account you can let people know what you are all about without dipping into your checking account. Social media sites have millions of users all of whom appreciate new ideas. Small businesses have to pay attention to every penny. By using website such as these, money can be directed to other areas that need to be improved. Because your business is growing during the digital age, advertising has never been easier.
Establish Your Differences
Regardless of the type of business you have, always make sure you set yourself apart from your competitors. Buyers are most likely not going to switch companies when the two are exactly alike. Your business strategy needs to include features that are unique to your company alone. Making your prices slightly lower, or offering efficient customer support are just a few options many businesses choose when starting out. By making sure you possess qualities that similar companies are lacking, you automatically give yourself a leg up in your industry.
Showing others the ways in which you are different from your competitors also shows that you do not want to be thought of as another run of the mill company. Breaking out of the mold will make sure others know that you are willing to evolve with the demands of the people. New ideas are what will give your business the push it needs to get to the top.
Pay Attention to Training
It may seem obvious that training should be included in your plan, however, many do not realize that the quality of the training can make all the difference. Giving a quick overview to employees and expecting them to catch on by themselves leaves a large margin for error that most new businesses cannot afford. Establish a set training schedule and stick to it. When employees know what is expected of them and are willing to accomplish it, they are less likely to quit because of a hostile workplace environment.
Many companies make the mistake of not disclosing certain job details that they see as negative and expect employees to fall in line anyway. This mindset says that you believe that if you pay them, they should do anything you want on a whim. By doing this employees are not prepared for the job and are often unhappy with the underhanded nature of the company. Be up front with expectations and only choose employees who are willing to do both the good and bad parts of the job. This will lead to less turnover and less time and money being put into training new employees. Staff members who feel they understand their position and are happy with it are usually more willing to go the extra mile for your business.
Keep Employees Happy
Aside from their training, employees need to know they are appreciated. Any effective growth plan should include some sort of employee appreciation. One challenge many businesses face is the lack of loyalty with their staff. A person who feels taken advantage of will usually put a minimum amount of effort into their performance. Set up an incentive program to show employees that you are aware of all their hard work and you want to reward them for it. This will not only give people a reason to go the extra mile, but also boost morale and improve the work environment itself.
Employee loyalty is exceedingly important in order for a small business to grow and succeed. A person who feels heard and respected will normally take pride in their work and try harder as opposed to someone who feels they are in a dead end job with no help from upper management. By taking the time to make sure every employee feels needed, you are making sure your business has the staff it needs to grow.
Promote From Within
Depending on the skills you need for your management staff, always consider promoting from your current pool of employees. If there is someone who is employed by you who also possesses the necessary qualities that you need for a manager, see if they are interested in the job and give them an interview. This will make both the hiring and start up processes go much smoother.
Promoting from within has quite a few advantages. First, a current employee will already know the company’s operating systems and procedures, so training will be shortened drastically. As an employee that you already know, it is much easier to give away some control. This will not only ease you of some of your own burden, but give you peace of mind by appointing someone you already trust. In addition, other employees will see that promotions are available and that you value their skills. When the job they have has the potential of turning into a career, employees will become invested in the success of your company. This ties in with making everyone feel appreciated, and improves the mindset of the staff as a whole.
Do Not Cut Corners
In the beginning stages of setting up and improving your business, costs will most likely be high. Going with cheaply made equipment and low quality labor in exchange for a smaller price tag will end up harming your business in the long run. Cheap equipment tends to break more often and needs to be repaired or replaced on a regular basis. It usually ends up being more cost effective to choose higher quality for less of a headache.
Products that are given out or sold to customers are a representation of your company itself. Cheaply made products give the impression that your company is willing to sacrifice quality in order to keep a few extra dollars. By refusing to be the type of business that cuts corners, you send a very positive message to your potential buyers. As far as growth strategy goes, this is an effective method that will make customers speak highly of you and your business.
Meet With Customers Face to Face
As the owner of a new business, you will never be bored. Between staff meetings and choosing what computer systems to use, you will have very little free time. While so many tasks can be stressful, it is still important to make time to get to know your customers personally. Many people feel better meeting with the owner of a business rather than a salesperson because it makes them feel important. Every business needs their customers in order to grow, treat yours the right way and they will always come back for more.
It is common knowledge that the person who runs a company is incredibly busy. When you are able to meet with customers yourself it shows that they are a top priority for you. Your business growth plan will be much easier to accomplish when you have loyal customers who value your company.
Set Goals
In the beginning, it is all about getting your company set up. After you have settled in and begun getting into a daily rhythm, it is always a good idea to set up goals to help your business succeed. This growth strategy will not only give you something to focus on, but will also establish the direction in which you want you company to move. No mater if it is a specific financial quota, or reaching out to a set number of potential customers, this is a great way to keep you and your staff on the right track.
As far as what exactly the goals should be, it is important to remember that they should be kept reasonable. Setting unrealistic expectations will leave everyone involved unfulfilled and frustrated. Your company is important to you, this is an easy way to make it just as important to others as well.
Do Not Forget Why You Started Your Company
In he midst of spreadsheets and supply orders, it is easy to forget why you started down this path in the first place. No business growth strategy will work if you loose interest all together. Keep reminders of where your business came from. Maybe you had a dream about selling office supplies, or have always wanted to start a brewing company with your best friend. Keep pictures, magazine clippings, and anything else that will keep you focused on the business itself, rather than all the tedious details. By doing this you can help yourself stay in the right mindset, and let others take a look at what the company means to you. Another bonus from doing this is you will always have interesting stories for visitors that you meet in your office.
Any growth plan becomes much easier to get through when you remember what you set out to do in the first place. Always stay true to yourself and your business motto and you will have much less to worry about. Your peace of mind will show through your positive appearance and everyone in your company will be better for it.
Succeeding in the world of business is something that many people give up on too quickly. While it does require a large amount of time and effort, it is worth it to see your company grow. If you are just starting out, or simply want to improve the small business you already have, this business strategy will help you reach all your goals. Business minded people, such as yourself, contribute to the economic growth that society needs to thrive. By starting a company and helping it grow you are able to do what many cannot. Use these tips to help your company succeed and never doubt what you can accomplish with a little extra effort.
