When you own your own business, there are some elements of it that you are able to control and other parts of it that no matter what you do, they are beyond your control. That’s why we need to make as much effort as possible to propel our business forward through certain elements of it where possible. So here are five ideas for things you can do to ensure your business is running as smoothly and efficiently as you could hope for…
Impeccable customer service
Unrivalled customer service can be easier to achieve than you think and really is something that you, the business owner, can control. Whether you are providing the customer service yourself or you have a team of people doing it for you, there are lots of ways to ensure that your business gives the best customer experience possible from the point of purchase (or even before that) and beyond. Always be friendly, have empathy, listen intently and work on your problem solving skills. This will go a long way!
Packaging and label inspection
Make sure that any packaging flaws are eradicated by using a packaging and label inspection machine. IVS offers stringent quality control standards that can be guaranteed and inspection completed faster than manual inspection. This can free up your precious time to focus on other aspects of your business such as customer service, new product creation or social media for example. Time is one of our biggest currencies and it needs to be used wisely.
Spread the word
Do people know about your business? Do you have a robust marketing plan? I’m a fan of using social media to reach my target market and once you find the right platform, it can be hugely impactful. The more effort you put into it, the more benefits you will reap. Perhaps try to do some 1 to 1 social media training with a professional who can advise you on how to create a strategy and implement it as needed.
Another option can be to try to get your business mentioned in the media as much as possible. Get to know your local reporters and the publications (both online and print) that are most relevant for your target market. Come up with a unique idea or piece of news and pitch it! If you don’t ask, you don’t get…
Keep an eye on your competitors
It goes without saying that it isn’t good to copy your competitors but it is completely acceptable to keep an eye out on what they are doing and aspire to always do it better. There’s plenty of room for more than one business in your field but keeping on top of your game, igniting passion into your business and making sure you don’t fall behind as a business is always worth the effort.
What do you think? Do you like these ideas for ways to create or maintain a successful business? If you have any recommendations which you would like to suggest too, please do comment below…