4 Simple Steps to Run an Even Better Business
I bet if you think about it, your business feels like your baby.
Sure, it may keep you up at night worrying about the future, but it’s also a representation of all your hard work. I’ve had more than a few sleepless nights fretting over a product launch or customer complaint.
You can smell the blood, sweat, and tears in every aspect of your biz. But thankfully, no poopy diapers.
Your level of business success depends on how you manage your operations and your ability to win over more customers.
The good news is that if you’re struggling to get traction or need a whole new game plan, you don’t need to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
Here are 4 simple steps you can take to run an even better business. Give your baby some love!
1. Set Specific Goals and Draft a Business Plan
Your business will improve by leaps and bounds when you proactively choose to be a leader and set specific goals for what you want to achieve.
Ideas are great (we all love to dream), but to reach those lofty goals, you need to write down the details in a project plan so you know what actions to take and by what deadlines.
Draft a business plan and include specifics about how you’ll get from where you’re at now to where you want to be. Get creative and think BIG! For more help, download my Master Action Plan (MAP) in my free Editor’s Toolkit.
A plan of action will help you make better decisions about how to proceed when you’re at a crossroads. No more questioning what to do next.
Remember to share your goals and business plan with your leadership team, staff, or employees (if you have them) to get everyone on the same page and ensure you’re working in unison.
2. Create a Tailored Marketing Plan
If you want to sell more products and services, then you need to create a tailored marketing plan for your business and ideal customers.
I know too many entrepreneurs who follow the “wait and see” approach. They publish their website and offerings and then wait for the sales to roll in.
That’s not how it works! If you wait for your ideal customers to find you, then you’ll be waiting forever. Go to where they are, where they hang out, and where they spend their time.
A great place to start is to design an Ideal Client Profile (as we do in Startup In 60), and then tailor your marketing efforts to those specific people.
For example, you can review SaaS marketing strategies to market your software as services if this is your line of business.
3. Implement Best Practices
You and your business will benefit from implementing best practices.
No need to waste your time on outdated methods or be inconsistent with your content, marketing, or customer outreach. What tactics are truly worth your time and energy?
Run a better business by sharing ideas with your team, an accountability partner, or coach about what strategies are the most efficient.
Document procedures in your operations manual (again, covered in Startup In 60) so that you know the best ways to get things done and can make onboarding new hires easier.
4. Make Wise Hiring Decisions
Hiring the right employees is a crucial step for running a successful business. You want to know that they’re the best fit for your culture and can help your business grow faster.
Write detailed job descriptions (be honest about expectations!) and hold interviews to see who has the right skills and is a good fit for your team.
It’s also a good idea to track employee performance so you know where each team member stands and how they’re doing overall.
Don’t make your employees feel stagnant in their roles. Just as your business will evolve over time, there may be opportunities to move people up and promote them to other positions.
As your business grows you’ll need people you can trust and delegate work to so you can focus on higher-level projects.
NEXT STEP: Join Startup In 60 for dozens of streamlined business strategies that can be completed in less than 60 seconds. Yes, really!
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