08 Aug Growing Your Small Business
We’ve probably all known someone who started a small business, something that began as a simple side gig to pay for college (and rent and ramen!)’till school was done and they could start making the big bucks. What started out as a one man band in a small shop ended up being the eating joint where folks were always lined up down the street, no matter the time of day, and the business became part of the local buzz everyone was talking about. One small shop became two.
Before you go out on a limb and start a business, you’ve got to know your niche. You don’t want to duplicate what’s already out there, because you want your consumers to see your product as something that’s new, different and fresh.
Concentrate on having a quality product. Aiming to do too much at one time can actually end up being the reason you burn and crash. Hitting the ground running is an excellent game plan, but trying to enthusiastically market several different products at the same time, especially when you aren’t well-known, is a recipe for disaster. Focus on a simple, quality product– something that will advertise itself by its flexibility, timeless style, or everyday need. It has to be made well enough that the quality will speak for itself, and then target marketing that one thing. Once the brand has gained traction, you can begin to introduce new things to your line– but wait til you have a name in the market, and one that carries some clout.
Make customer service a priority. You might offer a good product, but if people have a negative experience when they interact with you, they’re going to remember it, and likely won’t want to rub shoulders with you again. If you are amazing to work with and you have a quality product, you’ll gain loyal customers, and they’ll bring you other customers, too. And, here’s the other thing: gone are the days where it might take a while for word to get around about bad service, dishonesty, or unfriendly business dealings.
Which brings us to the next factor. You have to hop on the virtual bandwagon. To forget to have a presence with social media is missing out on a possibility that could bring you more business. It takes place all the time: someone shares something that they have or love discovered, and as a result of that, others take a look and end up loving the product, too, even when they weren’t originally looking for it. These media interfaces (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) are so simple to use. No prior experience is needed. All you need is an interest for what you do, a phone that takes pics that you can upload, and you’re on your way. (Undoubtedly, you can prefer to hire someone to do your social media, someone who has a good camera or a writer that can sell your product better than you can, but those things aren’t necessary.).
Attend small company expos and events that refer to your area of business. These functions are an amazing way to stay up to speed on what’s new in your industry, make networks with others in your field and get insight, all of which can be useful for future collaboration and contribute to getting your name and product out there.
In the beginning, it can feel a bit complicated, like a tiny snowball as compared to a mountain of snow. But. Put that little ball in motion, and watch as it gains size, speed, and traction. If you have an amazing product and are committed to the work it takes to get out there and end up being known, your business may end up being the next small business that goes huge.
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