Everyone in business likes a sure bet. Something that is guaranteed to succeed. To be profitable. Regardless of whether an economy is good or bad – or somewhere in between, if you are a CEO, president or business owner, follow these 7 ways to assure your business success:
1) Innovate: According to Wikipedia, to innovate is to create better or more effective products, processes, services, technologies, or ideas.
Innovation is an important part of your business.
- Do you need to innovate more with your products or services?
- Your prospecting and sales techniques?
- Your customer service?
- Your marketing materials?
- Anything else in your business that has grown old, tired or stale – isn’t bringing the results it once did for the company and your customers?
2) Study the competition: How can you convince anyone to do business with you if you don’t understand what the competition is offering? Sales people call on prospective clients then give the same sales pitch that everyone else is giving.
- Why are you different than the competition?
- What more are you offering than the competition?
- Why should someone do business with you?
- If you are the same as everyone else, then it just comes down to price. Do you want price to be the deciding factor?
3) Study what your customers need: Doesn’t matter if you are a manufacturer or a service company, in order to effectively sell you need to uncover, address and know what your customers need from you. Most companies and sales people pay no attention to the needs of the customer. They just make a sales call on the customer and give their sales pitch. Even though they have never taken the time to understand what the customer or client needs. If you take the time to understand then you don’t have to push with a hard sales technique. You can instead educate customers on the benefits of your products and services. Customers will appreciate your willingness to help them grow their business and will want to do business with you.
4) Analyze your company’s performance: Every day analyze your company’s overall performance. Don’t just show up. Every day when you walk through the front door ask yourself 2 questions:
The first question is: What are we doing right? How can we continue doing things right?
The second question is: What aren’t we doing right? What do we need to change, focus on to improve the overall business?
5) Analyze the performance of your customer service: Both online and offline. Don’t think the sale stops when you’ve delivered the product or service and collected the money. Excellent customer service gives your company the opportunity for repeat business.
6) Analyze your sales department: As I always say – Salespeople sell. Period. If they are not selling and not reaching sales goals, then ask: Why? Don’t take excuses as an acceptable answer. Always stay on top of the sales reports and sales numbers.
Sales are a consistent business topic with CEOs, presidents and business owners. Is that true at your company? Are sales at your company strong, on target and consistent with sales goals? Don’t buy excuses from your salespeople.
There are many salespeople who are much better at selling the boss with their excuses than selling the customers or clients. The title of the job is sales. Not excuses.
It’s worth repeating: Salespeople sell.
7) Evaluate you own performance: Business Success begins with how you think. It’s not always easy to look at yourself and evaluate how you can personally improve. Of all the seven points, this is the hardest one. None of us are able to see ourselves as we are or as other people see us. It’s imperative you find yourself a mentor, an advisor or a business consultant who will help you capitalize on your strengths and improve on your weaknesses.
Remember: Leaders lead.
If you are not leading, if you are not growing as a business person then how can you expect your employees to develop and to grow your business for MORE business success?
Print this article out. Keep it where you can easily refer to it. Constantly review each one of these points. As long as you are in business and hold the title of CEO, president or business owner, you’ll need to concentrate on each and every of the 7 points over and over again. It will help you improve your company, your individual business success – and lessen your stress.
To your success!
Business expert, Howard Lewinter, guides – focuses – advises CEOs, presidents and business owners throughout the United States to MORE success – MORE profit – less stress. Get MORE from your business! Talk with Howard: 888-738-1855.