The first few months of running a small business are among the toughest. If you manage to overcome these initial hurdles and see significant growth in your business, it may be time to expand. When you’re ready to As you grow your small business, these top tips will help point you in the right direction.
Focus on customer satisfaction
You may think that growing your business means constantly recruiting new potential customers. And in many ways it is – but don’t neglect your current customer base!
See what your existing customers are buying and offer them more of what they want. Complement your most popular products and services with new and innovative ones. For example, if you sell eco-friendly makeup, you should also offer vegan skincare products.
Expand your staff
When you know the numbers and have determined it’s time to grow your business, hire more people to meet the increasing demand. Focus on hiring high quality people who care about your business as much as you do. When considering new hires, look out for the following characteristics:
- honesty and integrity
- A friendly demeanor (especially important for sales and customer service roles)
- Communication skills at the highest level
- Natural problem solving skills
- A real passion for helping you improve your business
Go to social media
Social media engagement is a powerful way to engage with your customer base and find out what they love about your business—and what they’d like to see more of.
Encourage your customers to engage with you on social media, perhaps by offering discounts or freebies to those who provide feedback. Also, check out what people are saying about your company and products! If customers respond well to a particular product or service, expand your offering in that area. Use negative feedback as an opportunity to improve your business and fix any issues you may have overlooked.
Get involved with your community
One of the most reliable ways to grow your small business is to become an integral part of your community. Hand back!
Consider donating a portion of the proceeds from each sale to charities or fundraisers that have a direct and positive impact on your community. Partner with other small businesses in the area to make even bigger changes.
In the meantime, think about actionable changes you can make to your business to make the world around you a little better. Invest in renewable energy solutions and eco-friendly products, and let your customers know you care about the community at large. Your brand reputation will thrive!
When you’re ready to take your small business to the next level, use these tips to expand and thrive. Your employees, customers, and community will thank you for your tireless efforts.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist who appears weekly on the Los Angeles Wave newspaper and can be reached at [email protected]
