So you’re running a growing business. Whether you own your own company or you’re part of an exciting start-up, it can often be tricky to know what to do next. Maybe you’ve reached your business goals and you’re looking for another challenge or perhaps things haven’t worked out and you want to go in a new direction. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of ways to take your business to the next level.
Update Technology & Equipment
It’s important to stay on top of the latest technological advancements. Sure, there is a time and place for traditional methods but you will not want your business falling behind your rivals when it comes to technology and equipment.
Perhaps you work in the food industry and could benefit from a more industrialised kitchen. There’s a reason why McDonald’s beat out its rivals. Or maybe your business is in the manufacturing sector and is more dependent on tech. Either way, most businesses rely more and more on technology with each passing year and it’s important to stay on top of the latest advancements and practices.
New Staff or Training
Your staff members are your work family so it’s important to keep them on top of their game. Experience can only do so much and there isn’t much point reinforcing certain business practices if they aren’t the right ones for your business. It never hurts to have more knowledgeable staff so why not invest in some training or education? Or failing that, grow your business by bringing some more staff members into new roles.
The right offer
Many businesses have taken their business to the next level with a well-targeted offer. That could be a discount for new customers or a loyalty bonus to keep those that you already have. It could be rewards for big spenders, like air miles or Tesco points. The casino industry is a master of this, holding on to customers with offers like the casino cashback bonus.
But those kinds of schemes can backfire if they are not effectively targeted and timed, or if they are found to be unfair.
Marketing
Maybe your company is diversified enough. Perhaps your staff members are well-trained and your equipment is cutting-edge but the problem is that not enough people know about your business. That can change with a new marketing strategy.
The approach should depend on your business and the shortcomings of your current marketing strategy. Perhaps you should target new customers or take more of a business-to-business approach. Of course, this can be done through outsourcing but the success and tactics will be dependent on your business.
Re-evaluate Your Business Premises
Whether you’ve got on-site customers or prospective business partners visiting, your premises say a lot about your company. You may still be in the first site you leased but a growing business needs space to to expand and develop. It could mean expanding your current premises or even moving to a new site. That can cause issues with some businesses whether it’s through the transportation of equipment or a potential change in customer numbers from a new site.
Launch a New Product
This could really change things for many small businesses, especially within certain sectors. Areas like food production and manufacturing need to stay on top of current trends and tastes and products should reflect that. Few food products remain popular forever, especially ones created by specific brands. The key to successful product development is to thoroughly market test the concept with customer focus groups before investing too much. Listen, learn and then delight you target audience.
Delegate or Reorganise Staff
Ideally, you’d like your business to be as self-sufficient as possible. Once all of your staff members are set up and they know their duties, your life as an owner or manager gets a whole lot easier. This frees you up to take on other responsibilities such as arranging expansion opportunities or meeting with prospective clients.
There’s a skill to delegation when it comes to recognising who can take on what responsibilities. Very often, people step up to the task and show you just how capable they can be but it isn’t always a story of success. You may need some more reorganisation a little further down the line but that’s an issue for another day.