Being an entrepreneur is not as easy as it may seem. When you don’t have a business, you might think, ‘how hard can it possibly be? All I have to do is buy goods and resell. People will patronize me, my family and friends have to support me and hence they will require my services, I will sell tons and tons of products, yay! I’m about to be super rich.’ Well well, slow down your horses.
Although keeping a positive mindset is the way to go, you should also be prepared to work your butts off, work longer hours and put in intentional effort. Checking all these boxes gives you a higher chance of success. Hard work pays a whole lot in business but what pays even more is Smart work. They both rub eachother and are necessary. Hard work depicts the muscles and strength you have to put in, whilst smart work covers the brains, strategies and techniques you employ to your business. To work smart and soar in your business above any obstacles, market place barriers and low sales syndrom, apply these three business smart keys.
Smart Key 1: CONSISTENCY
Consistency is doing something over and over again. It is the number one key a super hero needs in business. When you start up as an entrepreneur, you have to make a pact with yourself that you will be consistent no matter what happens. The key is to keep your business going everyday, keep it going even after you smash your goals, keep going on days of no sales, keep going when you are facing obstacles beyond your control, keep going even when you don’t feel like it.
Researchers have discovered that only 1 out of every 10 business startups pass the 5 year mark, the other 9 folded up. The business that survived didn’t bow to the villains of turmoil, instead they kept going. It’s not going to be easy to stay consistent, especially on days where you lack motivation to, but on those days, that is when you need this smart key the most. This is a technique so simple to grasp but yet has enough power to keep you going long after your competitors pack up. Be prepared to meet challenges, that way when they come you are ready. When you launch your business, make sure not only the business is ready but you too are fully ready to commit to it. Any goal you have for your business is achievable with consistency.
Smart Key 2: VISIBILITY
Visibility is the state of being seen. Your business has to be visible, easy to be seen, heard of and noticed. Customers or clients will not patronize what they don’t know about or a business they haven’t heard good things about. In your short term plans, mid-term goals and in your plans for the future, it should be of paramount importance to garner visibility for your brand and business.
Find areas where you are lagging, ask your customers for reviews and criticisms. Use these criticisms to make your business better so your business is close to A1. That way, when you get a new customer, they are satisfied with your services, and you can be sure they will return and possibly tell their friends about your business. Word of mouth has made your business visible here.
Visibility can also be achieved by advertisement. Advertise, advertise, advertise! I cannot overemphasize this. There are so many forms and mediums for advertisement and I suggest you try each and every one of them. Try them all firstly because you want to tick all the boxes and secondly to know which works best for you. Don’t target sales only with your advertisement contents, sometimes advertise for visibility. Tailor your advert contents to inform people that your business exists. Even if your adverts doesn’t convert to sales, you can think of it as good PR and popularity, at least new people across the world have heard about your brand.
Smart Key 3: CUSTOMER SERVICE
Only a few people, your family and friends included will patronize you because they want to support you. Majority or even all your sales will come from people that are neither your family nor friends. These people will choose your business because of what you offer them and what you can do for them. That is why it is important to offer top notch services and treat your customers well.
Your services may be good but if you treat your customers bad, be sure to wade them bye. Treat your customers as kings and they will surely return to their kingdoms. Customer service should not be ignored or taken likely if you want to soar in the marketplace. Take time to learn the specifics of each customers needs, that way they feel seen, noticed and special. If you have employees handling the customer service of your business, make sure they know how to treat customers and they understand that the customers are of top priority. It is very common to see businesses treat customers like an option, make sure your business doesn’t fall into this pit hole. The key of good customer service is one that you shouldn’t overlook if you want to be a super hero in your market niche. You will continually draw customers to you like a magnet if you treat them right.
Planet Zaiy 