Whether you’ve just started or you’re already established and want to expand your operations, there are so many ways you can grow your business.
Much like a plant, business growth comes from a combination of different things and there is no one idea that will help you grow on its own; rather there are a handful that can really work if put together. Take a look at just a few examples of ways to grow your business.
1. Get a Website
With the internet being such a big part of most people’s lives, either in the business world or in a personal way, it might be strange to think of a business not having a website. However, there are a great number of good businesses out there that still haven’t used the power of the internet to expand their customer base, relying instead on a loyal client base and recommendations. This seems to be more the case with small businesses, with over a third not having a website at all. This is certainly understandable. A great website can cost money and take up a good chunk of your time at first. Time and money aren’t often in abundance if you’re running a small business.
Having said that though, the benefits of having a website – for any business – are certainly worth it in the long run. The majority of the global population who have access to the internet access it in at least some form. As a result, much of the commercial and professional world is also online. This is because having your own website means the chances of prospective customers coming across your business when they need it are much, much higher.
It can be quite daunting when you think of making your own website. That is why there are a great number of companies out there specializing in exactly that. They can take complete control of the maintenance of your virtual store to help take the pressure off that aspect of your business.
2. Partner Up With Another Business
In many areas of life, it’s better to not have to do things on your own. This can also be true in the world of business. While you probably don’t want to partner up with a competitor, there are other businesses out there that can really give yours a boost. For example, if you work in the shipping industry but are struggling to afford to keep your truck on the road, teaming up with a business that finds work for you and provides the equipment can be a major boost to the amount of work you take on.
There are so many other businesses out there that are looking for businesses, perhaps like yours, to support.
3. Have a Social Media Presence
When you think of a company with a social media presence, you probably think about huge businesses that have big budgets. From witty posts to high-quality professional photographs, big companies often use social media to create a buzz about a new product or to raise their profile in a more general sense. It’s natural to think that your small business might not be able to lock in on this benefit due to the aforementioned companies. This, however, couldn’t be further from the truth. Having a social media presence is about more than reaching millions of people. It can be so helpful when it comes to customers finding you. One of the best things about social media is that it’s free. This is music to the ears of so many small business owners as it’s great to know that you can promote your business without having to pay anything.
Social media isn’t just for big companies and even the smallest presence can make a difference. Much like a company website, social media allows you to widen the net in regards to the customers you can reach.
4. Diversify, Where Possible
This might not be an option for a lot of businesses but if it is for you, it’s a great way to truly grow your business very quickly.
Most businesses choose a niche and focus on it, providing a product or service in that area. However, when you look at a lot of small businesses, there are opportunities to hit more than one target market.
Let’s say you’re a French tutor that has been struggling to build a solid number of students that come to you regularly. Whether that’s because it’s a seasonal business or due to something else, it can be a struggle if something like this is happening. However, if that same French tutor were to expand what they do and offer things like translation services, they could maintain the tutoring side of their business through these new means.
Another example of this would be anyone working in the business sector. From accountants to web designers, there are so many roles where people prefer to work solely for other businesses. However, if you were to expand this to the commercial world, you would undeniably grow your business and see much more opportunity during difficult times.
5. Be Patient
A huge mistake that businesses of any size can suffer from is aiming to grow too quickly. When you work so hard on something, it’s normal to want to see it reach its potential straight away. In many cases, however, when it comes to running a business seeing things grow is just a matter of time. Even with all the above tips, it still takes time to build a good base of customers and clients – let alone for them to share your contact information with those they know.
When wanting your business to grow, it’s important to take note of how far you’ve come. A lot of businesses don’t make it past the first few years, let alone far enough to want to grow even more. So, if you’ve made it this far, you’re probably due to give yourself a pat on the back and reflect back on how far you’ve come.
A lot of businesses do see growth but it can take time. While there are things that you can do to help it, it’s vital to remember that time is the ultimate factor in it all.
