THE SECRET OF 7

Know and understand where you are today, so you can be realistic about your next business steps.

1.     Concept—thinking about starting a business.

2.     Start-up—actually spending money on or landing initial customers

3.     Initial growth—realizing we need more employees or other help

4.     Stabilization—spending more time and money to accomplish goals

5.     Secondary growth—rolling out a new product, expanding geographically, adding a branch office or  taking on investors, partners or other interested parties as a way of developing resources.

6.     Maturity—the business functions with or without us there

7.     Exit—we sell or retire and put money in the bank as a result.

TAKE THE LEAP 

Our future seems so uncertain because it appears we’re in uncharted territory. We’re facing new experiences. Adapting to anything new can often feel like leaping off a cliff.  We must take the necessary leap and let go of our outmoded ideas to embrace the new. We’re facing the need to let go of what doesn’t work about our old ways and embrace a new way of doing business. Today’s marketplace requires a new way of thinking, a new business perspective. 

MARKETING RESET: Integrate!

Connecting proven methods with new marketing techniques will deliver better results. Search your competition on Google. Assess your present marketing tools and methods. Find out what you need to be doing in your industry to show up and stand out on the new media. Then, take action! Why is this essential? Because from this day on, nothing will ever return to “normal” regarding marketing our businesses.

MARKETING RESET: Be Present; Be Transparent.

Business today moves at the proverbial speed-of-life—if you aren’t prepared to fully engage and be smart, you and your business will suffer. Like it or not, your presence is demanded in two worlds: the real world and, more so every day, the online/virtual world. Resistance is futile.

Make sure you have your search engine optimization up to speed. Be sure you have a blog, a Facebook page and a YouTube Channel. Journal and post your customer and employee experiences. Be open to comment and use comments to improve your business practices. Your customers are looking for you - make sure you're where they're looking - especially on line.

MARKETING RESET: Remember Who You Are

Your story is your brand—keep it real. Gather your thoughts and assemble your marketing under the umbrella of telling your story. Everything you need to succeed is already inside of you. It’s simply your job to communicate this. Best of all, the Internet now allows virtually any business to tell their story with style and en mass like no other time in the history of mankind, and to do so quickly, easily, and cost effectively.

Even better, kick it up a notch and have your audience tell your story. Ask a customer or client, and video it. "In thirty seconds or less, what do you like best about the experience you just had with our business." Get it on YouTube! Voila! Instant infomercial! And best of all it's free! It doesn't get any better than that.

Resistance Is Futile; The Hive Mind Is Always Right

These days, using the social network to find out what customer's are thinking is so easy.

One thing I notice, whether it's a customer or client or the audience weighing in on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" - the audience is always right.

When you want to improve a service, reshape the direction of your business, regain customer or client confidence - just ask. Do a little research using the Internet. Also remember to ask your customers or clients directly, what they really want and need and do that - Just like "Star Trek's Next Generation", "The Borg, Hive Mind" - the big mind that exists on the Internet and outside of our own, has the right answers for us - As business owners, we just need to learn to ask and listen with new ears.

Change Can Be Tough, Even When We Choose It

Adapting to anything new can often feel like stepping off a cliff. But we must take this necessary leap by letting go of our old ideas about business and embracing the new—new technology, new ways of reaching out to customers, etc. Today’s adjusting marketplace requires a new way of thinking, a new business perspective.