Sawaram Suthar — April 30, 2017 Starting a business is not such a big deal. But managing the process for a long time is the primary challenge for every small business or startup. Small and medium-sized enterprises control over 95% of the business market and regulate 60-70% of employment. But 50% of small businesses can’t make it for more than four years. Over a decade ago, this picture was not as bad. New enterprises were able to market themselves in traditional ways. But the recent era of online marketing has moved the attention of their visitors. New technologies and stiff competition are forcing SMBs to leave the track. But no challenge can be insurmountable. And I want to share some recovery options for the biggest challenges every small organization faces:
1. Lack of ample Funding:
Cash flow or money management is the most nerve-racking challenge every small business owner deals with. In this current economy, where everyone is running in a marathon race in a super-competitive environment, the challenge is harder than ever. And don’t ask about the situation in recessionary times. A U.S. Bank study has surveyed that 82% of businesses fails due to narrow funding.
It’s inevitable. Most businesses start with a limited amount of money and, in the turmoil of the beginning years, it’s the hardest challenge to maintain regularity in the cash flow. At the birth of a business, the invested money returns mainly from the payments received. When the savings is almost empty, it’s hard to fill the gap because of payment retardation. Also, new reasons arise for overestimated expenditures, and a pile of unpaid bills can’t be delayed.
The problem can be solved with the help of expert opinions. There are also some cash management tools that keep track of the incoming and outgoing cash flow. Financial analysis, budget estimation, tax calculation, capital investment and receipt records, payment automation, and credit scores are the key features of these apps. You can set an alert for unnecessary outgoings with the help of these new technologies. Online invoices and automatic payment reminders deal with disinclined customers, too. You can keep options for payments through cash, check, credit or debit cards, or net banking options. You should also plan on growing some savings to confront the rainy days and win.
2. Proper marketing:
Marketing challenges are another evil giant that 76% of small businesses fight. Digital marketing and online resources have changed the entire picture of marketing strategies. Buyers have all sorts of resources for gaining knowledge, so it’s harder to convince than ever before. This is the reason behind the issues with generating enough leads and closing deals with potential prospects.
- First, create a profile list for your target market.
- Try to be everywhere your potential clients can be found.
- Choose proper media platforms. Create an account on well-known professional sites.
- Keep your statements brief and precise.
- Stay connected 24/7. Don’t miss a chance to reply instantly.
- Provide analysed records about your work.
- Research your niche.
- Show feedback from your existing clients.
- Appreciate reviewers and reply to negative comments, as well as try to resolve these issues immediately.
- Create your apps to be accessed from any device.
- Moreover, use your unique skills for personal interactions to stand out from the crowd.
It’s also important to maintain a complete picture of your marketing and sales records. You need some marketing and sales tools to keep up with the modern technological trend. But before that, budget estimation and distribution are crucial aspects you need to focus on. Pinpoint your ROI calculation. Manage your responsive website with load time optimization and security.
3. Targeting and retaining customers:
In this era of digitization, modern business is centered on customer-orientation. Online marketing and resources have educated your customers on almost everything. But there is still something you can do to show your unique colors, and that is with your customer service. First, research your targeted clients. Use social and professional channels to reach them. Try to connect with them through personalized service channels, such as email, chat sessions, etc. Find out their needs and explain briefly how you can meet them.
Express your creativity. They will judge your expertise within your niche, so assemble your information and be ready. Don’t let them wait long. Provide free demo services. Carefully create your offers, which can direct them straight to the solutions they need. Deliver analytical records and customer feedback, when needed. It’s hard to convince a new customer to close a deal, and 78% of them leave before purchase due to unsatisfactory customer service.
Remember, your existing customers are the directors of your success. Their feedback and comments are the most reliable source of information on your reputation for new customers. Also, the chances of persuading an existing customer to purchase is 60-70 percent, whereas it is only 5-20% with a new one (Marketing Metrics). So, follow up. Research your existing customer database and sales records. Decide which ones are your best customers. Also, focus on negative feedback and learn what you need to in order to resolve the issue. Compare satisfied and unsatisfied customer records and find out the reasons for your success and failure, one by one. Make personalized offers to your best prospects, and ask for their opinions.
Your smart audience will show you where to go.
4. Strategic leadership:
Leaders are the pioneers of the entire team. Undeniably, the success of a team depends on the qualities of its leader.
A leader must have the ability to see the whole picture of the business, including customer and employee behaviors. A strategic-minded person always searches for new updates and relevant information sources. Learn from experience. Connect with other experts and ask for their opinion.
If you wish to lead your team to a win, make sure you possess these abilities first:
- Listen to everyone. It’s the most significant quality that differentiates you from the rest. You need to listen to other leaders and experts, so as not to miss any valuable ideas. Listen to your employees to create a productive work culture. Listen to your customers to understand their needs and to deal with them.
- Motivate your employees. Encourage them toward every success. Let them know about every little achievement they reach. Train them on past mistakes. Ask about any confusion. Ask for their feedback, too. Gain their trust. Sympathize with their problems. Create a communicative environment among the entire team.
- Be knowledgeable. Educate yourself in your field in every way possible. Be open to options for new ideas. Research all the analytics that you get.
- Learn from your mistakes. Don’t be afraid to fail. Because without failure, success is impossible. Test your assumptions. Keep analytical records for every area.
5. Finding and recruiting the right talent:
This is a big issue that small businesses suffer from a lot. Don’t be directed by emergencies and salary issues. Seek out the right person for the job. Don’t mix the talent. A salesperson can’t manage marketing issues properly. Similarly, customer service agents can’t handle your sales work. Also, too many different workloads reduce productivity. Distribute jobs in specific departments. Train your existing employees regularly. Demonstrate solutions to their mistakes and provide lessons on new technologies. Encourage them with experience-based studies. Select job seekers with proper experience. Go through their CV and profile details thoroughly.
An inappropriate person can do a lot of harm to your success.
Problems are out there everywhere. You will face challenges. But the winner is not the person who succeeds, but the one who finds a cure for every failure. And then the success becomes timeless.
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