Starting a business is a dream for so many, but out of the mass of people who have once thought about it, only a minority will actually pursue that dream and make it their reality. The truth is, there is a lot of fear surrounding going alone. You have the worry of losing a stable income, the commitment of making something work, and the pressure to succeed. It isn’t for everyone. But for a few, there is a motivation and passion for this side of things, and so starting a home business becomes a dream come true. But what next?
Starting a business is one thing, but actually having the power to take it beyond that first year and to continue growing with success is one of those things that many of us are unsure of what to do. There are a few different things that can help you to continue to grow your business, and some of them may be things you might not have considered trying before. With that in mind, here are some of the things that you can try.
Go back to studying
It might be worth it to go back to studying to help you progress your new business venture from home. It could be that you may not have all of the knowledge needed to actually advance in certain areas, and therefore it could be letting your business down. It might be extra skills in things like marketing, or you may want to think about something broader like business management. It could even be as specific for things like accounting. The more you invest in yourself, the better chance your business has of continuing to grow and becoming a success. Some of the knowledge you can could give you fresh insight into the world of business and options that you could try. If you think there are areas to improve upon, then invest in yourself to make the changes.
Humanise your social media
Social media is one of the best ways that you can make your business successful in the online world, and so you may want to think about just how much content you share or exactly what it is you talk about. Of course, your business is going to be specific to selling your products and services, but you may also want to think about sharing insights of who you are as well. Behind the scenes looks on things like Instagram stories can really humanise your business and put a face to the name. People buy from people after all, and in the world of social media you need to find a way to make that work.
Think about ways your customers can connect
Communication is key when it comes to your business, so making this easier on your customer can help you to appeal to the masses. This might be having dedicated phone line numbers that are easy to remember or at a specific rate. This is where companies like Fonebox could help. You could also look at things like chatbots to help answer frequently asked questions at times of the day or night where you may not be around to answer them. This helps people to get the information they need quickly, and also could be the difference between you gaining a sale or losing out on one.
Have a dedicated working area
It may sound crazy, but you do need to think about where you work and having a dedicated area to make that happen. It can be hard to find the balance between working from home and actually living your life, it can be a little bit of a grey area. Having a dedicated spot means you can walk away from the work side of things every once in a while. This could be a corner of your home with a desk where your computer and papers live. It may even be a space in your home or a spare room that you convert into an office. It can also help you to be more productive when you are focusing on working and enable you to distinguish between the two things when at home. However, the next step may be an office, a shop or workplace if things keep going in the right direction.
Try different time management options
Time management is key to your business, so you need to try different options to find out what works for you. There are only a certain amount of hours in the day, and if you don’t make the most of them, you can find that you waste time instead of seizing the opportunity. Look at the whole day and workout the times where you are most productive. This could be first thing in the morning or maybe late at night when everyone is in bed. The next thing is to try time management hacks and figure out what works for you. It could be time blocking or having a list that you work through during the day. The more you can make your time productive, the more you will achieve.
Outsource when needed
Finally, don’t be afraid to outsource certain aspects of your business when needed. It can actually be a great way to ensure that you get the most out of your business, and also allows you to concentrate your time on the areas you can make a difference. When you first start out, you have the pressure of trying to do everything. But as things progress you may now be ina position to outsource aspects of your business where you may not be the best. That might be accounts or website management. It could be social media or website development. You can place your focus on the areas of your business where you can make the most difference, as advised by Staples.
So there you have it, some of the things that could help your new business thrive. Let’s hope that these tips help you improve things for you as we approach the new year.
