The old adage is that your business is your baby, but it’s time for it to start growing up (and growing your revenue along with it). There’s no better time than the New Year to commit to small changes in your life or in your business, so here are my three tips for re-focusing your energy and growing your business in 2014.
1. Give your sales team a customer service pep talk.
Exceptional customer service is something that separates the okay businesses from the great businesses, the businesses that have a pretty even flow of customers and the businesses that have customers coming back for years and recommending friends along the way. Customers want to feel like favorites or regulars within an establishment and feel like they belong there.
Help make that happen by encouraging your team to brush up on their conversation skills. Have genuine, friendly conversations with your customers. Treat them as friends, not numbers in your profit calculations. Don’t be afraid to share a little bit about yourself to your customers (Maybe you both grew up in the same city in Florida?). It’s all about creating a connection.
2. Vow not to complicate things.
Sometimes, employees and business owners will devote too much time into thinking about what direction they want to take a project in, and not enough to the actual project. This year, try not to make things a bigger deal than they are. When you need to get something done, sit down, briefly plan it out, and then just start! Starting a project is the hardest part. Draft a strategy quickly beforehand and work on fixing it as you go. You can always go back and make some changes and edits, you know!
3. Keep up the employee morale all year long!
The holidays are an especially inspired time of the year to treat those you care about. I’m sure you treated your employees in some way this holiday season, whether with bonuses, an office party, or thank you cards. Keep that appreciative attitude going strong all year long. Get creative! You could reward office goals that are made with lottery tickets, or you could just send an email out at the end of each month highlighting something positive that every team member did. Whatever you do, make it known that you care about your staff and all of their hard work and contributions all year long. Everyone works better when they feel they are appreciated and the working environment is always a positive one.
Deborah Sweeney is the CEO of MyCorporation.com. MyCorporation is a leader in online legal filing services for entrepreneurs and businesses, providing start-up bundles that include corporation and LLC formation, registered agent, DBA, and trademark & copyright filing services.
