Quit Making Excuses For Why Your  Northern Rivers Business Isn’t Growing. 

There are a number of reasons why it has happened.

• Maybe it’s because you’ve lost your passion.
• Maybe you’re overwhelmed.
• Maybe you just don’t have enough time.
• Maybe you’re disorganized.
• Maybe your staff is inefficient (or maybe you are)
• Maybe you don’t know how to grow your business to the next level (or maybe you don’t want to do what it takes)

Regardless of the reason why your business isn’t growing, it’s time to stop making excuses and do something about it.  You worked REALLY hard to get to this point. You spent time, money, and a lot of energy to build your business.  Certainly you’re not going to let it fritter away.

Here’s how to stop making excuses for why your business isn’t growing:

Step 1.  Figure out why it isn’t growing.  Perhaps your product line is stagnant.  Perhaps you’re only reaching 10% of your eligible prospects.  Perhaps your sales letters are as boring as chloroform in print and thus aren't converting or your advertising campaign isn’t reaching the right people.  The first step to figuring out how to stop making excuses is to honestly examine why it isn’t growing. 

The reason may reside completely in you – perhaps business got too big too fast and you don’t have time to catch up let alone build your business.  This leads us to the next step.

Step 2.  Decide if you want your business to grow and if so, by how much?  In short, if you do want your business to grow then set goals.  If you’re making $50,000 in sales then maybe you want to set a goal of $75,000 in sales.  If you have a customer base of 100 regular customers maybe you want to double it.  Set reasonable and attainable goals.

Step 3.  Analyze what is working to help you attain your goals and what isn’t working.  For example, if you want to attain $75,000 in sales but you’re spending 50% of your time on administrative duties then your time isn’t being well spent. 

Step 4.  Make a plan to eliminate what isn’t working.  Using the example in step 3 if you’re spending 50% of your time on administrative tasks then outsourcing some or all of those tasks will free up a significant amount of time. Time you could spend on selling and reaching your new goal.

Step 5.  This is the best part.  Create a reward for attaining your goals.  Part of the motivation to attain a goal, beyond self fulfillment and feeling very proud, is giving yourself a little pat on the back.  Some may pat themselves on the back with a two week vacation to Hawaii, others prefer a new pair of shoes or a week off to go camping with their children.  Whatever the reward, including it in your plan may be the extra motivation you need to get beyond excuses and into action. 
Entrepreneurs are goal oriented, action oriented people.  However sometimes life gets a bit out of control and instead of action, excuses fill the void.  Regain your entrepreneur spirit, eliminate the roadblocks and hurdles and set new goals.  It’s the best way to stop making excuses about why your business isn’t growing and remember why you got into business in the first place.

Gain Exposure for Your Northern Rivers Business in Your Own Neighborhood

Local exposure is easier to obtain and often blooms into larger scale publicity.  For example, a local news program might feature your product or service on an “about town” segment which is then picked up by the larger networks, blogs, and mainstream press.  Additionally, it is always good to be able to say, “As seen on…” on your home page and in your marketing materials.

So you know that local exposure is good for business but how does a company or business owner go about gaining that exposure? 

Here are 5 ideas on how to tap into your local market.

1. Host a seminar or workshop for free through your local small business association, chamber of commerce, or community education program.  This seminar or workshop will inevitably draw a number of attendees but more importantly it will be a reason to generate local press releases which may be picked up by the networks or local radio stations thus bringing bigger awareness to your company.

2. Partner with a local brick and mortar to cross promote or establish a joint venture.  For example a local fitness shoe store could post advertisements, coupons, or business cards for your business as an online nutritionist or fitness coach and likewise you could promote the local fitness store.  Giveaways and cross promotion can be publicized with a press release. 

3. Post flyers locally.  Flyers are a great and economical way to communicate with your neighborhood prospects who may or may not have seen your business online.

4. Sponsor a local team.  Sponsorship is fun, it gives back to the community and it is an excellent way to gain local recognition. There’s nothing more fun than seeing a team wearing your company’s name on their team shirts.
 
5. Donate time, education, or funds to a local charity.  Again, not only are you giving back to your community you’re gaining recognition.  The charitable acts can also generate a press release for double exposure and awareness.

There are any number of ways to connect with your neighborhood prospects, gain awareness and grow your business.  The important thing is to plan for it as part of a larger marketing strategy.  Integrate local marketing into your complete plan for maximum results and growth.

Seven Things Every Northern Rivers Small Business Should Have When Starting Up

Here are a few things that are important to have in place before opening the doors of your northern rivers small business.

1.  Business Plan – A business plan can be like a map, to help you find the right direction to make your business a success. Business plans are also important when seeking funding for your business.  Seek the assistance of a professional if you are not sure how to develop a plan properly.

2.  Capital – There are very few cases where starting a business is free.  Make sure you have enough funding, whether through savings, loans, or investors, to put your business plan into action.  Generally, it takes some time for a business to begin to show a profit, so be certain that your fund will cover your expenses for an extended period.

3.  Credit Line – Even if you feel you have plenty of money to get started and to sustain your business until it becomes profitable, having a line of credit in place is important.  When unplanned expenses come up, you will always have a safety net.  Additionally, maintaining a good credit record for your business can help in the future, should you need to obtain loans.

4.  Location – Every business needs a physical presence somewhere.  Your location might be a brick-and-mortar store or an Internet website.  Be sure that there is some physical address that is associated with your business, for licensing purposes.

5.  Licensing – Before advertising your business or opening the doors, make sure that you have obtained any licensing and permits that are necessary.  You can be subject to fines and penalties if you are caught operating without proper permissions.

6.  Insurance – Depending on the type of business you are starting, you may need a variety of insurance services.  The most important thing is to be sure that you are protected in cases of loss, damage, or lawsuit.  If your business will employ others, consider a health insurance plan for yourself and your employees.

7.  Accounting System – Setting up a detailed accounting system is very important for a small business.  This can help you to ensure that all bills are kept current and funds are distributed properly.  It will also keep the necessary records for tax purposes.  Tracking the income and expenses of your business is vital for your success.