Small changes often lead to big waves in many aspects of life, and business is no exception to that rule. Running your own small business comes with challenges, lots of competition, and long, tiring hours. Sometimes you might feel like your methods aren’t quite working the way you’d hoped, but an entire overhaul of the way you do business isn’t in the budget. Check out these small changes that make a big impact on your business to get back on track, stay on track, and get ahead of your goals.
Listen to your customers
Listen to the feedback you receive from customers—whether they are one-time customers or regulars that you know well. Good and bad feedback is all extremely helpful. Customers have a unique experience with your business that you can’t necessarily recreate for yourself: They get to shop your store as an outsider. They know what it’s truly like to do business with you and can offer very constructive feedback, even if it comes across as pure criticism. Listening to your customers and considering their critiques and compliments can help you to shift your business in a direction that works better.
Provide transparency
Transparency is the key to customers’ hearts in this day and age. People don’t just want to know what you offer; they want to know how you offer it, what you stand for, and what your company values are. Being open and honest about the way your company does business, what social issues you outwardly support, and even your personal story can all help build trust with customers. Letting people know that you’re a woman-owned business and how you decided to start your own company can do wonders for your profits. Learn ways to provide more transparency to your customers, and try to blend them into your current business model.
Get involved with the community
By becoming a well-known figure in the local community, you can help your business more than one may think. People may love your products or services, but unless you step out from behind the desk, they won’t know what—or rather, who—they are truly investing in when they do business with you! The more people who get to know you and see you out and about in their community, the more they will want to support you and what you do. People love to learn about others and support people they believe in. Getting involved with local community projects can be a great way to start making positive changes in your business.
