10 Proven Strategies for Business Success
Written by
Cynthia Measom
Edited by
Ashleigh Ray
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Approximately one in four new businesses fail in their first year of operation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you’re an entrepreneur eager to keep your business from becoming a negative statistic, the best course of action is to focus on strategies that drive real results. Keep reading to learn from these entrepreneurs who have made their businesses a success using proven strategies.
Engage In High Level and Local SEO Optimization and Tracking
Tyler J. Jensen, MS, LMHC, NCC, psychotherapist and owner of mental health private practice and consulting firm Tyler J. Jensen Psychotherapy, emphasized the importance of SEO, or search engine optimization.
“When an entrepreneur can start to understand, act on and then track the different search trends individuals are using every day, they can really take advantage of their marketing materials,” Jensen said. “When starting my practice, for example, I targeted the keyword phrase ‘EMDR Therapist Near Me.’ This phrase was incorporated in key areas of my marketing and online presence to drive the appropriate traffic to my website.
“Repeating this process for all relevant keywords will have an explosive effect on your sales, traffic and overall user experience.”
Develop a Brand
“How you brand not only yourself, but your business is everything,” said Jensen. “From the logo to the signature in your email, it all represents your business. By having a clear vision of what your brand is, and when you fully understand your authentic ‘why,’ you can easily build the brand around it.”
Jensen said that when building your brand, color choices and font choice matter, and you should get obsessed with what your brand is attempting to say about you, the product or the culture.
“When this is accomplished, your prospective customer will find you; we are all attracted to authenticity,” he explained. “If it makes sense for you and your budget, hire a designer, [and] make all decisions that relate to your brand with extreme consideration, as it will all be up for interpretation when it is launched.”
Focus On a Few Things
Smita D. Jain, an executive coach and personal empowerment life coach who is the founder and CEO of Empower Yourself, said instead of focusing on what she can’t do or control, she chooses to focus on getting even better at the things that she can do.
“Now, I focus on the few things that make the biggest difference,” she said.
Move On From Failure
Jain said she’s tried many things in her business with more setbacks than successes. However, she considers the setbacks as learning experiences.
“My mantra is: ‘To get better and better at those few things that work and move on from those [that] don’t,’ and I follow that religiously,” she said. “This makes sure I’m always moving ahead in spite of my failures.”
Have a Disciplined Routine
“For the past three years, I have consistently gotten up at five in the morning every day, even during vacations and sickness,” Jain said. “Similarly, I interact with at least one — if not more — new person every day. This discipline has led me towards the path to becoming the coach and entrepreneur that I am now.”
Invest In Personal Development
Jain said that she doesn’t feel there’s a point in helping others develop themselves personally if she’s not invested in her own development.
“Despite my schedule and routine, I make it a point to upskill my coaching skills every year,” she said. “I complete at least one new coaching certification every quarter — this is non-negotiable for me. I have already completed two this year and have three more in the pipeline for the rest of the year.”
Provide Exceptional Customer Service
Warren Smith, CEO of Cavalry Cleaning, a commercial cleaning company based in San Diego, said providing exceptional customer service has been key in the success of his business.
“By understanding and addressing our clients’ unique needs, we have built strong relationships,” said Smith.
Invest In Your Team
Don’t forget about your team of employees when it comes to strategizing for success.
“Ensuring our team is well-trained, well-compensated and motivated has resulted in high-quality service delivery,” Smith said. “A happy and dedicated team translates to satisfied clients.”
Take Advantage of Digital Tools
Making daily processes as easy as possible has a domino effect.
Smith explained that utilizing digital tools for communication, scheduling and feedback was vital in streamlining his business’ operations and improved client engagement and satisfaction.
Be Flexible and Adaptable
Being able to pivot as needed is crucial when it comes to running a successful business.
“Being flexible with our scheduling and services allows us to meet the diverse and changing needs of our clients, making us a reliable partner,” said Smith.
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