Many of us dream of quitting our 9-5 grind and following something more enjoyable and lucrative. However, most people either never have the courage to make the leap, or don’t have the know how required to be in with a real chance of success. Below are some top tips compiled from successful entrepreneurs to help you have a better understanding of what’s required to finally break the shackles.Â
Keep Costs to a Minimum
Just because your cashflow has been looking healthy for a few months, doesn’t mean you should go out and commit to lots of new monthly outgoings. If you want your cashflow to remain healthy and continue to grow, then you need to maintain a mindset of prudence. Keep asking the same questions you asked yourself right in the beginning. Can you save money on production? Are your employees all earning you money? Are your suppliers giving you the best deal? How can you be more efficient? Pay attention to the details like every cent counts, because it really does.Â
Think About Your Target Market
Some entrepreneurs get carried away with an idea because it would be so useful to them. However, there is a difference between something you want to make and something other people will want to buy. Passion is important, but so are customers. The first step in any business should be discovering if there’s a market for what your planning. You may need to hit the streets to test whether the market exists. Go to a local mall and perform a questionnaire on shoppers to see if they’d be interested in your product. Create an online survey. Send out flyers in relevant areas. There are lots of ways you can start getting feedback.
No Customers, No Business
Now you know there is a market for your product or service, you need to convince the potential customers to part with their hard-earned dollars. Effective marketing and a good sales strategy will be crucial in generating leads and turning them into money in the bank. The Internet can be a great resource to start spreading the word. The basic functions of social media sites are free, as is WordPress for your website. If you’re not that tech savvy, then use a company like Onyx who offer a far more user-friendly hosting and web-build service at a reasonable cost.Â
Plan Wisely and Strategically
Data is important when it comes to making decisions. Whether it’s website analytics or physical records, the insights customer data provides are crucial to your success. Sometimes a simple google maps excel import with the purpose of data visualization can give you a whole new perspective about your business and customers. Even physical data can be simply recorded using a cheap software package. Most web hosting companies include it in the price. Using these types of options will present the data in easily digested formats that can be truly useful in helping you to make wise and strategic decisions.Â
Only Surround Yourself with What You Need
Whether it’s the team you build or being conservative in your financial estimates, don’t go overboard on anything. Strip away the unnecessary, as it can mask the necessary. If you keep all the above in mind, stay focused and committed, and are prepared to put in the hours, then you’ll give yourself the best chance of success.
