How do you compare your business performance?

1 Competitive Analysis

One of the most common ways to compare your business performance is to conduct a competitive analysis. This involves researching and evaluating your direct and indirect competitors, their products, services, prices, marketing strategies, customer segments, and value propositions. You can use various sources of information, such as websites, social media, reviews, reports, surveys, and interviews, to gather data about your competitors. Then, you can use frameworks such as SWOT analysis, Porter's five forces, or value chain analysis to compare and contrast your business with your competitors and identify your competitive advantages and disadvantages.

2 Industry Benchmarks

Another way to compare your business performance is to use industry benchmarks. These are standards or averages that represent the performance of businesses in your industry or sector. You can find industry benchmarks from various sources, such as industry associations, publications, databases, or consultants. Some of the common metrics that you can use to compare your business performance with industry benchmarks are revenue, profitability, growth, market share, customer satisfaction, retention, loyalty, and quality. By using industry benchmarks, you can assess how well your business is performing relative to your peers and identify areas for improvement or differentiation.

3 SMART Goals

A third way to compare your business performance is to use SMART goals. These are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives that you set for your business. SMART goals help you clarify your vision, focus your efforts, and track your progress. You can use various tools, such as dashboards, scorecards, or reports, to measure and monitor your performance against your SMART goals. By using SMART goals, you can evaluate how effectively and efficiently your business is achieving its desired outcomes and adjust your strategies and actions accordingly.

4 Balanced Scorecard

A fourth way to compare your business performance is to use a balanced scorecard. This is a strategic management tool that helps you align your vision, mission, and values with your performance indicators. A balanced scorecard typically consists of four perspectives: financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth. Each perspective has its own objectives, measures, targets, and initiatives. By using a balanced scorecard, you can compare your business performance across multiple dimensions and balance your short-term and long-term goals.

5 Customer Feedback

A fifth way to compare your business performance is to use customer feedback. This is the information and opinions that you collect from your customers about your products, services, processes, and interactions. You can use various methods, such as surveys, reviews, ratings, testimonials, or interviews, to gather customer feedback. Then, you can use tools, such as Net Promoter Score (NPS), Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT), or Customer Effort Score (CES), to analyze and quantify your customer feedback. By using customer feedback, you can compare your business performance from your customers' perspective and understand their needs, expectations, preferences, and pain points.

6 Key Performance Indicators

A sixth way to compare your business performance is to use key performance indicators (KPIs). These are measurable values that indicate how well your business is achieving its key objectives. You can use various types of KPIs, such as financial, operational, strategic, or behavioral, to track and evaluate your performance. You can also use different levels of KPIs, such as organizational, departmental, or individual, to compare your performance across different units and functions. By using KPIs, you can compare your business performance with your targets and standards and identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?