7 Experts Weigh In on How to Scale Your Business in 2021

There’s no denying that the world has changed exponentially in the past year and a half. There’s a new normal that many of us are still struggling with. The old paradigms of business and marketing no longer work as effectively. There is a new way of doing things. Including new information on how to scale your business in 2021. Perhaps too much new information?

How do you find out what really works and what doesn’t?

Easy.

Just ask the experts!

From recent stats to timeless classics, let’s dive into what experts say on “how to scale your business in 2021.”

#1 Focus On The Customer (And This Step To Scale Your Business Is Here To Stay Folks!)

“Wonder what your customer really wants? Ask. Don’t tell.”??–Lisa Stone, BlogHer Co-Founder and CEO

As any marketer worth their salt would tell you, any business goal you have depends on how well your potential customers receive your content.?Knowing how they think , what they want, what their problems are, what their likes and dislikes are, the words they use, how they perceive similar products to yours, what brands they like and follow and more — will help you learn how to market to them effectively. And the best way of doing so??Ask them what they want!?Use social media, hang out where they hang out, email them, take polls, send over questionnaires. Instead of assuming what your customers would want, ask them. You can also take a look at existing customer feedback and go from there.?

Like Bill Gates always says,??“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”?

#2 Be Stubborn But Flexible (I Know I Know, Sounds A Little Contradictory. But Hear Me Out)

Rather, hear Jeff Bezos out:

“If you’re not stubborn, you’ll give up on experiments too soon. And if you’re not flexible, you’ll pound your head against the wall and you won’t see a different solution to a problem you’re trying to solve.”?– Jeff Bezos

This says almost everything, doesn’t it? Especially since these days it seems like change is the only constant. Being stubborn enough to not give up when faced with changes and challenges and being willing to adapt instead is what sets us up for success. And this holds true for both, your personal and professional lives. Think how Instagram suddenly changed its algorithm to promote more video content. Leading to a whole lot of struggle for people who were uncomfortable appearing on video. Or how kids had school online for the greater part of the year.?And we all know how?that?turned out.?

Who do you think succeeded? People who gave up or people who realigned their processes and expectations and adjusted to these changes?

#3 Don’t Be Afraid Of Taking A Risk If You Want To Scale Your Business Successfully

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk… in a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking any risks”?–?Mark Zuckerberg

There is an element of risk to everything you do in life. To every decision you make. It’s?how you act?despite (and sometimes because of) that risk, that determines the outcome of your action. Whether you fail or succeed. But if you start thinking of failure as another opportunity to grow and learn, success is guaranteed to follow.?If worried, have a plan A, B, and C in place. Also, calculated risks trump unnecessary risks. #justsayin

#4 Don’t Compare Your Journey And Results With That Of Others.

“Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you.”?–?Michelle Obama

Comparison is often the thief of joy. Or in this case, comparing our business to that of others is the thief of success. It leads to lack of confidence in one’s own business, discontentment with how we do things, and sometimes a serious case of impostor syndrome. All of which stops us from taking the next step to scaling our business. It might also lead us to a path of blindly following what others do without considering ‘our’ business needs. Thus halting our progress. Or at least slowing it down considerably.???

When we talk about “how to scale your business,” we need to remember that it means different things to different people. It can mean anything from delegating more work to others, earning more while doing less, a substantial increase in income to having multiple streams of income. And that each person has their own path to it. What’s important is that you stay true to your goal and your path to success.

#5 Get Over Your Fear Of Visibility (And Invest In Some Video Marketing While You’re At It)

“Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text. 64% of consumers make a purchase after watching branded social videos.” –Wordstream

This means video. And showing up on video. Or at least speaking up. Which in turn brings out fears and thoughts like:?

– what if they don’t like me?

– what if they’re turned off by what I say and how I say it?

– what if they decide they don’t want to work with me anymore?

– what it, what it, what if…..

I understand. There is a reason people hate networking, public speaking, and selling. They mean selling ourselves and our services. Which somehow taps into the worst insecurities we have about ourselves. But ask yourself this…

What happens if I don’t show up??

The answer is simple. You don’t make progress. And only by showing up can we learn if there is a basis for our fears. Yes, some people may dislike you. But more often than not, people love the raw, vulnerable, and open you. They love your personality. All you need to do is show up.

As Neil Patel, Author and marketing expert says,?“Oftentimes in order to capture your dreams, it will require you to chase your fears.”?

#6 Focus On Building Authentic Relationships (Vulnerability Is Key)

“A large part of this relationship marketing concept is allowing yourself to be a little bit vulnerable and let people in.”?–Mari Smith, Author of The New Relationship Marketing: How to Build a Large, Loyal, Profitable Network Using the Social Web and The Relationship Age

You can post on your social media channels every day, send out weekly emails/blogs, record consistent videos, and more.?But in today’s crowded digital world, it is not enough. Getting back to the basics and building relationships is the key to rounding out your entire sales and marketing plan. And the key to?building relationships that las t? Vulnerability.

People want to buy from people. They also want to work with people who they feel comfortable with, who they can relate to. People won’t remember what you said or did, but they will remember how you made them feel. So don’t be afraid to?be a little vulnerable . Let people in your world a little. Share about what makes you YOU. Humanize your brand. And see the magic happen.?

#7 Scale Your Business With A Team Of People You Can Trust And Lean On

“Everyone talks about building a relationship with your customer. I think you build one with your employees first.”?– Angela Ahrendts (Senior Vice President, Apple)

When you scale your business it generally means adding more people to your team. As the world shifts more and more towards online business and?remote work , it’s a given that your team might not be in the same place physically. They might not even be in the same country!?

While it’s difficult to find and retain team members that are perfect for you, it’s not impossible. And it all starts with treating your team members how you treat your customers. Or how you would like yourself to be treated. Respect, trust, attention to detail, and clear communication goes a long way.

“You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.”?– Jim Stovall

If you’re looking for a talented, trustworthy team that’ll help you scale your business with ease, we are here. Ready to support you with expert marketing and online business management help. All you need to do is?schedule a free 30 min consultatio n. I’ll be happy to get to know you and your business and figure out a way to help you reach your goals.