Top 3 Ways to Recognise You Need to Make Changes in Your Business

Getting a business up and running is only the beginning of your entrepreneurial quest. And I feel this is often overlooked. We are told in a half assed preparation for starting a business that it will take a little bit of grit and hustle initially, long hours, a lot of self doubt, tears over your coffee and some mornings wanting to reach for that bottle of gin to pour over your morning cereal because quite frankly milk won't cut it. But then we have so much bullshit floating around online about how it only needs to be like this for a few weeks and then its all plaining sailing as they say, and everything you touch turns to gold miraculously. It's like clients just appear out of thin air, and you make 6 figure weeks working 4hrs in total from your local starbucks.

Okay while yes in theory I suppose it IS possible, after all nothing is impossible as such if we want to find a way. But come on, be realistic, its not that simple. Even when you feel like you have got to a stage where you have some regularity and consistency, there could be any obstacle chucked in just to shake things up a little, after all the world of online business is fickle and highly volatile to say the least.

The business arena is in a perpetual change state which means entrepreneurs must stay on their feet to gain and maintain a competitive edge. Change is inevitable, but how can you tell that you need to make some for your business to thrive? It might not be straightforward, but you can recognise it’s time for some changes if you spot some of these tell-tale signs:

?1. Poor Performance

?You have objectives/goals and always measure performance to establish if the progress is on course. This is a smart model as you won’t be flying blind. You can learn from your assessments whether your business is attracting enough leads, enjoying favorable conversion rates, and retaining customers. Customers are the driving force of any business, as you need them to generate revenue.

?If your business can hardly find new customers or generate repeat sales, you need to explore the reasons and make appropriate changes. Why is no one interested in your product or offers? What can you do to change the situation? Performance isn’t just about beating your competitors. It would help if you made changes that facilitate growth, especially in the long run.

?2. Operational Inefficiencies

?Tech is an integral part of modern businesses. Nonetheless, keeping up with the emerging trends can take a toll on your progress. Your profitability can take a blow, especially if you invest in apps/software/subscriptions that cost a lot more than they deliver. Not all solutions are made equal, and as you consider productivity, technology is among the crucial points you need to revisit. You may need to invest in a new and improved solution or downgrade to a less sophisticated and affordable option, enhancing efficiency without digging deeper into your finances.

?Operational inefficiencies can derail your business progress in many ways – in addition to adding to your stress levels. Your team’s productivity takes a hit, costs increase, and your customers’ experience is affected. This emphasises the need to ensure you are investing in practical technology solutions, not every trend that pops up.

?3. Sales

?Slumping sales is a clear indicator that your offers aren’t good or the pricing isn’t appropriate for your market. But also consider the cash flow and profitability to really get a whole picture of your business. Growing sales volume can be exciting, but it doesn’t automatically mean your business is thriving. For instance, are your customers readily paying the full price or only making a purchase after lengthy negotiations? You might be enjoying the growing sales, but the money isn’t there to match the volume. Moreover, you could be losing significant business as the pricing isn’t at its best.

Understanding your customers’ needs can help you learn more and make appropriate changes to your offers. You may need to revise the pricing strategy to improve the product and generate profitable sales. This translates to smooth progress, improving the sales volume, and eliminating the friction that could see your business losing a significant following.

Competitive analysis is the go-to for most entrepreneurs as they work to establish whether their business needs to make some changes. If your competitors are doing a lot better, it is only natural that you’ll want to review your business model to determine areas you need to improve. Nonetheless, this is not the only approach you can use to stay on top of your game. Considering your performance, sales profitability, and operational efficiency can help you recognize areas you need to revisit and make changes.

Did you know that daily business stress – when left to fester – can lead to entrepreneurial burnout?

A little bit of eustress is good, but we don't want stress left to fester and lead to distress.....for more tips and advice on how to avoid or overcome this struggle come join us in the free FB Group