There comes a point in every business owner’s career when they wonder how they can improve their dynasty. Here are just a few tips for increasing sales, reducing burdens and eliminating waste from your brand.
- Go Paperless
Whether it’s handing out tablets to your employees or just creating a tech-based messaging system to take the place of old-fashioned memos, there are many ways to go paperless in the 21st century. All of them will save you money and reduce the hassles of overhead. You’ll also find that digital communication is much faster and more efficient than the alternative, so it will improve your daily business dealings, too.
- Vet Your Employees
Do you know who you’re really hiring? A standard background check will only reveal things like criminal activity. It won’t say anything about the person’s skills, passions, personality or previous work experience, and those are the kinds of things that should matter when you’re weighing one candidate against another. Do yourself a favor and actually call the references that your applicants put on their resumes.
- Don’t Shy Away From Technology
It’s common for business owners to adopt a “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” policy, especially if upgrades will cost money or require their employees to go through a training process. This is a mistake! Not only will new technology keep you on the cutting edge of your industry, but it will also ensure that you’re always using the best, most streamlined software for things like shipping and tracking.
- Keep An Eye On Your Competitors
How much are they charging? How many branches have they opened in the past year? What’s their rate of employee satisfaction? If you’re lagging behind in any area, it’s time to do some research and figure out where you’re going wrong. While the ultimate goal should be exceeding your rivals, a good first step is just keeping up with them.
- Hop On the Cloud
Business management software can help your brand with everything from payroll to resource planning, but it’s especially effective when it’s combined with cloud technology. Programs like NetSuite ERP can be accessed anywhere and anytime, allowing you to stay on top of your business activities even if you’re thousands of miles away.
- Get Green
You might think that eco-friendliness is just a phase, but it’s actually a legitimate business strategy that can save you a lot of money in the long run. For example, compact florescent lights (CFLs) emit the same waves as halogen bulbs but will last twice as long before needing a replacement. Recycling your cardboard boxes can be cheaper than constantly buying or manufacturing new ones.
- Ask for Customer Feedback
If you ever wonder what customers think of your brand, just ask! There are a number of ways to solicit feedback from your demographic, including:
– Surveys
– Opinion polls
– Customer satisfaction emails
– Social media updates
– Q&A sessions
If you aren’t getting the level of feedback that you desire, think about sweetening the pot with some kind of incentive. For example, you can offer a cash prize for one lucky winner who takes your survey.
- Improve Your Employee Break Room
Studies have shown that regular breaks can increase focus, improve memory, reduce exhaustion and help to manage stress levels. Studies have also shown that high-quality break rooms can stop employees from leaving the premises to get their coffee and snacks. Go ahead and park that espresso machine next to the fridge; it might just have a long-reaching impact on things like employee presence and productivity.
- Automate Everything
Automated software will reduce the risk of human error when it’s time to calculate costs or inventory goods. It will also maintain your customer and employee databases and help you manage your accounts, invoices, budgets, schedules and product evaluations. Last but certainly not least, automated software will provide records of your activities that you can look back on and review.
These are just a few tips for running a better business. As you can see, the methods can be quite different, so don’t be afraid of thinking outside of the box. Good luck!
