Setting up your startup comes with its own challenges involving capital, time and market regulations. However, the task of keeping a business afloat and ensuring its growth is even more daunting.
A lot of startups and small businesses try to go the distance quickly without being fully equipped and experienced to handle the rising operational costs, complicated planning and tough competition. That’s why it’s safer and more sensible to focus on organic growth. Slow and steady growth builds a solid operational and logistical foundation for the business to stand on without getting hindered by time and money constraints. It also helps the business to carefully manage its risk appetite without the fear of getting run over by the market.
Here are 5 proven ways to grow your business organically:
1) Website is Everything
People often say that “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. However, first impressions matter a lot in the digital age. Your website is the first thing that your potential customers see and probably the last if it is not appealing, fast and functional.
Invest in creating a website that offers lightning quick load speeds and ease of usage to enhance the customer experience. Moreover, make sure that you have top notch Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) for better visibility and rankings among search engines.
2) Social Media is King
Marketing through social media campaigns is the easiest and the most affordable way to grow your startup into a well-known brand.
The first step is to identify your target market and the platforms required to reach them. Then, plan out your daily content, campaigns and promotions that align with your brand values in order to build an engaging social media page that leverages its wide reach by hooking in readers and slowly converting them into loyal customers.
3) Know Your Customers
Now that you know your target market, identify your customer base and focus on engaging them with more than just your products and services. The kind of message your brand relays to the world is crucial in growing and retaining your customer base.
Use survey forms, feedback methods and direct customer responses to always stay up to date with what they are thinking and if they’re facing any grievances. If your message and brand image resonates with people, and your products and/or services fulfill consumer needs, you’re on the right path to build a legacy.
4) Watch Your Competitors
Just like knowing your customers is important, keeping a watchful eye on your competitors is necessary too. Knowing who your competitors are and what they are offering to the market will help your brand to grow.
Study the unique selling propositions (USPs) of your competitors carefully in order to find out how your brand can offer more value and distinguish itself from the competition.
5) Network Frequently
Networking is one of the most effective ways to forge partnerships and form mutually-beneficial relationships with your peers in the industry.
Having a strong and diverse network will definitely pay off through valuable collaborations, brand and getting new insights into emerging trends and effective business practices that you might not have discovered on your own.
