It may look that way, however it could be you are missing the signs.
One of these is the change in consumer and business confidence and spending.
For example during the recession of the early 90s businesses began to cut down on full time staff in a number of areas. The problem was they still needed people to grow the business.
Smart recruitment forms saw this as an opportunity to add a new service which was the supply of temporary staff to complete projects. The firms that introduced this service grew as they adapted to the market conditions and needs of customers.
Today business and consumer confidence has decreased, spending is down, people and businesses are more cautious.
And that is good news.
The reason is these changes provide marketing opportunities for small businesses to experience business growth.
Your Perceptions
Take a moment and see if you look at your market through your eyes and perceptions. If you are thinking negatively and assume so are your customers you could be missing opportunities.
Your Market
Sometimes looking at things differently or even the opposite of your competitors can highlight business growth strategies.
What If?
Look at all your marketing efforts including the products or services you offer and ask what if. Then think about what it could mean for your business and customers.
What if you changed your service delivery, or what if you created a new product or service or what if you changed what you offer?
Could any of these give you a competitive advantage?
Your Frustrations
If you are a small business selling to other businesses sometimes looking at your frustrations can identify marketing opportunities.
For example I went through this exercise and developed a small list of things I would love to see offered as they would make my life as a small business owner much easier.
These frustrations have also identified opportunities for my own business.
Business growth strategies may look like they are hiding when in reality they may be standing in the open waiting for you to say hello.
Over to you, how do you identify your strategies for growth?
Hi Susan,
I have on my to-do list TODAY, to create a recipe for my product as a very wise woman suggested this as a marketing strategy for me
Julie Weishaar recently posted..Building Your Brand by Teaching Your Target
Hi Julie,
I am sure the recipe will be very tasty
Susan Oakes recently posted..Marketing Lessons From Tony Bennett
I particularly appreciate looking at “frustrations.” They are the Universe’s way of telling us to stop and think about what’s bothering us and then to brainstorm what we’re going to do about it. Frustration can work wonders for creative solutions. Great post Susan.
Keyuri Joshi recently posted..These Questions Will Get Your Kids Talking!
Hi Keyuri,
You are right about the creative solutions. I like the word frustration as it more emotional than the word problem.
Susan Oakes recently posted..Is Your Marketing Recipe Delicious?
Hi Susan
It’s learning to question whats on the surface to get to whats underneath. Like you, my own frustrations have quite often revealed where the opportunities lie, not only for myself but for others too.
Jackie recently posted..You’re Not Marketing To Psychics!
Hi Jackie,
Sometime it can take a few rounds to get to the real issue which is okay. That is great you have found opportunities for others as well.
Are Your Strategies For Growth Hiding? | M4B Marketing…
It may look that way, however it could be you are missing the signs. Today business and consumer confidence has decreased, spending is down, people and businesses are more cautious. And that is good news. Here are a few marketing tips to make the most …
Hi Susan,
I confess that I have not identified my strategies for growth but this is high on my to do list. There has to be opportunities for me to create a product or two especially in this economy when people are trying to save money by not outsourcing work that they could do themselves. Thanks for the reminder!
Sherryl Perry recently posted..Should CommentLuv Premium be Part of Your Social Media Strategy?
Hi Sherry,
i don’t think you are not the only one who hasn’t identified growth strategies. One question for you is are you finding more people reducing their outsourcing and doing it themselves?
Definitely Susan. In the past 6 months, 2 of the websites that I’ve built have been to replace websites that my clients built using website builders. The reason that both of them came to me was because their existing sites weren’t delivering the results that they wanted. Within the past month, a potential client informed me that instead of hiring me, she was going to pay her teenage daughter to build her site with – yes – a website builder.
Sherryl Perry recently posted..Should CommentLuv Premium be Part of Your Social Media Strategy?
That is a shame Sherryl as her daughter would not have your expertise and although I don’t know much about website builders your client probably will not get the result she is after. I guess it is a case of people like this client not seeing any other alternative at the moment.