Start and Grow your own Business
CHECKPOINT 7 ( 7 of 7 )
ACTIONS TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
Trying to find out why a business or idea is not progressing … the biggest single factor is probably ‘lack of action’ . Simply put, not doing anything or not doing enough . You have an idea, and because you are thinking about it, you believe you are progressing. But for those businesses not progressing, this lack of action becomes almost a habit.
The solution is clear.
Write down what you want to achieve from the business or idea , and by when… then list the individual actions necessary to realise those goals. It’s called a PLAN. If you are not sure of the actions, ask someone.
So there are the main actions and milestones… but then there are dozens of other actions which a successful person will progress, almost without thinking, as they are creating ideas, making contacts, getting information, gaining experience, learning …..
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Here’s a list of actions you might take : ( in no particular order ). Write these down and tick them off as you complete them
Request a business review form from the Business Hub –
Helps you define target and business activities
Competition – what are similar companies doing
Competitors pricing, and what are they doing differently
Marketing – talk to at least 3 service providers
Funding, having an idea of how much money you need, research appropriate
channels – if in doubt, ask
Branding – talk to several people
Web Sites / SEO – talk to at least 3 service providers
Go to Google and search for key words
Payments / accounting – look for ecommerce, or card payments
Blogging – start as soon a s possible to create your own blogs,
Insurance – what cover does your business need – talk to at least 2 brokers
Social Media – talk to as many people as possible
Read industry magazines
Watch Dragons Den – you will learn something every time
Identify business in your field which are successful and look at their web sites,
social media sites, blogs etc etc
Start creating a list of contacts to receive a newsletter ( learn how to use, say,
Mailchimp )
Look for Forums for your business
Look for local courses to attend
Sign onto webinars relating to business development
Find business related books, – read and write down ideas.
Look for several local network events and attend
Identify the local Hub events and attend
Read the newsletters from the Hub – all are geared for your benefit
Identify 3 successful business people and talk to them about your business
or idea.
Subscribe to any appropriate organisations or trade bodies
STRETCH YOUR MIND
And as a separate exercise.. Take your business target(s ), double them but keep the same timescales , and re configure the actions required to achieve same.
YOUR PLAN
Reminder, the contents of your plan should include at least the following:
Product or service definitions
Target market (s)
Pricing and gross profit
Target sales and target sales / profit –
Maybe with 2 or 3 timescales. ( short , medium , long )
Actions to achieve the sales: production, distribution, marketing etc
Obstacles to be overcome
SINGLE POINT OF SUPPORT, ADVICE AND INFORMATION
At any stage above, and need help or information, contact the Business Hub….
Look in the Library on the Hub website for a longer list of activities to progress… …
Croydon Business Startup Hub
email: info@croydonbusinesshub.co.uk
https://wwwcroydonbusinesshub.co.uk tel: 07870 568189
