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Don't Be Flat Lemonade

Guest post by: Terri Levine

Article Overview: This is not about turning lemons into lemonade. This is about putting the fizz into your business.

Don't Be Flat Lemonade

You know how it is. You start up your small business, all gung-ho; you have a great product or service... but in all honesty, if your business was lemonade, yours is losing its fizz fast! Well, don't become flat lemonade! Act immediately.

Realize when it is time to modify a product/service or to ditch it. Never be so attached to something that you hang on to it past its use-by date. Don't put all your eggs in the one basket, and don't be afraid to experiment with new ideas. (Some of the wackiest ideas have made their owners millions.) If your product/service has competition and you are finding it hard to make your mark, find a way to make it stand out in the crowd. For example, if you're selling ice to the Eskimos, try selling flavored ice... in funny shapes... because normal ice, they can get anywhere, right?

Plan your marketing/advertising. Do your research! Know who you customers are and where to find them.

Ask existing customers for their opinion on your product/service. Is there a way you could be doing something better? They will tell you.

Most overnight successes were 20 years in the making. Often people wait to see how your product/service fares before spending money on it themselves. Make sure you have enough money in reserve to see you through these early days.

Do you have employees? Treat them as you would like to be treated yourself if you were in their shoes. Motivate them and train them. Let them know what you expect from them and reward their efforts. Create a welcoming work environment that is a joy for them to come to work in, and you will be rewarded by increased productivity.

Develop a realistic sales plan - don't confuse this with marketing. You need to know where your profits are really being made and which areas are a waste of money. Which customers are the ones that will sustain you? Are there other customer opportunities? Who and where are they?

If the maze of rules and regulations and ideas for business success is overwhelming, hire a Coach, or find a business mentor to help you. Find someone you can trust to bounce ideas off, and review your progress.

Finally, don't give up! The list is long of entrepreneurs who failed spectacularly several times before their big breakthrough, enduring bankruptcies, ridicule, and no support. View failures as opportunities to learn. But remember, even if you truly believe in your product or service, if failure comes too easily, too often, it could be that as terrific as your idea is, it needs some 'tweaking' before it's ready for the open market. This is where an objective mentor comes in handy.

It's as easy as this... if you can IMAGINE yourself wealthy and successful, you can BE wealthy and successful. May the fizz be with you!

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Article Tags: business growth, business success, entrepreneur, small business



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