I heard about a business in my local town that has been in business for 100 years. Wow, that is pretty amazing don’t you think? I mean…think about it, how hard is it to please customers each and every day? You have to have some pretty happy customers to allow you to stay in business for 100 years. So, what does the present owner of that business claim is the secret to his company’s staying power? He says it is the service and the staff. Hmmm…interesting concept hey? Do you own a business; does it have staying power?
How many businesses do you know about who have started up only to go out of business in the first year or two? Often after investing much time, energy and money; they go out in a flame of glory. It can happen in small business and it can happen in the world of high finance. It takes alot of know how to start a business, to nurture it and to direct it’s growth to a place of prominence. Knowing when to diversify and when to narrow your focus with your sales or service is an important skill to have.
In today’s world we hear about all kinds of strategies to get your business off of the ground, to keep it afloat, to build it up, and take it to the next level. What if your business doesn’t have a long legacy like the one I just told you about who have had a 100 year track record and base of customers; how do you stay in business in today’s economy?
Well, I think you can try many of the new strategies that other experts are recommending. If your business is a brick and mortar business…you can benefit from adding an online presence to harness the power of the web. You can get creative with your advertising…but beware, many of your customers are going to be looking to your online presence…and, if you educate yourself, it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. You can add bells and whistles to your business and the latest and greatest attention grabbing techniques….but; if you are wise you will listen to the wisdom of that business owner I just told you about.
You see, he realizes that no matter what you do to draw in your customers…if you do not provide a commitment to customer service…you are not going to keep their business if they do happen to purchase your product or services. You need to hire a staff that cares as much as you do about making the customer feel satisfied not only with what you are providing them…but, also with their choice of your company as the provider of that product or service. Once you realize the importance of the “keeping the customer happy and satisfied” you will have begun to build the kind of business that future generations will celebrate as having had a legacy of staying power!
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