Business growth

Here you'll find practical strategies, expert tips and clear guidance to help your business grow. Whether you're navigating new business opportunities or tackling growing pains, we're committed to supporting you and your business in taking the next step.

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Some of the topics we’ll discuss with you will include:

1. Understand your audience

Who are your customers? What do they want? What are your competitors doing?

Regular market research will give you a clear picture of what’s going on around you. This will help you tailor your products or services to meet the wants and needs of your target audience.

You’ll have the competitive edge and the information to adapt. A proactive approach will keep your business relevant and competitive.

2. Have a strong and consistent brand

We live in a digital age which means you’ll need to maintain a strong online presence. Make sure your website is user-friendly for desktop and mobile – mobile is often overlooked but your customers need it.

Use your socials! Be consistent and be engaging. When social media is done well, it’s a tool that can catapult your business. If you struggle with finding the time to create content, or just don’t know how to do it properly, look at your budgets. Could you bring in a part-time social media manager? Or outsource to a marketing firm? You might already have a keen social media guru in your team who could take it on as part of their role!

Experiment with different marketing strategies including email marketing, and paid advertising, and you can also look into influencer partnerships and sponsorships. Track your results with custom links and ROI reports, and adjust your tactics based on what works best for your business.

3. Customer experience

Happy customers are your best marketing tool. When you go the extra mile to make sure your customer is happy, you’ll find them more likely to post about you on their socials and recommend you to their friends.

Listen to feedback and make improvements if you need to. Don’t dismiss negative feedback—and don’t take it personally! There could be a key nugget in there that, on reflection, makes perfect sense.

A positive customer experience will nearly always lead to repeat business. Exceptional customer service can set your business apart from competitors.

4. Use technology

Technology can be a gamechanger for your business. Use tools and software to streamline tasks. This will free up your time to focus on plans for growth and give you space to action them. Some things to consider are:

A Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) will help you manage your customer interactions, track sales, and analyse customer data. This can improve your customer service and help you identify opportunities for growth.
Project management tools, such as Monday.com or Hubspot, allow you to track progress, assign tasks, and work with your team in real-time.
Cloud computing offers solutions for data storage, computing power, and software applications. This can reduce your IT costs and improve your flexibility.
Invest in Cybersecurity – if you get hacked it could cripple the business.
Use data analytics to help you make informed decisions.
Video-calling, file sharing software and even WhatsApp groups will improve communication within your teams.
Could you use Artificial Intelligence to support your customer service and marketing teams? Chat bots are commonly used to solve basic customer FAQs, for example, and this can reduce pressure on your team.
Stay updated! Technology never stops moving. Keep up to date with the latest trends and tools.

5. Networking

Attend networking events, join professional organisations, and connect with other entrepreneurs at business breakfasts and seminars. Building relationships like this, can open doors to new opportunities. Use LinkedIn, and other industry-specific forums, to share your insights, engage in discussions, and follow industry leaders. Most importantly, be yourself and let your personality shine through. People are more likely to connect with you when they can see you’re genuine.

6. Get sustainable

Integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) into your business strategy will build your reputation and widen your appeal. Adopting sustainable practices contributes positively to the environment and you may also benefit from cost savings and efficiencies. Customers nowadays are looking for businesses that demonstrate social responsibility in the way their ventures are run, not just their products.

7. Keep innovating

You can’t afford to stand still. Keep an eye on industry trends and be willing to adapt to changes. Remember, your team is one of your most valuable assets. Encourage creativity and innovation by investing in their continuous development. If you’re able to offer training, workshops, and opportunities for skill development, then do so. You’ll find it creates a culture of value, and continuous improvement can lead to innovative ideas and solutions.

8. Finances and scalability

Financial health is critical for growth. Keep a close eye on your cash flow, expenses, and profits. Create a budget and monitor your progress. Explore funding options such as grants, loans, or equity investment to provide the necessary capital for expansion. Many owners don’t think about the practical implications of growth. You need to have a plan for operations and the wider impacts of increasing production. This includes investing in scalable systems, standardising processes, and making sure that your supply chain can handle expansion. Are you going to need to recruit or might you need to create new roles altogether? A clear scalability plan will minimise the growing pains and position your business for success in the long-term.

9. Set goals

Having clear, measurable goals (that are communicated effectively to your key people) will keep you focused. It helps if you break down your long-term goals into smaller, achievable milestones. Celebrate your successes, and those of your people, along the way and keep pushing forward.

10. Resilience

Business growth can be challenging, and there will be ups and downs. Make sure your personal wellbeing is in good order, and this will help to keep the much-needed positive mindset. Learn from your mistakes, don’t dismiss them, and never give up. Persistence is key to achieving your growth goal.

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Becky Ames

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Dawn Lay-Flurrie

Partner

George Ager

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Business growth

Some of the topics we’ll discuss with you will include:

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