5 Actions That Will Quickly Grow Your Business

BY Ralph Jean-Paul Apr. 08, 2010 30 Comments

What was your vision when you first wanted to become an entrepreneur? Did you just want to build a business that would fund your dream lifestyle? Maybe your desire was to have a company that would one day provide for a cushy retirement. Or perhaps you wanted to start a company, sell it for billions, and spend your time playing golf with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

No matter where you saw yourself, you’ll never get there unless you grow your business. We entrepreneurs understand that starting a business takes hard work. Now that we’ve got our businesses up and running, how do we take it to the next level?

Growing a business can be challenging and it’s filled with ups and downs. But ultimately, it’s the only way to stay in business. Of all of the things you can do to grow your business, There are five powerful actions that you can take immediately that will propel you and your business to the next level.

Be Prepared for Growth

A growing business consumes two things; time and money. When the growth of your business begins, its best to be prepared to feed your business what it needs to grow.

Let’s say today your blog gets a spike in traffic that brings an extra 10,000 visits a day. Are ready for the floods of emails, comments and offers that will come in? If you have an offline business, be prepared to have a buffer of cash for hiring, upgrades and support. It’s better to have that cash on hand instead of trying to raise the capital in the middle of a boom.

Not being prepared for the growth also means you will be losing out on customers and leads. Six months after I built Potential 2 Success, I had a spike in traffic that brought more than 100,000 visitors to my site. At the time, I didn’t even have a RSS subscription button. I can only guess how many subscribers I lost by not being prepared.

Be Everywhere

Your business or blog is not going to grow unless people see it and are reminded of it. Make sure that your brand is all over the digital market space. One of the reasons we can recognize the Coca-Cola symbol is because we’ve seen it thousands of times. If you want to gain similar brand recognition, you have to make sure that people know that your business exists.

Whenever I meet entrepreneurs that ask me how they can increase their online presence, I usually ask them the same question, “what are you doing now”? I usually get the same answer.

“Well, I have a Twitter and Facebook account.”

Just “having” those profiles doesn’t do much for your brand. You have to be actively participating to be effective. Seek the opinions and wants of your readers, customers, and clients. Make sure that the world knows who you are and what you do and remind them often.

Lose Your Ego

In business, your ego is your enemy. There is a difference between having confidence and having a big ego. Confidence gives you the courage to take risks. Your ego may stop you from getting help when you need it. It may also cause you to be closed off to good ideas because you’re determined to do things your way.

As entrepreneurs, we like being in control. Sometimes that is not a good thing. As leaders we have to know what we can and can’t do. If there is someone better than us for the job, and it will help grow the business, we have to step back and let them do it.

That includes allowing mentors, consultants, customers, and even our competition the freedom to evaluate our business objectively. Once we let go of our ego, new doors and opportunities will present themselves that will help our business grow at a quicker pace.

That also means trusting the people who work for the company. It’s important to trust your employee’s ability to do the job they were hired to do. Give them the freedom to use their skills and talents to make your business better.

An entrepreneur’s ego is one biggest dangers a business can have. Let go of yours and you will see how much easier it will be to manage the business.

Create a Need

Before I wrote this post, I asked a few different successful business owners I know how they were able to make their businesses grow. All of them touched on creating a need or demand for their product or service.

The key is providing so much value, that the consumer feels as though they need your product or service. The same is true for a high quality blog. If you offer outstanding content, your readers will feel moved to visit the site often and even share it with their friends and contacts. From there, they will be more likely to buy your ebook or a product that you recommend.

In order for you to sell your product or service there must be a demand for it. The way you present the business will help create that demand.

Form an Alliance

Partnering up with similar businesses can be a powerful move. The opportunity for growth can be tremendous if the right alliance is formed. If you form an alliance that is mutually beneficial for both parties, you increase your growth potential.

By aligning yourself with a similar business, you now are exposed to their customers.

You also gain credibility by having a repeatable partner endorsing your blog, product, or service.

With online businesses it is much easier to form alliances. An alliance can be formed by trading guest posts, links, and other promotion strategies. It’s also easier for internet entrepreneurs with blogs because blogging is about connecting and community.

If you want to grow your business, leverage your relationships with people other businesses. Take these five actions and apply them to your business strategies and see the dramatic change that happens.

How do you grow your business?

Entrepreneurship, Launching Tips

business, entrepreneur

Mike Stamatelos

Thank you for these tips: as a young entrepreneur I can’t explain how important I’ve learned it is for us to diminish our learning curve now before we have to do it in the real world. I wish that students had information like this in the classroom.

I wanted to throw this out there: a local Pittsburgh entrepreneurship radio station is hosting some very young entrepreneurs today (Friday) from 3 to 6 pm on http://www.TAEradio.com. I believe that there is going to be three kids on it: it should be interesting!

All the best,
Mike

http://potential2success.com Ralph Jean-Paul

Thanks Mike. I know what you mean. They don’t really teach entrepreneurship in grade school. Although I think the fact that I didn’t learn it in school and am constantly learning about it now is exciting. Thanks for your comment.
.-= Ralph Jean-Paul´s last blog post: Why Its Not Too Late To Accomplish Your New Year’s Resolutions =-.

http://www.youngprepro.com Onibalusi Bamidele

This is really a great post, it is very important to loose your ego or you are going nowhere.
Thanks for the great post.
.-= Onibalusi Bamidele´s last blog post: Get over 1000 new unique visitors to your website every month =-.

http://potential2success.com Ralph Jean-Paul

Thanks! Ego is something we entrepreneurs have to be mindful of. I know an entrepreneur who had an invention that many companies offered him millions for. He refused because he didn’t want to give up “his baby” to another company. It was a costly decision.

Thanks for your comment
.-= Ralph Jean-Paul´s last blog post: Why Its Not Too Late To Accomplish Your New Year’s Resolutions =-.

zandra

Wow , great point you wrote about ego and about the entrepreneur you know,it hit me like a stroke.He didnt want to give up his baby,I really feel that, cuz i feel the same way about my music, and that has probably also caused a lot of missed opportunities, But my songs are my heart, and my lyrics are the writing of my soul, and I wanna be the only one presenting it, I dont wanna be the invisible master behind my work, I have to present it in my own person.But I still wanna get help to make my music grow in the industry. can you help me out on that ?☺Thanks from Zandra

http://potential2success.com Ralph

That is a great question Zandra. I actually know a little about this because when I was about 18 or 19 I did a little song writing and producing for artist who were ready to create their demos. It is hard to do when you grow attached to your creation.

You’ll have to learn how to think with the creative part of your mind as well as the part of the mind that understands grow and profits. But you’ll have to balance it so that one part doesn’t sabotage the other.
There are many ways to this without feeling as though you are losing your baby. Too many to post here I think. Email me at email@potential2success.com and I can give you some tips.

Thanks for your comment

http://www.dennisedell.com/about Dennis Edell

Excellent work up Ralph. I’d say losing the ego and forming alliances absolutely go hand in hand.

Many s JV is crushed by egos, either one sided or both.
.-= Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog post: DEDC Remains DoFollow – BUT… =-.

http://potential2success.com Ralph Jean-Paul

Good point Dennis. When egos are gone, business collaborations work so much better. Thanks!
.-= Ralph Jean-Paul´s last blog post: Why Its Not Too Late To Accomplish Your New Year’s Resolutions =-.

http://www.treatgoogle.com KS Chen

Yes, ego is an obstacle for all the bloggers to move forward for better. We really need to avoid from ego to keep on learning from others. Thanks for reminding!
.-= KS Chen´s last blog post: Win the Prizes for SEO =-.

http://potential2success.com Ralph

I agree completely. Since blogging is about community and not competition, throwing our ego out the window benefits us in the long run.

http://www.lenderinsights.blogspot.com Brett Lessley

Great Post! A buffer of cash is a great idea, but bottom line is that if you have the boom you hope for additional funds will have to come from other sources (equity, debt). Fostering a good relationship with a local banker and having potential investors set up would be well-advised.

http://potential2success.com Ralph Jean-Paul

Absolutely! I think building a good relationship with your banker is important. Its good to take on investors if you are willing to give up some of your equity. But I would prefer to take on investment only if I did not have the cash or I really needed partners with contacts that I do not already have.

Good stuff Brett, thanks for the comment
.-= Ralph Jean-Paul´s last blog post: Why Its Not Too Late To Accomplish Your New Year’s Resolutions =-.

http://www.youngprepro.com Onibalusi Bamidele

Hi Ralph,
Concerning forming alliance, how do I go about this, how do i find partners and how do i make sure everybody benefits.
Thanks.
.-= Onibalusi Bamidele´s last blog post: Get over 1000 new unique visitors to your site very month #2 =-.

http://potential2success.com Ralph

I have a few philosophies on how to form alliances. One of them is to make sure that you are what you want. For example if you want to network and associate with focused, goal driven individuals, then you should try to become that. The same is true for business alliances. Align your vision with their vision and it will be easy to find what you are looking for.

As long as you have something valuable offer you probably won’t have a problem making sure everyone benefits.

http://cashwithatrueconscience.com/rbblog Ryan

Hi Ralph,

I agree with your actions. Letting go of your ego is vital. In the same respect you have to believe deeply in yourself when appearances don’t appear to be conforming to your mental picture. Continue to see yourself as a world-changer even when you have zero opt-in’s, no sales, and everybody – including you – seem to be against you.

Here’s one of my favorite quotes:

“You have to do it by yourself, and you can’t do it alone.” ~ Unknown

You have to work with others, form alliances, but in the same respect you must believe so deeply in yourself that you ignore negative appearances or people who criticize you and what you stand for. As an entrepreneur I’ve learned to hold a very healthy self-image while continuing to be humble and open to all suggestions which come my way.

You also make a great point in saying that we all need help. Your presence expands when you allow others to do what you can’t do.
.-= Ryan´s last blog post: Don’t Share Your Money Problems with Me, I Don’t Want Them =-.

http://potential2success.com Ralph

Hey Ryan,

You make a good point. I do think that there is a difference between ego and confidence. The ego consumes without giving back. Confidence spreads and is contagious in a positive way.

I’ve known a few entrepreneurs-some with potential multimillion dollar ideas-fail because their ego gets in the way. Ego prevents a person from taking good advice and stops the owner from giving up control when necessary.

When I think about this topic, I think about the founder of Lids and CEO of Rue la-la Ben Fischman. He said that the reason he succeeded at Lids was because he knew what he could and could not do. He was ok with hiring a CEO to run his business. If someone else got the glory, it was fine with him because he had an ego for the business and not for himself.

Its hard to do but I think doing it will open a lot of opportunities.

You’re right when you say that we need to have a strong belief in ourselves. With all of the ups and downs that happen when trying to make a business a success, sometimes that belief is all we have.

Thanks for the great comment Ryan! Really made me think

wannabe

Your business or blog is not going to grow unless people see it and are reminded of it. I definitely support this statement. you have to be all around all the time
.-= wannabe´s last blog post: 3 Blogging Tips for Affiliate Marketers Who Want to Maximize Earnings =-.

http://potential2success.com Ralph

Yup, its all about getting eyeballs. It’s hard to ignore something that you see everywhere.

Thanks for the comment:)

http://www.worthycauseapparel.com Richard Riley

Great article! I really agree with Be Prepared for Growth and Be Everywhere. I think if you’re not prepared for growth then you are really setting yourself up for failure. Although your site doesn’t have to be perfect before the launch (it never will be perfect – although it’s hard to try to convince yourself of that when it’s something your passionate about) you should definitely have the major things in place and tested prior to launch. Links to facebook, twitter, an rss feed, a newsletter submission form, and making sure the cart and payment functions are working properly are very crucial to that ‘first’ impression.

Also, being everywhere is truly important. The more you put your company face out there the more likely people will start to remember who you are. I forget the exact number, but I think it’s something like ‘it takes a person 7 times of seeing something before they buy’. I think that is true.

Quick question, since getting your company logo or your pic out there is crucial to growth, I’m curious, how do you get your picture set up as an avatar on your blog (and others)? A very noob question – slightly embarassed for asking – but one I can’t figure out!

http://potential2success.com Ralph

Hi Richard,
Thanks for your comment. If you go to Gravatar.com you can set assign an avatar to an email address so that whenever you comment on blogs that image will appear. Hope that helps.

http://Millionaireat24.com Aaron Darko

Hi Ralph I really enjoyed reading this post. Forming an alliance is a real big one because it gives you instant credibility as you are seen standing on the soldiers of giants.

As we all know it is credibility that makes people listen to you.

Be everywhere is another BIG one. As Gary Vaynerchuk says, you need to be hustling all the time. Its all about the hustle!

Great Stuff
.-= Aaron Darko´s last blog post: Michal Birecki – How To Think Outside The Box =-.

http://potential2success.com Ralph

Hi Aaron,

Thanks. Yes, I have learned that making connections is a good way to get endorsed by someone who is already creditable, and that makes you creditable.

http://jasonwheeler.biz Jason Wheeler | Real Estate

Ralph you really have hit the nail on the head with this article. I especially like the idea of being everywhere. In reality you can’t be everywhere but it is important to spread your message in several ways. Networking events, online forums, blogs, email and even snail mail sometimes. Personally I try to get out in my community as much as I can at networking events.

Ralph if you would like to connect I would like to learn more about you sometime.
.-= Jason Wheeler | Real Estate´s last blog post: Bay Area Real Estate Financing Updates 4/9/2010 | FHA Fees Go from 1.75% to 2.25% =-.

http://potential2success.com Ralph

Hi Jason. Sure, I’d love to connect. Drop me an email.

http://JasonWheeler.biz Jason Wheeler

Where would be a good place to email or call you?

http://www.myitopia.com Phil

Good stuff Ralph. Insightful information and helpful to those trying to establish a bigger and better online presence. I will definitely incorporate these techniques into my repertoire!

http://potential2success.com Ralph

Thanks Phil, I hope the tips work for you. Good lucK!

http://www.ispeakeasy.net Ethan Rotman

Nice article – thank you for sharing your thoughts.

I most appreciate the section on forming alliances. The hardest part of running a business for me is doing all the parts that are not my main area of expertise. I am enjoying forming friendships with those that I can refer to, can refer to me, and mostly – those where we can share the work and the profits.

http://potential2success.com Ralph

Hi Ethan,
I’ve learned that entrepreneurship is all about taking risks and managing those risks. Sometimes we have to do something that is out of our comfort zone in order to get the results that we want. Thanks for your comment

Christian Keating@teeth whitening solutions

Good post Ralph. I am just starting out as an entrepreneur and have had my site for several months and am trying to establish it. I having been taking all of the right actions, but it is good to read an informative article like this and be reminded and also to learn what I need to do more of. I believe points 2,4 and 5 are extremely relevant to me in particular. I am in the phase of trying to be everywhere and getting known. I also realise I need to pay attention to creating a need and this is something that I find challenging, but I will push on. I think the last point is very important because the little progress I am making can in significant part be attributed to others I have connected with online.