Running your own company is an incredibly exciting venture, and of course, there’s lots of hard work involved. If you’re looking to grow your business these sixteen tips and resources can help.
1 . Entrepreneurs Organization
The Entrepreneurs Organization is a thriving support network, made up of entrepreneurs from across the world. The organization exists to help entrepreneurs learn, grow, and network. Members can benefit from events, mentorship, support resources, and plenty of tips. The entrepreneur’s forum is a great place to get advice and learn new things. There are several EO chapters all across the world. Members can take part in the ‘MY EO program’, giving you access to plenty of different events.
The StartUp Nation website has plenty of great info for budding entrepreneurs. Articles on the site cover a range of different topics, whether it’s finding your niche, financing, or leadership. Be sure to check out the community section where you can connect with other entrepreneurs, for support and tips. Access the chapters section to find events and support in your local area.
Female-led companies should definitely check out the Female Founders Fund, the company often invests in businesses run by women, particularly web-enabled services and products. The community section is a great place to learn about events, many featuring high-profile business leaders. The site includes a range of educational articles and advice from top female entrepreneurs.
Looking for a top business podcast? Then be sure to tune in to ‘Build A Badass Business’. The show is led by Diane Sanfilippo, an author, and top entrepreneur. Throughout these shows, you’ll learn how you can start your own small business.
Expect plenty of tips and lots of motivation, these success stories will give you so many great ideas. On every show Diane interviews a new entrepreneur, discussing startup successes and struggles.
Looking to get your business off the ground? How To Start A Start-Up is one of the best resources out there. These episodes will teach you plenty of tricks and tips, from some top business leaders. Throughout these shows, you’ll learn about the ups and downs of business life. There are lots of topics to explore including marketing your business and building up your customer base. If you’ve always dreamed of starting your own company this is the podcast for you.
The National Business Association is a non-profit that supports startup owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. As a member of the NBA, you can access company support programs and plenty of entrepreneurial resources. Maybe you’re looking to become self-employed and would like some advice? The NBA resources can help you to get advice and make the transition. There are lots of useful articles on the website, you can learn how to make a business plan, and how to keep up with your competitors.
The Small Giants Community is an organization that supports business leaders, if you’re looking to grow your startup, the Small Giants community will show you how. The organization is described as a hybrid between a for-profit and a nonprofit entity that prioritizes mission and social purpose,’ (SG Community, 2021). The Small Giants blog is a great place to get advice and learn how to grow your business. Recent topics on the blog have included, ‘Find Your Personal Vision’, and ‘Hiring For Culture Fit.’
This podcast was created by Guy Raz, each week he interviews the top business leaders. Throughout the shows, you’ll learn about idealists, entrepreneurs, and innovators. How I Built This, covers many different topics, you’ll get lots of great ideas and start feeling inspired. Recent guests on the show have included Lynda Weinman, Roxanne Quimby, and Adam Grant.
The Goal Digger podcast is a great place to find entrepreneurial tips. Jenna Kutcher is here to answer all your burning questions, she’ll teach you how to ditch your 9-5 and start out on your own. On the Goal Digger show, you’ll find social media tactics, business hacks, productivity tips, and much more. Recent shows have explored themes like Instagram content and turning a side-hustle into a full-time gig.
Push Far is a type of Mentor Matching Software, the tech recommends the best matches, based on your goals and your industry. Push Far is suitable for both individuals and organizations. Mentorship is a fantastic way to learn new things and prepare yourself for the business world. With the right advice and support, you’ll take your company from strength to strength.
Your customers are the key to improving your services and products. Make sure that you get plenty of customer feedback and use these insights to make changes. There are so many ways that you can collect feedback, you might like to send email surveys, use chatbots or run customer focus groups. Here are a few example customer feedback questions from HotJar:
Looking to grow your business? The key is to improve your brand, it’s helpful to think of your brand as the personality of your business. You’ll need to think about your key values, and how you want your consumers to perceive you. You’ll need to create a brand story that your customers will engage with, here are a few questions to help you create a brand story:
If you’re looking to grow your startup it’s incredibly important that you research your competitors. You’ll want to find out everything about them from their unique selling point to their weaknesses. If you want to stand out you’ll need to think about what makes you different. Think about why customers should choose you. Take a good look at your competitors’ content, you can gain insights that will help you to improve your own. When you’re researching your competitors, think about these questions:
Your startup might not have a huge budget, which is why it’s important to review your budget and look for ways to save. See if there are any expenses that you can reduce. Is there anything you’re paying for that you don’t need? You can use budget and forecasting software, to oversee your expenses and keep on top of these. Here are a few examples of budgeting and forecasting tools:
Using this piece of software you can plan, budget, and create future predictions. Other features include data analysis, custom reporting, data visualization, and reporting templates.
Planful
With the help of Planful you can create the perfect budget, oversee your expenses and make plans for the future. There are plenty of cool features to take advantage of including expense tracking, audit trail, income and balance sheet, and lots more. There are plenty of features to help you manage your finances.
If you’re serious about growing your startup you’ll need to use the best marketing strategies out there. The first thing you’ll need is an amazing website, you’ll need to ensure that your site is attractive and easy to use. It’s important that your site was SEO optimized, and that you create great blog content. Once you’ve got an awesome website up and running, focus on these:
When you’re hiring staff you’ll want to find the best talent out there. It’s important to create the perfect job descriptions, to find the right candidates. Skills and experience are key but you’ll also want to think about your company culture.
There are lots of platforms out there that can help you to streamline the hiring process. Digital platforms allow you to hold online interviews, and ensure a smooth onboarding process. Ensure that you perform detailed checks on any new hires, you’ll want working history, references, and recommendations.
As you can see there are so many ways that you can grow your startup. From your marketing campaigns to customer feedback, there are lots of options out there. With the help of these resources and tips, you’ll create the perfect roadmap for growth.
