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Small Business Must Evolve To Meet Changing Needs
By Stacy Karacostas
Expert Author
Article Date: 2009-01-23
Change is in the air.There's no doubt. From the failing economy, to the wounded environment, to the hope for a better America-and a better world-inspired by our new president things are definitely different than they were a year ago.
While on the one hand many of us are excited and thrilled about potential changes for the better, on the other hand it's easy to be nervous or concerned about the effects these changes may have on your business.
On top of that, many small business owners are so busy with the day to day tasks of running their businesses they don't even have time to THINK about how to meet this changing future head on. Instead, they're toiling along, nose to the grindstone, hoping that the changes will either be for the better or not have too much of a negative impact on them.
This is nuts!
The Internet has redefined the way you can market your business. People's spending habits are changing. The costs of manufacturing and shipping goods are overall on the rise, and will probably continue to increase along with the cost of a barrel of oil (and just think what a carbon-tax would do!). And the younger generation is, thankfully, making all things "green" a priority.
If you want your business to survive-and even thrive-in the new world economy that's on the horizon chances are good your business must evolve to meet these changing needs and demands.Whether that means offering new products or services, delivering them in a new way, or changing your marketing tactics or message. But how do you know for sure you need to embrace change?
Well, one good sign is that your business is already slowing down or drying up. But there are a few more classic signs that you may need to rethink how you do business or risk your business dying out like the dodo in a changing world…
1) You avoid embracing new technologies because they're too
complicated, costly or confusing
2) You, or others in your company, regularly say "That won't
work for us" or "We've always done it this way"
3) When presented with a new idea, your first thought is "Great
idea, but I'll never get my employees-or customers-to do it
that way."
4) You rarely, if ever, take time to study what's new in
your industry (let alone what's new outside it) and
consider how that might affect you.
5) You never seem to have time to make changes-even ones you
know are important.
If any of these sound familiar, you need to take a long hard look at
your business and figure out what needs to change. Because the last thing you want to do is watch the world race on without you.
What are you changing to ensure your continued success?
What new technologies have you embraced recently that are really working for you?
Please share what you've learned by leaving a comment below.
Comments
About the Author:
Practical Marketing Expert Stacy Karacostas, founder of SuccessStream Sales & Marketing Solutions, specializes in taking the stress, struggle and confusion out of growing your small business. She's the author of the 2-page marketing plan workbook Putting Your Business on the Road to Success, and The Small Business Website Bible. Stacy also writes the fun and informative Marketing Junkie blog and Bright Ideas weekly newsletter.
For more practical, business-building wisdom help yourself to a copy of her free report The 7 Deadliest Small Business Marketing Sins... Are You Guilty?
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