1. Plan
 Planning is not about creating a document, it's about the process. By setting out thoughts and reasoning on paper in a structured format, it helps identify where information gaps and risks may exist. There are tried and tested marketing planning processes and structures that encourage attention to be given to areas that impact on each other. For example, the usability of your web site can affect your bottom line: if customers can't find the information they want quickly, or there's no contact information easily identifiable then lost-business is only one click away.2. Research
Information informs business decisions. Without information, costly mistakes can happen that could have been avoided. Research is about learning from others. It can contribute to generating ideas for innovation. The best and often cheapest source of research is the internet, especially for Start-up businesses. The difficulty can be trying to find information when you don’t know what it is that you need to be looking for. The age old question of “Where do I start?” is where Inspired Odyssey services can help. Make contact to find out more.
3. Engage with people
Without people you have no customers to buy from you, no suppliers to sell to you, no bankers to give you finance, no shareholders to have shares in your company and no public or unions to influence. These are just some of the groups of people that your business could impact and you need to engage with for successful business.
4. Ask for feedback
It is important to get a sense of what people think of your business. Customers may recommend you if they like what you have provided them, or they may do the opposite if their experience was a bad one. One way to stay informed about how your business is doing is to ask those that come into contact with it. A quick verbal question at the cash desk, an enquiry over the phone or a dedicated feedback form on your website – these are some of the ways you can seek feedback that provides you with free market research.
5. Value your business
You know why you set up your business, you see value in what you do and think others can see that value too. To make sure the people you think can benefit from your business are aware of you, use to tools available to you – marketing your business is the way to tell prospective customers that you exist. |
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