Every business gets stuck.
You're not growing fast enough, you can't find new clients or customers, your revenues aren't growing, you can't seem to get a single PR person to pay attention. Things just don't seem to be progressing.
I know EXACTLY how this feels because I've been there. It's extremely discouraging -- and it's really easy to start questioning your business, your likelihood for success, and, as I've done, your ability to be a great entrepreneur.
Don't do that. It's not productive, it won't help your business grow, and it will make you feel horrible about yourself. Instead, here are some ideas to help you get through this diffcult time -- they don't always work all the time, but I have tried each and every one and can say that they are worth your effort.
1. Get out of your office.
Whether you work at an office or from home, shut down your computer and go out into the real world. I don't care what kind of business you run -- you can always benefit from meeting people in-person. Find out if there is a networking event nearby or schedule a lunch with a business colleague/mentor/fellow entrepreneur. There are many things you can do to market your business online, but in-person networking creates new contacts and new ideas.
2. Do three things you've not done in the last month.
Look through your list of daily to-dos and identify three things you're not doing. For example, in the last month I've not written a press release, called a reporter, or focused any time on social media promotion. Once you identify your three to-dos, commit to doing each once a week for the coming month.
3. Drastically change one thing you're doing.
This really depends on the type of business you have, but find something that you regularly do to promote it and change it. For example, if you've been focused on writing articles for various directories to get links to your site, stop doing that and instead, spend time optimizing your Google adwords. Instead of advertising in the local paper find five blogs relevant to your audience and get involved in the community there by posting comments, responding, being part of the conversation.
4. Consider speaking with a business coach.
I've not spoken with an official business coach, but I do have people in my network who are really smart about businesses. When I feel stuck, I ask for an hour of their time (I offer to buy them a nice lunch and work around their schedule). Come to the meeting prepared with key questions and areas you want to talk about. For example, do you need a new PR strategy or do you have questions about your website and marketing? The more specific, the better.
5. Make a list of three things that have worked for you in terms of growing your business.
Did you run a successful marketing campaign? Did one of your products generate a ton of buzz? Did a certain event or contact bring in lots of new clients? Identify three things that have worked great and commit to finding a way to do each one in the next 30 days. Setting a timeline is key because it keeps you focused.
Do you have tips and ideas for what to do when your business is stuck and not growing as you'd like? Share in the comments -- we can all learn from each other!
About the Author:
I am the co-founder of Work It, Mom!, a freshly minted entrepreneur, and an amateur writer.
Thank You
Jessica Puente