7 simple strategies to do business (even) better

Better business is about your product or service. So not how good you think it is, but whether it meets the needs of the customer and whether the customer is willing to pay you for it. If that also yields more than you incur in costs, then you are well on your way. But of course it can always be better. Entrepreneurship is great fun, but it also has plenty of bumps, obstacles and setbacks. You can read seven simple strategies to implement better business here.

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The 7 better business strategies:

Strategy 1. Get up an hour earlier or work an extra hour

We’ve gotten so used to the 9 to 5 rhythm that it’s easy to go along with it. While you have typical morning people who are productive precisely then and people who only experience their peak in the evening and make up for the whole day at once. If you are a morning person, get up an hour earlier to work. If you are more productive in the evening, work an hour longer. But use that time wisely. Work on things that are high priority or require thinking. Like a blog for your website, for example.

Strategy 2. Focus on the most important work and free yourself from the busy work

Being available anytime, anywhere has a disadvantage. You can lose yourself in all the hustle and bustle of phone calls, email and social media. You can be busy all day without having achieved anything. Research shows that especially in the morning (even if you are an evening person) you are better able to plan or devise a schedule. The tip is therefore very simple. Start your first hour in the morning thinking about what you want to accomplish that day. Don’t check your email or social media until you’re done.

Strategy 3. Ask for help and delegate tasks

Delegating is a huge task for many entrepreneurs. Of course, you are used to picking up and carrying out many things yourself. That also makes you enterprising. No matter how difficult, make sure that others take over your tasks or perform them for you. Then you can focus on what you are really good at. So ask for help or organize your work smarter. Dare to let go of tasks, because it also has to do with confidence. That makes it difficult for many entrepreneurs. Tip: start with small manageable tasks that you outsource. As trust grows, so does the amount of work you can delegate.

Strategy 4. Don’t be afraid to fail, that only increases the chance of failure

Must make mistakes. Not to hurt yourself, but to learn from it. Better business is a great adventure. Many things are new and difficult to estimate in advance. So take the first step. Do not be afraid. Just do it and discover what you can do better along the way. You learn so much more from that than wanting to get everything under control beforehand and taking the first step too carefully. So get to know yourself and dare to recognize your weaknesses.

Strategy 5. Take advantage of other people’s property

Small entrepreneurs can make smart use of the strengths and qualities of others. Work with companies or organizations that have something you don’t. Customers or mailing lists that you can use. For example, a joint promotion or a joint sale. Feel free to be creative with that. Go industry strange. If there is a win-win, then the deal is quickly made. Tip: look at how supermarkets or the catering industry are doing, they regularly come up with creative promotions.

Strategy 6. Surprise your (potential) customers

Whatever the product or service you sell, doing business better is about adding value to your environment. These are of course primarily your customers, but also your potential customers. Surprise them with something unexpected. Of course you can also collaborate with others. It helps them and you. See strategy 5. Use the extra hour that tip 1 gave you each day, in the morning or in the evening, to work out some fun plans.

Strategy 7. Take an extra day off

Another difficult one for many entrepreneurs: taking a day off. And by that I mean really taking time off, so no email or social media at all. I think that’s one of the hardest things to do. But no matter how much fun your work is and maybe you don’t even see it as work, sometimes distance yourself completely from it. It sounds a bit strange, but it can further fuel the fiery passion you already experience when you turn the ‘button’ back on.