Despite the technical advancement, starting a business is a tough nut to crack. You have to give your absolute best to get things up and running. However, getting your company off the ground does not mean you will constantly increase the bottom line. There are times when the business growth becomes stagnant. Usually, entrepreneurs get disappointed during this dry phase and make rash decisions. As a result, they end up bringing doom upon themselves.

It prompts the question of what to do what your company is looking for the much-needed boost? Well, here are the tried-and-true measures that you need to take in this scenario:

1. Partner With Other Businesses

Businesses often partner with other businesses to gain more exposure. If your company produces handheld fans that can be used on hot days, why not make a partnership with the local baseball team to give fans a free fan each time they go to a game. You can also become the exclusive fan supplier to the stadium. Your business will grow if your customers associate your brand with their favorite team.

2. Reduce Your Risks

Growing a business requires taking on risks. Although it is impossible for anyone to control everything, there are ways you can limit the risks to your business. For example, business analysts are known for their expertise in minimizing the element of risk with their data-driven decision-making. You can hire a qualified business analyst or perform this duty yourself after proper education. In case you do not know how to become a business analyst, performing a Google search will answer the question.

3. Automate Tasks

Infographic created by Donnelley Financial Solutions, an automated financial reporting company

At times, companies with a dedicated workforce can have a hard time managing business operations. That is where automation can come in handy. Automation can off burden the employees big time, and they can use this time much more productively. What is more, it also reduces the possibility of human error. Here are a few tasks that you can consider automating:

• Invoicing: It is important to keep track of your invoicing and accounting. Automation can help you streamline repetitive invoices, centralize your timesheets, and track who has paid what.
• Hiring process: The process of hiring new employees involves many stages. It starts with the posting of a job and ends when the employee has been fully onboarded. Well, all these steps can be automated to make the hiring process easier and faster. On top of that, the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) improves candidate experience, which makes up for a better reputation of the company.
• Social media management and scheduling: In the present era, social sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., are an integral part of any business’s marketing strategy, regardless of the size of the company. Scheduling tools make it easier to manage social media across all platforms. Among other things, you can share a product update on your social media networks and notify your customers about special events.
• Report generation and distribution: Automating the generation and distribution of reports and spreadsheets will make your business more efficient and save plenty of money in the long run. The software can be used by businesses to distribute the information automatically on a daily and weekly basis. The recipients can then use the software to review historical data and forecast future performance to make informed decisions.

4. Host Local Events

Attending events is great for building your network. However, hosting your own events in your community can be even more beneficial. Your customers will be more likely to trust you if they have a memorable experience. Apart from that, hosting events in your local area will increase brand awareness and effectively convey that you care about your community. This is a surefire way to create a loyal customer base, which is one of the biggest assets a company can have.  

5. Learn from Your Competitors

Start by looking at your local competitors. To begin with, you should find out what your competitors are doing to attract customers, and more importantly, what is working for them and what is not. Competitor research may include visiting your rivals’ physical stores in person to evaluate quality, service, and other factors that will help you differentiate your business. Besides, it could be a great opportunity to meet other local business owners and get to know first-hand insights from them.

6. Motivate Employees

There is no denying the fact that businesses have come a long way as far as embracing cutting-edge tools is concerned. With that said, employees are still the key to improving the efficiency of any business. Though it is important to hire talented workers to extract maximum productivity, you must keep them on top of the motivation. If not, they are unlikely to give their best shot. Wondering how to keep your workforce motivated? Well, there are quite a few factors that can come in handy here. We are listing them below:

• Share positive feedback: Being appreciated for your job is always a great feeling. If your customers are acknowledging your products or services, make sure you share this feedback with your employees. Savvy businessmen often make it a point to share all positive and encouraging feedback with their employees in weekly meetings. This makes them feel good and eventually strengthens their bonding with the respective company.
• Take care of employees’ future: Motivation reaches the next level when businesses show interest in their employees’ future. Encourage continuous learning and growth by creating opportunities for employees to climb up the ranks. When employees feel valued and appreciated by their bosses, they feel important and valued.
• Offer flexible scheduling: The way companies operate has been changed by technology. It’s normal for employees to expect flexibility from their employers in scheduling. According to a credible report, as many as a colossal 52 percent of workers negotiate flexible timing with companies. It goes to show that you need to offer flexible scheduling options if your company wants employees to give their 100 percent.

Businesses are bound to undergo ups and downs. But that does not mean you should give up. Successful entrepreneurs always keep at it regardless of how many trials and turbulences they go through. If you are also withstanding such a tricky time, executing the measures listed below will ensure you sail through this time.