Smart growth strategies every entrepreneur should know
I’m not going to give you a list of buzzwords. I’m going to tell you what actually worked for me when I was where you are now staring at the numbers, feeling the pressure, and wondering what the next move is.
Forget the “gurus.” This is the stuff they don’t talk about.
1. Stop trying to sell to everyone. It’s exhausting and it doesn’t work
When I started my first company, I thought my market was “anyone with a computer.” Big mistake. I was spreading myself so thin I wasn’t connecting with anyone.
The single best decision I ever made was to pick a fight. I decided who my customer WASN’T.
I started saying, “You know what? My thing isn’t for big corporations. It’s for small business owners, specifically the ones with 1–5 employees, who are tech-shy and just need stuff to work.” That clarity changed everything just like how brands such as Prime Nic Pouches thrive by knowing exactly who they serve and what problem they solve.
Overnight, my marketing got easier. My website copy got sharper. I knew exactly what problems my customer had because I was only talking to one type of person. My closing rate went up because I was speaking their language. Pick your corner of the ring and own it.
2. Your best customers are hiding in your current list
We’re always obsessed with the next new customer. But the goldmine is the people who already bought from you. Do you know what’s cheaper than getting a new customer? Getting an old one to buy again.
I made a simple rule: once a quarter, I look at my customer list from the last two years. I pick up the phone and call ten of them. Not to sell them anything. Just to check in. I say, “Hey, it’s [My Name] from [My Company]. We worked together a while back. Just wanted to see how things are going and if you’re still happy with what we did.”
The result? Half the time, they have a new problem I can help with. The other half, they’re so shocked by the personal service they refer someone to me the next week. Don’t let your customers go cold. The relationship is your most valuable asset.
3. Do something weird
Everyone is writing blogs and posting on LinkedIn. Fine. You ought to in all likelihood do that. But what’s the element that simplest YOU might do?
I understand a man who runs a landscaping organization. Instead of simply having an internet site, he started a “Weed of the Week” Instagram story each Friday. He’d move into someone’s backyard, point out a selected weed, and show the way to remove it. It changed into goofy, low-budget, and completely proper. He became the “weed guy,” and his cellphone started ringing off the hook.
What’s your version of the “Weed of the Week”? Don’t be afraid to be a bit bizarre. It makes you memorable.
4. Your numbers are a story. Learn to read it
You do not need to be a math whiz. You simply need to observe three things:
Where are your new customers coming from? (Is it Google Ads ? Referrals? That weird Instagram aspect you tried?)How much does it value to get them? (If you spend $100 on an ad and get 2 clients, your fee is $50 every.)How long do they stick around? (Do they buy as soon as they vanish, or do they arrive back?)That’s it. If you recognize the three matters, where to place your money and time. If you see that all your best clients are coming from word-of-mouth, forestall losing cash on commercials and begin a killer referral application as an alternative. Let the tale tell you your choices.
The real secret
There isn’t one. It’s this: Pick one of these things. Just one. And do it consistently for the next 90 days. Don’t second-guess it. Don’t jump to the next shiny thing. Be boringly consistent. That’s how you build something that lasts.