Month: October 2021

Methodologies That Help Businesses Achieve Their Potential

When a business achieves its potential, they have reached operational, customer, and metric goals. Still, for most businesses these goals change overtime to fit the new directions of the company. Because of this, it can be difficult to stay on track with progress. Methodologies that will help your business achieve their potential keep you on track towards success, and include the following!

Total Quality Management

Total quality management pertains to the operations of the business. Without a quality management system, you cannot complete work or consistently satisfy customers. Businesses that have quality management programs focus on clarifying the business’s vision, mission, and values. This gives the company a direction they can then follow. Management should also identify critical success factors that will help the organization come closer to achieving their potential. For example, what are the financial, customer relation, and employee objectives? Identifying goals and developing ways to measure progress towards those goals will encourage development within the company.

Six Sigma

The Six Sigma methodology eliminates problems by analyzing the processes that those problems result from. Ultimately, you want to reduce defects for your total product. Six Sigma focuses on measuring quality to achieve perfection. To implement this methodology into your businesses, try focusing on reducing output errors. Improve your business operations with metrics, methodology and philosophy. You can also focus on lowering production costs to retain more customers. The Six Sigma is great for empowering your employees and your business to be closer to achieving goals.

Customer Reviews

You customers are what make or break your business. It has truthfully been said that it’s cheaper to gain a new customer than retain a new one. Look at your customer metrics; if you have a high turnover rate, you need to consider ways you can improve long-term customer relationships. Customer feedback is a powerful tool in helping you identify what your company is doing right and what they can do better. When a disproportionate amount of reviews tend towards the negative, don’t take it personally. Instead, take it as an opportunity to learn.

Helping your business achieve its potential is a constant process. Perfection is never achieved, but the quest for perfection will make you that much better in the end. When evaluating what your business can do better, use things such as the total quality management system, the six sigma methodology, or customer feedback.

Read this next: How to Get Help with Your Small Business Plan

Perks You Should Offer to Repeat Customers of Your Online Business

In the online marketplace, competition is steeper than ever. There are probably other businesses selling similar products to you, and, in addition to other online businesses, you are also competing with brick and mortar stores. Earning and retaining repeat customers can be achieved by employing some tried and tested strategies to make customers feel valued. 

Free Shipping

Free shipping is a great perk for repeat customers. You may have a purchase minimum for free shipping, but consider rescinding, lowering, or eliminating the minimum. Gifting your repeat customers with free shipping shows you appreciate their business, gaining their loyalty, and keeping them coming back. Customers are more likely to buy knowing they do not have to pay the added cost of shipping. Offering free shipping has also been shown to cause customers to spend more money than they would if they had to pay for shipping. It also gives you an advantage over your competitors who do not offer this perk.

Rewards Points

Many major retailers have rewards points programs. These programs encourage customers to spend more money with the promise of a reward if they earn a certain amount of points. This incentive keeps customers coming back. Loyalty points should be redeemable online and in-store if you have a physical location. Another benefit of having a loyalty program in place is that you will be able to gain more data about your customers, including your spending habits. Customers will typically only sign up for loyalty programs if they are interested in returning to your store, which helps you weed out one-time visitors.

Offer Special Discounts

You should also consider offering special discounts for your loyal customers. This could be early access to a certain weekend sale or a special discount coupon. If you offer items that you do not usually allow coupons to be used on, offer the chance to use these coupons on specialty items to your repeat customers. You may consider using a special discount code on your online site so you can track how many customers use it. Special discount codes make repeat customers feel special, endearing them to your business.

Finding and retaining repeat customers is not as simple as it was in the past. You have to be creative with the perks and benefits you choose to offer to gain a loyal following. Loyal customers are more likely to share your brand with their friends, which can only cause your business to grow.

Read this next: How to Get Help with Your Small Business Plan