What is your company's culture? Simply put, a company's culture refers to it's mission, vision, how formally or informally it functions, it's employees' attitudes about how they are treated, and a variety of other elements.  In other words, the company's "personality." It is a fact that happy employees in a happy working environment are much more effective at reaching overall company goals which contributes to the productivity and profitability of the company.

The importance of understanding your company culture is that it can help you determine whether and where changes need to be made to any area of the business.  The happiness of employees, customers and other touch points (e.g., outside consultants, volunteers, interns, etc.) is directly tied to productivity and profitability.

To ascertain your company's culture, answering the following questions (and others) can help.

• What is the prevailing culture of the company? 
• Do employees believe they matter and are cared about?
• Do employees believe that the company takes a sincere interest in their families and lives?
• Is there an open- or closed-door policy for employees to communicate with management at all levels?
• Is the customer or the business the central focus?
• Are independent ideas, thinking or pursuits encouraged or discouraged?
• Is “process” strictly adhered to?  Is it embraced or challenged?
• Is change embraced or challenged?
• In which ways are employees shown appreciation or commended for their good work?
• How are employee-to-employee “relationships” handled?  Are they discouraged?

Employees that "fit" into a company culture are likely to stay for a long time.  The hiring process can be time-consuming and costly. Employees that stay around for a long time bring value that is immeasurable.  This type of longevity is proof that employees believe in the mission and they are more likely to treat the company as his/her own, contributing to its growth and sustainability.


Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."

Find it on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2s1c7C0

We know that being in business comes with a multitude of challenges, and consequently many mistakes are made.   The single most common mistake you can make is in believing that you can be all things to all people.  This philosophy has proven disastrous to every business that employs it.  That’s why having a marketing plan is critical.  The second most common mistake is not having, not implementing or not adhering to an established marketing plan.
 
To avoid these pitfalls, be sure to:                 

1. have a thorough understanding of who needs, wants and can benefit from your products/services;
2. have sufficient knowledge of the core competencies of your potential customer and their customers;
3. have sufficient knowledge of their competition; and
4. have a marketing strategy that details your business, financial position, specific products or services you’re offering to each customer.

Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."
Find on Amazon.com at http://amzn.to/2s1c7C0
 

Once you’ve identified your target market, you will need to develop a promotion strategy to build your brand and company image.  This is accomplished via advertising, social media, electronic media, print media or public relations, or networking activities designed to inform, persuade and remind customers about your company and to buy your products/services.  In developing promotion strategies and campaigns, determine:

• what needs to be said;
• by whom will it be said;
• to whom it needs to be said ;
• why it needs to be said;
• how it needs to be said; and
• when it needs to be said.

Today, social media is the most popular and cost effective form of promotion.   Costs are free or minimal, and regardless of the platform used (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, et al.) millions can be reached instantaneously, worldwide.  And for those not embracing social media, email is used as widely by nearly every person in the world.  It is understood that social media is not for everyone, but not employing a social media campaign in your business could easily mean lost revenue.
 
Electronic media consists of paid television and radio advertisements.  This is the most expensive form of mass selling.  Print media, on the other hand, consists of paid advertisements via newspapers, magazines, external paid newsletters or billboards and is considered less expensive than electronic media.  Publicity or public relations are a free form of promotion.  It can take the form in either electronically or in print, in-house newsletters, press releases, attending networking events or speaking engagements. 

Excerpted from, "The Start of Something BIG: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dynamic Business Plan."