In my dealings with businesses new, old, large and small, the thing that seems to define the successful from the weak is the presence of efficient systems.

I’m not talking about computer systems, though they do help, but approaches to the business and how it runs.

Has your business got a system?

Can you talk through your whole business from product development, communication, sales, all the way through to customer service, aftercare, loyalty and long term customer value?

Could you describe to someone (or even better, hand them a manual) that explains:

1. How you analyze your market?
2. How you your target your most wanted prospects?
3. How you differentiate your offering from your competition?
4. How you communicate with your market?
5. How you deal with sales objections?
6. How you gain new customers?
7. How you keep customers?
8. How you develop new products?
9. How you get existing customers to buy more?
10. How you turn customers into advocates?

Many businesses focus almost entirely on creating a product and trying to sell it, without working out how their tactics fit together into a coordinated plan. Even worse, they try to take on help and find they spend all their time either micromanaging or being so hands off they get into trouble.

Obviously I have a system that I sell, but you do not need to follow my system, you just need a system that works.

If you haven’t got a system, work out yours now. Before it is too late.