Declining Sales? Time To Update Your Business Model

October 23, 2017

It can be a stomach-sinking moment when you first realize that the slight dip in your company’s sales hasn’t sorted itself out and the steady decline is continuing. It’s better not to wait to see if your instincts are correct. At the first sign of trouble, you need to work hard to get to the source of the problem and reserve your declining sales. Whatever the reason for your business failing to meet the mark with consumers, it usually stems from some outdated or neglected process within your operations. Here are some ways in which you can update your business model depending on where the problem lies.
Update your workforce.
Don’t underestimate the power of your workforce when it comes to your business’ success. If you want your sales to improve then you need to look to the employees who should be marketing your brand successfully and the employees who should be making connections with customers and leads to seal deals on products or services that you’re selling. Slipping standards usually stem from a decline in team morale, so you should teach your team how to be productive.
You can’t force productivity on your employees but you can motivate them. You could find a way to break up work and relaxation time. For example, a pool table or some fun activities in the break room could be a good way for workers to unwind during their lunch break. It’ll remind them that the company cares about people enjoying their downtime too; people will return to their desks refreshed and ready to tackle their workload.
Update your resources.
It’s so important for any business in any industry to keep on top of the resources they use within their operations. If technology or equipment becomes old, outdated, or broken, you need to replace or fix it. That goes for software as well as hardware; you should be updating systems as frequently as possible to protect against malware and other virtual threats to your business’ security. Remember that your business most likely relies on digital resources more than physical ones in the modern age. Everything is based online.
Of course, with regards to physical improvements you can make to your company’s operations, you might want to look into calibration services from professionals who can run checks on your data logging equipment or other technical resources on which your business might rely. The point is that even if your company is using up-to-date technology for the industry in which you’re based, modern technological equipment is still prone to failure from time to time (especially when employees are using it in all aspects of their work). It’s vital to maintain the resources on which your business relies so as to ensure that everything is fully functional and operational. Small failures in this regard can lead to a bad quality of product or service, dissatisfied customers, and declining sales.
Update your brand.
The final way in which you can turn poor sales around is by looking at your brand. You’re not captivating consumers anymore, so go back to the drawing board with your marketing campaign. What’s your mission? Consumers like businesses with clarity, and yours needs to know what it stands for. Perhaps the ideas or services that your business is promoting are no longer relevant to the current target market. You need to look at problems facing the modern-day consumer and work a solution into your branding. Be the most eco-friendly business in your industry, offer the best prices, or simply give people more of what they’re already getting.

Mark Asquith

That British podcast guy, Mark is co-founder of Captivate.fm, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host. A Harvard, TEDx, Podcast Movement and Podfest speaker (amongst many more!), he's a wildly approachable Brit and Star Wars/DC Comics geek.

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