How well do you know your business? And what does that mean anyway? Does it mean knowing how much you make each week, month, or year? Is it having an intimate knowledge of every product or service you sell? Does it equate with having a personal relationship with each member of your staff and an understanding of their individual jobs? Or maybe it means you know how to update your website or make changes to those daily spreadsheets your employees hand you each day?
It’s not likely that all of those skills are in your toolbox or all of that knowledge is in your head. But as you forge ahead each day, tending to your business responsibilities, do you truly know your business inside and out, or do you need to step back and take a look at where you are, where you were, and where you hope to be in the future, and perhaps where you stand in relation to your peers and competitors?
Of course, you might wonder what this has to do with building your website. A lot! Until you know and understand your business intimately, it’s hard for you to communicate accurately with those responsible for crafting your website, including the designer and others, such as content writers, who are responsible for conveying your message.
Questions to know your business:
- What do you want your business to look like in 5 years? 10 years?
- Do you understand your customers and what they value?
- How often do you consult with your team members and ask them for opinions, evaluations, and more?
- Do you know how you stack up to the competition?
How well did you do in answering these questions? Is there room for improvement, and where do you start?
How Well Do You Know Your Business: Who are YOU?
You MUST know yourself as a business before you can try to sell yourself as one. If you’re lacking on this point, it’s time to sit down and do a little self-examination of both you and your company. There might be lots of people who do what you do. That’s okay. But it’s important to remember that while anyone may be able to do what you do, no one can BE you EXCEPT you!
Sounds logical, right? But as website builders, those of us at Watershed9 have encountered plenty of business owners who aren’t really clear on who they are and what they stand for. Are you one of those individuals? If so, think about this:
1. What makes you uniquely qualified to do what you do or to offer what you offer?
Think about what life or work experience makes you the ideal person to lead your company. Have you taken advantage of specialized training? Have you earned a specific certification? And if this question has you stumped, perhaps it’s time to consider what you can do in the near future to make yourself that uniquely qualified individual. Keep learning and look for resources to help you further your education.
2. Why do you do what you do?
Ask yourself if you know from whence your motivation comes. You have to understand this to keep going. Do you want to make enough money to travel full-time? Are you striving to be debt-free? Are you less money-driven and more people-driven, eager to help others not make the same mistakes you made? While it’s not likely that you’ll tell others on your ABOUT page that you want to buy a 25,000-square-foot mansion with your profits, it is essential for you to understand your purpose and rationale.
3. What values do you hold?
What values do you hold that assist you in being successful in your business and delivering what you hope to deliver? Have you considered what your work habits are? How do you treat your customers and your employees? What do you stand for? These questions deserve much thought and more than just a one-word answer. “Integrity”, for example, is important, but think about how you exhibit that integrity.
Remember, the better you understand your business, the better you can present it to others (clients, customers, patients, etc). You might make some interesting discoveries about yourself and your business by thinking about the questions above. Then you can share those discoveries with your customers via your website content, your social media, and more.
At Watershed9, we’re anxious to hear what you’re all about and what makes your business tick, so to speak. The more you know your business and the more excited you are about what you do, the better we can relay that knowledge and enthusiasm to your clients while we’re building your website. To chat with one of our website design specialists, call us at 604-337-1449.