(ThyBlackMan.com) It’s difficult to create a business that succeeds on a long-term basis. Many small businesses make easily-avoidable mistakes within the first few years of their establishment, and those mistakes close the company down. That isn’t to say you should avoid failure. Every mistake is a lesson learned. But, at the same time, you shouldn’t be aiming to run your business into the ground, either. There are ways to make sure that your company lasts. You just need to make the right decisions during those important formative years (and for all the years that follow, of course). With that, here’s some helpful advice to make your business strong and firm so that it lasts in the long-term.
Keep your workforce productive.
A productive workforce is the main tool that will ensure your business remains strong and firm in the long-term. Great ideas mean nothing without a great team to put them into practice. If you want to be a strong entrepreneur who leads their business to success then you need to make sure that your workforce is on the same page as you. Keep them productive by keeping the job interesting. For instance, you could reward the top employee (on a weekly basis) with a bonus or other perks. This will incentivize the entire team to work harder so that they be rewarded for their efforts. Additionally, you should make the office a pleasant place. Maybe you could include a pool table or a TV for people to enjoy during their lunch break. Comfortable couches can make all the difference, too.
You also need to focus on members of your workforce who negatively affect productivity. Perhaps they slack off or cut corners, for instance. This can lead to hostility in the workplace; other members of staff will feel frustrated that someone (or more than one person) isn’t pulling their weight. You might even have to deal with absent workers who fail to give notice. It’s important to maintain control of such situations so as to prevent an apathetic or negative work ethic from spreading. You should definitely have an employee no show policy in place. Otherwise, you might see repeated incidents of employees failing to show up to work because they know there’s no consequence. With clear rules in place, you can stop that from happening. That’s how you’ll keep the workplace productive. Take a no-sense approach to a negative workplace attitude. It’s unfair on hard-working employees if they see colleagues failing to take their jobs seriously.
Know your target market well.
Another way in which you should make your business strong and firm so it lasts in the long-term is to know your potential customers. If you want to expand your client base then you need to know your target market, and this is about more than surface-level knowledge. This is about knowing what they actually want from a business such as yours. That’s why you need to do your research. Know your industry. What is it missing? What do your target 
customers want to change? You could run surveys and polls on social media to get feedback from existing and potential clients in your marketplace. Find out what they like and dislike about your company (and other companies, for that matter).
Once you spot a problem that needs to be solved, you’ll have found a gap in the market. That’ll give you the chance to stand out from the crowd, and you’ll be able to expand your client base. You need to be constantly searching for gaps in the market to ensure your business’ long-term success. You need to know your target market as it changes and evolves. You need to adapt to a changing landscape, but you also need to stay ahead of the curve. Don’t just follow in the footsteps of your competitors if you want to increase your client base. You need to offer them something the competition isn’t offering.
Prioritize business security.
Your business also needs to prioritize security if it wants to be strong and firm in the long-term. This isn’t just about keeping your documents safe to avoid leaked information or keeping your premises secure to avoid stolen goods; it’s about your reputation. You want your business to be known as a reliable and strong company, so you need to make sure it’s as secure as possible. In terms of your premises, CCTV cameras can act as a powerful deterrent. In terms of your data, it would be incredibly beneficial to hire managed IT services and outsource your digital security to professionals to ensure the highest standard of protection. Within your company, you should teach your employees to look out for phishing scams in emails and other potential threats to your business’ data.
Work on your brand identity.
Every strong business has a strong brand identity. Consumers identify with brands. There are thousands of companies selling the same products and services in every industry. The thing that makes a consumer choose a particular business is their brand. You opt for McDonald’s, Apple, Google, or other businesses because their brands are the most well-known and reputable. That doesn’t mean they’re the only companies offering a particular type of service. And we’re not saying that you have to be as big as those corporations in order to achieve long-term success, but you should be aiming to create a brand that your target market knows well.
You can attract new clients with a relatable message. Your identity should relate to people on a human level. Forget all the corporate marketing talk. What do people care about? You could promise to plant a tree for every 10 products bought in your store, for example. Show that you care about the environment. Or you could donate a portion of your profits to a certain charity so that your business is making a positive impact on the world. Just show consumers that there’s more to your brand than selling products and making a profit. Think of something that’ll make your company stand out.
Frequently make changes to the business plan.
As explained throughout this plan, constant innovation is the key to a business’ long-term success. If you want your company to remain strong and firm throughout the years then you need to be brave enough to rethink the company plan on a regular basis. It might be tempting to take a “if it isn’t broke then don’t fix it” approach to running your business, but keeping things is the same is the riskiest approach you can take. The market will continue changing around you, and your business will be left behind. You have to take some risks and keep adapting the business plan to the changing landscape. You’ll only be able to move forward if you’re brave enough to push your business forward.
For starters, you should make some smart investments. One of the most overused phrases in the business world is that you have to spend money to make money, but it’s absolutely true. You have to stimulate your company’s growth, and that requires a bit of spending. Invest in new employees, a bigger office, a better marketing campaign, an expanded production line, or whatever other area of your business needs improvement. Business expansion will bring you a bigger client base, and that’ll help to secure your future success. No company does well in the long-term by staying the same. You need to keep evolving. That way, you’ll stay relevant in a changing business world. You just need to get the balance right when it comes to maintaining a consistent brand that keeps your existing clients happy and finding ways to bring in new clients.
Staff Writer; Craig Jones