subject: Small Business Improvement - The Problem, The Solution, The Promise, The Process [print this page] Small Business Improvement - The Problem, The Solution, The Promise, The Process
When you're in business is so important to understand the problem you are solving for your target market, and not just any old problem you think that they might have, but the absolute number 1 problem that they are experiencing.Once you can safely say that you know what the number 1 problem is that you are solving for your target market, you need to be able to provide a solution to that problem. How you provide the solution to that problem becomes your core message to who you are serving, and this is true regardless of whether or not you are a services based business or a business that sells products. You simply must have a core message that is your promise to your market. You must then have a way for how you will fulfil that promise. The way you do that is through a process. A process that you have created that addresses the problem that your target market has.Your process should be step by step leading your customer or client from point A to point B to deliver to them the promise that you made in your core message.Your process might also be called your signature system, signature program, stepping stones or building blocks. Whatever it is for you it's what sets you apart, and it is your unique point of difference. If you've been wondering lately whether or not you are actually meeting the needs of your customers you could start by looking at whether or not you've actually identified the number 1 problem of your target market, or just the symptom that they are experiencing.For example, not having enough time, being stressed out, overworked, and poor time management are all symptoms that something more serious is at play. If as a business owner you are struggling to keep up with everything, finding that you have no time, that you're tired, overworked and frustrated, because your business is taking up your life, then your business is running you, and owning you, instead of the other way round.So, while the symptoms of a disorganised and out of control business may at first seem like the problem, they are in fact the result of the problem. So as you think about how you are meeting the needs of your customers and clients ask yourself if you are solving their number one biggest problem, and if so what is your solution?What is your core message and promise to them that conveys to them that you are the person or business that they need? Once you have answered these questions you need to define your process for delivering your promise .Once you've defined your process, you're efficiency, results and profit potential will increase because you are delivering on your promise consistently, reliability and predictably every time.
