7 Success Strategies to Grow Your Business Fast

By Diane Estrada

What goes up must come down as Newton so masterfully discovered. Yes, an economic valley does take some maneuvering to skillfully navigate, but by keeping your head while others are losing theirs, and following these 7 Success Strategies, you can thrive during these economic times, and end up growing your business fast as well.

Be determined to succeed
The attitude you hold about yourself and what you are capable of makes up the fundamental obstacle keeping you from your business success no matter how the economy is doing. It's hard to imagine, but thought is the only thing that stands in our way of attaining what we want in life. Success is an inside job. Focus on your growth and watch as your self-confidence soars. Competency builds confidence. It builds a virtual circle feeding itself, expanding bigger and bigger. Think bigger. Be bigger.

Stop micromanaging and start outsourcing
A business owner who tries to manage everything creates a bottleneck and stifles any opportunity for growth. You would be surprised at the number of activities that can be outsourced to free you up for the tasks you enjoy that will actually help you make money and grow your business easily. Since these people and services are sourced "on demand" you end of paying only for what you need when you need it. Areas to evaluate are office administration, office management, lead generation, marketing support, web site development and maintenance, product fulfillment, event management, and customer service functions. Do what you do best and delegate the rest!

Develop strategic alliances and joint ventures
Seek out ways to collaborate with others in your industry - even your competitors! You know, 1+1 = 5.

The key benefits to this approach include:

1) Gaining economies of scale in marketing, or production.
2) Sharing and transferring of manufacturing and technical expertise.
3) Access to previously blocked markets.
4) Defeating mutual rivals.

Strategic alliances are one of the most powerful ways to quickly and inexpensively grow your business. In one of my businesses, I went from 200 visitors a month on my web site to over 500,000, with one strategic alliance - and it didn't cost me a dime!

Focus on growth strategies
You've all heard the comment, "You have to spend money to make money." Well this IS the case. Spend more on marketing, spend more on advertising, give more bonuses, and cut back where you are not profitable. An important element of your growth strategy is to constantly reinvent yourself; offer creative pricing and inexpensive luxuries, find out what your customers have re-prioritized as most important to them and figure out how your products and services can best be re-positioned to respond to their concerns. As counter-intuitive as it seems, add new products or expand your product offerings if that is what is needed. To cut back and close off is to succumb to a declining economy and business.

Stop selling products and services and build relationships instead
Strong relationships can help increase cash flow, close deals and promote your business more effectively. Focus on giving first, receiving second. This approach demands an investment of time, energy and genuine interest. Undoubtedly, the way to turn contacts into contracts is to establish a powerful network that utilizes your carefully cultured relationships to gain referrals.

Leverage the Internet
There is no other more powerful medium to gain exposure and add to your growth in cost effective ways than to expand your marketing presence to the Internet; for lead generation, branding, additional revenue streams and promotion. Internet marketing is relatively inexpensive when compared to the ratio of cost against the reach of a target market, often for a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising budgets. Moreover, internet marketing has the advantage of measuring statistics easily, quickly and inexpensively. There are a variety of methods you can use to trace, measure and test different messages or offerings immediately that are most effective to your audience. Such measurements cannot be achieved through other forms of advertising and promotion.

Develop mastery in seeing strengths
Focus on the best of your and your team's successes, talents, strengths and skills. Many business owners enjoy learning how to spot their skills and strengths, yet few can skillfully see the best in others. Take this comment for example:

"Can't act. Can't sing. Balding. Can dance a little."
MGM Executive, reacting to Fred Astaire's screen test, 1928.

To see the best in others does require you to see the best in you first. Want more success? Get to know your greatest resources better. Shift your attention to what is going well, what you see as successful. Talk about your wins freely and often. You'll be amazed at how focusing on the positive and the best creates a trust and openness that allows problems to surface sooner, as employees are not afraid of being seen only for their weaknesses.

It is no surprise that my opening and closing Success Strategies to grow your business fast, even in this down economy, have to do with attitude, focus, and point of view. You are the designer of your destiny. Start now in leading your life, your company, your self from an attitude of greatness, gratitude and appreciation of the best that surrounds you.

Diane Estrada, the Business Ballerina, is a successful business executive and entrepreneur. She shares tips and lessons learned from years as a ballerina to teach women entrepreneurs how to build million dollar businesses with grace and ease. To learn more about her programs and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her website at http://www.businessballerina.com