Tip 192) 5 things to Get Your Business Confidence Back When You Feel Stuck.

Guest Blog from Hullo Creative

Our clients contact us at various stages of their business journey, some just starting out, full of excitement, nerves and awesome ideas, and some at a bit of a mid-point, feeling a bit stuck, the next step not as clear as they had hoped.

It’s not uncommon to have worries when you run your own business. It means that you are passionate about your company and you want it to succeed! But, if you are feeling a bit stuck and overwhelmed, we’ve got some tips for how to get your confidence back and continue merrily on your business journey.

1. Prioritise good habits
Life happens. Sometimes the good habits you set up at the beginning get dropped along the way.
Go back to those goals you set at the start, all those notes you scribbled down when all the exciting ideas popped into your head. It’s also so helpful to get into a pattern of good work / life habits to make sure you stay productive, avoid procrastination and give your business its best shot.

We love the phrase ‘eat your frogs first’, meaning before you do anything else you should do the one thing you’re absolutely dreading. That way the rest of the day will be a breeze.

We know that different things work for different people, but we’ve found that it’s really helpful to try to eat well, get enough sleep and create a regular morning routine that sets you up for the day. That might be something as simple as going for a quick walk, putting on your favourite playlist as you get ready, or taking five minutes to sit quietly with a cup of tea and do nothing.

2. Keep your content up to date
It’s so exciting when you get your sparkly new website, it’s a huge milestone and investment that needs to be celebrated! But sometimes when you are busy building your business, updating your website is the last thing on the list.

It’s definitely worth investing some time in making sure your website is up-to-date – if you can, get some new photos and share them your social media channels too. Take off any out of date information and replace it. Add any new client testimonials and share those on social too.

When people come across you, whether that’s in real life or on social media, they’ll immediately draw conclusions about your business from the first impressions it gives. If your branding stands out for all the right reasons, you’ll draw attention and, importantly, confidence from your audience, making them more likely to invest in you. Have a look at your logo and brand colours and see if it’s time for an evolution. After all, if you feel pride in the way your business looks, you’ll feel more confident in selling your services - not to mention charging what you’re worth.

3. Go to a new networking group
Going to a networking meeting can be a massive confidence boost, both personally and for your business. Talking about your business will re-ignite that passion and enthusiasm you had at the beginning.

Networking groups like Women Mean Biz and We Mean Biz are incredibly welcoming, and you’ll find that being part of a supportive networking group will build up your confidence in no time. (Or even better, join the Bristol Networking Ninjas for an online session!) 

4. Knowing your numbers
One of the biggest reasons start-ups don’t succeed in the first year is because they run out of cash. And as business owners who’ve been there, we can see how it’s possible to get pulled so far into the day-to-day running of your business, you miss the bigger picture. Especially if numbers aren’t really your cup of tea.

Remember to take some time to re-evaluate your budget properly. As a minimum, get cosy with your profit margins, turnover targets and burn rate and you’ll soon find yourself making confident decisions about what to charge, when to increase your rates and whether you can actually make ends meet.

Your local Chamber of Commerce – for example Business West, which covers Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and other areas of the South West – will provide reasonably priced courses to help you learn more about financial planning in business.
 
5. Get to know your clients again
It’s important to keep a handle on what your customers/clients are up to. The best way to do that is to spend some time getting to know them again. Think again about who they are, where they live, their interests and desires, the things that keep them up at night, and where they hang out online.

Is your ideal client still the same? Maybe they have evolved as your business has grown or maybe you now have a new demographic. When you understand your audience, you’ll feel more confident about the best way to approach them and even better, you’ll learn to quit worrying when people from outside your target group don’t engage with you.

After all, you’ll be so busy you won’t need them anyway. Now that’s the kind of positive thinking we’re after!

​Keep your business on track in 2019 with branding, website or printed materials that give you the confidence to stand out from the crowd. Contact us - we’d love to help.