5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Business Fast

When I start work with a new client, I start by giving them some homework to give their business a quick jumpstart. In this article, I'll share some of those homework assignments with you so that you can get the same results.

Homework Assignment #1: Check in on your existing clients.
The first homework assignment always focuses on your existing clients, because they're your bread and butter to start. You want to check in on them to find out how they're doing. Are you meeting all of their needs? Are you going beyond the call of duty and delivering exceptional service? Are there any other ways that you might be able to serve them, and do they know about other products and services that you offer?

The point here is not to bombard them with questions, necessarily, but rather to assess how you're doing, to find ways to improve, and to discover new ways to serve your clients which will ultimately create new income streams.

Homework Assignment #2: Check in with your past clients.
When clients stop giving you their business, there's a reason, and that reason is usually something you can do something about. For example, maybe you've set up your business so that clients don't have a reason to give you repeat business (an example of this is a web developer who doesn't have maintenance services- this becomes a one-shot business and clients will only return if they loved your work the first time and are ready for a redesign). Or, maybe you didn't deliver what you promised, or you didn't give them impeccable service. It's important to find out why clients aren't coming back and solve whatever the problem is that keeps them from returning.

Homework Assignment #3: Check in with potential clients you've been in contact with in the past.
Maybe you've had some potential clients you've met with or done proposals for who haven't hired you. Why didn't they? You can conduct a survey and find out a lot about what you can improve, just by finding out why people chose not to work with you. Maybe your sales process needs work (see Homework Assignment #5) or maybe you didn't really address the client's needs. Ultimately, if you discover why people aren't hiring you, you'll be in a great position to make some changes so you can get more business.

Homework Assignment #4: Contact people you know to increase your customer base.
Sometimes, when you're just starting out, you just need some business...any business. The best way to get that business is referrals from friends, family members, former co-workers, acquaintances, and networking contacts. That's why I often assign my clients to contact (by phone or e-mail) the people they know to let them know they're growing their business and accepting new clients and customers, and to ask for referrals.

Sometimes this yields interesting results - you may discover that there are some people who aren't willing to send you business. If you find out, for example, that several people you know won't send you business because they don't think you have the necessary skills, then it's time to take a good hard look in the mirror and ask yourself if they're right.

Homework Assignment #5: Analyze your sales process.
Sales is uncomfortable for a lot of people. And until you find a sales process that really works for you, you'll be stumbling around, using tactics and strategies that may be completely ineffective and not getting the sales you should be getting. Worse, you might not have a sales process at all, so you might be missing sales because you simply don't know how to ask for business.

Take some time and sit down and analyze your sale process, if you have one. If you don't have one, or if you aren't getting a lot of sales, it's time to start studying sales and looking for something that works for you. At the end of the day, having a sales process you're comfortable with can make all the difference between engaging with potential clients with ease and experiencing fear and dread when making a proposal.

These five homework assignments have the potential to jumpstart your business quickly. You'll gather valuable information and be able to make appropriate and fast changes that generate more business and a higher income in a short period of time.