Starting a business of any scale is a challenging venture, and the pathway to success is a very risky one. If aspiring business owners aren’t careful about how they get their organizations off the ground are bound to fail. In fact, according to global statistics, 20% of new businesses fail during their first two years of operations—and those that do, don’t survive past the fifth year.
To prevent you from being part of the figure, here are the most common startup pitfalls you should watch out for.
Failing to Market Regularly
No matter how fantastic your products or services are, it’s only as good as the number of people aware of it. To thrive in extremely competitive industries, you’ll need to have the edge over your competition—and the best way to do this is through marketing. Traditional methods still work, of course, but digital and direct marketing broadcasts are your best assets to entice customers from London and the rest of the world. It works fast and is less expensive compared to buying expensive advertising spots.
However, many startups avoid marketing because they worry about the fees. The best way to approach this is to consider the benefits and potential growth it guarantees.
Getting Too Many Investors
Paying back loans is never enjoyable, and having outstanding debts can be daunting for startups with limited capital. Because of this, working with ‘angel investors’ can be very appealing for those looking to raise money without owing any funds. Although it can be an excellent idea, bringing in too many investors can leave you sacrificing your company equity, leading to less profit and less authority to your business.
So long as you bring in a moderate number of investors and good deals, giving up some equity and power of your company can help expand its potential.
Failing to Leverage Technology
The rapid advancements of technology dramatically changed the way businesses operate and the general way of trade. To adapt, you’ll need to go where consumers are, and that’s online. A lot of conventional business startups fail because they didn’t adjust their operations to the digital era. To avoid being part of that demographic, you need to get with the time and take advantage of the latest gadgets and apps in the market.
Not Listening to Consumer Feedback
As long as you offer goods or services to third parties for money, not listening to the consumers is one of the biggest mistakes small businesses can make. That’s because not only they’re your primary source of revenue, but they’re also free to write and publish reviews of your brand online, regardless if they’re happy or unhappy with your services. Ignoring their feedback can make you lose potential clients.
So, make sure you stay proactive and respond to reviews whenever you can, regardless if they’re positive or negative, and make any necessary changes your consumers might suggest.
Moving Too Fast
One of the biggest mistakes to avoid when starting a business is falling victim to the “get rich” scheme, where you move your operations too fast. Doing this can be detrimental to your business. Not only can it make you frustrated and disappointed with the lack of abrupt success, but it can also make you lose all your investments on a whim by making too many risky moves. Although it’s good to aim high, remember to take it slow for continuous growth and success.
To successfully establish a startup business, you need to know what hinders you from succeeding—and the ones mentioned are the most common ones you might encounter. Knowing these mistakes help you find fast solutions, ensuring long-term success and growth.