Whether you are relatively new to the business world or have been in business for a few years, you should want to know where your weaknesses lie. You’ve put in a lot of hard work, but are some fundamental flaws keeping you from reaching success? For instance, you may dominate at distribution but persistently struggle with responding to your client’s complaints in real-time. Also, you may have a strong marketing message but an ineffective social media presence. Whatever the situation is, the market is constantly changing, and your product, service, or processes may find themselves out of date so it is vital to get a grip on its strengths and especially on weaknesses to avoid negative consumer feedback.
But how can you identify the weaknesses in your business? Here are four ways for entrepreneurs to find weaknesses in their businesses so they can adjust accordingly:
1. By using SWOT analysis
SWOT analysis is the study of internal and external factors that can be harmful or helpful for your business. This method focuses on recognizing these factors in four categories:
- Strengths – The strongest points in your business model and the best-selling points of your business. The competencies of your business team and the profits.
- Weaknesses – The weakest points in your business model and its sales funnel. What’s lacking in your team and missing from your investments?
- Opportunities – Analysis of your investors, potential leads, events, and new target markets.
- Threats – Analysis of negative market development or potential competitors.
- A weakness isn’t really a weakness if all competitors in the market experience it. While analyzing both strengths and weaknesses, it’s perfect to view SWOT elements from the entire market’s perspective.
2. By conducting surveys
You’re the expert in your business and likely don’t need outside opinions. However, consulting with various stakeholders, including suppliers or employees, might be valuable.
However, getting opinions from both your employees and customers can help to find any shortcomings or weaknesses in your business. Taking this opportunity to see what you excel at with an eye toward improving on your weak points will give you a better chance of success long term. It will provide an opportunity to accumulate insights into everything from pricing strategy to customer support that you may not have thought of. All of that information can be viewed in an extensive look at what your organization does best and what needs to be improved.
3. By monitoring negative consumer feedback
You can figure out what you need to work on by monitoring your customers’ feedback, especially negative feedback. If you are not already checking and analyzing the frequency and consistency of these negative feedbacks, now is a good time to start.
The feedback you receive about your company will help you identify weaknesses in your business. It is especially helpful when the complaints are all related to a particular product, policy, or service because it gives insights into where changes can be made.
4. By analyzing your competition
Understanding your competitors gives you insight into your own organization. Just like you strive to analyze your business completely, conduct equally passionate research about your competitors’ progress and the gaps in their business performances.
- Is there any site that is more impressive than yours?
- Which are your competitors focusing on? Do they prioritize high-quality customer service, or does that message get lost in their other marketing practices?
- What qualities of your business are stronger than theirs?
- Look closely at their advertising and social media presence. You may get the perspective needed to promote your company to improve your ROI.
The key to successful entrepreneurship is understanding your business and where it can be improved. These four tips will help you identify the weaknesses of your company, so you know what needs work and how much time and money should go into fixing them. Don’t forget to evaluate concrete performance factors like revenues, expenses, and sales. Also, evaluate your and your employees’ performances (if you have them) to find the weak points that are stopping your business.