What It Takes to Create an Award-Winning Business

What It Takes to Create an Award-Winning Business | 14 Techniques That We Credit for Our Most Recent Business Excellence Award

Unexpectedly, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce notified me via email that we had been shortlisted for a 2016 Business Excellence award.

Whoa, what?

It started to hit me that someone out there believed we were deserving of this nomination once I got over my shock and disbelief that they must have the incorrect Susan. Wow, what a privilege!

An interview with a 3-judge panel that lasted 30 minutes was a component of the nomination procedure. Imagine having to genuinely boast about yourself for thirty minutes! Talk about shifting about in my chair!

Let's go back to last week, when the awards presentation was held. I was relieved that our category went first so that I could unwind the remainder of the evening.

Since the chances of winning were just 1 in 7, I didn't feel particularly concerned as I anxiously awaited the announcement of the winner, not at least anticipating that it would be us.

Though it was! We were crowned the victor!

What It Takes to Create an Award-Winning Business

SPEAK WHAT?

Once more overcome with shock and astonishment, I took a time to process what had just transpired. Even though it was rather a blur, I made it to the stage without tripping and up the steps to collect our prize.

After receiving this lovely award, I thought more about the judge's interview and how they chose to honour us above the other deserving finalists in our category.

In light of this, I wanted to share some of the qualities that, in my opinion, contributed to us winning this important award. Without further ado, here is what it took for me to establish a successful company:

1) Have a passion for what you do

We are not the first company I've started; there have been a number of others, from making craft items to faux finishing paintings. However, I was incredibly passionate about whatever I did.

Don't waste your time attempting to run a firm solely for financial gain. It will rapidly get boring for you, and it will be more difficult to generate sales.

However, when you are enthusiastic about what you do, people will notice right away and will be attracted to you like a magnet.

2) Have a passion for the people you work with and provide outstanding customer service.

Knowing how much we can assist a new business owner in setting up their web presence is one of the deepest delights I experience. I get just as much pleasure from sharing in their joy at witnessing their goal come true as they do.

If you avoid picking up the phone or replying to emails because you hate speaking with clients, you need to change your marketing strategy so you can draw in the correct clients.

If you don't enjoy working with your coworkers, it will be difficult to build a successful company that puts the requirements of its clients first. And it entails returning calls, sending prompt emails, and serving each customer as if they were your only one. And doing this should be simple if you are drawing in your ideal client.

What It Takes to Create an Award-Winning Business

Make your company's focus on them, not on you. Just keep in mind that you wouldn't have a business if you had no customers.

3) Be Knowledgeable

I made sure to get the education I required before even considering launching a web development/digital marketing firm. I studied Multi-Media at the Vancouver Film School before graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus in Computer Information Systems with an A+ GPA.

Not to mention all the online classes I've attended over the years to keep my knowledge current with this sector's constant change.

Sadly, I see a lot of aspiring business owners that have little to no experience or knowledge and then wonder why they are having trouble.

It's probably not enough to read a book or take one online course to become an award-winning author. However, if you're serious about creating a prosperous firm, you'll discover a means to guarantee that you acquire the necessary qualifications.

4) Show Commitment

Is dedicating 15 hours each day, six days per week, enough? Yes, Daniel and I carry out that activity each week. In order to fulfil criteria 2 and 3 above, we must.

Making sure your consumers are well taken care of requires a lot of time and effort. You also need to be committed to doing whatever it takes.

What It Takes to Create an Award-Winning Business

You might not need to put in as many late nights as we do, and believe me, we're always working to reduce that kind of volume, but in the meanwhile, we'll do whatever it takes to make sure our business is successful. Do you?

5) Be Reliable

Running a successful business requires consistency in many different ways. Being constant with my message, brand, social media presence, newsletters, team management, and the calibre of work we provide to clients is what consistency means to me.

Do I occasionally miss? Absolutely. But maintaining consistency in these areas is very important to me, so I take the necessary steps to be as present as possible for my team and our clients.

It's challenging to develop brand ambassadors (like those who suggest you for an award), devoted team members, and a consistent stream of clients without consistency.

Be constant in whatever you have resolved to commit to, and you'll be astounded at how things start to go your way.

6) Collaborate with a devoted and knowledgeable team.

I began as a solo performer. My educational experience made it relatively simple for me to design, develop, and promote a website. I am what you may refer to as a "generalist," someone who has a wide range of knowledge and expertise.

However, my one-woman show was not going to turn into a profitable venture. particularly in this technologically advanced sector. It became clear that my skill set would only get me so far.

What It Takes to Create an Award-Winning Business

My first employment was therefore someone who could counteract my biggest flaw. Warren applied for my part-time programmer work as a student at UFV. He was the ideal addition to our business, and when he joined, I was happy I wouldn't have to handle all the site builds alone. Then I could use that time to concentrate on expanding the company.

When it comes to running a business, it's challenging to try to do everything on your own. While there are costs associated with recruiting, your firm will grow much more quickly if you make wise hiring decisions, monitor your bottom line, and know when to let off employees who aren't giving you their all. This is in contrast to trying to do everything yourself.

For more information on this subject, I recommend reading How to Take a Solo-Entrepreneurship to the Next Level.

7) Incorporate honesty, authenticity, and gratitude into your day-to-day activities.

It's unfortunate that I even have to include this as a quality, but I've been in business long enough to realise that not everyone abides by these rules.

This is obvious to me; I'm not sure how I could live any other way.

But it seems like many individuals need to be reminded of this, based on the accounts I get from new clients about how their prior web developer treated them.

Without honesty and integrity, no business will succeed. And here's a little-known fact: thankfulness will improve not only your life overall but also your business. Try it out to understand what I mean.

8) Keep going

Every firm experiences ups and downs, including ours. The secret to success is to maintain your enthusiasm despite any setbacks. Pick yourself back up, take the lesson you needed to take away from it, and carry on.

What It Takes to Create an Award-Winning Business

A few years ago, if we had given up when we only had $20 left on our credit cards at Christmas, we wouldn't be award winners today.

9) Spend money on your company.

One investment after another has gone towards building the business. Actually, it never ends.

There is always something that needs attention. Here is a quick summary of my suggestions on where you should put money into your company:

a. Website and branding

b.Marketing

c.Education

d.Create a team

10) Recognize that you are not just running a hobby but a business.

Many entrepreneurs, in my opinion, fail to differentiate between this essential difference.

Because I have a business degree and a business mind, I have always seen our company as a business.

However, it can be difficult to know exactly HOW to turn a dream into a business for individuals who are simply enthusiastic about something and have a dream to make money off of it.

In order to conserve money (or avoid spending money they don't have), people end up doing what they believe they should be doing blindly and hope for the best.

If this sounds familiar, I would also recommend a business coach or mentor as your top priority investment. ASAP. If not, you'll most likely limit yourself to running a pastime.

11) Create a Systemized Business Structure 

Over the years, I've worked with a lot of different clients. Some people's level of organisation and systematisation astounds me. Some, though, not so much.

What It Takes to Create an Award-Winning Business

The only reason I haven't gone nuts from my everyday workload is because I have a systemized business framework in place.

Here are the resources we employ to become more productive, organised, and stress-free.

12) Become accustomed to sales

Sales. For many business owners and entrepreneurs alike, it's a nasty word. Me too. I detest labelling myself as a "sales person," yet if we aren't making sales, our businesses won't survive.

That's not to suggest you should start acting like a forceful, direct predator, though. Not at all.

Recall that the first quality, being passionate? What you need is that. People will respect and respond to your passion. But watch out—sometimes enthusiasm can be too strong and repel people.

Find what appeals to your ideal clients and keep working on it until you hit it. But do accept that you are selling your goods, and learn some effective tactics that go with your personality and level of comfort.

13) Return favours

Giving back is a key quality to possess while creating a successful company. Here are some examples of the different ways we give back:

• Offer non-profits discounted rates

• Provide your services to neighbourhood organisations

• Send money to deserving organisations that you support.

• Buy products that benefit deserving causes

• Contribute door prizes and/or silent auction goods to charity events.

• And wherever you can, assist your own clients.

14) Be Reachable

The most frequent complaint I get from new clients who come to me because they are unhappy with their current web developer or marketer is that they can never get in touch with them. Either they take a very long time to reply to emails, or they never pick up the phone.

Based on this alone, I believe I will publish a book on how NOT to manage a successful firm. My mind is blown whenever I hear tales like these repeatedly. With such terrible customer service and accessibility, how are these folks managing to maintain a business?

What It Takes to Create an Award-Winning Business

I make it a point to respond to emails within a day of receiving them. I frequently go over that limit, but occasionally the volume is too high and I have to wait before responding. The phone is the same. We respond if we're available to do so. If we're not, we'll provide the caller a prompt callback.

Being accessible gives our clients peace of mind because they know we value them enough to respond to their requirements quickly.

Conclusion:-

You now have it. My unvarnished opinion of what led the business to earn awards. Perhaps I should write a book about this because there is more I could have said, but as it is now past 15 hours on a Sunday night, I'll stop here.