Black Entrepreneurs: Here Are The 3 Basic Mistakes You’re Making

Growing a business is tough but some of you are making it harder than it needs to be. There are many challenges that will inevitably come when running a business so the idea is to not create new hurdles that can be avoided. Here are a few common mistakes we see business owners making routinely.

Accurate Public Information

You may not be able to control tax policy but you can definitely control whether customers have accurate information. Is the email address listed on your business Facebook page current? What happens if I email that address with the opportunity of a lifetime but you’ve since begun using another? Believe it or not, this happens daily and it’s an unnecessary error. Also, customers should be able to easily find and contact you. If folks can’t easily find your contact info and location(s), they’ll move on quickly. Make sure everything you are presenting to the public on your website and social media is accurate and current.

Customer Service

There are times when your product or service just won’t be the best. In business it happens, you have to simply accept that. What you can always control, however, is how you react to each issue. Customer service is the key to winning. With a mediocre product and great customer service, you can take down a company with a superior product and terrible service. Are Chick-Fil-A’s fries and sandwiches miles better than any other fast food restaurant? Not likely but the service is amazing and people go. It doesn’t cost you anything to be pleasant, engaging and to take full responsibility when customers aren’t satisfied. Being defensive is never helpful — if someone points out a problem, take responsibility for it and quickly solve it for them. Absolutely NO one is obligated to spend their hard earned cash with you. Their money is sacred, act like it.

Presentation

No matter what you’re selling, how you sell it is everything. If you have great pizza but serve it on a garbage can, it won’t matter. It’s about presentation. Maybe you have great products to sell online but if your website looks terrible, pictures are grainy and unappealing, no one will buy. Take the extra time (and money) to make sure your presentation is up to par. Customers, unfortunately, judge you and your business before they ever try it. What they see and hear becomes their snap judgment. No matter how great your product or service is, without the proper presentation, no one will ever trust you enough to try it.

You CAN Win

You are talented. You are determined and you know your stuff. You come from a people that have triumphed over incredible odds. You can definitely be the next big thing in your industry. But it will be tough and there will be challenges in business; so why create extra impediments? Keep a laser sharp focus on the things you can control and do your best on the rest. You can win!