You already know about all the traditional, popular ways to grow your business. You know you need a modern, responsive website, you know digital marketing can help your brand get more exposure, and you know your products and services need to be fully developed to offer the most value to your customers.
Well, don’t think your job is done just because you’ve checked off all those boxes.
You should always be looking for ways to grow your business, and that might mean thinking outside the box. Here are a few creative business-growing ideas that you may not have considered, but they can be an effective way to boost the success of your company.
Utilize a Fulfillment Center
A fulfillment center can be a huge asset to any business that sells and ships products. According to ShipHero, “Using a fulfillment center speeds up the order fulfillment process, your inventory will be properly organized and stored, and using a fulfillment center can save you money by bundling your storage and shipping solutions all in one company.”
Even if you don’t think you have enough items to worry about, a fulfillment center can help you grow your business. Instead of finding, packing, and shipping items on your own, they will do it for you, freeing up your time so you can work on other important aspects of your business.
Rethink Your Workforce
There are many successful one-man operations, but what if you want to grow your business and need a little help? After all, you can only do so much as a single person!
Hiring one or more employees is a good solution, but hiring them the old-fashioned way can be a nightmare. Rethink your workforce and consider hiring a virtual team instead.
There are many benefits of remote employees that include:
- Enjoy lower costs without the need to pay for office supplies, office space, and more.
- Remote employees tend to be more productive, giving you more bang for your buck.
- You can hire contracted work when you need it, without paying for it when you don’t.
- You can find the exact right fit for every position.
Barter
Every business needs a little help every once in a while. Whether you need some help at tax time or it’s time for a logo redesign, reaching out to a freelancer is a much better option than hiring a full-time employee, but it isn’t your only option. If you really want to save big and grow your business at the same time, you should consider bartering your services.
Chances are, you have a product or service that would be appealing to someone who could provide you with a little help. For example, you could offer your services for free in exchange for a logo redesign from a graphic artist. That way, you can get what you need without paying a dime. You’ll get brand exposure too!
Create Passive Income
Relying only on the income from your products or services can be nerve-wracking. It can leave you strapped for cash at the very least, and it can cause you to close your doors at the very worst. Instead of relying on the variable income products and services bring, look for ways for your business to create passive income.
For example, the CEO of the company can create an ebook, or you can record and sell a webinar. Even branded merchandise can become a passive stream of income. T-shirts and other items are relatively easy to make, they can promote your brand, and they can easily be sold online and at events.
Give Back
If you want to be more successful, you probably think that means spending more time on your business. That’s true a lot a lot of the time, but that doesn’t mean it’s true all of the time.
Surprisingly, giving back is a great way to help your community, but it’s also a great way to boost your business. That’s because people love to buy from companies that support causes they care about.
There are other benefits of volunteering that include:
- Networking with other volunteers who can bring you more business.
- Developing new skills that you can use in your business.
- Healthier, happier employees who are energized and excited to come to work.
By all means, use traditional methods, like digital marketing, to grow your business, but don’t stop there. Get creative with the items on this list, and not only will you find ways to increase the success of your business, but you’ll also have fun doing it!
