Posted by Maya Pillai

Spring cleaning is not for your home alone. You have to spring clean your business every year. Business spring cleaning is not about removing the clutter that has accumulated over the past few months. Here we are discussing how to clear away the cobwebs of a recession and revisit the business goals. Now is the best time to start dusting off your accounts and start looking at what your expenditures are and how to implement effective cost cutting techniques to reduce your expenses. If you are not sure where to start, don’t worry, we have put together some of the easiest ways to spring clean your business.

Spring Cleaning Tips for your Business

All small businesses change in the course of a year and it’s always good to take a look back. This will help you revamp your business, make small/big changes or even diversify your business. Here are a few pointers that will help you shake off those winter blues and get a fresh start.

  • Refocus your business – Remove the products/services that have outlived market demand because they no longer add value to your business. Remove all unwanted clutter including emotional luggage at work. For instance, if you have any issues with your employees, find time to speak to them, discuss issues and see if you can facilitate a fresh start.
  • Get the help of an expert – If you are not sure how to go about spring cleaning your business, you should hire an expert. It is similar to getting the help of tree-trimmers or housekeepers to spring clean your house. There are business advisors who are expert in identifying organizational clutter.
  • Leverage employee talent – Conduct a small in-house survey to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your employees. Also find out where their talents lie and make efforts to rewrite their job descriptions. This will increase the productivity of your employees and enhance business growth.
  • Revaluate your vision and mission statement – If you have diversified your business according to the market, then it is high time you re-look into your mission and vision statements. Match your statements to that of the company’s goals.

  • Modernize the company’s brand – If your business is catering to new markets, then it is time to re-look into the company’s branding and marketing strategies. Fresh packaging with additional benefits will always attract new customers and retain the old ones.
  • Do not forget to sharpen your tools – If you want to have an edge over your competitors, you should introduce the latest techniques to your employees. Sharpen the skills of your employees by providing them the required training.
  • Listen more to your customers/clients – An entrepreneur is one who values his clients’ inputs. Focus on what your potential customer wants, listen to him and ask the right questions pleasantly to convert him into a life long customer. Always put yourself in their shoes if you want to remove obstacles.

As a part of spring cleaning, try implementing new strategies to acquire new customers. If you have not tried the social media channels, create a Facebook page for your business, LinkedIn or Twitter. Hire a social media marketing expert if you need help. Revamp your website to attract more web traffic. Retain your key employees who were with you during crucial times while transforming and modernizing your business. Time to get to spring cleaning.

Flickr image by OnTask