Prevent Business Failure By Outsourcing
June 5, 2008 by Michelle Waters
I wrote a list of top 6 reasons why businesses fail on the Self Starters Weekly Tips forum a few weeks ago. Forum owner Lynn Terry then published the list on her blog, Click Newz.
At your request, I’m providing answers to these problems based on my years of experience with selling products and services online.
This time, we’ll talk about the #3 reason businesses fail.
#3 Life
We’ve all been there — kids get sick, we get sick, husband gets laid off… you name it. In my case, moving more than a dozen times in the past 12 years tends to put a cramp in my style. It’s hard to get my work done when part of my office is in the new house, part in the old house and part in a pile of boxes. ARGH.
Some business owners have let their busineses die for more serious reasons, like a car accident, a very sick child, a spouse who is ill, and more.
Unfortunately, we never know when these things are going to happen.
My Solution: As business owners, we have a responsibility to ourselves, our families and our customers to make sure our business is setup so that it can function with out us for a bit. Or, at least without our hand in it on a daily basis.
What this involves is outsourcing. Whether it’s checking email, answering helpdesk tickets, responding to questions on a forum or updating your website, a virtual assistant can ensure that your business keeps running, even if you’re off having a baby, moving across country or recovering from an illness.
Even if the business is one where only you can produce a unique item, like lampwork beads, your assistant can answer your customer’s emails, letting them know what is going on and when you are expected to return and finish their orders. Communication is key in these situations, and will make the difference between a business that thrives and one that dies in a sea of negative comments and bad reputation.
If you’re interested in exploring outsourcing, I’d like to recommend my VA, Stephanie Fish of BuckeyeVA.com.
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