Four things I wish I'd done

Peter Crocker Hindsight is a beautiful thing, isn't it? I've been in my solo business for five years now and in looking back, can see four simple things that I wish I'd done consistently from day one.

1. Maintained a detailed customer database

As a soloist, you meet, email and work with lots of different people. Over the years, that can add up to thousands of individuals. But unless you conscientiously maintain a database, it eventually all becomes a mess of cards, random email addresses and half-remembered names.

A detailed and up-to-date database is a valuable tool for launching new services, starting email newsletters, keeping in touch with prospects and sharing valuable information with an interested audience. Maintaining it is a job that has to be done almost daily.

2. Actively collected client testimonials and case studies

When you're in business for any length of time, you naturally generate happy customers and success stories. The problem is that these are quickly forgotten as time goes on.

These testimonials, samples and case studies become powerful business development tools for proposals, website content and marketing. It's crucial to collect these along the way as soon as projects are completed, before people move on and while your brilliant work is fresh in their mind.

3. Sought professional advice sooner

It took me almost two years before I sat down with a business coach and nutted out some solid plans around a long-term vision, defining my ideal client, positioning my services and what to charge. The results were immediate to my attitude and bottom line.

4. Not named my business after myself

I would think carefully before naming your business after yourself. While it does have benefits and works for many people, it can also be limiting if you plan to expand your offerings, outsource projects or sell your business one day.

What are the things you might have done differently if you could start your business again? Share them below and hopefully we can all discover ways to improve our businesses.

But it's not all doom and gloom – look out for my next newsletter on 5 June where I'll share the things I’m glad I did when starting out as a soloist.

Until next week.

Love your work,

Peter Crocker is a director of Flying Solo responsible for the areas of marketing and advertising. He is a business copywriter specialising in websites, videos and marketing communications.

20 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 4 | Next» View all»

The four things I wish I'd done differently are:
Delegate, delegate, delegate and delegate?
Seriously, knowing what I now know, I would have
1 Employed a Virtual PA from day 1
2 Outsourced as much as possible
3 Found a better business name
4. Written and distributed far more articles
Life's great in hindsight! James Yuille from Brisbane, Australia
The one thing I wish I had done differently is not trust others to do the right thing - I'm now fully independent and much happier! Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
Even though I am still in the initial stages of establishing my business, there are still things I could have done differently. The main one is I should have spoken to suppliers from the first day I had my business idea - because I didn't I have spent a lot of time researching a direction that I can't follow & have had to start over! Heidi Price from Newcastle
Im not even six months into my first business... but already I would 1) have a strong plan in place 2) wait until i had some more capital (for many reasons) 3) dont go into it with a friend 4) listen to my wife :o) Brad from Balmain, Sydney
This business of mine has been up and running for six months now and I'm quite happy with the way it has progressed, however there are still things I wish I had done differently. Primarily I wish I had developed better relationships with some of my earlier associates. When I first went into business, I was very cautious and did not trust everyones intentions. This led me to ruin a few initial relationships which could have been potentially great business opportunities. Since then, I try to give everyone a go and try to leave my feelings out of it. Sometimes it's hard but it's usually worthwhile. Everyone deserves one chance! Jon Bergan - Bergan Blue from Terrigal NSW Australia
Personally I would have completed a small business management course. Learning about things such as tax, superannuation, money management , debt collection & my rights etc would certainly have saved some heartache and probably freed up a lot more of my time. Unlike Jon Bergan I trusted too much and thought the best of potential clients, wanting to please and be successful. After the 4th bounced cheque payment and then a disappearing client I was forced to cover the costs myself and learnt a hard lesson. One I will never make again. Kiralie from Illawarra

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