19 Jun Startup Entrepreneurs: Here Are 3 Things That You Must Do To Grow

I am always surprised by the basic marketing techniques that seem to be forgotten so easily by startup entrepreneurs that are so focused on their technology or their shiny new business that they forget about the three things that every startup entrepreneur needs to be doing daily to grow their business. Even as a child golf ball entrepreneur back in small town Wisconsin I knew that these were three must haves if I was going to achieve success.

1. TELL EVERYONE: No matter how huge your marketing department is you need to be sharing your product or service with everyone everywhere no matter if you think they may never need what you have to sell.  Share your passion with random strangers in the elevator or tell your entrepreneurial story to your neighbor.  The fact of the matter is that you do not know who could be a future employee, investor, or end user of what you have created.  The more people who know about it, the better.

2. CARRY YOUR BUSINESS CARD AT ALL TIMES:  There is no circumstance- even swimming- where you should not be without a business card. Keep a stack of business cards in your car, your wallet, the pocket of every jacket you wear, and hand them out like they are candy on Halloween that you just have to get rid of.  You never know when you are going to run into Richard Branson or Steve Wozniak on the street and you certainly don’t want to be the guy who missed that opportunity.

3. BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: Business is all about relationships, so you have to make building them your primary focus. If you are always behind your computer, your cash register, or a mountain of paperwork you aren’t investing in the people who could help you take your business to the next level. To achieve real success you are going to need an accountant, lawyer, insurance agent, and many other strategic partners who you will want to believe in you at each step. Take the time to invest in those relationships early on.