You’re a small business owner, so why do you need to travel? It’s a lost art – something that many online and home-based business owners have never had to do. But, travel is making a comeback. It’s an asset for for strengthening vendor relationships, and it’s even good for getting a better understanding of your target market.
So, hop on a plane, score some coupons for hotels, and expand your business in ways you never thought possible.
Get Out And Experience A New Culture
Your company sells to customers. That’s how it makes its money. Yet, have you ever stopped to think about the culture you’re selling to? Let’s say you sell to customers that are largely in a rural area. You live in a big city. Admit it, you’re a little disconnected. But, it doesn’t have to stay that way.
You can hop on a plane, take your laptop with you, and spend a week, or even a month, in a new area – an area that mimics where your customers live. This becomes more important when you start selling your products and services overseas. As you start targeting new countries, you’ll want to understand the customs, culture, and way of life there.
So, for example, if you are based in the U.S., and you start selling to China or Australia, it might help to know how the people there live, what their day-to-day life is like, the slang, and what the slang is. It will influence your marketing and, ultimately, help you sell more product.
Visit Your Supplier
Why bother visiting your supplier? Because it helps you get a better idea of the processes involved in building your products. It also allows you to form a real relationship with other businesspeople – relationships that aren’t simply transactional in nature. This is how “back room” deals are done, where unadvertised discounts happen, and where competitive advantages are born.
Meet Clients and Investors Face To Face
Meeting your investors face-to-face might seem a little scary. This is their money you’re “playing with” here. What if they suddenly have second thoughts when they see you in action? Yet, at the same time, meeting your investors puts a face to the name. It could improve investor morale. It could also lead to future investing or additional immediate investments in your company.
Likewise, meeting with potential prospects can help improve sales. This is especially true for B2B businesses, where you sell to large companies and need the commitment of several key players, like a CFO, CEO, and the head of HR.
Meeting with prospects face-to-face is a bit old-school, but it’s also confidence-inspiring. How many business owners are talking to customers these days? Usually, it’s the rank-and-file employees that man a cash register or the sales associates that talk to customers. Here’s your chance to stand out, be that “reachable” CEO, and smash the stuffy image of your industry.
Karen Swain is a passionate entrepreneur. With her energetic spirit and knack for business, she often blogs about the tips and tricks to building success small businesses.
