32 Questions to kick-start your business!

Would you call yourself a creative person?

Creativity plays a big part in the development of any successful business.  In fact, your ability to creatively solve problems and spot opportunities will to a large part, determine just how far you and your business will go.

In my experience, one of the best ways to kick-start our creativity, is to ask ourselves questions, which lead us to creatively search for answers and new ideas.  So, here are 32 questions, designed to help you think creatively about the development of your business.  Remember to share them with anyone in your network, who you think might find them useful, using the links below!

1. What additional, valuable products or services can I offer to my existing clients or customers (herein called clients)?  This is the fastest way to generate a massively profitable boost to your revenue and profits.
2. Am I fully utilising technology in my business?  Are there processes that I could streamline, which would give me more time to deal personally with my clients and prospective clients?
3. How can I improve the way I deliver my services?
4. Do I take time out, to thank people as often as I should?
5. What new markets could use my products or services?
6. How can I improve the quality of my products or services, so that they are of even more value to existing and prospective clients?
7. Am I associating with the right kind of people, for what I want to achieve?
8. What three things could I do, which would improve the visibility of my business?
9. How can I reach 500% more prospective clients with my marketing message?
10. How can I make my day-to-day work more fun?  This is really important!
11. What’s the best way for me to encourage more people, to recommend me to their contacts?
12. Is my marketing focused enough?
13. How can I improve my time management?
14. Do I take action on the ideas I generate, so they have a chance to make a real difference?
15. Should I be thinking about doing some kind of joint venture with another, high quality company?
16. Am I limiting the development of my business, by not investing in professional help in the areas where I am weakest?  If so, which area do I need to invest in first?
17. How often do I ask my clients for their feedback, regarding the service they receive from me and what additional services they would like me to offer?
18. When was the last time I sat down and studied my marketing goals?  If you have not got any written, measurable, specific marketing goals, stop reading this and write some down right now!
19. Is it possible that my services look too similar to my competitors?  Most service providers look way too alike, so the marketplace uses their fees as a way to judge their value.
20. If my services do look too similar to my competitors, how can I differentiate myself, so that I have something uniquely valuable to bring to the marketplace?
21. Do I get enough leads and enquiries via my website or blog? If not, how can I increase this, so my site becomes a lead generating machine for my business?
22. When was the last time a client sent me a “thank you” note?  If this has not happened for a while, it might suggest that you have not exceeded their expectations lately!
23. Who would make a good endorsed relationship partner for me?
24. Do I attract enough word of mouth referrals?  If not, what is this telling me?
25. How aware am I, of my client’s problems and challenges?  You need to know what’s happening in your client’s world, if you want to be able to really help them.
26. Do I have a shallow a network, spread over a wide area – Or a deeper, more meaningful one?
27. How many other websites or blogs link to my website or blog?  This is important, as inlinks account for the massive majority of your search engine optimization (SEO)
28. Am I working to a marketing strategy or am I simply doing tactical marketing?
29. Just how good is my customer service?  Remember, you don’t compare yourself to what your competitors offer – But to the finest level of service you can possibly offer.
30. Do I still have the same passion for my business that I used to have?  If the answer to this is yes, get passionate again!
31. How many of the people I network with on Twitter, have I actually spoken to or met?
32. Are my online marketing activities producing bankable results, or just a ton of meaningless, social media numbers?  If you have the friends, followers and fans but not the bankable results, you might want to review your strategy.
33. Do I exceed people’s expectations?

Ok – What would you add to this list?

What would you add to this list, as a question that might help get people thinking creatively about the development of their business?  Please leave your suggestions below!