When starting a small business growth feels like conquering a mountain. A mountain like this one:

How do you define growth?
Growth is going to be different for every company and business. I think the obvious concept of growth is gaining “more clients.”
My idea of growth is stability.
Stability included a focus on:
- Time management
- A proper brand identity for Behzadi Consulting
- Find one client outside of Buffalo
Time Management | More Time for Growth
Time management is still an important battle for any business owner. This year I invested in two major social media programs with Buffer for scheduling and Sprout Social for my analytics and engagement. Many clients bring their own social media to the table, but logging in and out of multiple accounts brought a lot of time waste. I found a way to streamline all of my clients into two programs which make it easier to explain information, examine results, and craft content
Brand Identity | Network Growth
Brand identity for my own business included a website redesign, new business cards, and also inserting myself into the Buffalo network. I joined multiple volunteer organizations in the area including Creative Mornings Buffalo and StartupGrind Buffalo. I’ve joined the committee for the Buffalo International Jewish Film Festival and I am trying to make an effort to become active in the alumni network for my MBA program. I’ve also established the blog series, here, where I try to post once a week. Having a consistent presence and being seen is a very natural way to enhance my brand’s identity.
Clients | Growth Outside the Locals
My final growth goal included hiring a non-local client. Now, I love Buffalo, and I hope to continue to work with local businesses. But as the freelancing community grows, I wanted to gain a client without a tie to my city. This was a challenge to test my ability to pitch my services, sell my value, and build trust with a stranger. I joined the Cloud Peeps community back in March of this year. Over the months I worked on my storefront and tried to hone my pitch, which reminded me of the experience of perfecting a cover letter. Month over month, I’ve received a few phone calls, a few emails, but nothing to secure the deal. I finished out a local contract and even started developing two new proposals for new local clients. Throughout my Cloud Peeps journey, I learned what pitches earned me a response and what seemed to resonate with potential clients. Over the weekend I was finally hired as a social media manager for a business in Los Angeles. This year-long stability helped secure the funds for my social media software (see how they work together?)
I’m very excited to close out 2016. I have learned a lot about growth and realize I will grow at my own pace.
Is your organization looking to grow its social media presence? Drop me a note and we’ll grow together in 2017!