Research: The Secret Weapon To Your Success

Research, it is not the most exciting or even sexy part of business for many small business owners. However, you need to find a way to sexy research up because it is absolutely a non negotiable if you want to achieve success.

Many established business owners start to get stuck on the battlefield. They lose the energy and determination to conquer their business hurdles. And ultimately become stuck after trying everything but nothing works!

But here is the thing that all these business owners have in common. They bi passed the business foundations, jumping straight ahead to delivery. Afterall, many of us have come from careers where our sole responsibility was to deliver, right? So let’s dig a little deeper into one of the core elements – the under rated research.

What is research

Research is a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding*. So in summary, in order to evolve in your business, you need research!

What is the research focus for small businesses?

Now, you might be thinking, where do I even start (cue procrastination city). Because with research it is easy to get distracted and thrown off course unless you know what you are there to do. You do not want to get caught up with comparisonitis or waste time in the social media scroll. Don’t worry, I got you. Let’s take a peek at the core research you should be carrying out.

  • Competitor research

You do not want to get caught up in comparing yourself or making yourself feel crap here. The objective is to keep your eyes on the industry, see how others are evolving and use this as inspiration.

No, this is not a copy your competitors moment (they never exist!). It is purely seeing where you want to drive your business. And understand the market need so you can be sure you are constantly on your top game.

  • Client research

You do not need to hound your clients with a constant request for feedback in order to be successful here. You want to be sure you are able to deliver to clients in the best capacity as possible and solving their problems they have now, not last year!

The objective here is to make sure your offers are evolving and helping your clients fix the problem they have currently. This also helps your client retention rate. Because you are able to support them throughout their business journey, not just on the one thing you are currently doing for them.

  • Market research

This is one of those you should be doing constantly. You need to know your industry inside out, you need to know what is happening so you can be the expert in your industry. Be on top of news, and the troubles so you can provide peace of mind and useful guidance to your clients.

The objective here is to be able to stay present and stamp your ground as the industry authority. Now, it is not just industry news, you also want to keep an eye on the day to day news and developments so you can step in and provide the right solutions at the right time.

Take covid as an example here, many people suffered hugely with their businesses because it changed over night. However, there were others that thrived throughout the pandemic and this is because they were taking action from the minute covid was discovered in December 2019. By the time it affected us here in the UK majorly in March 2020 they were already a couple of months ahead. So ending here with adapt and evolve.

How often does research need to be carried out?

Now, you are probably thinking, ok I get that completely, however I am really time strapped at the moment. How often do I need to do this? And the answer will be different for many people, because ultimately it depends on you, where you are in business, how you plan and whether you have a team or not.

For me, I carry out competitor & client research every quarter, this is because I plan quarterly and it makes sense to me. A yearly research / planning week just does not work for me. Things evolve and change so much, I need to stay on alert and adapt so I do not fall behind. In regards to market research, this is one I carry out daily to an extent, but at least monthly I will check in with whats happening and look at what I am offering to decide if it is the right thing for now.

So that is it for me this week. I hope you have found this super helpful, and as always any questions feel free to reach out.

*source: Cambridge dictionary

 

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Don't forget: I am gifting FREE 2 week bootcamp spaces to a handful of service based business owners that are looking to delegate in the next 12 months, but want zero stress in the process.

You're perfect for this if you have a service based business that is growing and you're future planning creating your delegateable business™ and know you don't want to suffer the common headaches many others do from lack of preparation. OR you currently delegate but need to add to/restructure your team but cannot face the carnage you have had previously and you are determind to make sure this time it is different!

If this is you, pop me a DM with the word 'BOOTCAMP' and I will share the juice deets.

 

Hear what my incredible clients have to say...

Jo Oogarah – Jo Oogarah Coaching
"I have just completed the Simple Systems to Scale Group Programme and I wanted to share how amazing it has been for my business. As someone who is not naturally organised and hates anything filing etc, I was a bit wary of starting the course, especially at the start of my business journey, but it has been so useful. I now can find things easily which saves me so much time onboarding clients and keeping track of who I have spoken to. For the first time I have a proper system for all the functions of my business. I would thoroughly recommend taking this course to really start to see what is going on in your business and managing it so much more effectively in the day to day. Thanks so much Charlotte!"
CVA Associates
5
2021-11-03T20:52:54+00:00
As someone who is not naturally organised and hates anything filing etc, I was a bit wary of starting the course, especially at the start of my business journey, but it has been so useful.
Katie Carswell – Katie Carswell Coaching
"Charlotte and her team are amazing. I challenge you to find anyone as dedicated to your and your businesses success as Charlotte is. She consistently goes the extra mile, nothing is too much trouble, she really knows her stuff and has made my life so much easier, in so many ways. She really is a diamond find and I would recommend her to anyone who is looking to make their business more streamlined and simpler. Plus she is one of the loveliest people you will ever meet."
CVA Associates
5
2021-11-03T20:54:09+00:00
I challenge you to find anyone as dedicated to your and your businesses success as Charlotte is.
Sarah Street – Street & Co
"Charlotte has been a great support to our business, managing numerous support services from daily admin, organising Dropbox and IT, to HR services and organising team events. We have always felt Charlotte was one of the team, even if she wasn't sitting next to us every day. I highly recommend Charlotte's skills in supporting any small business."
CVA Associates
5
2020-04-18T14:32:07+01:00
"Charlotte has been a great support to our business, managing numerous support services from daily admin, organising Dropbox and IT, to HR services and organising team events. We have always felt Charlotte was one of the team, even if she wasn't sitting next to us every day. I highly recommend Charlotte's skills in supporting any small business."
Tara Barton – Birch & Wilde
"Virtual Assistant & Online Business Management Services - Charlotte and her team are fantastic and I would now be lost without them. Highly professional, super knowledgeable, full of ideas and ways to solve problems, positive and extremely efficient and organised. I can't hesitate to recommend CVA Associates."
CVA Associates
5
2020-09-07T12:00:18+01:00
Highly professional, super knowledgeable, full of ideas and ways to solve problems, positive and extremely efficient and organised.
Jill Pringle – Brand Symphony Marketing
"I'm so glad I found Charlotte and her business CVA Associates. Charlotte is so friendly, client focused and organised in the way she runs her business, and matches clients like me with our exec assistants. If you're a business owner and need a bit of support to take away all the small, fiddly, technical tasks each week, or need help with a particular project, then the range of people and skills Charlotte can access is amazing. I got support setting up all of my GDPR processes, my CRM and Email Automations, project managing my website rebuild and then ongoing admin and marketing tasks. What's best about Charlotte is she matched me perfectly with my EA Gill, and also stays in touch regularly to make sure things are working well. A real pleasure to work with."
CVA Associates
5
2020-07-24T17:05:32+01:00
"If you're a business owner and need a bit of support to take away all the small, fiddly, technical tasks each week, or need help with a particular project, then the range of people and skills Charlotte can access is amazing."
Rose Cox – Certified Human Potential Coach, Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist
"I recently had an online session with Charlotte where she walked me through her business hub set up in ClickUp. It was super useful and I came away with great strategies to implement for my own business in helping me keep everything systematised and on track, both with my goals, my overall business planning and right down to my project planning and daily task management.

I highly recommend working with Charlotte if you need someone to show you the most structured and easy to implement way to keep track of everything related to your business."
CVA Associates
5
2022-07-25T13:59:00+01:00
"I highly recommend working with Charlotte if you need someone to show you the most structured and easy to implement way to keep track of everything related to your business."
Nick Myers – Owner, Loveable
"Charlotte does so much more than keep me organised and ensure Loveable keeps its various plates spinning. She brings ideas and a point of view to the table. She’s passionate, resourceful, ever learning and such an asset I really didn’t want to make this recommendation public in case she gets too busy to continue helping me!"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:50:29+00:00
"Charlotte does so much more than keep me organised and ensure Loveable keeps its various plates spinning. She brings ideas and a point of view to the table. She’s passionate, resourceful, ever learning and such an asset I really didn’t want to make this recommendation public in case she gets too busy to continue helping me!"
Tara Burgin – Owner, Active Early Years
"Charlotte is an amazing VA she is currently the P.A to Active Early Years and does a fantastic job she is always willing to help, highly organised, efficient no task too big and is very knowledgeable in her expertise always delivering at a high standard. If you want more time back in your business then Charlotte really is the answer."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:51:27+00:00
"Charlotte is an amazing VA she is currently the P.A to Active Early Years and does a fantastic job she is always willing to help, highly organised, efficient no task too big and is very knowledgeable in her expertise always delivering at a high standard. If you want more time back in your business then Charlotte really is the answer."
Helen Cox – Owner, Helen Cox Marketing
"I would highly recommend working with Charlotte. As a busy marketing consultant, I often didn’t have time to do my own marketing. I’ve used Charlotte to help with my social media, email marketing, proofreading and inbox management and she is so efficient – it makes my life so much easier. What I liked about Charlotte is that she has a background in corporate as a PA so she knows how to run everything, she’s friendly, approachable and nothing is too much effort!"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:52:27+00:00
"I would highly recommend working with Charlotte. As a busy marketing consultant, I often didn’t have time to do my own marketing. I’ve used Charlotte to help with my social media, email marketing, proofreading and inbox management and she is so efficient – it makes my life so much easier. What I liked about Charlotte is that she has a background in corporate as a PA so she knows how to run everything, she’s friendly, approachable and nothing is too much effort!"
Anonymous – Nature of business
"I just wanted to let you know that already your admin support has made such a difference to me, staff members and clients. Smashing work Charlotte."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:54:35+00:00
"I just wanted to let you know that already your admin support has made such a difference to me, staff members and clients. Smashing work Charlotte."
Denise Todd – Head of Operations, Delivery Associates
"Charlotte did a brilliant job for us, helping with some rebranding work that needed to be done on a tight timescale. She understood straight away the requirement and just got on with it, which was what was needed! She supported on extensive word and ppt docs. A pleasure to deal with Charlotte and we will definitely be in touch for future support!"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:55:25+00:00
"Charlotte did a brilliant job for us, helping with some rebranding work that needed to be done on a tight timescale. She understood straight away the requirement and just got on with it, which was what was needed! She supported on extensive word and ppt docs. A pleasure to deal with Charlotte and we will definitely be in touch for future support!"
Marc Goatcher – Head of, Lex Autolease & Black Horse finance
"Charlotte is a dedicated and committed p.a. and assistant. She has a fantastic work ethic and was able to adapt to the needs of the stakeholder.
She has an ability to cut through and get to the issue and solution at pace. I am sure she will be an asset to anyone that she supports."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:56:49+00:00
"Charlotte is a dedicated and committed p.a. and assistant. She has a fantastic work ethic and was able to adapt to the needs of the stakeholder. She has an ability to cut through and get to the issue and solution at pace. I am sure she will be an asset to anyone that she supports."
Stuart Beaver – Partnership Director, Lloyds Bank
"Charlotte is a proactive, hardworking and committed PA. Highly dependable in delivery and all round, great to work with."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:57:45+00:00
"Charlotte is a proactive, hardworking and committed PA. Highly dependable in delivery and all round, great to work with."
Robert Longhurst – Owner, Advanced Vision Care
"I cannot recommend Charlotte enough as a PA. She is ruthlessly professional and works quickly yet diligently. I trust her completely and she frees up so much of my time, I can honestly say my business is better because of her."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:58:54+00:00
"I cannot recommend Charlotte enough as a PA. She is ruthlessly professional and works quickly yet diligently. I trust her completely and she frees up so much of my time, I can honestly say my business is better because of her."
David Patterson – Partner, Optima
"Charlotte is a conscientious, diligent and hard working person who is committed to performing her role and duties to an extremely high quality. She is very punctual, is always willing to go the extra mile and is extremely dedicated and supportive."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:59:51+00:00
"Charlotte is a conscientious, diligent and hard working person who is committed to performing her role and duties to an extremely high quality. She is very punctual, is always willing to go the extra mile and is extremely dedicated and supportive."
Olivia Longson – Marketing Manager, Lloyds Bank
"Charlotte is an absolute pleasure to work with at Lloyds Bank. Nothing is ever too much trouble for her and she frequently goes above and beyond to ensure she can help. Incredibly organised and driven, charlotte has successfully managed a number of senior stakeholder’s diaries. If you want a organised, passionate & personable assistant Charlotte is your lady!"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T20:00:39+00:00
"Charlotte is an absolute pleasure to work with at Lloyds Bank. Nothing is ever too much trouble for her and she frequently goes above and beyond to ensure she can help. Incredibly organised and driven, charlotte has successfully managed a number of senior stakeholder’s diaries. If you want a organised, passionate & personable assistant Charlotte is your lady!"
Deborah Neville – Senior Marketing Manager, Lloyds Bank
"Charlotte is one of the best assistants I have worked with, nothing is ever too much trouble, but she runs a tight ship and is very efficient. If it needs doing she knows how to get it done, organising large team events, meetings etc. What I have always loved about Charlotte is her ‘can do’ attitude which has stood her in good stead in her roles. I truly believe Charlotte is an asset to any company or individual that needs her fantastic skills"
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T20:01:26+00:00
"Charlotte is one of the best assistants I have worked with, nothing is ever too much trouble, but she runs a tight ship and is very efficient. If it needs doing she knows how to get it done, organising large team events, meetings etc. What I have always loved about Charlotte is her ‘can do’ attitude which has stood her in good stead in her roles. I truly believe Charlotte is an asset to any company or individual that needs her fantastic skills"
Helen Cox – Owner, Helen Cox Marketing
"It was so nice to be able to have a proper break and with bringing my fantastic VA onboard she managed my emails like a pro so that I could get right back into the swing of things with no worry."
CVA Associates
5
2018-12-31T19:53:29+00:00
"It was so nice to be able to have a proper break and with bringing my fantastic VA onboard she managed my emails like a pro so that I could get right back into the swing of things with no worry."
5
18
CVA Associates
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