Learning how to remove customer acquisition roadblocks is a lesson in both tactics and discipline. The tactics required to remove the roadblocks that prevent you from acquiring customers is rather simple and straightforward. The discipline requires willingness and persistence and is much harder to come by.
There are hundreds of barriers to prevent you from acquiring your ideal customers and providing them with the best possible quality and quantity of service. In this article we will focus on seven of them. Once you are aware of them, you will be in a much better position to overcome them.
Let’s begin with loosely defined goals. Setting goals is a fundamental aspect of growth and achievement for any business. It is imperative that the goals be well defined.
Is it safe to assume that you have an in-depth understanding of how many customers you would like to acquire on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis? Is it safe to assume that within those numbers you know the precise impact those customer acquisition targets will have on your bottom line? Is it safe to assume that you know exactly what goods and/or services you will provide for your customers both initially and throughout their lifetime as a patron of your business?
A high degree of focus is required to create a new desired outcome. If all you have is a vague idea of wanting to acquire more customers, then you will be left feeling like your efforts never produce the results you were hoping for.
The next roadblock is not being aware of your current status. It is absolutely vital that you accurately and honestly assess exactly where you are right now. If you don’t know where you are in relation to where you want to be, how will you be able to gauge your progress?
Many business owners fail in this area by convincing themselves that they are in a better situation than they really are. This creates frustration and procrastination. Sit down and create an honest self-evaluation and find out where you are in relation to where you want to be.
Being afraid of making mistakes is a crucial roadblock that pretty much anyone can relate to. As children we’re taught that it’s bad to make mistakes and that we should do everything we possibly can to avoid mistakes. While there is some validity to this, it’s important to not get paralyzed by it. Perfectionism is a close friend of procrastination. Master your focus and create an intention to move forward regardless of what roadblock seemingly stands in your way.
When you have internal conflict, you’re setting up invisible roadblocks for yourself. You need to evaluate your deepest core values and act in accordance with them. Make sure everything you do in your business is in accordance with those values. Otherwise, you will continue to self-sabotage.
Sometimes we carry around obsolete beliefs from the past that continue to stand in our way even though they are no longer valid. You have to know that you are capable of acquiring more customers and that you deserve to do so. The capability is tactical and can be learned or delegated with relative ease. The deservedness comes from you knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that you can and will serve these new customers at the highest level. Deleting obsolete beliefs is a difficult task but it starts with an honest assessment. You don’t have to carry around those beliefs.
The last two roadblocks are resistance to change and delegating personal responsibility. Most of us are resistant to change. We get comfortable in familiar settings, even if we don’t like them. This is the fastest way to ensure your business closes its doors. The same can be said for delegating personal responsibility. Whatever the conditions are, you are responsible for changing, not anyone else.
Your Turn
Mastering the removal of customer acquisition roadblocks is a lesson in discipline and honesty. Are you ready to commit?
Let me know in the comments.