How to Be an Incredible Female Business Owner

Women are increasingly choosing careers in entrepreneurship each year. Women own more than 9.4 million businesses—31% of all privately held firms in the U.S. But how can we ensure that our businesses will grow, succeed, and last? I’ve put together a few tried and true tips on being the best female business owner you can be. For each, I’ve included an example of how one successful businesswoman, Pacific Northwest florist Natalie Ransom of Pozie by Natalie, has put each idea into action. When you can work these strategies into your daily business routine, you’ll get the most out of your time and effort.

Understand Your Product

Time invested in using and perfecting your product is well spent. When you’ve used it more than anyone else, you know its benefits—and its limitations—and you’ll be able to relate to your customer and think from their point of view.

Ransom has been learning about her natural floral design product since she was a farm girl in Houghton, Michigan, on the rural Upper Peninsula. The die-hard ‘Yooper’ ‘earned from her father, Chip, how to forage around the farm and use what was available to create beautiful things to sell at farmer farmers’ and craft fairs. Over the last 15 years, Ransom has prioritized each of her floral creations to have a consistent, exquisite look and feel that she can be proud to share.

Know and Connect with Your Customers

Making a great product is only half your business. The other half is getting that product in front of potential customers. It’s essential to determine your ideal customer demographics. Then, you choose effective ways to find, reach, and keep them. Marketing strategists can argue all day about the best approaches. It’s your job to look at those strategies, think about your customer base, and choose the most cost-effective ones for you. The first step is to be sure your logo and brand, Website, and social media accounts accurately reflect your product and, more specifically, what it can do for your customer.

Ransom invests revenue, creativity, and effort in her Website, social media accounts, and marketing strategy. Her customers can find ‘fresh flowers’ on her accounts daily. She also rewards her followers via Treasure Hunts. “I’ll make “I’llloral display or unique terrarium and then post a picture inside a local business on Instagram and Facebook. The first follower that can identify the business and pick it up gets to keep it, free of charge,” explain” Ransom. “It’s a f” For everyone to benefit, and I have some dedicated, happy followers.”

Finding”unique ways to get and keep your customers happy will ensure their support in the long-term.

Get in the Right Networks

The idea that networking is essential to a successful business is not new. There are an incredible number of examples of people hearing about jobs, customers, and opportunities not from a blind search of the Internet but from a cultivated business or social network. There’s no bullet, however. The network that’s right for you and your business is specific to your circumstances.

How to Network – Top 5 Networking Tips

Ransom looked into what other florists in her area were up to. She noted which groups and organizations florists said helped them and recorded ones that might need but had no florists involved. She also researched business organizations run by women and those focusing on sustainability, which was crucial in her work. Over time, Ransom attended events, became an active member of Bellingham Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Women’s PWomen’sonal Network, and Sustainable Connections, and joined the Board of Whatcom Women in Business. To be seen and show her support, Ransom has donated or offered discounts on her unique floral creations for their gala and awards events.

Do a little research to discover what’s what’s to you. Choose what’s what’s your budget and scale. Look for local, state, or national business organizations specific to your product, geographical area, or demographic. Professional societies and trade organizations also offer networking-specific opportunities. But don’t ovedon’tt. These networks should give you more opportunities to improve your business, not keep you too busy to do it well.

Be Your Best

If you’re taking time, effort, and expense to network, ensure you’re doing your best. Invest in the first impression you may make, including dressing, communicating, and preparing appropriately for the event. You want to stand out because of your product or business, not because of what you wore or an off-color joke. The first time you attend should be a scouting mission. Is the group right for your business? Is it relaxed or more traditional? Watch others you admire for clues.

Ransom has gained confidence from projecting her style and looks while staying appropriate for an event. “I don’t “won’t than one pair of pants. In my work, I have to dress up for every event, so maxi dresses are my uniform,” explained” Ransom. “I can do “ss it up or down, and when I don’t think about my clothes, I can focus on more important things.”

People will be drawn to and remember you when you appear confident and comfortable. If that’s not for you, make small steps toward improvement with a business coach, an improv for business class, or Toastmasters.

Build and Nurture Quality Partnerships

While networking, you’ll find businesses that complement your own or business owners you click with right away. Pay attention to opportunities to collaborate for your mutual benefit and then brainstorm how you might support each other. You can co-sponsor an event, cross-promote each other’s concerns or products, or mutually refer customers.

As a wedding and event florist, Ransom partners with photographers and event planners in her area. They each have a similar customer base, so they can work together to reach more customers and confidently recommend each other. For the business she forwards through partnerships, Ransom receives low-cost, high-quality photography of her beautiful work and access to event space for photo shoots and bridal events.

Learn to Say No Gracefully

With so many opportunities available through your successful networking attempts, it will become essential to choose among them carefully. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and overcommitted if you can’t say saycan’tBut it’s just important to say no with grace so that no bridge is burned. But how do you do it?

“When I read myself too thin, I don’t do creative work,” explains” Ransom of her approach. “I try to”remember that, ‘No, then’ you, but maybe another time,’ is a complete sentence.”

Give Back

When your business has become successful enough to allow it, don’t forget to return the favors or pay them forward. Business owners are more often remembered for what they’ve done for the community than their net earnings. Be sure to thank and support those who have helped you, especially the other female business owners in your network.

Ransom donates her floral art in support of several charities in her area. She styles events, galas, and auctions for local non-profits in line with her values. She also mentors fellow female and small business owners.

Recognize Your Progress

For the best chance of success, try making only a few changes and improvements at a time. When we try to do it all at once, we can get overwhelmed, stall, and give up. When reaching milestones, Ransom treats herself as a reward for her hard work. An overnight getaway with their significant other or a new shoe or purse from one of the locally owned businesses she partners with is how Ransom celebrates achieving her goals.

When applied with steady practice and perseverance, these strategies can take your business to the next level. You’ll also find them to be intellectually stimulating and fun.