What is the most important thing in business?

This is the first question I ask when presenting on marketing to business start-ups at Rockstar Youth events.  The replies always include good product, good customer service, honesty, integrity and profit.  All of which are important, I tell them, but not the most.  The answer is simple, it’s selling!  If you don’t sell anything you don’t have a business.  Obvious as it might be, it’s always surprising to see the look on these budding entrepreneurs faces, they’ve though about how they can make their products or services as good as possible, how they can give good customer service, everything except how they are going to get people to buy their offerings.

Similarly mentoring business start-ups at the Workbiz Academy I hear the same tale of I’ve got a logo, business cards, a website, and an office, I’ve got a business!  Sorry, no you haven’t, you’ve got a logo, business cards, a website and an office but until you’ve got customers or clients paying for your service you haven’t got a business.  Again the look of stunned realisation on their faces is disconcerting.

It’s wonderful that so many are deciding to go it alone and set up their own business in what are still uncertain economic times.  Even better is the desire to provide high quality services and products along with good customer service.  However the need to focus on how to sell and make their business successful is vitally important.  It is start-ups and ambitious SMEs such as these that provide the inspiration for this blog, good luck to you all.