In the fast-paced online business world, where the shiny visuals often overshadow the groundwork of success, it’s time to shift our focus towards what truly matters: systems over symbols. It’s easy to get caught up in the allure of perfect logos, stunning photoshoots, and an Instagram feed that looks like a dream. But let’s talk about what really moves the needle for your business.
While aesthetics and social media presence have their place, they often become the main focus at the expense of what truly drives growth: systems, team building, strategic planning, customer relationships, and a solid marketing strategy.
What to Consider in Online Business?
Online businesses must navigate unique challenges and opportunities. Key considerations include digital marketing strategies, online customer engagement, and the infrastructure that supports these activities. A robust online presence built on reliable systems is essential for success.
What Should I Focus on in a Business?
The cornerstone of any thriving business is not its aesthetic appeal or the number of followers on social media—it’s the underlying systems that ensure smooth operation, scalability, and customer satisfaction. Your main business focus should be creating and refining these systems to support sustainable growth.
Based on my experience here’s a visual representation of what people tend to focus on vs what would be a more aligned approach.
Understanding These Charts
What do we mean by each of these:
- Aesthetics: Logos, website design, and branding visuals.
- Social Media Presence: Follower count, likes, and aesthetic Instagram feeds.
- Content Creation: Frequent posting without strategic planning or goal alignment.
- Product/Service Development: Constantly creating new offerings without effectively refining or marketing existing ones.
- Networking/Visibility: Seeking collaborations and visibility without a clear strategy or purpose.
- Systems and Processes: Streamlining operations for efficiency and scalability.
- Team Building and Delegation: Investing in a skilled team to distribute workload and enhance productivity.
- Strategic Planning: Setting clear, measurable goals and aligning all activities with these objectives.
- Customer Relationship Management: Building and maintaining strong customer relationships through feedback, support, and engagement.
- Marketing and Sales Strategy: Focusing on targeted, strategic marketing efforts that drive sales and sustainable growth.
The first chart shows what many businesses prioritise, driven by the desire for instant gratification and external validation. The second chart? It’s where the magic of real growth happens.
Why is Focus Important in Business?
Focus directs resources, energy, and time towards what generates the most impact. Maintaining focus on systems over symbols in a landscape saturated with distractions ensures that every effort contributes to long-term success rather than short-term appearances.
Systems Over Symbols
Let’s be clear, I 100% believe in branding, aesthetics, and networking opportunities… However, without a solid strategy to understand the WHY behind these things, the desired results will not happen.
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I’ve been behind the scenes of many businesses and trust me when I say… everything is not as it seems on social media. In more recent years, I’ve also wasted time and $$ putting too much weight on the aesthetics over systems in my own business.
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If you want a solid business that stands the test of time… systems and strategy must be considered! Let’s shift our focus from vanity metrics to building a strong foundation.
How Do I Choose a Business Focus?
Choosing a business focus starts with identifying your core objectives and the mechanisms driving you towards those goals. For online businesses, this often involves automating processes, optimising digital workflows, and enhancing online customer experiences. Consider what aspects of your business, if improved, would significantly impact your goals.
What if you invested in systems that scale, teams that empower, and strategies that sustain? In my opinion, and experiences in various business models, true success isn’t just about looking good on the outside. It’s about creating robust, resilient, and thriving businesses from the inside out.
How Can I Improve My Online Business?
Improvement begins with assessment. Evaluate your current systems for any inefficiencies or bottlenecks. Resources like my Tech Witch Toolkit can offer insights into areas ripe for optimisation. It contains checklists and SOPs tailored for online business success.
Systems Over Symbols: The Path to Sustainable Success
The allure of symbols, be it the aesthetics or the vanity metrics, can be tempting. However, true success, especially online, is built on the strength of your systems. Systems ensure your business can attract, retain and satisfy customers, manage resources effectively, and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape.
Focusing on systems over symbols does not mean neglecting the visual or social aspects of your business. Instead, it means understanding that these elements are part of a larger ecosystem powered by efficient systems. Whether it’s automating your email marketing, streamlining your content creation process, or optimising your sales funnel, the right systems elevate every aspect of your business.
By focusing on the foundations of your business, you ensure its survival and ability to thrive and grow in the long term.
Are you ready to embrace the power of systems and redefine what success looks like for your online business? Explore our resources, from the Tech Witch Tools Spreadsheet to the comprehensive Tech Alchemy course, and start building your path to sustainable success today.
Ready to realign your priorities for success? Let’s chat about how I can support you with creating the foundational systems that transform your business into a powerhouse of growth, innovation, and impact. Check out my services here.
