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What it Lacks in Sex Appeal, it makes up for with Strategic Strength 

Meet The Growth Audit, Your Super Tool for Driving Sustainable Growth

Some other marketing agencies will attempt to dazzle with promises of viral video fame, amassing huge follower numbers and overnight marketing successes. When the others are making all kinds of noise yet delivering little strategic substance, we, at The Growth Garden, are offering clients highly functional, data driven tools that actually help them achieve their growth goals.

The most powerful of these is by far, The Growth Audit.

You can't change what you don't acknowledge. A Growth Audit, will detail your current state, identify what's working and make recommendations for what's still required to create the growth you want.

What is it?  

Simply put, it’s a holistic review of your entire business operations.  It includes a deep dive into marketing, messaging, brand and strategy, yet goes further to include an audit of company goals and resourcing, operations, systems, processes and planning.  It uses hard metrics to find ways to save time, errors, and money and it identifies ways to increase productivity, return on investment, efficiency,  accuracy, and market share.  It aligns and integrates and it’s like a full service tune up for your business, setting it up to support and sustain future growth.

Why Invest in a Growth Audit?

To set your business up for sustainable success! 

Conducting a growth audit is one of the most powerful investments you can make in the long term sustainable growth of your business.

You may already be aware of its power,  but here’s a reminder of the key benefits generated from a Comprehensive Growth Audit. 

It will:

1. Uncover problems and inefficiencies

2. Identify what’s working well

3. Determine what isn't

4. Increase return on marketing investment (ROMI)

5. Extend and increase customer lifetime value

6. Reduce customer acquisition costs

7. Decrease customer churn

8. Maximise brand recognition

9. Explore better ideas and improved strategies 

10. Provide objective advice and input

11. Clarify your future goals

12. Ensure that you have metrics in place that have meaning

13. Save team time and reduce project costs

14. Maximise your revenue and profitability potential 

15. Ensure proper resourcing

16. Increase operational efficiency

17. Decrease errors and inconsistencies

18. Increase market share

19. Identify your most urgent priorities

20. Give you an actionable roadmap for your growth journey

21. Set a benchmark for future reviews/audits

How Does It Work?

Some standard audit methods employed include:

• Reviewing company documents and outputs – financial reports, marketing plans, customer data, job descriptions, policies, procedures.

• Surveying customers and team members – via interviews, focus groups, or surveys.

• Monitoring online activity and digital footprint – website analytics, social media metrics, etc.

• Comparing with the competition – studying their marketing strategies and tactics.

• Analysing financials – revenue growth, profit margins, fees, team remuneration, bonus structures, and various operational costs, etc.

A Growth Audit is much more than either a digital audit or a marketing audit.  It looks beyond that and includes a review of your systems, processes, operations, resourcing, pricing, and communications, including the following broad sections:

• Marketing & Communications Audit

• Operations and Planning Review

• Team Skills & Resources Audit

• Financial Review - things like pricing, profitability, resource costs, etc.

• Systems & Processes Audit

Twelve Telling HINTS the Time is Right for a Growth Audit 

How do you know if a Growth Audit is right for you? Or, when the time might be right?  

There are a few telling signs that a Growth Audit is exactly what you need. They  include:

1. You’re determined to set yourself and your business up for the ultimate growth.

2. You need a stronger infrastructure so that not so much of the doing is reliant on you.

3. You’re keen to expand the greatness of your business, your team and yourself.

4. You’re struggling to find time to work ON the business rather than IN it.  

5. It’s time you amped up the impact you and your business are making on the world.

6. You know that doing more is not enough. You also want to do better!

7. You’ve identified some repetitive tasks and are keen to automate them.

8. You’ve spotted some small cracks in your business foundations and know they need to be addressed before they expand. 

9. Your business/marketing planning is either short term,  inconsistent or non-existent.

10. Your profit margin is falling but you’re not sure as to WHY, WHERE, or HOW.

11. You haven’t reviewed or assessed  your systems or processes since you introduced them.

12. In your heart you know it’s time to do more than just succeed. IT'S TIME TO THRIVE!

How many of these resonate with you?

(If it’s more than 3, we should talk!)

So, when you’re thinking about how you want to approach your company’s  future growth, do you want lots of noise, empty promises, and short term gain at the expense of long term growth? Or do you want the benefits of a solid strategic business tool that generates sustainable growth over the long term?

When it comes to the growth and success of your business, what’s  your choice?, Sexy or Strong?  

Linda Johannesson is a Featured Member of HerBusiness Network

I'm honoured to be a featured member of this fabulous network of inspirational and ambitious women that is HerBusiness Network!

Read the full feature article here.