How do you feel about your business? Maybe things are great and you’re hopeful about the future. Or, maybe you feel less than hopeful about being an entrepreneur.

Either way, you can improve your business. Here are five ways to take your business to the next level.

1. Keep an open mind.

You may know a lot about your business, but you don’t know everything. Your customers and your mentor(s) may have great ideas on how to improve your product or service.

Friends and family members may also have good suggestions for you and your business.

2. Connect with your customers.

People buy services and products from businesses they know. People are also more likely to become your customers when they trust and like you.

Building long-term connections with customers is a great way to increase the chances of those customers becoming loyal, repeat customers.

3. Find out what your customers need and want.

Being open to new ideas and talking with your customers makes it easier to know your customers’ current needs, and even predict what they will want in the future.

4. Be willing to change with new tech.

Some trends come and go quickly. (Remember the Vine app?) But there are other times when a trend turns into something bigger that changes how we work, play, and live.

Just ask Blockbuster Video. Blockbuster enjoyed being the go-to place for renting movies during the 1990s and early 2000s. Then, a small company called Netflix came along, offering streaming services for movies.

Blockbuster’s leaders seemed to ignore streaming services technology for years until Netflix started growing quickly and made Blockbuster irrelevant.

Be open to trying new social media sites and other new tech that could help your business.

5. Focus on value — not just money.

Be sure to give ongoing value. You can do this by providing high-quality products or services that help your customers.

Final Thoughts to Take Your Business to the Next Level

If you feel like your business is not as amazing as it could be, it’s okay. Remember these 5 ways to improve your business:

  • Stay open to new ideas.
  • Connect with your customers.
  • Learn your customers’ needs and wants.
  • Be willing to change with new tech.
  • Look for ways to give value to your customers.

And, most important, don’t forget that success is a journey, not a specific place or number.