In a recent Washington Post article on Victoria's Secret they wrote that the company has decided to tone down its image, it had become too provocative and was no longer appealing to their primary target market...women. The company wanted to go back to being ultra-feminine, a concept that we can relate too.

All this goes to prove that while business growth is good; losing your core business identity is not.

Maybe it is time to check on how your business is doing:

Getting back to the basics

• Think back to what your original concept was for your business.
• Re-read your initial business notes and plans.

Check your services and products

• Are you offering too many?
• Are there some that have not been used or bring in little income?
• Do they represent your business's vision & standards?

Customer service

• Do you still provide clients/customers with basic quality service?
  I want to add here, that sometimes we confuse offering sales & specials with customer care. In many cases what the public wants is to have their name remembered, a social pleasantry or a follow-up. In other words to be recognized, heard and treated with respect.
• Ask some of the people who you do business with on a regular basis if they are still pleased with your business as it is today.
• Is a healthy portion of your new business from referrals and recommendations?

After you have reassessed those areas check that your marketing message hasn't also strayed too far.

Lastly, schedule some time to brush up on your basic service; you want to make sure that you can still make that 'perfect cup of espresso'.

April's Newsletter: Social media networks such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, their possible affect on your business, career or personal life.