Archive for July, 2009
DOES YOUR BUSINESS HAVE A MISSION STATEMENT?
Does your business have a mission statement? A mission statement is a way to define your business. It is a statement of who your company is, what you do, and why you do it.
Some companies use their mission statement as an advertising slogan. But the real purpose is to clarify what your company is all about. Who are your clients, and what benefits do you offer them? What are your business goals? What problems are you solving for your clients?
In fact, the first step is an awareness of exactly who your target market is. You can’t be all things to all people. You need to narrow down your market to a target group, or “niche”. Once you know who you’re targeting and what their needs are, you can work to clarify how you can fill their needs.
Spend some time reading the mission statements of other companies. Then define what makes your company unique.
The mission statement should be short and to the point. It is usually three to four sentences long, and it should be broad enough to change as your company changes. The words and message should be simple and able to be understood by anyone that reads it. Fancy language won’t impress your potential clients. Instead it may cause some to be confused or unsure of what you are offering.
What is the purpose of your business? Are you trying to provide a unique service? Are you trying to fill a void in the market?
There are many reasons to write a mission statement. It can be used for fund raising, or if you have employees, it helps them to know what your company is all about.
Above all, it should be meaningful to you. It should be a constant reminder of why you’re doing what you’re doing. Keep reviewing it and updating it until it sounds perfect. Once you have written the best mission statement you can, it will work like kind of a compass that keeps you moving in the right direction.