Stuck in a Rut? Why Adapting to Market Changes Is Key

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In an ever-evolving business landscape, change is the one constant we can anticipate. Adapting to market changes is crucial if you want your organization to thrive. After all, failure to change with the times could mean being left behind. And that’s the kiss of death in business.

It’s easy to become complacent since stability is something humans naturally crave. We hate disruption, but it isn’t something we can avoid since we live in an ever-changing world.

So, what’s the answer?

You have to learn how to roll with the punches. From changing customer needs to new technologies, you must be willing to adapt if you want to stay competitive. 

Why Businesses Get Stuck in a Rut

There comes a point when every successful business enjoys high-performing sales. And when that happens, the last thing you want is for things to change. So, you may be hesitant to make any adjustments or attempt to scale up for fear that you might disrupt your sales performance. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Right?

Wrong! 

That kind of fear can end up hurting you more than taking the risk itself.

According to a study called Fighting Fear: A 7 Billion Dollar Price Tag, 6% of individuals gave up a promotion due to fear of failing. Meanwhile, 13% of respondents ended up losing their job altogether.

How does that translate to the world of business? 

Well, let’s look to Quickbooks, which conducted a similar study with more compelling results. More than 53% of small business owners who responded claimed that the fear of an uncertain future prevented them from scaling up. 

Is this fear causing your business to be stuck? Are you limiting your progress?

It’s important to identify the hindrances to adapting to market changes to map out steps to overcome them. 

The World Changes

In a video on LinkedIn, DigitalMarketer CEO Ryan Deiss discussed that no matter how good you are at what you do, if it’s no longer relevant to the market you’re serving, then it is no longer of value.

How does that relate to adapting to market changes?

Simple! The world is constantly changing. What seems relevant now might no longer be the case in 5 to 10 years. It could even be dramatically different in one year.

Complacency is a notorious enemy in the business industry. The most successful business owners are always thinking ahead. 

In today’s high-tech climate, paying attention to (and adapting) to trends could be the ticket to your business’s survival. It’s no longer an option but a necessity. You need to invest in market research to identify market trends so that your business can adapt. 

Customers Change

Customers are another key aspect to consider when adapting to market changes. In fact, customers should be the driving force of any changes you implement in your business. You should always keep their needs and behaviors in mind. 

It’s an important point to make because not all changes are worth adapting to. There should be a focus on developing meaningful products and services aligned with your changing customer needs. Otherwise, you are setting your business up for failure.

So, put a premium on understanding your target audience. And look beyond the numbers. 

Here are some key questions to consider: 

Technology Changes

The pace with which technology is evolving and developing is so rapid that many businesses can hardly keep up. We get it. 

If you feel like you are stuck in a rut, it’s time to ramp up your game. You cannot afford to ignore technological solutions, as you’ll miss out on many opportunities to grow.

One example is cloud technology. It’s your ticket to having access to essential business information wherever, whenever. And this is not just exclusive to a single industry. Any business will have to adapt some form of technology that will contribute to higher efficiency.

From using drones at construction sites to implementing AI in healthcare, technology transforms a business from the inside out.

Since implementing new technology can cause disruption, it’s important to plan out a foolproof business strategy to select the right technology and optimize its use. Remember: Just because you should make use of new technology doesn’t mean you should make use of all new technology.  

There’s plenty of moving pieces here. Make sure they all come together in the end. 

The Economy Changes

Adapting to market changes often comes as a result of necessity rather than choice. The better option is to forecast these changes and implement them when it’s the best time to do so (ideally, in advance).

If businesses learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that the global economy is volatile and constantly shifting.

Any swing in the economic landscape can force modifications on businesses. This change can take on various forms, such as modifying how you deliver your products and services to innovating new products. 

You must be adaptable enough to meet changes in societal and economic demands.  

4 Questions to Ask Yourself for Adapting to Market Changes

Male business professional standing in front of glass with sticky notes, outlining process for adapting to market changes.

It’s important that while you are adhering to your corporate culture, you remain open and adaptable to changes when needed. 

To help ease the transition, here are four questions you should be asking… 

1) Where Is the Market Headed?

Staying on top of trends should be given priority. You should always have a forward-thinking approach and aim to anticipate what’s next. 

There are several tools you can employ to stay on top of or forecast trends. For example, Google Trends is free and easy. Use it to learn about the latest trends in your industry. 

You can also participate in seminars and workshops that are relevant to your industry. It’s a great opportunity to learn from the trailblazers and leaders in your field. It’s important to adopt their mindset so you can become adept at adapting to market changes.  

2) Has My Target Audience Changed?

Customer needs change all the time. Whether they have new priorities or are at a different stage in their lives, customers may decide your offerings aren’t aligned with their needs anymore.

Conduct research on your target audience. Doing so will provide valuable insights into the market you are serving. Then, you can think about changing your target market or addressing the current needs of your target market.

Either way, being sensitive to your target market’s needs and responding promptly is an essential step toward adapting to market changes. 

3) Are My Products or Services Outdated?

A stale product or service will stagnate growth and hurt your business’s ability to adapt. If you’re stuck in a rut, it might be time to innovate.

This isn’t easy to do since you might have invested a lot of time and resources into developing your products or services. But times change, and what was once valued might become obsolete over the years.

A perfect example of this is video rentals. With the popularity of streaming services, the companies that adapted (Netflix) rose to the top, while those that didn’t (Blockbuster) became ancient history.

There are two options here for adapting to market changes:

  1. Adapt to the new trend.
  2. Develop an entirely new product.

4) Do I Need Help Adapting?

Running a business is no easy feat. You shouldn’t shy away from enlisting competent people to help as you make the necessary changes. 

Hire forward-thinking employees who realize the values and mission of your brand. You need a committed team to foster an environment filled with flexibility and creative thinking to grow.

You should also consider enlisting the help of a marketing agency to help you get up to speed with the ever-shifting market. They can evaluate your business from an objective standpoint and provide the professional guidance you need. 

Skillfully adapting to market changes can happen with the right marketing agency. Carefully evaluate your options to get the best results.

Final Thoughts

Your ability to adapt can make or break your business, and embracing change can also help to fire up your desire to create and innovate. 

Remember that change doesn’t always have to be one big leap. It can sometimes be small and gradual. So, don’t be afraid to explore new ways of doing business. 
If you’re ready to break out of your business rut, take advantage of our FREE 20-point marketing audit. It will help you evaluate your position in the market so you can identify the necessary steps you need to take to move forward.

 


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Filed Under: Business Tips

About Lindsey Perron

As Thomas’ daughter, Lindsey was introduced to the world of sales and marketing at an early age. Curious about what her dad did, Lindsey would jump at every opportunity to help and ride along on sales calls. Always quick to take charge and lead the group—a trait that has only grown with time—Lindsey was frequently told by her parents that she was destined to be a manager or CEO of some sort. While working toward earning her bachelor’s degree in human services from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Lindsey interned with the UW Office of Equality and Affirmative Action and served on several councils, which gave her the opportunity to develop her persuasive writing skills, researching skills, problem-solving skills, project management skills, and more. After working as the lead teacher of the 4-year-old room at the local daycare center, Lindsey decided to switch gears and join the Viral Solutions team. In her position, Lindsey is able to help clients think through an end goal and reverse engineer it into the steps needed to achieve it.

When she’s not working, Lindsey loves spending time with family, be it traveling somewhere together or just hanging out at home.