Increase your market share

Growth by creating new products or services to sell to existing or new customer bases can be risky, but when handled well it can transform a business.

Understand the risks

If you get it right, diversification could be your biggest driver to growth and profitability. Mishandled, it could damage your productivity and relationships with existing customers.

You will need to devote time and resources to research and development (R&D). This will have implications for your cashflow. You will also have to ensure your customers still receive the levels of service they are used to while you are working on new projects.

Is diversification right for your business?

Have you got enough financial and human resources to carry out the required R&D? If not, it may be better to increase your market share through other routes, eg joint ventures or informal partnerships.

Remember that you will also need to keep track of market trends in an unfamiliar sector. Will you be able to react to changes in the competitive environment?

Plan the process

Diversification is like setting up a new business. You will need to understand your new market, its customers, competitors and dynamics, just as you would for any new business. You'll also have to create a marketing plan specifically for your new business unit.

See prepare a business plan for growth.

Key points to consider

Diversification is a big commitment and there are key issues you will need to consider and manage on both a day-to-day and strategic basis. These include:

Market knowledge

Make sure you understand your new market as well as your existing one.

In-house expertise

Do you need to hire specialists for the new products and services?

Sales skills

Do you know how to sell effectively to this new and different customer base?

Capacity

Can you continue serving existing customers without alienating core customers?

Finance

You will need to consider how you will fund the diversification. Will you need investment? You will also have to carefully plan sales and your return on investment.

Risk management

Are there any ways to minimise the risk to an acceptable level? For example, could you explore partnerships or distribution agreements to ease your entry into the new market?