The Power of Pivoting

pivotingChange can, well, change everything. When we pivot in business, we open the door for new audiences, new content, new products, and so much more. Think about brands like Apple, Facebook, and Netflix. They listen to what their customer wants, and they customize their products to fit those wants. They know no boundaries.

Also, think about brands like Kodak, Blockbuster, or MySpace. When technology improved and the public started demanding something different, they stayed the same. They didn’t pivot.

Technology, communication, entertainment — these are areas that are always shifting. In order to stay relevant, we must move right along with them. A few key areas where we should always be pivoting include:

  • The way we engage with our customers and our audiences. This can look like our website, our social media presence, and how we deliver news and updates to our customers and audience.
  • What we offer. Changing or tweaking our products to fit our customers’ needs should always be in the back of our minds. Remember — the core mission behind your product doesn’t necessarily have to change. Think about it. Netflix still offers movies and TV shows. Their pivoting just took place in HOW they delivered that product.
  • Who we engage with. Every generation has its own style. Baby Boomers, Millennials, Generation Z — they all have their own taste. The best brands know how to get on each generation’s level and engage with them in a unique way. Just because you struck gold with one group doesn’t mean you should only limit yourself to reaching them (Apple has found a way to get all age levels using its products!)

Lastly, one of the best ways to make sure we always stay in a “pivoting mindset” is to ALWAYS be thinking ahead. Even when business is doing well, we should keep a pulse on the market and try to sense which way it’s turning. That way, when it does inevitably change, we will be ready.