Limiting yourself and your startup to your immediate location isn’t what’s best for business. There’s a whole big world out there, and your startup should take full advantage of it if long-term success is the goal. That’s where regular business trips come in.
Business travel presents a uniquely powerful opportunity to expand your network and make a name for yourself in your respective industry. Before we offer best practices for business travel, let’s look at key reasons why business trips are vital for new startups.
Why Business Travel is Essential for the Success of a New Startup
According to these startup statistics compiled by Embroker, “about 90% of startups fail.” If you want to be one that thrives long-term, you must be open to all it takes to do so, starting with business travel.
Business travel is essential for the success of a new startup for various reasons, the main ones being establishing new business relationships and nurturing existing ones. You must connect with current customers, leads, potential investors, possible employees, vendors, and so forth in person in the early days of your startup to close deals and expand your network effectively.
Business trips are also critical for bringing your team together. You can welcome new employees to the team, improve morale, incite creativity, and build a better workflow through genuine relationships.
Moreover, business travel helps you build your brand. Not only will you meet professionals in your industry, but you’ll also likely encounter individuals in your customer base, making it easier to establish your brand as a force in its industry.
It’s safe to say that business travel contributes significantly to the evolution of any startup.
Business Travel Best Practices
If you’re just getting started with business travel or want to make your next trip more productive, implement these best practices.
Start with industry conferences and events
One of the best ways to dive into business travel is to attend industry conferences and events. Conferences and events are goldmines for networking with other professionals. You can also learn a lot about how to drive your business forward and stand out in your industry.
Research which conferences and events are coming up in your industry. Choose a few to attend on your own and a few others you’d like your team to come with you to. Ensure you buy tickets to the event, and book flights, stays, and transportation well in advance.
Also, no matter why and where you travel for business, take your time choosing the best locations.
Pick the best locations
Picking the best destination for your business trip is crucial for how productive and fulfilling your travel experience is. Business travel can be costly. So, you must ensure you’re picking a location that makes the investment worthwhile.
To pick the best business trip destination, you must first define your reason for the trip. You want to ensure that where you’re staying lets you jump right into work without issues.
Your destination should also be within your budget, have access to transportation, account for any accommodations you need, and be close to leisure activities your team can enjoy during downtime.
Don’t forget about practical considerations, either.
Don’t forget about practical considerations
As exciting as traveling for business is, you mustn’t forget about all the practical aspects of business travel.
For example, if your business trip is going to last for a while, it’s essential to ensure your home will be safe while you’re away. This means checking all your doors and windows to confirm they’re secure, holding mail delivery, and installing security cameras if at all doable.
It’s also essential to put measures in place that allow your startup to still run efficiently while you’re away on business trips. Allowing individuals on your team to shadow you so they can take over when you’re gone is a brilliant idea.
Furthermore, always try to find the most sustainable ways to travel to ensure your travel footprint isn’t contributing to an unhealthy planet.
Conclusion
Business trips are vital for new startups because they can result in many wonderful opportunities for moving your business forward. Brush up on your networking skills and put yourself and your startup out there to become a permanent fixture in your industry.
