Business can be a lonely place when nobody else is as excited about your new venture as you are. You’ve put in the work, launched your product or service, and… crickets. The excitement turns to anxiety as bills pile up, and reality sets in.
This is where many entrepreneurs get stuck. They wait, hoping their marketing will suddenly click, or they tinker endlessly with their website, logo, or social media instead of facing the hard truth: if the money isn’t coming in, something needs to change – fast.
Here are seven ideas to help you get traction
1. Did you plan for this?
Unfortunately, the saying “If you build it, they will come” is rarely true on its own. Before you started, how much market research did you do? Did you create a cash flow forecast to understand where the money would come from?
If you skipped the planning stage in your enthusiasm, now is the time to backtrack. It’s not too late to:
- Research your market properly – what problem are you solving and who for?
- Review your pricing and costs – are you charging too much or too little?
- Create a simple cash flow plan – where is the money coming from in the next 30-90 days?
2. Is it a sales problem or an offer problem?
Are people interested but not buying? Or do they not care at all?
- If people are interested but hesitant: Your pricing, messaging, or sales process might need adjusting.
- If people don’t care: You might be selling something the market simply doesn’t want.
Also, think about practical barriers:
- Location – Are you in a convenient spot?
- Accessibility – Is it easy to buy from you?
- Convenience – Are you making it easy for customers to choose you over competitors?
3. Stop posting eight times a day
Posting endlessly on social media won’t fix a broken business model. If people aren’t buying, it’s not because they haven’t seen enough posts—it’s because something about your offer isn’t working.
Instead of flooding social media, focus on real sales strategies.
4. Find a support network
Running a business in isolation is hard. Seek guidance from mentors, business groups, or networking events. A fresh perspective can help identify what’s working and what’s not. Plus, a strong network can open doors to referrals, partnerships, and new opportunities.
Hint: Talking to an organisation like Regional Business HQ can help you access a variety of support programs and services.
5. Ask one simple question
“What would make this a no-brainer for you?”
If potential customers aren’t buying, they’ll tell you why—if you ask the right questions and listen.
6. Sell first, make it perfect later
Too many business owners spend far too much time perfecting a product, website, or brand before making a single sale. The reality? If nobody is buying, all that effort is wasted.
Instead, focus on selling first and refining as you go.
- Offer a minimum viable version of your product or service
- Run a limited-time deal to gauge demand before committing fully
- Get real feedback from paying customers instead of guessing what people want
If sales start coming in, you can improve based on actual customer needs—not assumptions.
7. Is it clear what you’re offering?
When you’re doing something a bit new or different, people can struggle to understand it. Or they might assume they already know what you do – and get it wrong.
Ask yourself:
- Can someone explain what I do in one sentence?
- Do I clearly communicate my point of difference?
- Am I aiming my messaging at the right audience (i.e. those who will ‘get it’) or at the wrong audience (i.e. those who will never ‘get it’)?
Final thought: Sales before stubbornness
If no one is buying, you don’t have a business – you have an expensive hobby.
- Prioritise cash flow
- Seek support
- Be flexible
- Genuinely solve a problem that people are willing to pay to have solved!
The faster you adapt, the faster you succeed.
Need help working through some of these ideas?
Connect with our Regional Business HQ team to access business support ranging from general advice about starting and running a business to tailored mentoring and assistance. Helping people to understand what is required to start or grow a small business, develop a marketing strategy, understand cash flow and develop a budget are just some of the services that our advisors can offer.
