Every business operates through a series of practices or systems. Practices are essentially systems that you create to accomplish an aspect of your business. Business Dictionary.com defines a practice as “Methods, procedures, processes and rules employed or followed by a firm in the pursuit of its objectives.”
A simple example of a practice is how you open your business each morning, unlocking doors, putting in your security code, setting up the cash register.
Another example of a practice might be the series of steps taken when someone signs up for your email list. They receive an opt-in email. They opt-in and receive a confirmation.
The messages tell the new subscribers what to expect, how to opt-out and how their privacy is protected. The practice therefore is a system of automated messages that clearly communicates what to expect and why.
This is a great example because practices need to be:
- Effective – They need to accomplish your goals
- Transparent – They need to be clear and easy for your customers and prospects to find and understand
- Legal – They need to be legal so you and your customers are protected under the law
