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Guest Post: How to Succeed and Expand as a Business in 2021 by Dustin Cisneros, CEO of RackNerd

Continuing our Opinion-Editorial and Guest Article Series, today we are talking about how to succeed and expand in the new year as a business. Seeing that a good part of the LEB community are business owners or entrepreneurs themselves, we hope that you’ll be able to take home some valuable insights from this article.

Looking for a VPS for your business or your idea? Be sure to check out RackNerd’s exclusive LEB offers by clicking here.

With 2020 changing the entire global economy, only those who were creative, and nimble enough to pivot, while maintaining a customer-service approach were able to survive or even turn it into a better condition for themselves. To expand further on this subject we are talking to Dustin B. Cisneros, a 13-year hosting industry veteran, who currently serves as RackNerd’s CEO to get his thoughts on this subject. In 2020, Dustin led the growth of RackNerd’s new office space expansion, spearheaded the growth of his hosting company to 15 (fifteen!) additional datacenter locations, all while hiring more local talent. In a year where a lot of businesses were focused on cutting back, RackNerd had its focus and dedication towards expansion and did a fine job at executing growth. Dustin’s company is an exemplary example of how it is very much possible to be successful even in these new times that we live in, as long as you’re willing to put in the effort and operate with the right information.

So what can you do to expand and ensure your business continues to prosper and stay relevant? Here are some important key points:

  1. Promote, and then some more! Promotion is key to expansion. How can you get your brand more attention? Is it more marketing, more collaboration or perhaps investing in building out a productive, and structured sales team? And start thinking, how can you keep attention in the noisy and evolving world that we live in? Who really is your competition anyway? I’ll tell you what is – the media, the news outlets, Instagram, videos on TikTok, COVID-19, lockdowns/country shutdowns, protests, stock market… just to name a few trends in the past year. You are competing for attention against all this noise and outbreak going on around us. If you don’t have a customer’s full attention, how can you expect for them to transact and exchange with you? I want you to get your wheels spinning and start getting creative, and ask yourself, how can you not only get, but maintain attention in your marketplace?
  2. Focus on creating a new tomorrow. What you did in the past may have worked at the time, but might not tomorrow. Be willing to let go of fixed ideas or considerations. For example, try a new sales approach, or try a new marketing approach – while keeping an open mind. What other ways can you increase your value delivery to your customers? Previous considerations that you previously completely disregarded or ignored in the past, may just be what will take your business to the next level in 2021. 
  3. Absolutely no job is beneath you. As a business owner, you should be willing to get on the front lines, and communicate with your customers to find out their needs and wants. Don’t hesitate to get your hands busy – after all, you might just learn a thing or two about your business. Stay in communication with your company – that includes your customers, your vendors, your partners, and your team.
  4. Be ready to pivot. In 2020 after COVID-19 hit, only businesses who were willing and creative enough to pivot quickly were able to succeed and come out on the other side of this. Whether you realize it or not – COVID-19 forced people to pivot and change the way they normally do things – not just businesses, but people! Don’t be afraid to embrace new ways, and invest in increasing your knowledge and creativity. That way, when a particular area is forced to pivot, you may just be ahead of the game already, or if not – you’ll at least be able to quickly pivot to your surroundings, and move forward as a business. Don’t forget, you are responsible for creating your own success and outcome!
  5. Never lower your target. Write down your goals every day, and don’t hold back! Ever see someone set a resolution for New Year’s, only to not follow through on them a couple of months into the new year? The biggest reason why one loses motivation is that their goals and targets are not large enough, and/or justification was made to lower the target. For example, is it your goal this year to add $2 million a year in revenue? In this example, you should then make it your goal to add $20 million a year in revenue and never lower the efforts required to reach that target. Now is not the time for negative doubts, thinking impossible, or emotions – set giant targets, and start taking action, while maintaining maximum discipline and following the other key points I mentioned in my previous guest post. As the old saying goes, “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.” Give this a shot today, and keep at it, you’ll surprise yourself when you’re working to your maximum potential!

Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, own a small business, or are seeking personal and professional growth, feel free to e-mail me at dustin@racknerd.com or connect with me on LinkedIn if there’s anything I can help with. If you’re local in Southern California, please feel free to visit our office space – I am always happy to connect!

Let’s crush 2021 together!

Editor’s Note: The opinions and context above are solely those of the author, Dustin Cisneros of RackNerd, and do not represent the opinions, values, or positions of LowEndBox. If you or your company would like to take part in a Guest Post, Interview, or Op-Ed, please contact the LowEndBox administration on our Help Desk

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18 Comments

  1. Christopher:

    I am a Racknerd customer (grabbed two VPS during the black friday deals) reading this is reassuring to me that I made a great choice and i’m in good hands.

    A lot of companies today lack customer service or active management, forgetting about the most important element of their business: their customers…

    January 15, 2021 @ 12:19 am | Reply
    • Hi Christopher, thank you for being a customer of RackNerd!

      We sincerely value our clients and do everything in our power to ensure our relationship with our customers is always in good exchange. We look out for our customers and are here to help. Going the extra mile oftentimes results in rewards.

      We look forward to growing with you.

      January 15, 2021 @ 3:50 pm | Reply
  2. Very Inspiring Article worth Reading… Proud Being A User Of #RackNerd.

    January 15, 2021 @ 12:15 pm | Reply
    • EZC:

      Another satisfied customer here. 26 more days from today will be my 1 year mark having service with RackNerd #RackNerdRocks

      January 15, 2021 @ 3:43 pm | Reply
      • Hi EZC — Thank you so much for believing in us and being a customer of RackNerd. We sincerely value your business. I’m so happy to hear that our service is working out for you.

        Feedback like this, keeps us going.

        January 16, 2021 @ 11:42 am | Reply
    • Hi @mrphunin — happy to have you with us! We sincerely value your business and support.

      January 15, 2021 @ 3:48 pm | Reply
  3. Taksh:

    I am looking to create my own web design company after years of designing for business locally. Will be following these advice….. thank you for the wisdom

    January 15, 2021 @ 1:29 pm | Reply
    • Hi Taksh, thank you so much for reading and sharing your desire to start up your own business. I’m pulling for you, do it :)

      Further freedom is achievable. As long as you’re willing to put in the work, pivot with today’s challenges, you’re going to do very well. I’ll always be here as a resource if you need anything.

      January 15, 2021 @ 3:47 pm | Reply
  4. MD:

    Is this the same Dustin Cisneros who was implicated in the QuadraNet mess a couple years ago?

    Having “lived through” that the QuadraNet/AlphaRacks debacle, this article begins to explain the overall psychology that likely fed into that situation.

    It’s nothing more than a puff piece in pursuit of #1 – promote, promote, promote. And if people get a whiff of your excrament, claim that it’s the latest new cologne and only the most elite stench like that. It’s a “feature.”

    Disappointing that Dustin has been highlighted by LEB after his history without at least a link to “the whole story” making it absolutely clear that someone OUTSIDE QN/AlphaRacks/and apart from Dustin himself have investigated and explains the entire situation clearly.

    January 15, 2021 @ 2:45 pm | Reply
    • Hello – this has already been addressed many times on LEB/LET. Though I do understand your concerns, and they’re valid concerns, here’s why: It can be especially concerning when you hear “news”, “rumors”, “stories” that are simply spread by third parties, without facts and then twisted and then some more, confusion can always take place. Though I’m quite confident in the world we live in many don’t just believe everything they read, rather verify facts, and sources. As such you’re always going to have those who believe what they read, and then those who verify said rumors.

      The good news, despite rumors, despite any pushback, we’ve prevailed. We are here, doing well, established a brand that is doing very well in the marketplace and giving back to the community.

      If you have any particular questions for me, I’m always here to help :)

      January 15, 2021 @ 3:45 pm | Reply
  5. Barzan:

    Dustin, I admire your style and way of running business :) whether it’s positive or negative you always seem to be there and take care of customers. You are a true leader !!

    January 15, 2021 @ 5:36 pm | Reply
    • Hi Barzan, thank you for recognizing that. We’ll always be here to answer questions, help, and earn business from the community.

      We’re doing very well as a company, and sincerely attribute much of this due to the community here :)

      Thank you for supporting us!

      January 16, 2021 @ 11:44 am | Reply
  6. Bradley:

    Thanks for sharing. Honestly, this is the kind of stuff I wish they taught me at school.

    Brad

    January 16, 2021 @ 1:59 am | Reply
    • Hi Brad, you’re welcome!

      I agree, I hope that the education system, shifts. I believe with all the change we’ve experienced, it will for the better.

      January 18, 2021 @ 1:26 am | Reply
  7. blackeye:

    I have 2 vps from RackNerd
    1 got flash sale
    1 got giveaway

    Both running perfectly, quick reply ticket, double bandwidth 🤟

    Hope RackNerd add Asian location sg will nice 🤙

    January 16, 2021 @ 10:39 pm | Reply
    • Hi @blackeye – happy to have you with RackNerd! We sincerely appreciate your business.

      It’s always so nice to see customers who have paid services, and those who have also won giveaways.

      We have some exciting expansion planned for Q1 of this year. I believe you’ll be happy 👊

      January 18, 2021 @ 1:29 am | Reply
  8. Haziq:

    Great points to take as a business owner. Thanks for posting. I agree that it is crucial to focus on the future, more than ever before with COVID19.

    January 27, 2021 @ 12:09 am | Reply

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