10 Ways to Make Your Company More Attractive to InvestorsHow to make investing in your company a no-brainer.

BySteve Eakin

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

If money will solve specific problems for your business or grow the company faster, you're in a good place to decide if raising money is right for you. Whileraising moneyis definitely not a quick and easy process, it can be used as a massive lever to push your business to the top.

If raising money is something that you're confident will take your business to the next level, here are ten ways to make yourself and your company a more attractive investment:

Surround yourself with experts

Being surrounded by great people is always solid advice. In this case, have an advisory board filled with mentors, coaches,consultantsand advisors. It doesn't matter if its formal or informal, but just having one shows that you're aware that you don't know it all and have people that can help you see the bigger picture.

Know the problem

Make sure you know the problem better than you know your proposed solution. This shows you have a deep incite into the mind of your target market and even if your solution doesn't hit it out of the park on the first try, you'll be able to pivot until you win.

Be decisive

Nothing turns investors away more than a leader that can't decide. Make a decision, stick with it long enough to give it a chance to prove itself and move on. As the saying goes: "Be quick to decide, slow to change your mind."

Know the competition

You should know the people you're competing with. Know their strategies and make sure yours is better or different. Not every industry is a zero-sum game and even with direct competition, most companies can thrive together.

Take the pole position

Have a clearly defined position in the market, and be at the front of it. You can be the most accessible or the most exclusive. The do it yourself solution or the done for you solution. There are plenty of ways to position your company, just make sure you have one and own it in the market.

Know your numbers

Know your key metrics and put them front and center in your pitch deck.

Shark Tank kills people formessing this up.Even though investor meetings are hardly like the hit TV show, this reigns true anytime you want to ask someone for money.

Go for the big wins

Make sure you're only focusing on specific things that move the needle the most. If there is a specific feature that gets 80 percent of your daily users excited, make it the best it can be. If you have a pet project that customers don't seem to care about, perhaps you should rethink its importance. Most importantly, know why these things are your biggest drivers and make sure your potential investors know it too.

Be accessible

If someone wants to invest in you, they should be able to find you when they search. Make sure you have an attractive website with contact info. Tools likeAngel List,Crunch BaseandUnicornshould all be used to make sure you have some eyes on you and, with an app like Unicorn (think Tinder crossed with Angel List,) this is easier than ever.

In all of your public profiles, make your founding team, your product, your tech and your positioning clear and highlight all of their unique strengths.

Stay educated

It's crucially important to know as much about your industry and your target market as possible. If you're looking to build an app, take anonline courseabout app building. If you want to grow your SaaS product, talk with your users. Its up to you to know the latest trends, know the state of the industry and have an educated guess about where it will go

Get in the spotlight

Have your company, or you as a founder, visible to investors in a more authoritative sense. Wherever your investors are reading, you should be mentioned. The goal would be to publish an editorial or have an article mentioned you or your company. Wherever your investors read, you want to get people talking about you, your company and the problems you solve.

Wavy Line
Steve Eakin

Founder of Startup Black Belt

Steve Eakin is a speaker, investor, startup advisor and the founder ofStartup Black Belt, where he helps tech startups launch, grow and scale.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Report: AI Will Take More Jobs Away from Women Than Men

Automation is many things, but apparently, it is not gender-neutral.

Business News

What Is a 'Lazy Girl Job'? New TikTok Trend Empowers Women to Work However They Want

The trend began as a way for women to find more free time during their days.

Growing a Business

3 Solutions That Help Alleviate Everyday Pressures Small Business Owners Face

We live in a world with increasing pressures from stakeholders, constantly changing customer expectations and volatile financial conditions — which for many, especially business owners — can make it hard to create clear distinctions between professional and personal emotions.

Starting a Business

10 Common Obstacles to Avoid When Starting a Business

Starting a new business can be an exciting and rewarding venture, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Here are some common obstacles to avoid when starting a new business.

Starting a Business

So You Sold Your First Business and Now You're Starting a New One — Here's How to Make Sure It's a Success.

Starting a second company after selling your first can be daunting, but it's also an exciting opportunity to prove yourself and create something amazing.