As a small business owner it is very easy to fall into routines or to be forced to respond to small crisis after small crisis. We become mentally fatigued, lose our edge, begin to think the customer is fickle ( yes they are, sometimes ) and not deserving anyway so why put out the extra effort. Well, how do you judge a business or product when you are the shopper? Don't allow your business to do things your customers don't like.

And the converse is even more important. Spend time, often, trying to think of what a customer would like to see from your business. Be dissatisfied with the current state of your business as a matter of course. Not in a true sense of unhappiness, but with a desire to find a better way. This keeps your business vital and avoids complacency that loses customers.

I know this is brief, but those who will do something don't need more of a nudge and I don't have time to simply entertain those who won't do anything.

NO U.S.P. (Unique Selling Proposition)
HIT AND MISS advertising.
FORGETTING THE NUMBER ONE GOAL of a business is to grow and maintain a base of customers.
UNDERSPENDING OR OVERSPENDING on advertising.
POOR COMMUNICATION with employees.
TOO MUCH PROMOTION—especially when you think it is advertising.