7 Things All Small Businesses Should Be Doing in 2019
It’s 2019, and things are changing the business landscape faster than ever these days. If you own a small business, there are a few things you should be doing to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and build that all important business reputation.
Let’s take a look at 7 things all small businesses should be doing in 2019.
1. Getting Clear On What They Want To Achieve
If you haven’t yet done this, then get to it now. You might have a rough idea, but you should clearly define what it is you’re looking to achieve, both in your personal and professional life. What’s most important to you?
Maybe you want to have a certain amount of sales over the next year. Maybe you want to spend more time with the people you love, and develop flexibility in your working schedule. Maybe you want to automate as much as you can to save time. Get it all down on paper or in a document to make it official.
Only you know what’s most important to you, so set some time aside to really think about it.
2. Getting Clear On Ideal Customers
Now you need to get clear on your ideal customers. Only when you know exactly who your audience is can you target them with your content and your products/services. Who does your business currently serve, and who do you want to serve?
Maybe you’re serving commercial clients, or parents with young kids. When you know who your ideal customers are, you should know what your value proposition is. Knowing why your ideal client should work with you rather than a competitor is key, and you need to be able to get this across. How are you different, and why are you the best option for them?
3. Asking Staff About Their Needs
Your staff are just as important as your customers. Knowing what they need should be a huge priority to you. Priorities can shift over time, too, so it’s important to stay open to asking them again and again and then delivering on what they need. When they feel like you’re listening, they will have more motivation to work hard for you.
If you don’t currently have staff, it could be an idea to invest in something like a virtual office and mail forwarding to enjoy the professionalism of a popular address without having them on your payroll. You’ll benefit from never missing a message and looking more credible, without having to spend money on an expensive building and staff.
4. Focus On Improving The Customer Experience
Working on improving the customer experience is something you should be doing most days. You want to exceed expectations and build brand loyalty when it comes to your customers, so being a true customer-focused company is key. It should be your goal to provide a truly exceptional service.
5. Improve Your Company Culture
Your company culture is all about your core values and mission statement, and ensuring that your team fit your company culture. This is also something that can set your business apart and create a better atmosphere.
6. Prepare to hire
If you know you need to hire an employee or two, being prepared is crucial. It’s a time-consuming process, so now is the time to start preparing. You need employees who have the right skills, so make sure you know what’s important when drafting job descriptions and doing interviews. Obtaining documents is also important, as you’ll need to make sure you’re hiring somebody who is fit to work for you and that they are who they say they are.
Make sure you’re prepared to speak to references, carry out background checks, and even have a multi-layered interview process so you can be absolutely sure you’re hiring the right person for the job.
7. Update your social media presence
If you’re bad at updating your social media channels, it’s time for that to change. Updating your images, posting regular content, and keeping your audience engaged is absolutely key to making a success of your socials. Many people will check out social media before deciding whether to work with a company or not, so having yours up to date and reflective of your business is key.
Remember, the goal is to be social, not to go in for the hard sell. Having somebody focus on your social channels for you might not directly make you money, but it will keep your audience engaged and can ensure they have their questions and queries answered asap.
Overall, this provides a better experience with your brand and will ensure you develop a better reputation!
