When it comes to growing your business, there’s lots of information out there as to the best ways to do that. Some are tried and true methods, while others are constantly evolving with current technology. In today’s digital marketplace, here are five things you definitely need to grow your small business and set it up for success.
Acquire Customer Feedback
Reviews are the lifeblood of every business. They serve as a way for customers to get a first-hand experience of what it’s like to work with you directly.
That’s why you want to take the time to ask past customers to give you reviews for your business and place those reviews on Google. The key here is to only use valid and legitimate reviews. Never buy reviews and never ask anyone who has not worked with your company to give you a review.
There are specific techniques for acquiring Google reviews legitimately that you ought to be aware of. The best way to get solid Google reviews is to email your clients directly. Now, this may take a couple of messages, but the end result of having a verified review listed on Google for your company will be worth the time, effort, and patience that you will put in.
If need be, offer a small incentive like a gift card to remind people to complete their Google review. If you do go that route, remember that it’s imperative to get proof that they completed their Google review.
Social Media Strategy
Having an effective social media strategy in this day and age is imperative to growing your business to the level that you want it to be.
An effective social media strategy should be at the top of your list as you prepare to grow your small business. Whether you’re just starting out or taking your business to the next level, a social media strategy will be a key factor in being able to reach more people in your target audience.
This isn’t a part of your marketing strategy that you just want to guess about. Take the time to research and plan for an effective social media strategy that is about gross and engagement. Learn the tactics and hacks that will get your business in front of more people and then turn those people into leads.
As you’re planning your social media strategy, this is a great time to re-evaluate your ideal client type and the demographics of your target audience. Make sure they still match where you see your business growing to in the next one to three years.
Mindset Reboot
This is an area that a lot of small business owners overlook, but the truth is that mindset is going to be one of the top things that you need to focus on in order to grow your business effectively.
Without the proper mindset for business growth and personal success, you will find that you’ll be frustrated along your business journey.
This is a good time to evaluate the type of role that you want to play in your business as it grows to fulfill the vision that you’ve been working so hard to create. Study some of the top thought leaders in business and see what they recommend on how to approach a thriving and winning business mindset. You’ll find that this not only helps you in your business, but it will also help in your personal life as well.
New Technology
Investing in new technology will be one of the best ways that you can grow your business. With so many advances in technology, see what you can use in your business that will shift it toward growth.
Technology plays a large part in a business’ success. It’s not just about hardware, either. Look into updating payment systems, automating healthcare options, and including better ways to communicate across all levels within your business (and also with customers).
Efficient Systems
Implementing effective systems will grow your business by leaps and bounds this year. Your customers will appreciate it and so will your employees and contractors. You’ll also find that implementing effective systems that automate certain processes of your business will lessen the stress and headaches that you’ll face on a daily basis as a small business owner.
With properly automated systems in place, you can free up hours upon hours of your time as the business owner. This will also make the customer experience easier and more fluid. Not only will it save you time, but it will also save you money by reducing waste in other ways.
These five tips are effective strategies to start a foundation to grow your business and set yourself up for success as an entrepreneur and business owner.
Small Business Funding with CFG Merchant Solutions
Do you need just a little extra working capital to get your business on the right growth trajectory? CFG Merchant Solutions (“CFGMS”) is a privately owned and operated specialty finance, and alternative funding platform. We are direct funders that care about your business. We are entrepreneurs ourselves and have experienced first-hand the frustration in acquiring flexible and timely financing. Talk with us today about the options we have to help your business!