We’ve all heard it more times than we can count: “New Year, New Me!” and personal resolutions are great, but what about your business? If you’re ready to leap into the next decade, consider your business resolutions as well. We suggest the following five objectives to promote better brand awareness and customer relationships as you advance into the new year.
One: Freshen Up Your Social Media Profiles
If you established your social media profile more than a year ago, there’s a good chance that things have changed since then. Make sure you’re keeping up a good appearance by checking your profile, and refreshing the following areas.
- Use a good, clear profile photo and cover photo
- Review all basic information such as address, phone number, business hours, etc and update where necessary
- Rewrite your business description to make it more relevant and exciting
- Try the “our story” feature on Facebook
- Respond to reviews and thank customers for recommendations
- Add photos to represent new products or services
Two: Revamp Your Email Strategy
Targeted emails are one of the best ways to reach out directly to loyal customers and keep them engaged with your company. Remember to:
- Focus each email on one specific purpose (promote a sale, share an update about the company, and so on)
- Make sure customers can quickly identify the purpose of each email
- Offer something of value (valuable content, a discount code, an upgrade or freebie)
- Issue a clear call to action
Three: Update Your Website
As technology changes, so must we. Your website represents your business on the Web, and can begin to look dated or irrelevant after some time. If it’s been a few years since you updated your website, it’s time to add fresh content or features in order to stay competitive.
Make sure that your website…
- Is mobile friendly; most visitors are probably using a mobile device, so your website should function smoothly on smartphones and tablets
- Is easy to navigate, so that customers can find what they need
- Makes it easy to contact you
- Is updated regularly, for good SEO results (your blog will help with this)
- Includes features that are emerging in your field, that competitors are probably already offering (like chat bots to assist customers)
Four: Dedicate Yourself to a Content Schedule
Think of the companies you follow on social media, who are landing in your news feed daily. It’s no accident that those posts receive thousands of “likes” and comments, or that you see these posts on a regular basis. These companies developed a strategy, and perhaps more importantly, they’re following a schedule. Consistency is key with social media marketing.
You can achieve similar results, even if you’re running a smaller business. But you’ll just get overwhelmed or forget to post if you don’t create a schedule. Research your demographic, decide how often you should reach out to them, and then commit to a regular posting schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, or even daily depending upon your industry).
Consider these types of posts:
- Links to your own blog
- Photos (behind the scenes, or pictures of new products)
- Videos that explain your services or offer relevant information
- Customer testimonials
- Polls (everyone loves to give their opinions)
- Contests and special offers
- Shares of related content (this shows that you’re not “all about you”)
And don’t forget holidays! These are the perfect time to showcase your personal side.
Five: Network With Other Small Businesses
Don’t forget that other small businesses are your allies! Collaborate with other business owners in your area, to offer special promotions, share each other’s social media content, or sponsor a fun event for customers. Networking this way helps you both to develop your brand identity and reach a new customer base.
And let’s throw in a sixth tip… Get in touch with us.
In a relatively short article, we’ve hopefully shared enough tips that you’re inspired but not completely overwhelmed. Still, it’s a lot to take in. So get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to clarify any of the points included here, and help you develop a strategy to succeed in 2020.
