No more working for the man! We can’t blame you for celebrating that, as some people are just not cut out for having bosses. Then again, growing your small business is no easy feat, and you’ve surely got competition. So how do you manage to distinguish yourself from the pack while hitting goals and bringing in bigger numbers month after month? It’s a lot of work but it can be done, especially if you know where to start. Read on for tips on how to grow your small business in 2018. Time to be the scrappy and savvy entrepreneur you know you can be.
Know Who You Are
This should really be something you do before you even hang up your proverbial shingle. Branding is essential these days, and everything you put out from the moment you start your business should reflect this same brand. Make sure that your business’s culture and communication consistently reflect the same tone, which is critical for attracting your audience. Not only that, but a solid brand identity will help your employees better understand your business and its inner workings.
Face Your Social Media Fears
Many small business owners will confess that the digital world intimidates them. If they haven’t frequently used social media on a personal basis, the idea of having to use it to launch and grow their business can cause a lot of stress. If you’ve got the means, it might be best to outsource this. Yes, social media for business is that important, as it will be a key element in reaching your consumer base. For those without the financial means to hire a team, perhaps consider appointing someone on your own staff an as the person for scheduling and keeping up with social media practices. Blogging is also a great way to keep your website current, plus it helps Google to crawl the site and improves search engine optimization.
Gain Customer Loyalty
A steady and effective social media campaign will help you reach clients, and the informative content you give them will hopefully convert them into customers. But then what? Customers have a right to be fickle, especially when the competition is fierce in most fields. So once you get the customers, you need to gain—and retain—their loyalty with unparalleled customer service. Offer rewards and discounts for sticking with your company and use them to recruit others to do the same.
Hire Top-Of-The-Line People
It might sound corny but there is a lot of merit to the saying that you’re only as strong as your weakest employee, and this is never truer than in a small business setting. Your employee count will be lower than your bigger competitors, so it’s all the more imperative to hire the most qualified applicants.
That’s why you should head to hires.shareable.com for pre-employment screening. The cost of hiring new employees is one of the biggest expenses faced by small business owners, so make sure to get it right the first time. Much like your customers, you need to treat your employees well in order to hold onto them. Invest in them with opportunities for training and professional development, and make sure to be as generous as you can with salaries, benefits, and perks (without obviously losing your own shirt).
Reach Out and Touch Someone (Metaphorically Speaking)
It’s far too easy to get complacent once a business starts to do well, but as the owner of a small business, your work is never truly done when it comes to growing your business. Attend conferences, meetings, and other social networking opportunities in your field on a regular basis. You never know when an opportunity to barter will arise, and you can learn so much from other people within your industry. From Skype meetings to coffee outings, the networking possibilities are seemingly endless. And don’t forget that seeing and hearing what others are doing will give you a leg up against your competition!
Follow these tips to grow your small business and you won’t believe how much you’ll see numbers and positivity soar.