As technology advances, your small business will be held to higher standards this year than ever before. Customers expect more refinement out of your website and online marketing strategies than in the past. And when you give them what they want, you’ll find that your revenue increases, and you’ll be more prepared as the scenery changes in your industry. Here are three tips you can start using today to help prepare you for the years ahead.
#1: Utilize mobile technology
It’s no secret that people are on their mobile devices all of the time. This leaves small businesses with a huge opportunity to reach a variety of potential customers at all hours of the day. Utilizing mobile technology is smart because if you don’t jump on board soon, you’ll be left behind.
Make sure you’re website is responsive to all device sizes and that your information is easy to find. You want a web design that is clean and simple. Many businesses also use their website and social media platforms as a way for customers to communicate with them. Remember, more often than not these days, people will pick up their smartphone and search for you as soon as they think of your business. If they can’t find you, they’ll move on and may not remember to come back.
#2: Quality over quantity
I’ve worked for small businesses that leave sale methods up to the individual, as well as large corporations that tend to micromanage their employees. One thing that holds true in both of these jobs is that you should keep your qualifying leads to a minimum. Whether you work for yourself, or your company requires you have a certain number of leads per quarter, it can be easy to overstuff that pipeline with potential clients, marketing tactics to implement, and meetings and presentations.
When you’ve got too much on your plate, you’ll end up scraping by at the end of the day. And while you may land a few new sales this way, you won’t land those quality clients that we all strive for. Just remember a strong pipeline doesn’t always mean it’s filled with every potential client and marketing opportunity. Narrow down your objectives and give them the time they deserve.
#3: Don’t be afraid of change
We know that it can take a significant chunk of time and money to plan and engage in a marketing platform. But if you look at your data month after month, and you don’t see the changes you were hoping for, it’s okay to shift directions. Have a plan laid out ahead of time to make the transitions easier. So if plan X doesn’t work after four months, you can begin to carry out plan Y.
In the same vein, be sure you’ve given your methods enough time to provide you with data to base other marketing tactics against. Don’t jump ship after you don’t see results in a few weeks. Marketing takes time, especially when you’re just starting out. Never brush off the small victories because those often snowball into the large numbers you’re striving for.
