As a small business owner, there are a couple of things that are always good to keep in mind when starting a new year.
A new year brings many challenges and being organized is key to keeping track of all the changes and solutions that need to be established.
Making a checklist is an excellent opportunity to review what you already have and what you might need to update. Here are some things to consider:
Review Your Website
Having an updated website is a must nowadays since almost everyone expects you to have an online presence where they can easily learn more about you.
Creating a website brings multiple benefits to your business such as: crafting your business’s story, showcasing the people behind the brand, and also showing things that can’t be said with words. (such as product demos and virtual tours).
Having an outdated website can discourage customers from contacting you, so it is important for you to make your website both visually attractive and also user-friendly.
Look at your current website and go over everything you have on display. Make sure to update even the smallest details (if needed) such as your contact information, the services you offer, or any new announcements.
Regularly creating content such as blogs, keeps your website fresh and also allows you to provide additional information to potential customers while highlighting your credibility.
If possible, it’s also good to get an outside perspective by asking a trusted person to go through your website and provide feedback on the content, look, and navigation on your site.
It’s always good to update your website at least once a year to make sure that your website is user friendly and that it mirrors your branding. However, when needed, if there are changes throughout the year it’s important to add these as soon as possible. Such as a change in the contact information or product/services offered.
Update Your Social Media Presence
Like having an updated website, an updated social media presence is also important for your business. You don’t have to be on every single platform, but the ones you do have should have the basics. Here are some examples:
If you have a Facebook account, make sure your business name is correctly spelled, your address should be visible and any relevant posts such as updates/announcements.
If you have an Instagram account, make sure to have your business name somewhere (in case your username is not the same), a link to a website if possible, and your address.
Come up with a regular scheduling posting whether that means once or twice a week, or occasionally more when you have additional information to share, or occasionally less when you’re particularly busy running your busy or have no news to share.
With both your website and your social media, it’s always a good idea to take a look at what your competitors are doing both to keep tabs on additional opportunities for your own business, and to help you differentiate your business from theirs.
When updating your social media presence it all comes down to your business needs. If you have a consistent posting schedule, you should do this at least once a month.
Manage Your Reviews
Reviews are a crucial tool for small businesses, they can influence others to choose your business over others, so don’t forget about them.
As a business owner creating a Google Business Profile is a powerful tool that increases your online exposure, even if you don’t have a strong social media presence.
Add your business name, current address, industry description, contact information, and hours of operation. You can also link your website and any related social media platforms to redirect customers to them.
As you can see there is a section for reviews, make sure to encourage people to leave a review, but also be mindful by replying to them, even the bad ones.
Some other options to consider are Trustpilot and Yelp. The more online social proof you gather, the better. Customers go online to look for the best choices for them whenever they are looking to purchase a product or a service. Reviews can help establish credibility and build trust with customers, as these are written by real customers who have used the product or service being reviewed.
Reviews not only provide valuable information for your customers, it also provides valuable insights and feedback from customers. You might have a better understanding of how you can improve your offerings and overall customer service.
This is something that should be done as soon as possible. Try setting up alerts so you get notified whenever someone leaves a review. If you have not started yet this is a great opportunity to start the new year by leveraging your business reviews.
Consider Investing in Tech Tools
If you can invest in technology and this makes sense for your business then you should take the opportunity. Think about which processes take longer for you or which ones can be done with the help of online tools to cut down on processing time and possible expenses. Here are some examples to consider:
Project Management Tools
- These are great when working on multiple things at the same time.
- These tools automatically create events, and meetings, and set reminders for you and your team.
Email Marketing
- By using email marketing, you can create a subscriber list and keep them up to date with any events or announcements that are happening in your business.
- These are automatically generated by some tools out there, so you don’t have to do this on your own.
HR Management and Accounting Management Tools
- HR management tools are great resources to keep everything from payroll and shift schedule organized and easy to access without the need to hire an additional person if it’s not covered by the budget.
- An accounting software performs many of the tasks that a bookkeeper would typically perform.
Data Backup
- Losing data can put your business at risk, so it’s always good to keep everything backed up and easy to access in case an accident happens. A Backup software lets you easily access your data in case something happens, you can easily restore it.
Website Monitoring
- This is not a must but if you are investing in a website, it’s good to monitor its performance, so if this year you are thinking about leveraging your business by establishing a strong online presence, website monitoring might be for you.
- Google Analytics is widely used and it shares with you useful information about your website. This will save you time and effort spent by identifying what is working and what is not and which areas your audience is more interested in.
Any tech tool necessities will look different for every business. Some of them will be impossible to ignore and that is when you might think about investing in them. Nonetheless, it’s important to review your business’ performance on a quarterly basis.
Conclusion
As we navigate this new year, it is important for small businesses to prioritize digital strategies. The digital business landscape is constantly evolving, and keeping up with the latest trends and tools is crucial for business growth. Creating a checklist for your small business will help you prioritize the right tools and strategies that will enhance your customer’s experience and help your business succeed.
