The business world is constantly changing, and when you run a business, it can be hard to know what strategies are right for your business.
As a business owner, it is more than likely you already have a plate overflowing with responsibilities. That’s why this post pulls together some of the best growth strategies for all businesses in 2021, which if you have not already implemented, should move to the top of your priority list.
Build an Online Presence
Your social media is one of the most important business strategies that you can invest in. It can seem daunting at first, but with over 3.96 billion users worldwide, it would be a big mistake not to.
Did you know that 52% of brands are discovered on social media? Not only are social media platforms great for making social connections, but they have also become a hub for businesses to showcase their products and services and connect to their target audience within seconds.
Social media allows you to tell your story and connect with your audience on a personal level, build brand awareness, have your products and services shared across user profiles, learn about what your audience likes and dislikes, and learn about your competitors all for free or on a small budget. You can also invest in ads which use your ideal customer demographics to extend your reach.
Just having a social media account for business is no longer enough. You have to keep up with algorithms, engage with your audience and grow your accounts if you want to be seen and heard.
But it doesn’t have to be as complicated as many gurus will tell you. The key to building an online presence entails showing up on your accounts consistently and knowing your customers inside and out so you can provide valuable tips and solutions.
When you have a budget to work with, you can invest in ads and work with influencers to exponentially increase your brand.
Online presence is not just limited to social media though. This also includes search.
There are approximately 5.6 billion searches on Google every day. Including a strategy for search, also known as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) will help put your business at the forefront of those search engine results. SEO involves a number of on page and off page tasks on your website that can increase your visibility, drive better quality and high intent organic traffic, increase your return on investment and build your authority and brand awareness.
To get started and leverage SEO, you need to ensure the technical status of your site is up to scratch, you are regularly creating valuable, shareworthy content on a regular basis and your pages are optimized for long-tail keywords.
Build a Community
With your online presence, it’s time to start taking them from followers and turning them into a community. In order to build a community, you must first know who your audience is, what they like, and how you can find them. This is so you can utilise the right platforms. A good community is built upon the foundations of aligned values, trust and encouragement, and an incentive to participate.
Communities are an excellent way to interact with your customers, obtain valuable feedback and create customer loyalty. It can also help build brand awareness, with word of mouth and FOMO (fear of missing out!).
Nurture Your Email List
An email list is another vital tool in your business growth. This allows you to communicate with all your customers, from across different platforms all in one place. An email list usually reflects quality over quantity, for example, in comparison to the followers you have on social media, because you know if they are on your email list, they are already warm leads.
What you do with their email can make or break their trust. A good email marketing strategy will nurture your audience, both potential and existing customers alike. Customers want to feel special and will stay on your email list if they are the first to hear about new announcements, gain access to special deals, and are given valuable tips and solutions.
It’s no good using your email list to only send them sales emails. Your email subscribers need solutions if you want to keep them warm. The best way forward is to segment your email list and create a strategy for each. By splitting your email list up by interests, purchases, and journey, you are able to speak to your customers on a more personal level and meet them where they are at on their journey.
Virtual Events
Virtual events that engage your audience are the perfect thing to offer your social media followers or keep exclusive to email subscribers or your community. Virtual events are hassle-free, as customers do not need to travel or find accommodation, making it much more accessible and can reach more users all over the world. This also means you can create a big impact on a small budget because you do not have to worry about a location, venue, staff, streaming, technology catering, etc. You only need to worry about the platform and the marketing.
Virtual events are excellent for bringing your customers together, to meet other like-minded people but also allow them to learn from you and about you. Which in turn, can increase brand awareness, trust, and credibility.
Outsource Work to Specialists in Their Field
Whether it is digital marketing, building your brand, or accounting, outsourcing work to a specialist will save you time and you will get bigger and better results much faster. When you run a business, it can be hard to let go of control and spend more money. In the majority of cases, you have to spend money (wisely) to make money. By outsourcing tasks, you are making yourself more available for the business tasks you are good at. This means your business can grow at a much faster rate.
While there are many important strategies your business can adopt, these are the best ones for growing in 2021 and beyond.
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