Whether you are a new business just starting out or have been established for many years, there is always room to grow. The speed at which things develop and change means that if you sit back, even for a second, you will be left behind while your competitors get way ahead of you.
The growth of your business is 100% in your control, so with that in mind, here are 5 tips to help you grow your business this year:
- Don’t underestimate the power of offline marketing
With a rapid growth in digital and so much moving online it is easy to forget about offline marketing. Of course all areas of online marketing are extremely important and shouldn’t be ignored, but these can be used alongside offline to both strengthen it and reach a wider audience.
Posting leaflets through doors, for example, is a great way to reach those that aren’t online 24/7 and can include your twitter handle, web address, Facebook page and so on. Check out Leaflet Printing from Helloprint for an affordable, quick and easy way to print flyers.
Of course, flyers aren’t the only offline marketing strategies you can use to find potential customers. All printed material comes under this category including posters, brochures, catalogs, and even company magazines. These are great to use if your target audience is of an older generation and less tech-savvy than say if you were marketing to millennials. It’s important to ensure that all of your printed media is of a high standard as these will be representing your brand. Those wishing to look into printing services can visit here to see what a company like Printivity can do for them.
- Put more of a focus on content
Whatever your business, content is a key part of it – however, many businesses are still not using it effectively. This is perhaps because they can’t see the importance of it or don’t think it can help their company.
Creating content is only the start – it is important to keep improving and updating your content – across your website, blog, social media and so on.
- Rethink your hiring practices
Your business would not run without the right staff – therefore they are a key area to focus on in terms of growing your company.
Consider hiring someone who brings something completely new to your company – a unique skill set will bring a different perspective to your brainstorms, client meetings and possibly open new doors for your business.
You may also want to offer more training opportunities to current employees, so they can expand their skills and knowledge within their roles as well as gain a better understanding of other areas of the company.
- How are you going to wow your customers this year?
Each year it is important to think of new ways to impress your customers – enable your entire company to have an input and discuss how you can thrill, surprise and delight your customers throughout the year.
Retaining the right client is just as important as attracting new ones, plus the happier you make your current clients / customers, the more likely it is that word of mouth alone will start to attract new business.
However, if you focus solely on existing customers you’ll stagnate, so you do of course need to add new clients in order to grow.
- Plan ahead to stay ahead
In order for any business to grow it is very important to plan ahead. Set the business clear, specific and tangible goals for the year – this will give you a focus and a sense of real achievement when they are accomplished.
Setting goals will help you improve the company and create a clear and direct route for you to take throughout the year to make them become a reality.
That being said, at the same time it is important to be flexible and have a back-up, as things don’t always go to plan.
Follow these tips and grow your business in 2016!