But what’s the current state of family businesses in the USA? Are their numbers growing or shrinking? Are they still key employers? And how are they paying the staff they do take on?

These questions inspired this latest study from OnDeck.

Based on data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 Annual Business Survey, it investigates where family businesses are thriving in the US and where the faceless corporations are taking over.

Here’s a breakdown of the study’s findings.

US states with the highest and lowest percentage of family-owned businesses

Business really is a family thing in South Dakota. With a score of just over 41%, it’s the state with the highest percentage of family-run businesses.

And it’s no accident. South Dakota is famous for its business-friendly climate. There’s no corporate income tax or personal income tax, making it easier for family-run businesses to keep more of their profits and pass on the company to the next generation.

New York scored the lowest of all in this first section of the study. Less than 1 in 5 businesses in the Big Apple are family-owned.

Family-run businesses in US metro areas

The San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas, is the US metro area where you’ll find the highest percentage of mom-and-pop type stores. Over 34% of all businesses in this metro area are classified as family-owned.

It’s one of three metro areas where around a third of all businesses are kept in family hands. The other two are Fresno, California, and Oklahoma City.

The states where the percentage of family-run businesses is on the rise

Family businesses may not be booming in Delaware and Wyoming. However, they are on the rise. Between 2020 and 2021, these states saw a 3 to 4% increase in the number of family-owned businesses.

The same period saw some marginal growth in the percentage of family-run businesses in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.

But the picture is pretty bleak across the rest of the USA. The data analyzed by the OnDeck team reveals a drop-off in almost every state, with a big decrease in Louisiana (4.95%) and North Dakota (4.88%).

But the hardest-hit state for family businesses in 2020-21 was Alaska. In that twelve-month period, the number of family-run businesses in the state fell by over 7%.

Metro areas where the proportions of family businesses rose

The 12 months between 2020-21 were good for people who wanted to open and run a family business in the Memphis, Fresno, and Salt Lake City metros. All three had 4% more family-run businesses by the end of 2021.

But it’s the corporations and franchises that expanded the most in the New Orleans-Metairie metro. And that led to a decrease in the percentage of the area’s family-owned businesses. That figure fell by 6.28% during the year in question.

States where family-run businesses employ the most people

Family-run businesses are a bedrock of the US economy. Not only do they generate huge amounts of dollars, but they also employ millions of people, driving economic growth and stability.

Maine is the state with the highest percentage of people employed by family-run businesses in the USA. Almost half (46%) of the working population puts in hours at a family-run operation.

The other high scorers include Arkansas, Utah, and the capital state, Washington. In each case, 4 out of 10 people are employed by a family-run business.

Metro areas where family-run businesses are big employers

Salt Lake City is a metro area in Utah famous for its strong sense of community and traditional family values. And these certainly extend to the area’s approach to business and employment. With a score of 49%, it’s the metro area with the highest percentage of people working at family businesses.

Oakland and the Kansas City metros are not far behind, with scores of 42% and 41%, respectively.

Only around 1 in 5 people with jobs in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls metro can say they’re employed by a family-run business. It’s more evidence that New York state is not where family businesses thrive.

States where family-owned businesses pay the highest wages

This last part of the study focused on pay. It reveals that Oregon is where people working at family businesses can earn the most. Family-run businesses in the state pay an average salary of $60,000 annually.

The lowest wages are in Hawaii. Here, the average salary at a family operation is less than $35,000.

Metro areas with the highest and lowest salaries

If you live in the Birmingham-Hoover metro area, you’ll want to work at a family-run business. The metro’s super-generous employers pay the average worker over $71,000.

Again, pay is much less in Hawaii—salaries at family-operated businesses in the Urban Honolulu metro average just $30,441. No metro area across the USA scored lower.

The post Mapping the Rise and Fall of Family-owned Businesses Across the USA appeared first on SiteProNews.

Remember the “7 Cs”

The 7 Cs” is a guiding framework to help marketers navigate and achieve their goals based on these seven points:

1. Customer: Always put the customer first.
2. Content: Content is the key to your search engine optimization (SEO) success.
3. Context: Build your messaging specifically for your target audience. 
4. Community: Nourish long-lasting relationships with customers. 
5. Convenience: Simplify the customer journey.
6. Cohesion: Provide the same level of quality across all your offerings.
7. Conversion: Track your performance and measure the most important metric for your business.

Now that you know the overall framework, here’s where you can apply each point to your marketing strategy to see long-term success.

Crafting Your Strategy & Attracting New Customers

• Know your Audience: Always put your customer first. Take the time to learn who your customers are and what they need from you. Then, use that information to personalize your marketing based on their preferences and behaviors. This helps improve the relevance of your messages and builds a relationship of trust with your customers.
  
  
• Content Creation: The content you create matters. It’s important for capturing your customer’s interest, but it also helps ensure you can be found online. Start a blog, engage on social media, and produce engaging videos to attract and retain customers. Include a clear “next step” your audience can take to learn more, like an invitation to join your mailing list.
  
  
• Local Targeting: Your community is a great place to start marketing yourself. Think about how people typically communicate with each other in your community – whether that’s bulletin boards at the local library, or another online forum – and jump in. Remember to claim your business on listing sites like Yelp or Google so others can find you and get in touch.
  
  
• Mobile Optimization: Most consumers spend more time on their mobile devices than sitting in front of a desktop computer. Your marketing needs to allow them to easily engage with your business through those devices. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly to cater to on-the-go customers.

Retaining Current Customers

• SMS Marketing: Most consumers check their texts within seconds of receiving them. They are also very open to receiving texts from businesses, so take advantage of that. Once someone opts in to receive texts, you can engage them with timely messages such as offers, coupons and reminders.
  
  
• Email Marketing: Automated digital marketing tools simplify email and text message personalization. You can quickly create customized emails using drag-and-drop email templates and automate tasks for maximum efficiency, leading to improved sales results.

Making Campaigns More Effective

• Social media shareability: Social media is a terrific tool for attracting new customers, and sharing information with loyal followers. The more timely, relevant and visually appealing social media content you feature that others want to share online, the more potential reach you will have for your company. Just remember, social media is typically not a channel that drives much revenue, so make sure to use it in conjunction with other marketing tactics like email and SMS.
  
  
• Savvy Budgeting: Listing the strategies you want to use and their costs is a crucial planning step. If your strategy exceeds your budget, DIY as much as possible and prioritize free tactics like blogging or organic social media.

Advanced digital marketing tactics

When you’re ready to up-level your marketing strategy, here are some tactics to consider:

• Paid digital ads: Consider running paid ads on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to target your ideal customers and make it easier to reach people who don’t already follow you. You could also test out sponsored content where you pay for the opportunity to place an ad in a local news website. It mimics the style and structure of a website’s typical content, however it’s a paid promotion for another business’s products or services. A popular example is affiliate marketing.
  
  
• Get deep into data: Once you move beyond the basics of understanding your customers and executing a marketing plan, it’s time to understand what’s working and where there is room for improvement. Pay attention to which of your marketing campaigns do well, and use reporting tools to figure out what they have in common. The deeper you dive into data, the more you can learn about your customers preferences and habits, which you can later use to send them more relevant messages.

Budgeting for the most effective approach

It’s important to determine what marketing campaigns and platforms convert the most customers and generate the most revenue. Simple methods such as asking a “How did you find us?” question on your sales page can help to compile this data. You can also obtain key data by linking Google Analytics to your website.

You can do this!

It’s important to remember that digital marketing isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. Your first steps are an exciting time, so take it slow and don’t get too far out over your skis. With thoughtful strategy and planning, you’ll be running successful campaigns before you know it. You can do this!

The post An Introduction to Digital Marketing for Small Business appeared first on SiteProNews.

In this post, we’ll explore the bottom-line benefits of using free business tools to strengthen a small business or entrepreneurial endeavor.

1. Cost Savings

One of the most obvious benefits of using free business tools is cost savings. As a small business owner or entrepreneur, every penny counts, and investing in expensive software or services can quickly add up. However, with free business tools, you can access many of the same features and capabilities without the added expense. 

For example, instead of paying for a premium email marketing service, you can use a free tool like Mailchimp to send professional-looking emails to your customers and subscribers. Similarly, instead of paying for expensive project management software, you can use a free tool like Trello or Asana to manage your projects and tasks. By leveraging these free tools, you can save money that can be reinvested into other areas of your business.

2. Increased Efficiency

Another benefit of using free business tools is increased efficiency. As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you likely wear many hats and have a lot of responsibilities. Using free business tools can help you streamline your processes and get more done in less time. 

Free social media management tools like Tailwind or Buffer can help you schedule and publish posts across multiple platforms, saving you time and effort. In the same vein, using a free project management tool can help you keep track of all your tasks and deadlines in one place, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks. By increasing your efficiency, you can focus on growing your business and achieving your goals.

3. Improved Collaboration

Collaboration is essential in today’s business world, and using free business tools can make it easier to work with others. For example, using a free video conferencing tool like Zoom or Google Meet can help you connect with team members or clients from anywhere in the world, and using a free collaborative document editing tool like Google Docs can help you work on projects with others in real time. Tools like Slack can also provide a virtual space for team messaging, file sharing, and more. By improving collaboration, you can build stronger relationships with your team members or clients and get more done together.

4. Enhanced Marketing

Marketing is critical for the success of any small business or entrepreneurial endeavor, and using free tools can help enhance your marketing efforts. A free graphic design tool like Canva or Lunacy can help you create professional-looking graphics and images for your website, social media profiles, and marketing materials. Similarly, using a free website analytics tool like Google Analytics or Ahrefs can help you determine where to focus your content marketing efforts. By enhancing your marketing, you can attract more customers and increase your revenue.

5. Improved Customer Service

Lastly, using free business tools can help you improve your customer service. As a small business owner or entrepreneur, providing excellent customer service is essential for building a loyal customer base. Using free business tools like HubSpot’s free CRM or FreshDesk’s free help desk software can help you keep track of customer interactions and provide timely and effective support. By improving your customer service, you can build strong relationships with your customers and increase customer loyalty.

20+ Free Small Business Tools To Try

From branding and marketing to data security and accounting, here are some free business tools to check out:

Project Management

• Asana
• Trello
• Monday.com
• Smartsheet

Marketing

• Buffer
• Tailwind
• Mailchimp

Design and Branding

• Canva
• Adobe Express
• Lunacy

Customer Relationship Management

• HubSpot
• FreshDesk

Website Analytics

• Google Analytics
• Ahrefs

Security and Data Protection

• Bitwarden
• Avast Free Antivirus

Accounting

• Wave
• Zoho Books

Communication

• Google Meet
• Zoom
• Slack

As you can see, using free business tools can provide many bottom-line benefits for small businesses and entrepreneurs. By saving money, increasing efficiency, improving collaboration, enhancing marketing, and improving customer service, free small business tools can help you achieve your goals and grow your business. So if you’re not already using these free resources, it’s time to start exploring your options and taking advantage of the many benefits they offer.

The post 5 Benefits of Free Small Business Tools appeared first on SiteProNews.

In a world where startups and small businesses are continually emerging, it’s essential to have a well-thought-out strategy when launching your own. The competitive landscape is tougher than ever, but with the right approach, your small business can not only survive but also thrive.

Launching a small business today is a challenging endeavor, given the ever-increasing competition and rapidly evolving market dynamics. In this article, you will explore the key steps to successfully launch and grow your small business in this fiercely competitive environment.

11 Tips to Make Your Small Business Successful  

1. Conduct a Thorough Market Analysis

Thorough market research is the fundamental aspect of making your small business successful in this competitive landscape. When you conduct market research, it helps business owners get better insight into data such as the latest and emerging trends, customer preferences, new market challenges, what to consider during penetration, and more. By considering market research, small businesses will easily tailor their brand products and services. Moreover, they have the chance to understand the customer’s needs and demands and make efforts to capture their attention efficiently.

Bear in mind that analyzing competitors is one of the most essential parts of developing and refining your business strategies. Once you determine what your customers are demanding, you just need to find out the potential areas to improve your business and stand out among the clutter.

2. Differentiate and Niche Positioning 

In a crowded marketplace, it’s essential to find a way to stand out. One effective approach is differentiation. This involves offering a product or service that is distinct in some way, such as through unique features, superior quality, or exceptional customer service. For instance, the availability of a distinguished payment option like the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service ( can attract a large number of customers due to its flexibility in terms of delaying the upfront costs in easy and manageable installments. Niche positioning is another strategy. Instead of trying to cater to a broad audience, focus on a specific niche where you can excel. This enables you to target a smaller, but more dedicated customer base and build a strong reputation in that niche.

3. Construct a Strong and Solid Business Plan

Sometimes small businesses lack in making a solid business plan, which becomes the most significant reason to not settle down their brand products in this competitive marketplace. That is the reason, considering a solid business plan is the foundation that outlines your mission, vision, goals, and strategies, and even helps you in achieving your goals successfully. However, when you construct an effective plan, you will also analyze your final projections, marketing plans, and operational blueprint. A strong business plan not only serves as a roadmap for your business but is also a valuable tool for attracting investors or securing loans.

4. Online Presence Is Important

We are all surrounded by online websites and tools to make purchases online. Interestingly, nobody can deny the increasing demand for online marketing. So, in this digital age, having a strong online presence is essential to creating a professional website, engaging in social media marketing, and considering e-commerce options. The online presence of your business helps you to reach your targeted audience easily and even gives you an understanding of what they want from your products and services. In addition, it helps you stand out among your competitors, increase brand visibility, and helps to attain a broader audience.

5. Follow Customer-Centric Approach 

Customer satisfaction is paramount in small business growth. Building and maintaining strong customer relationships can lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth recommendations. Gather feedback from your customers and use it to improve your products or services. Offering personalized experiences and excellent customer service can set you apart from competitors. While acquiring new customers is essential for growth, don’t overlook the value of retaining existing ones. It’s often more cost-effective to retain customers than to acquire new ones. Implement loyalty programs and engage with your existing customer base to keep them coming back.

6. Offer Exceptional Customer Experience

Outstanding customer service can be a game-changer in a competitive market. Your customers’ experiences with your business will influence their loyalty and whether they recommend your brand to others. Train your team to provide top-notch service and actively seek feedback to improve it continually. Continual innovation can set you apart from competitors. Stay open to customer feedback and regularly update and enhance your products or services. Customers appreciate businesses that adapt to their evolving needs.

7. Make Effective Marketing Campaigns

Effective marketing is essential for small businesses to reach their target audience. Develop a well-rounded marketing strategy that includes both online and offline tactics. Use social media marketing, content marketing, and traditional advertising methods to create a buzz around your brand.

8. Crafting a Unique Value Proposition

In today’s competitive environment, your small business must offer something unique that sets it apart from the competition. Craft a compelling value proposition that clearly defines what makes your business special. This should not only resonate with your target audience but also be something your competitors cannot easily replicate.

9. Collaborate With Different Partners

Collaborating with other businesses can open doors to new opportunities. Networking and forming partnerships can help small businesses access new markets, resources, and expertise. For example, co-marketing with complementary businesses or establishing strategic alliances can expand your reach and reduce marketing costs. However, consulting with legal and industry experts can help you navigate regulatory and compliance issues specific to your business. It’s always better to seek professional advice early on to avoid potential legal complications in the future.

10. Leverage Technology 

Technology can be a game-changer for small businesses. Utilize modern software and tools to streamline your operations, manage customer relationships, and improve overall efficiency. Embrace e-commerce solutions to expand your reach beyond local markets.

11. Must Compliance with OSHA Requirements

Launching a small business in today’s competitive environment requires more than just a great business idea and a solid marketing plan. Safety and compliance with regulations are essential components of success. In this article, we will discuss the importance of OSHA compliance and how it can contribute to your small business’s competitive edge. y and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces safety and health regulations for businesses in the United States. Compliance with OSHA standards is vital for several reasons:

However, OSHA regulations are not optional; they are legal requirements that must be followed. Non-compliance can result in fines, penalties, and legal issues that can be detrimental to a small business. Compliance with OSHA can also enhance your reputation in the eyes of your customers. They are more likely to trust and do business with companies that prioritize safety. Additionally, many clients and partners prefer working with businesses that follow safety regulations, as it reduces potential liabilities and disruptions in the supply chain.

To Wrap Up the Things

In today’s competitive business landscape, launching and sustaining a small business requires a multifaceted approach. Understanding the competitive landscape, crafting a unique value proposition, building a strong online presence, and managing finances prudently are all crucial aspects. However, never overlook the importance of OSHA compliance. It not only fulfills legal obligations but also promotes a safe and healthy workplace, earns customer trust, and provides a competitive advantage. No doubt, enrolling in OSHA courses will also give you a better understanding and tips for compliance with OSHA and building your brand worldwide. By combining these strategies, your small business can thrive in the competitive arena while ensuring the well-being of your employees and customers.

The post Launching a Small Business in Today’s Competitive Landscape appeared first on SiteProNews.

Luckily, those goals (and others) are attainable thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and marketing automation. These technologies can help small businesses work more efficiently, drive more sales, and improve the ways they are marketing themselves – without making it more of a headache or a time suck.

We recently published a report at Constant Contact called, Small Business Now: An AI Awakening, that outlines how SMBs are thinking about AI and automation, and some of the results that early adopters are seeing. With insights from nearly 500 small businesses across the U.S., the study reveals how these technologies can enhance marketing effectiveness and help SMBs save time and money. 

If you’re curious about how AI can impact your business, here are the 10 stats about AI that you should know.

1. Challenge Accepted: 60% of SMBs say their biggest challenge is attracting new customers, while 39% say it’s marketing to their target audience.
2. Peaked Interest: 74% are interested in using AI or automation in their business, and 55% reported that their interest in using these technologies grew in the first half of 2023.
3. Off to the Races: 26% are already using AI or automation, and the top use cases are social media (52%), generative content creation (44%) and email marketing (41%).
4. Proven Success: 91% of the small businesses polled say AI has helped make their businesses more successful.
5. Reaping the Benefits: 60% of small businesses that currently use AI or automation in their marketing say they have saved time and are working more efficiently.
6. First step, Social Media: SMBs say the easiest places to start leveraging AI technology are social media, content creation, and analytics.
7. Financial Gains: 28% of SMBs expect AI and/or automation to save them at least $5,000 in the next year.
8. Increasing Efficiency: 33% of small businesses estimate they have saved more than 40 minutes per week on marketing by using AI or automation.
9. Top Concern: 44% of small businesses noted data security as their top hesitation about using AI.
10. Value Recognition: The more SMBs use AI, the more they value it.70% of SMBs would be willing to pay more to access AI and automation.

So, what do all these stats mean? I’m glad you asked.

AI is here to stay. The small businesses who are currently using tools powered by AI overwhelmingly agree that it is making their businesses more successful. They are working more efficiently, saving money, improving customer experiences, and growing quicker.

So, if you’re an SMB who is either starved for more time in your week, or you want to improve the way you engage with your customers without adding extra marketing work to your plate, don’t write off AI as a passing trend. Give it a try and you might be surprised about the results you see.

The post AI Stats and Trends for Small Business Marketing appeared first on SiteProNews.

Though data breaches at big corporations tend to get more press, companies of all sizes can be targets for cybercrime. A reported 700,000 small businesses were targets of data breach activity in 2020. Other common tech-focused challenges include website issues, e-commerce difficulties, remote worker connectivity and collaboration issues, and system incompatibility. While these challenges are undeniably frustrating, they can be maddening when taken together.

If you can relate as a business leader, consider trying the following tactics to resolve your biggest tech struggles.

1. Assessment and Planning

Before initiating any technological overhaul, evaluating your existing technology environment and plotting a strategic direction is crucial. This involves understanding where your business stands, identifying bottlenecks, and charting a clear path forward.

• Technology Infrastructure Assessment: Carefully evaluate your existing technology systems, hardware, and software to comprehensively understand their effectiveness and limitations.
• Tech Challenges Identification: Identify technological challenges hampering productivity, efficiency, or customer satisfaction.
• Clear Technology Goals: Set short-term and long-term technology objectives aligning with your business goals, enabling systematic progress toward improved infrastructure and processes.

2. Cybersecurity and Data Protection

Safeguarding sensitive information is important. Addressing cybersecurity and data protection concerns ensures the integrity of your operations and maintains trust with customers and partners.

• Robust Cybersecurity Measures: Establish a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption, and routine vulnerability assessments.
• Employee Education: Train your employees to recognize and respond to potential cyber threats, building a culture of vigilance against phishing, malware, and other attacks.
• Response Planning: Develop a comprehensive plan outlining the steps during a cyber incident, including containment, recovery, communication, and compliance with data breach regulations.

3. Move Operations into the Cloud

Transitioning to cloud-based systems can enhance flexibility and scalability while reducing operational costs. However, careful planning and execution are crucial to a successful migration.

• Benefits Assessment: Evaluate the advantages of migrating to the cloud, such as improved remote access, automatic updates, and potential cost savings.
• Migration Strategy: Plan the migration process meticulously, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations and data integrity during the transfer.
• Data Security and Compliance: Choose a reputable cloud provider that adheres to data protection regulations and implements security measures to safeguard data stored in the cloud.

4. Centralize Your Data and Communications

Do you and your employees constantly have to move from one platform to another to see or retrieve different data sets? Not only is this inconvenient, but it’s a waste of time. Break down your data silos by centralizing all the data in your company. For instance, you might want to update a customer relationship management (CRM) system that can easily house all your information. Having data in one place makes communicating with internal and external stakeholders easier, streamlines analysis and reporting, and helps you optimize all your processes.

5. Remote Work Infrastructure

The rise of remote work necessitates a robust digital infrastructure that supports seamless communication, collaboration, and productivity, regardless of employees’ physical locations.

• Remote Work Tools: Identify and integrate tools such as video conferencing, project management platforms, and virtual collaboration software to facilitate efficient remote work.
• Connectivity Assurance: Ensure remote workers have reliable internet access and can easily connect to necessary business resources.
• Security Considerations: Address security vulnerabilities associated with remote work by implementing secure connections, access controls, and data encryption.

The point is this: You don’t have to be a technical wizard or even have one on your team to overcome your tech and infrastructure dilemmas. Just be willing to acknowledge your technical deficiencies so you can put measures in place to make your hassles go away so your company can be more secure and successful.

The post Tech Struggles and Infrastructure Challenges for Small Businesses appeared first on SiteProNews.

I have launched and grown over a dozen businesses and know firsthand the struggles that so many new entrepreneurs face after they launch a startup. In my journey as the owner of Kairos Venture Studios, which specializes in launching new online businesses in the Latin American market, I have discovered a number of small but impactful ways entrepreneurs can optimize their startups and amplify business success. Here are 6 of them to keep in mind:

1. Ramp Up Productivity with Time Blocking

It is so easy for each day to fly by without finding the time for deep, uninterrupted work on projects that move your business forward. I get it — emails are constantly flooding your inbox, your business associates call at random times (and these phone conversations last over an hour), and so on. However, it is pertinent to make the time to check in with new client leads, plan and implement new marketing strategies, and work on other initiatives that lead to business growth. You can do this by scheduling your workdays two weeks out using time blocking.

Time blocking will help you stay on top of all of your work tasks, complete projects before their deadlines, and ensure that you never forget about projects that need to be worked on. To do this effectively, make sure to block out time in a scheduling tool (like Google Calendar) for the three most important tasks you need to complete every day, and also schedule blocks of time to answer emails and complete miscellaneous tasks. Since you already know what you need to work on each day from planning in advance, you will never waste time on trying to figure out the next task to work on.

2. Hire a Freelance Virtual Assistant ASAP

Even though you are in the early stages of your business journey, you likely already know what tasks consume the most time in your workday. Are they answering emails? Data entry? Replying to comments on your business’s social media channels? Don’t let these everyday work tasks take up your time any longer. Hire a virtual assistant as soon as possible to take over these tasks, as they will help optimize workflow and amplify the success of your company.

Entrepreneurs should hire a virtual assistant when their companies start to grow and it’s no longer viable for them to handle all of the tasks required to keep operations running smoothly. You can find affordable virtual assistants from all over the world for your company on websites like UpWork and Fiverr. Even better, you can hire specialized virtual assistants to handle specific projects or administrative tasks (like updating the website and daily social media management), which can be more cost-effective than hiring full-time, salaried employees.

Keep in mind that when you are describing projects to your virtual assistant, it is paramount that instructions are very detailed, in depth, and easy-to-comprehend. This will help to eliminate a lot of the back-and-forth discussions that can cause projects to drag out for a long time, especially if your virtual assistant is in another country with a large time difference. There could be a bit of a language barrier if you work with a virtual assistant in another country, so make sure that instructions are very clear and easy to understand.

3. Automate Meeting Scheduling with Calendar Tools

Have you yet to adopt the use of a calendar tool like Calendly? Calendar tools are so useful for business leaders, as they streamline the process of setting up calls and greatly cut down on time-consuming back-and-forth emails. If you don’t use a calendar tool, you have to email a business associate to ask when they are available for a call, wait for an answer, then schedule the call yourself in your calendar. On the other hand, if you have a calendar tool, you can simply send its link to your associate and they can select a time that works for them, then the scheduled call automatically shows up on your schedule and theirs.

Even better, the calendar tool will email both you and your associate with info about your call. You can also segment your automated calendar “events” according to what the calls will be about, and ask the contact for necessary info in the event’s “description” box. For example, you can create an automated 15-minute call for new clients, an automated 30-minute call for onboarding a new client, etc. Then you can write in these events’ descriptions what kind of info will be needed for each call, what might be discussed, etc. This can help ensure you don’t have to email the contact before your call asking for these assets.

4. Land New Customers by Launching a Podcast and/or YouTube Channel

If you have been struggling to land new clients, use a YouTube channel and/or podcast to provide free value to your target audience. This may pique your audience’s interest in subscribing, visiting your business’s website, and making a purchase. For example, you can share informational how-to videos and weekly industry insights roundups on YouTube, which will help position you as a leader in your industry. You can then capitalize on this by including your business website in each video description, which can lead to a boost in website traffic (and therefore a greater ranking in search engines).

5. Show Online Support to Other Company Leaders in Their Endeavors

Referrals from your business network can really help you grow your customer base. So network with other company leaders on social media and support them in their endeavors. Whether you are resharing an interesting article another entrepreneur posted or simply commenting “Congratulations!” when they share a major feat on Instagram, supporting and celebrating other business leaders is the best way to grow your network and potentially boost referrals. Those you connect with will know you are in their corner and will then be more inspired to want to support you as well and work with you. This can even lead to fruitful collaborations later on!

To Wrap It All Up

There are so many small-but-effective ways to optimize your startup and amplify business success. You can increase daily productivity and get more deep work on high-impact projects done by scheduling out each day with time blocking, hiring an affordable freelance virtual assistant, and using a calendar tool to streamline meeting scheduling. Also, you can land more customers by launching a podcast or YouTube channel and supporting other business owners in their endeavors. These are just a few ways to bring your startup to new heights.

The post 5 Small But Impactful Ways to Optimize Your Startup and Boost Success appeared first on SiteProNews.

Write a Plan

Starting any type of business is not as simple as saying you want to do it. Set yourself up for success by beginning with a business plan. Your plan should outline your business idea, goals you might have, potential opportunities, and how much money you can expect to make over the next 6 to 12 months.

Start Your Marketing With SEO

In today’s digital world, the vast majority of your marketing will take place online. It makes sense, then, that having a highly visible website should be one of your top priorities. For this, you will need to work with an SEO agency to ensure that your page’s content, meta-tags, links, and other on-page and behind-the-scenes elements are created for both users and the web crawlers that rank your site. An optimized site will drive traffic straight to your brand.

Get Your First Customers

Your website is a solid foundation, but you’ll have to also put some work into outreach. Fortunately, you can do much of this online as well. Create a social media presence, which should include Facebook, YouTube, and other social outlets. A simple ad on Facebook, for example, can help you reach millions of people.

Design a Functional Home Work Space

Now that you have the basics down, you’re ready to get started. Make sure that you have a functional workspace, which might be a spare bedroom. Or, if you make or store physical products/inventory, such as electronic gadgets, organic food, and trending apparel and accessories, you’ll need a garage, outbuilding, or other open area.

On the other hand, if your current abode doesn’t provide the space you need for your work-from-home dream job, it might be time to move! If you aren’t ready to buy a house yet, no worries. There are plenty of apartments you can rent and you can easily search for the amenities you need to start your new life in style!

Learn About Some Other Tips for Home Business Success

• Maintain productivity by eliminating clutter and distractions, such as the radio or television during the work day.
• Set firm stop and start hours. The last thing you want when you go into business for yourself is to lose your personal time in the process.
• Grow slowly to avoid being overwhelmed and overworked.

Starting your own business is a great way to take control of your financial freedoms. But you have to lay the groundwork first. From writing your business plan and partnering with an SEO agency to creating the right office workspace for your specific business, today’s tips can help you get your home based business up and running legally and sustainably.

The post Give Up Your 9 to 5 and Start Working from Home for Yourself appeared first on SiteProNews.

1. Develop a Strong Value Proposition

Making a convincing value proposition is a key aspect of establishing appointments for businesses operating in the USA. Value propositions are descriptions that explain the distinct benefits an item or service gives its customers and the reasons why it is superior to its rivals.

A compelling value proposition is vital for B2B appointment scheduling as it helps distinguish an organization from its competition. Convince potential customers to select their services.

This article outlines a few important strategies B2B appointment-setting companies within the USA can employ to create an effective value proposition.

• Knowing the market they are targeting and their needs in particular via market research and competitor analysis is essential in creating a compelling value proposition. 

• It is also crucial to concentrate on the benefits the company can offer instead of simply listing the features of the product or service.

• A strong value proposition must be concise, clear, and simple to comprehend. By highlighting the unique selling point of a company, like exceptional customer service or the latest technology, you can help set the company apart from other competitors.

• Using testimonials from customers can help establish confidence and trust among prospective customers. 

• Emphasizing ROI by showing how services can improve efficiency, cut costs, or increase revenue, can convince customers of the value of their services.

• To improve the value proposition by incorporating the feedback of customers and market research to make sure it is relevant and efficient. Your unique value proposition differentiates you from your competitors and will help prospective customers understand why they should choose your company.

It’s crucial to convey your business’s value proposition on your website, social media channels, and any other marketing materials.

2. Leverage Social Media

Social media platforms provide an excellent opportunity to interact with prospective customers and create leads. By posting regular content and responding to messages and comments, you’ll build an audience and attract new customers to your company.

A qualified sales lead has expressed an interest in your product or service and is likely to turn into a paying customer. Social media is a proven method to create qualified sales leads because social media platforms provide an excellent chance to connect with potential customers.

To generate qualified sales leads on social media, you should:

• Identify your target audience and understand their interests and problems.
• Create valuable content that provides solutions to their problems.
• Use social media to promote your content using relevant hashtags and keywords.
• Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages promptly.
• Run targeted social media ads to reach more potential customers and generate qualified leads.

3. Optimize Your Website for Lead Generation

The website you have created is the primary point of contact for prospective customers. It’s crucial to ensure it’s optimized to generate leads. This means having clear calls-to-action, simple forms, user-friendly forms, and captivating content that catches the attention of your intended audience.

These are the most important tips on how to optimize your website to generate leads:

• Clear and concise messages: The message on the website must be concise, and clear and present a strong value proposition that explains the distinct advantages of the services offered by the company.
• Contact forms must be easy and user-friendly and only ask for the information needed to follow up with the person who initiated them.
• Call to action Effective call-to-action (CTA) buttons must be prominently displayed on the site and clearly explain the actions the user must take.
• Landing pages: Landing pages can be utilized to specifically target a segment of the targeted audience and urge users to take an action, like signing up for a free trial period or downloading an ebook.
• Search engine optimization SEO helps increase the visibility of a site on search engine results pages, which makes it simpler for potential customers to find the site.
• Mobile optimization: Your website should be designed to work with mobile devices since more people are using the internet via mobile devices resulting in an improved user experience. It also makes it more convenient for potential customers to decide on the site.

Utilizing these strategies, B2B appointment setters can improve their websites to increase lead generation and increase the chances of converting visitors into customers.

4. Use Paid Advertising

Paid advertisements on platforms such as Google and Facebook are a powerful method to reach a wider audience and generate leads. By focusing your ads on specific groups of people and their interests, you can make sure that your ads are reaching the most relevant people.

To generate leads, you can use different types of paid advertising, including:

• Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, involves placing ads on search engines or social media platforms and paying each time someone clicks on your ad.
• Social media advertising, allows you to target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and behaviors on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Display advertising, which involves placing ads on third-party websites, can be an effective way to reach a large number of people quickly.
• Retargeting involves showing ads to people who have already interacted with your brand to encourage them to come back and convert.
• Native advertising involves placing ads that blend in with the content of the website or platform where they are displayed and can be less disruptive than traditional ads.

5. Attend Industry Events and Conferences

Attending conferences and events for your industry is a great opportunity to meet prospective customers as well as generate leads. Be sure to carry lots of business cards, and be ready to have meaningful conversations about your business.

To make the most of attending industry events and conferences, it’s important to do some research on the event and attendees. Promote your attendance to existing customers and prospects.

Have a plan for how you will engage with attendees, and collect contact information from people you meet to continue the conversation and move them further down the sales funnel.

6. Offer Free Trials or Samples

Offering free trials or samples is an effective way to convince potential customers to test the product or service and also generate leads. By offering a low-risk method to allow people to test your product, you will establish trust and credibility with your potential customers.

To offer a free trial or sample, you should first define your target audience. Decide on the length of the trial or sample, and promote the offer to your audience through various channels. Collect contact information from potential customers in exchange for a trial or sample.

Follow up with them after the trial or sample period ends to see if they are interested in purchasing your product or service. It is essential to highlight the benefits of your product or service and explain how the trial or sample can help solve their problems to create a compelling offer that resonates with them.

7. Ask for Referrals

Existing customers are a good source of leads. By soliciting referrals and encouraging your customers to recommend others to your company, it is possible to quickly and efficiently create new leads.

Asking for referrals is an effective method of generating leads. To maximize the value of referrals, you need to determine your ideal client and reach out to those customers you already have, offering incentives for referrals.

Follow up promptly with prospects you have referred to, and be sure to thank the people who referred you. In this way, you will be able to develop stronger relationships with your customers and generate leads that are more likely to be converted into sales.

8. Create Valuable Content

Making valuable content such as videos, blog posts, and infographics can help draw in and keep your customers. By providing useful information and insights that help establish trust with your targeted audience and increase leads.

To create valuable content for lead generation, it’s important to first understand your target audience and their interests. Once you have this information, focus on creating high-quality content such as blog posts, whitepapers, ebooks, webinars, podcasts, and videos.

Incorporate relevant keywords to improve visibility in search engine results and optimize the content for conversions by including calls to action (CTAs) that encourage potential customers to take the next step. Finally, promote your content through social media, email marketing, and other channels to reach a wider audience and generate more leads.

9. Partner with Other Businesses

Collaboration with other businesses in your field can be an effective way to create more leads. By collaborating to promote each other’s companies and services, you can make use of each other’s networks and increase your reach.

The strategy of partnering with other businesses involves identifying potential partners and reaching out to them. Creating a mutually beneficial arrangement, establishing clear goals and expectations, and measuring and analyzing the results.

The first step is to identify businesses that have a similar target audience or offer complementary products or services. Once potential partners are identified, they should be contacted to explore collaboration opportunities.

It is important to ensure that the partnership is beneficial for both parties and to establish clear goals and expectations before beginning the partnership. Finally, it is essential to measure and analyze the results to ensure that they are meeting the agreed-upon goals.

10. Use Marketing Automation

Tools for automation in marketing, like lead nurturing and email marketing software, will help you simplify your lead-generation processes and keep in contact with prospective customers. By automating your marketing process, you will be able to save time and concentrate on other areas of your company.

Marketing automation is a powerful tool for lead generation. It involves setting up lead capture forms on your website or landing pages, creating targeted campaigns for specific segments of your audience, and nurturing leads with automated workflows.

Scoring and prioritizing leads based on their behavior and engagement, and analyzing results to optimize your strategy over time. By integrating your marketing automation software with your website and other tools.

You can collect important information about your leads and track their behavior, which can help you create more effective campaigns and close more sales.

Final Comment

In conclusion, generating leads is essential for small business growth, and these 10 strategies can help you do just that. 

By developing a strong value proposition, optimizing your website, leveraging social media, using paid advertising, attending events, offering free trials or samples, asking for referrals, creating valuable content, partnering with other businesses, and using marketing automation, you can effectively generate more leads and grow your business.

So, don’t hesitate to implement these tactics and take your small business to the next level!

The post Top 10 Smart Strategies for Small Businesses to Generate More Leads appeared first on SiteProNews.

In this guide, we discuss what video marketing is, the different types of videos you can produce, how to incorporate videos into your content marketing strategy, establishing a budget for your video production, and more. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a better understanding of how video marketing can benefit small businesses such as phone repair Burnaby or laptop repair Calgary.

What Is Video Marketing?

Video marketing is the process of creating and distributing videos to promote your product or service. Videos can be used to generate awareness, drive traffic to your website, or even make sales. When done right, video marketing can be a highly effective way to reach your target audience and achieve your business goals.

Some potential benefits of video marketing include:

• Increased web traffic and visibility
• Greater brand awareness
• More engagement with customers and followers
• More opportunities to convert leads into customers
• Higher ROI compared to other marketing strategies

Different Types of Video Marketing

There are many different types of videos you can produce for your business. The key is to choose the type of video that best aligns with your goals. For example, if you’re looking to generate awareness for your brand, you might want to produce a brand video or an explainer video. If you’re looking to drive traffic to your website, you might want to produce a how-to video or a customer testimonial. Sales videos are typically shorter in length and focus on making a specific offer or call-to-action.

Making short meme videos is a great way to connect with like-minded consumers and social media followers. By creating funny, relatable, and engaging videos, you can create a strong connection with your target audience. These videos can also help promote your brand or product in an entertaining and informative way.

No matter what type of video you produce, make sure it’s high-quality and aligned with your brand identity!

How to Incorporate Videos Into Your Content Marketing Strategy

Your content marketing strategy should be designed to attract, engage, and convert your target audience. Videos can play a major role in achieving these objectives.

For example, WebFX notes that using video SEO techniques can help you ensure that your videos are appearing in search results and being seen by potential customers. Adding transcripts or captions to your videos can also help improve engagement by making it easier for viewers to follow along. And including calls to action in your videos can encourage viewers to take action, like subscribing to your email list or visiting your website.

When creating marketing videos, it’s crucial to address the pain points and interests of your target audience. This will help your business reach its goals and distinguish your brand from the competition. Focusing on your target audience will allow you to create content that is more engaging and relevant to them; potential customers will be more likely to resonate with the content and be encouraged to take action.

If you’re not sure where to start, look to online resources like Cornerstone Content. You might be surprised at how much you can learn by reading articles and tutorials from experts.

Establishing a Budget for Your Video Production

The cost of producing videos will vary depending on factors such as the length and type of video you’re looking to produce, whether or not you plan on hiring professional help, and the tools and equipment you’ll need access to. With that said, it’s essential to establish a budget for your video production before getting started. Doing so will help ensure that you don’t overspend and end up with a final product that doesn’t meet your expectations.

Hiring Professionals and Using Tools

If you’re serious about incorporating videos into your marketing strategy, it’s worth considering hiring professionals to help with the production process. These experts will ensure your videos are high-quality and aligned with your branding standards.

Additionally, there are several online tools available to help you create professional-looking videos without having any prior experience. For example, Animoto is a popular online tool that allows users to create stunning videos from scratch using templates, images, text, and music.

Wrapping Up

Video marketing can be an extremely effective way to reach new customers and achieve important business goals, but only if it’s done correctly! Carefully consider the different types of videos available before settling on one (or more) that aligns with your goals and budget. Use video SEO techniques, include calls to action, and never underestimate the importance of branding standards. After all, your high-quality visuals should align perfectly with who you are as a company!

The post How to Make Video Marketing Work for Your Small Business appeared first on SiteProNews.

For many start-ups, brand activation can be a cost concern. Some may not have the capital to throw at large campaigns or the staff needed for a big activation push. Instead, they seek out cost-effective measures of activation. What follows are some ways small businesses can activate their brands and still save money:

Timing

Many businesses experience periods of feast or famine within the calendar year. For example, coming off of the holiday season, consumers are going to be spending less — because they threw everything they had at holiday gifts. It makes sense for businesses to look at each quarter separately and determine when it makes sense to invest in brand activation needs.

Most small businesses will avoid starting new activation projects in Q1. They may still try to reach their target market, but will choose to do so more passively, through free channels such as social media postings and organic engagement. When the slowdown of Q1 passes, businesses can decide to make a heavier investment in activation in quarters 2 & 3, which will be a more financially viable option for the business as a whole.

Consumer Planning

All businesses need to consider their customer base, and consider how every dollar they spend on activation is geared towards the right audience. Businesses must consider who they are trying to engage and which customer is most likely to be interested in their services or products. Timing also matters when considering engagement. Businesses should research when their target consumers are most available for engagement. There are several routes that small businesses can take to engage consumers:

Engagement Marketing – Engaging with consumers involves creating experiences that consumers can participate in along with the brand. These experiences may directly involve the brand or products, or even just a feeling the brand wants to convey. This participation can be in-person or via social media engagement. 

Social content should not only be engaging, but also shareable. Brands will become more well-known the more their name and their services or products are shared among like-minded consumers.

Events and Trade Shows – Many small businesses choose to take advantage of trade shows or other events to engage with potential customers and get their brand name out there. Some small businesses can successfully debut their new brand or new products at these events, where they can give samples of their products and engage with customers face-to-face. 

When on the road to get one’s brand out there, companies should offer takeaways in the form of inexpensive branded swag or merchandise, designed to further disseminate the brand name beyond the event.

Strategic Partners

Small businesses should consider aligning themselves with key partners in key locations. Aligning one’s brand with partners in high-traffic areas will give the best ROI for the lowest budget. 

Strategic partners should share the same vision and values as one’s business. This will allow one’s small business to tap into the customer base of that partner. With strategic partners, small businesses with small budgets can combine resources and leverage a connection with perhaps a more established business to give them a nudge in the right direction with activation.

Clear Objectives

Any small business needs clear objectives and a good idea of their key performance indicators (KPIs). The goal of brand activation is to create a strong connection between your brand and your ideal customers. That strong connection will ensure that consumers will remain loyal to your brand as you grow. When setting out to create a brand activation plan, businesses must have their customer data and budgets available so they have a clear picture of the money being funneled towards brand activation. 

Brand activation can be an exciting time for small businesses — you’re telling the world about the brand you have spent time and energy cultivating. Brand activation does not need to be a costly part of building a small business, though, as long as businesses are aware of their budget, target market, and how they align their brand with other services and partners that elevate their voice.

The post Creating a Cost-Effective Activation for Your Small Business appeared first on SiteProNews.

Luckily the vast majority of small businesses do NOT know what I’m about to reveal to you. These techniques will get you ahead of your competition and stay ahead of your competition.

The secret is quite simple, but your competition is very unlikely to know it. Understanding your customers is that secret weapon. You need to understand your customers better than your competitors understand theirs. That is the secret to putting yourself in pole position.

Here are 7 ways to understand your customers or clients better:

1. Interviews with Current Customers

Interviews can take many forms, including email, video chat and in-person. In a video interview or in-person interview, you can ask almost any question and get immediate feedback. You can then shape further questions based on their responses. It’s this 2-way communication that makes you understand them better than almost any other method available.

Here are 3 questions you can directly ask your customers:

• How would you describe our product or service to your friends?
• Why did you nearly not buy from us?
• Why did you choose us over our competition?

2. Web Stats

If you have a search box on your site, what are the terms they are using on your site to find what they want? Going through previous web form submissions can also be enlightening. What phrases and terms are they using? These terms are straight from the horse’s mouth. You should gather these and look through them regularly.

3. Competition

It’s not the worst idea in the world to visit your competitor’s website and see how they are presenting themselves to their customers. Be warned though, it may very well be a case of the blind leading the blind. They could be copying their competitors, and therefore doing a very bad job of it. Some gems can be unearthed, but don’t think you can copy them for some magical transformation of your business. Aim to understand your competitor’s tactics, and get to the underlining strategy of why they say to their audience, rather than just copying them word for word.

4. Amazon Review Sites

Amazon is a goldmine for small businesses to understand their audience better. How do you use it, you may ask? The magic lies in reviews of products related to your industry. If you have a gardening business, then I can bet there will be multiple books published for gardening. You go through the many reviews and see what the people are saying about that book. 5-star comments that praise the author tend not to be useful as the 2/3/4 star reviews. People reveal more in lesser reviews and it’s these that the gold is found. What problem do these people need to be solved better? What gaps are there in the market? What phrases and terms are they using?

5. Reddit and Quora

Your audience is likely to be chatting on one or both of these sites. There are millions of people a day interacting. Try using the internal search for your specific industry or niche.

Or a little Google trick is to use site:quora.com [your keywords]

This will search only Quora for the keywords of your choice.

Of course, site:reddit.com [your keywords] will search Reddit.

Both Reddit and Quora are a treasure trove of information and two sites where you can learn more about your audience.

6. Industry Forums

In every topic under the sun, there are industry forums and community sites. This wasn’t possible before the internet but don’t underestimate the understanding of your audience that these sites can give you. Your questions about your audience have likely been asked previously. If not sign up and get involved in the community. Start small and help others. Don’t just go on and post 5 questions. Help people, see things from their side and build up trust within the community.

7. Surveys

These are now very affordable to do with dozens of options online. The questions that glean the best results are similar to the interview ones above. Why did you choose us over our competition? What would you say recommending us to a friend? Ask questions and try and get them to open up as much as possible. You will find that people will be more than happy to tell you what you ask.

Is This a One-off Activity? Do I Need to Repeat this Process?

If launching a new business you want to spend a significant part of your time understanding your audience using the techniques above before committing to a new business.

If you are already in a business and have a solid understanding of your audience then you can relax is a little. 6 months is a good yardstick to repeat the process. However, different industries move at different speeds, so your mileage may vary.

Conclusion

As we have discovered, understanding your audience better than your competitor’s understand their audience is the secret to small business success. I have given you some very powerful and game-changing information. With great power, comes great responsibility. Use it wisely. Get ahead and stay ahead of your competition.

The post How Any Small Business Can Crush Their Competition appeared first on SiteProNews.

One of the hardest lessons to learn for many small business owners is how to effectively overcome business failure and get back on their feet again. Nobody invests in a company to see it go out of business after a year. Sometimes to succeed, one must first fail.

We’ve put together a list of strategies for overcoming small business failure and using it as a foundation to build great things.

1. Have a Plan B

Every company must have a business backup plan as it helps us stay equipped for the worst-case scenario.

Here’s how your Plan B works: Should an unprecedented scenario occur, your company has a clear plan of action to implement. Backup plans are quite similar to your business plans, except that they include many examples of how your company can fail and how to recover from it. As you put together your contingency plan, consider the following tips:

• Test your plan to see if it is effective.
• Just like your business plan, keep changing scenarios depending on the phase your company is at.
• Choose a reputable IT company to work with so that your data is secure and easily accessible.
• Identify weaknesses by putting checks and balances in place.
• Make a list of your credit choices, such as business loans, as a fallback option to stay afloat.

2. Conduct a SWOT Analysis

A thorough examination of your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) can help you see things from an array of perspectives. A SWOT analysis will help you not just to develop your business plan, but also identify the obstacles you’ll face and how to tackle them.

Every business, regardless of size, should do a SWOT analysis. The fundamental goal of SWOT analysis is to understand the complexities of your business and what factors are considered before taking any action.

3. Pay Attention to Your Customers

Carrying on operations without satisfied clients will eventually become impossible. For whatever reason, if you can’t generate leads or attract or obtain new customers, you should focus on the customers you already have.

When you can’t generate additional revenue, you must rely on your existing customers. According to Gartner Group, 20% of your current customers will provide 80% of your company’s future revenue. And if that isn’t enough to persuade you to build a loyal following, a 5% jump in client retention can lift a business’ revenue up to 95%. Focusing on your most devoted and frequent customers can be one of the wisest business strategies you can employ. This could involve anything from boosting sales with discounts and new products to using their support for email marketing strategic needs.

4. Control Your Cash Flow During a Crisis

When you are going through a difficult time in your business, save all the money you can. Your business may be unable to survive if you don’t have a steady cash flow. It will be challenging to run a business if there is no circulating money. There are various ways to obtain a continuous cash flow:

• Send timely invoices to guarantee that you are paid promptly.
• Reach out to clients that are behind on their payments.
• Accept payments in advance.
• Use an accounts receivable finance provider to top off the leftover money in your bank account.
• Try to pay bills on time to avoid incurring additional fees.

accounts receivable finance provider

5. Social Media Presence

If your business is not on social media, are you even a business? Many companies believe that social media is overused and ineffective. But the truth is that you have access to millions of potential consumers on social media.

Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are all key social media platforms that can be used to create new leads, promote your brand, and boost your digital operations.

6. Hire a Business Advisor

One of the reasons small or large businesses fail is because the business owner is unwilling to change or refuses to take accountability. We understand why. You don’t want to be told that the decisions you took were wrong, even though you put a lot of work into building your company from scratch. Hiring a business advisor or a mentor will be the best investment you make, regardless of whether your business is old or new. Business advisors, with their expertise in running a successful business, can help you understand what caused your business to fail, how to move forward, and how to reset your goals and visions so you can thrive.

7. Build a Team With Like-minded People

As you invest time learning how to develop your leadership capabilities, put them to use by building a team that can drive your company to new heights. It’s easier to embrace inspiring thoughts when you are surrounded by positivity. Negative people can hinder your creativity and ambition, which can ultimately result in the demise of your business.

Sum Up

Be it a street food stall or a retail company, running a business requires a lot of resources. From cash flow management to digital advertising, you may not know everything on your first day. It will take a lot of trial and error for your business to shine. That being said, the entrepreneurial journey has its ups and downs and if you have a hard time dealing with failure, then you should rethink starting a business. But with patience, courage, willingness to learn, and perseverance, you can succeed in this challenging business environment.

The post Ways to Overcome Small Business Failure appeared first on SiteProNews.

It can be difficult to determine when the best time to start scaling is, especially if you’re still unsure about your company’s status, but there are some signs that tell small business owners such as laptop repair Calgary or phone repair Surrey when to start thinking about expanding their business. Take a look at your business and see if you meet any of these three positive growth indicators:

1. The demand for your products or services is high – When you start to notice sales increasing exponentially–to the point that they’re exceeding your supply or requiring your staff to work extra hours to meet demand–then it’s time to consider scaling your business to be able to meet that demand sustainably.

2. You have regular, loyal customers – Having return customers purchase from your business is a sign that people are satisfied with your products or services. As well as providing stable income, regular customers are more likely to advertise your business via word of mouth. By expanding your business you have the opportunity to increase their engagement with additional stores or offices closer in proximity, offering more deals or discounts, or even diversifying your product offerings.

3. You have consistent profit – When your business receives a steady or increasing net income, you can invest a portion of the profit for the business’ growth and expansion. This will also be very important if your industry is growing in popularity. If the market is demanding more of your products or services, scaling will help keep your brand relevant in the customers’ minds and help you keep up with the competition.

If you find yourself meeting one or more of these factors, then it might be time to consider scaling. While it can be daunting, think about what you risk if you stay as you are. Expanding your business when you are ready is rewarding and beneficial for your customers, your team, and you.

To help get over the fear and overwhelming feeling, it can really help to think about the positive outcomes. There are many benefits to scaling your business that business owners don’t always consider. Some of these are:

• Having more freedom to do what you like – If you expand your business, you’ll have more employees to delegate tasks to. This frees up a lot of time and allows you to do other things like spend time with your family, travel, or follow your passion and take up a hobby or sport.
• Allotting more time to take care of your health – Having a team to carry out your work means less stress and more opportunities to look after your health through exercise and regular medical and allied health appointments.
• Helping others by offering new job opportunities – You’ll be helping a lot of people find work as you’ll need to hire staff members to occupy the new roles, as well as give existing staff an opportunity to step up and increase their skills and abilities through increased responsibilities and work promotions.
• Earning enough money for retirement – Scaling your business will allow you to potentially earn higher revenue, which consequently leads to more savings for the near or distant future (or when you decide to retire).

Listing the rewards you’ll get through scaling a small business can motivate you to begin the planning process. Start by asking the right questions about what direction you want your small business to take, so you can be sure that the growth steps you implement will lead to the outcomes you ultimately want.

Five Questions You Need to Ask When Scaling Your Business

Before you fully commit to scaling a small business, you need to be sure about what direction to take. Here are the five questions a small business owner needs to ask as part of the scaling planning process.

1. What’s In It for Me?

Expansion means more for your customers and more opportunities for your staff. While you will be listening to their needs and opinions as part of your overall plan, it can be easy to overlook what’s in it for you. Make sure you cover what the change will do for you in the long term.

This business is the fruit of your hard work and labour, so it’s only understandable that one of your end goals for it is to be satisfied and fulfilled as a business owner.

As well as making sure you get the outcomes you actually want, looking at the positives can be the best way to overcome how daunting the change can initially be, especially with the risks involved.

Small business owners should ask questions like:

• How do I feel about my business now? – Scaling your business won’t be worth it if you’re unhappy with how operations are currently going. It helps to assess where your company is right now to determine whether or not scaling is a good decision. If you’re currently not okay with your business structure or systems, it might be better to delay expansion for now and spend time resolving the current issues.
• Where do I see myself in five to 10 years? – Knowing your long term goals will help you plan action steps and establish a marketing strategy that will align with where you want to be, which may include continued growth, a broader range of services or even removing yourself from the business entirely and letting your staff run it for you.
• Have I achieved everything I wanted so far? – Make sure your original goals are still relevant and you have taken steps to check them off. Looking over your previous success in achieving goals will help motivate you and give you confidence as well as show you what strategies in the past had the greatest results so you can use those methods to keep you moving forward.
• What do I want to gain when I scale my business? – This is the most important question. If there are no benefits to scaling or you anticipate more problems than rewards, then it might be best to hold off for now and work through solving the current issues to put you in a better position.

By asking these questions, you can gauge whether or not scaling your business is in your best interest.

2. Am I Financially Prepared for It?

Scaling your business comes with extra costs. You’ll possibly need more advanced equipment, new staff members, and additional space to accommodate the incoming workload. All of these things can be taxing, especially if you’re not financially prepared for it.

This is why it’s important to prepare a financial framework to help you identify your budget ahead of expansion. A financial framework can help you assess whether the business can accommodate the overall cost on its own or if funding from investors is necessary.

If you need extra funding, consider finding an investor or third party lender to shoulder the costs. Business.com suggests you get funding from:

• Friends and family
• Crowdfunding campaigns
• Angel investors
• Venture capitalists
• Accelerators

You can also approach banks or other lending institutions and apply for a business loan. As part of your application, you’ll have to provide complete documentation (i.e. identification, recent financial reports, your business plan) as well as details of your expansion, why it is necessary and what financial costs and revenue you anticipate. If successful, you will be required to pay interest on top of the loan’s principal value. Take these factors into consideration as interest charges add up during the course of your loan term agreement.

Another expense you need to consider is insurance. Unforeseeable events like theft, natural disasters, and damage due to renovation can put a huge dent in your business finances if you have to pay for recovery yourself. Even though these are unlikely events, having insurance for unforeseen circumstances can help you accurately predict and manage your overall budget.

Financial preparation is the key to success, without it, you’ll be risking a lot more and be less prepared for the changes to come.

3. How Do I Market My Small Business to More People?

Just because you are expanding, it doesn’t necessarily mean your sales will organically grow with you. Small business owners need to make a conscious effort to advertise their products or services and drive up demand. Your marketing methods should improve alongside your business’ growth and development.

You can increase your marketing reach through:

• Networking events -These allow you to get to know more people from your industry, reach out to potential customers, and build relationships with individuals who can market your business via word of mouth.

• Hosting events centred around your brand – This can include webinars, product launches, and award ceremonies. Events like these draw more people in and get them talking about your products and services.

• Social media promotion – Social media is a vital part of modern business marketing strategies. It allows businesses to interact with online communities, broaden their customer reach, and target customers who are interested in what they have to offer. This, in turn, can generate more leads through an inexpensive and convenient medium.

Businesses can also use social media to attract guest bloggers and affiliate marketers. The right influencers already have a large following of people who trust what they have to say, so getting them to share your products or services will increase opportunities for sales and can reach more potential customers.

4. Can My Staff Handle the Workload?

Scaling often involves additional work. Because of this, it might be time to hire new employees to take care of the added workload rather than exhaust yourself and your current team

Delegating tasks is an essential part of growing your business. This can be difficult at first, especially when you’ve gotten so used to the way things are done; but letting go of some of your tasks and allowing your senior staff members to step up and handle different responsibilities will let you focus on more important aspects of the company.

You also have to make sure that there’s still a healthy and conducive working culture within the company. According to the Harvard Business Review, instilling the right company culture can help further inspire and motivate staff members to deliver good work. It’s important to maintain this by regularly checking in with your employees, establishing ground rules for them to follow, and rewarding them for good work.

You can also choose to outsource the work if you’re not ready to add more full-time workers to your team. Outsourcing work can help small to medium enterprises (SMEs) grow their business because they’ll ultimately save more when it comes to staffing costs.

At the end of the day, your employees are what keeps operations going, so it’s best to hire the right people for the job and take care of the ones you already have.

5. Who Can I Turn to for Help or Business Advice?

One thing you’ve got to remember when scaling your business is that it’s okay to ask for help. There are business coaches and advisors available to help you through the process if you have questions or need guidance.

Look for a coaching program that works with small business expansion specifically, or that has a program for this as they will have the experience and advice that will boost your results. For example at Evolve To Grow, we have our Business Evolution Circle which is specific to addressing problems and providing tactical solutions for scaling a business. Make sure the company you go with has the experience needed to assist you.

There are plenty of social media groups and internet forums that allow you to interact with other small business owners, get tips on scaling, and discuss common problems. You can even subscribe to online courses and workshops with a professional business consultant to better understand the next steps you need to take.

Deciding to scale your business can be overwhelming to start with, but once you’ve outlined the benefits and gone through the questions you need to understand your business direction, you’ll find that transitioning from a small business to a bigger one can be a fun, exciting, and fulfilling endeavour.

If you’re interested in knowing more about scaling your business, you can join our Facebook group and talk with other like-minded small business owners for more tips and advice.

The post How To Scale a Small Business appeared first on SiteProNews.

Pick the Best Social Media Platform

Since you’re running a small business, you likely already have a lot on your plate. As a result, it can be challenging to keep up with all the social media platforms available. So, see which networks work best for your brand, niche, and overall business for the best results. This way, you’ll be able to focus on growing your audience and not waste any time. 

Regardless, don’t pressure yourself too much and focus on one or two platforms that’ll give you the best return on investment.

Stay Up-to-date With the Trends 

You don’t need to keep tabs on everything that becomes viral, even if paying attention to social media trends is ideal. It’s better to understand what the people are searching for when exploring their social media channels. This way, you may be able to develop relevant content that’ll resonate over time. 

Develop a Strategic Plan

Develop a plan once you know what’s trendy on your preferred social media platform. It’s best to have a plan before posting anything. It lets you determine the best type of content you need to publish at certain times or what target audience will benefit your business the most. 

Regardless, creating and following a plan can help you stay engaged with your audience while maintaining a professional look.

Always Consider Your Audience When Making Content

One of the best ways to boost your small business’s online presence is by creating content around your audience. After all, your audience will always be your priority, no matter the niche. So, make an effort to know what they like and dislike and adjust your content. 

Generally, here are some of the things you should know about your audience:

• Age
• Gender
• Region
• Goals
• Hobbies
• Needs
• Concerns

But regardless, remember to ensure your posts always contain valuable info. 

Skip the Fluff, Be Straightforward

Being straightforward is necessary for small businesses as it lets you stand out even against the big names in the industry. So, if you stay ultimately clear with yourself and your audience, you’ll have the best chance of success with any social media project. 

Also, though it’s good to keep up with the trends, being everything all at once on all platforms isn’t viable for any small business. To conclude, concentrate on a topic that you can communicate, discuss, and develop short and long term to establish a path that your audience can follow.

Take Advantage of Powerful Images To Capture the Audience’s Attention

When making content, make them so compelling that people can’t help but stop and have a second look. It’s easy to get hooked on the noise on social media, so standing out as a small business can be challenging. Luckily, you can draw attention by using powerful and eye-catching imagery showing what your business is all about. You can also hire a web design agency to create a stunning and attention grabbing website design for your business.

Create Content With Passion

Regularly creating and publishing new content is one of the most challenging aspects of any social media campaign. And as mentioned earlier, trying to be everything at once isn’t the most viable option. That’s why small business owners should focus on a topic they’re interested in. 

After all, it’s easier to offer relevant info to the readers if they’re also passionate. Not to mention, there’s a chance that they may share the same passion as you!

Automation is Key

After creating engaging, eye-catching, and educational content, it can be tiring to manually post each one every day. And even if you’re running a small business, it takes a lot of time and commitment to stay active on social media. Therefore, it’s best to automate your postings!

You can now automate your posts with automation tools, keeping you engaged and active on any social media platform. You can automatically schedule posts up to days, weeks, or months in advance.

Build and Maintain a Good Relationship With Your Audience 

As crucial as content is to build an online presence, it’s not always enough to just upload your material and walk away. Remember, the best way to appeal to people is to converse, build, and maintain a relationship with them. After all, most customers like going back to a brand that understands and appreciates them. 

So, try to generate exciting and educational content to connect more with your audience and boost engagement. You’ll be able to cultivate the relationships you desire to build and earn the trust of your target audience. 

Moreover, you don’t need to overcommit as simple gestures such as replying to comments on posts are enough to appeal to a customer.

Appreciate Those Around You

Finally, the most crucial thing to remember when establishing a solid online presence as a small business is that everything’s not solely about you—and your brand! So, instead of showing off your or your brand’s achievements, grab the chance to make significant connections with the individuals who helped and supported you throughout your career. 

You can show your appreciation for those people by following, liking, or sharing their posts. And not only will this be a chance to show your gratitude, but it’ll also make others grateful. As a result, these individuals will likely continue supporting your business endeavors. 

Conclusion

Establishing a solid online presence is challenging, especially as a small business. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts, so if you’re looking to grow, take it slow and keep the listed tips in mind. With these, you should be able to expand your business long-term in no time!

The post 10 Ways to Boost Your Small Business’s Social Media Presence appeared first on SiteProNews.