Small businesses are an important part of the fabric of our society and have a massive impact on the economy. So it is not just exciting to go into business for yourself, but it is also a rewarding and hopefully profitable choice. The thing is, it’s one thing to decide one day that you are going to start a business. It’s quite another to run it daily and keep it growing the whole time.
Luckily, small businesses have been around for centuries, so there is a lot of history that you can look to for inspiration and guidance. If you were to do that, you would see that successful businesses share similar traits during their times. The same is true of today. Here is a list of 5 traits of thriving small businesses today.
1 Customer Focus
Any business that wants to thrive needs loyal customers. These are the customers that don’t just make a single purchase. They will come back, again and again, to buy from you. They will follow and engage with your social media accounts and answer customer satisfaction surveys. Statistics show that keeping customers is more affordable than finding new ones, so it is like striking gold when someone is ready to purchase from you or has already done so.
To keep customers returning, you need to have a customer-focused culture. Your staff should be trained in working and communicating with the public. Conflict resolution and personal connections are important skills for your staff. Try personalizing the experience so all your customers feel welcome and comfortable. By focusing on your customers, you will not just get them to come back, but they will tell their friends and family about your wonderful service.
2 An Effective Marketing Strategy
Small businesses tend not to have the marketing budget that their larger competitors do. That means they need to be more thoughtful about their strategies and get the most bang for their buck. One of the most effective ways for a small business to market itself is online. For example, a local business can post on local social media pages to promote itself. They can interact as their brand with their followers and build a connection with people in the community. Targeted ads can also ensure that even though fewer people will see marketing content than a broadcast campaign, the people who see it will be more likely to buy.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a valuable tool for small businesses. Customers tend to search in their local area for certain products and services. SEO means that your website has relevant and authoritative content related to the standard search terms that people might make if they are looking for businesses like yours. If search engines like Google detect that you have such content, they will bump you up the rankings list to appear on the first page. This is where most consumers find the brands they will shop with.
Furthermore, developing a solid email marketing strategy will enable you to more effectively and affordably engage with your target audience and improve revenue. Email marketing solutions allow your company to connect with clients more effectively than before, like other platforms and media. Email marketing is a valuable strategy since it is affordable, engaging, and easily measurable, to name just a few factors. Create an effective email marketing strategy to reap significant rewards and engage with your company’s clients and future customers.
3 Strong Leadership
The leadership of any small business must be strong and lead by example. You can’t expect your employees to go the extra mile for you if you aren’t willing to do so yourself. Becoming an effective leader is a valuable skill and can present itself in many different ways. Pay a decent living wage, and demonstrate your work ethic. Get to work early and leave after everyone else has gone. Also, take care of everything you do and pay attention to details. Your team will see not only how you work but also what your expectations are, and they will follow suit. Be very clear about what your goals are and what you expect from your staff. If you need to, get feedback on decisions and give them some ownership of your operations. They will appreciate being heard and be more dedicated to the company’s success as a result.
4 The Right Insurance
For a business to thrive, it needs to be protected, and it needs to be resilient. Protecting your business means a lot of things. For instance, you should regularly inspect your building and equipment and have the appropriate security measures in place. However, your business could still be at risk from several hazards that could cost you thousands and thousands of dollars.
That’s why business insurance is so important. For example, if someone is injured on your property and decides to sue you, then you need protection from court and legal costs. Or a storm could damage your building or inventory. Furthermore, in every state, you must have workers’ compensation insurance for your business if you have any employees. All of this protection will make your business more resilient and able to withstand whatever comes.
5 A Great Team
Of course, it’s easier to be a strong leader if you have a team of strong employees. Never take your staff for granted, as they are the best assets you have. It’s important to look at resumes and get a sense of candidates’ skills and experience. However, you also need to hire people who fit the culture you want to have at your business. Personality fits are almost as important as skill fits, and it can be tricky to find the right people. Be patient, and do not settle if you can’t find the right candidate to hire full-time; use a temp agency until you do.
A business exists to make a profit. While that’s the primary focus, the fact is that if you own a company, you don’t want just to be treading water. You want to thrive and get your business to places you’ve dreamed of. To do that, you will need to have certain elements in place that will help you achieve that success. Without many of these traits, you will have trouble keeping up with your competition and motivating others. As a business owner, you can instill the culture in your business and put everything in place to have a strong business for years.
