For ambitious people everywhere, the new year represents an exciting opportunity to make a positive changes in their personal and professional lives. If you are a part of this crowd (and let’s be real, no one runs a business without being at least somewhat ambitious) then you are probably drafting a resolution list right now. If that is the case, then here are four concrete ways you can improve your business in 2018.

Take Full Advantage of Social Media

Unless you’re totally slacking off, the odds are pretty good that your business has, at a minimum, a Facebook page and a Twitter account. Perhaps you even dabble in other social networks such as LinkedIn, and maybe you’ve even put some work into developing original content and/or advertising a bit.

Nonetheless, it is a pretty safe bet that you are not taking full advantage of all the benefits that’s social media offers. (It’s no coincidence that 76% of small businesses don’t see positive ROI from their social media pages.) In most cases, this is due to a very minimal amount of time, money, and effort invested in such endeavors. If you make an earnest attempt to post original content at least once a week, post curated content at least twice a week, and engage with every comment and message you receive in a timely manner, your social media campaign will automatically be in the top ten percent, without spending a single dime on advertising. Don’t believe us? Try it for yourself.

Get e-Comm

A shockingly low percentage of small businesses have an e-commerce presence. (In fact, only about half even have websites at all!) The reason why this is so surprising is that ecommerce is especially suited to smaller organizations. The reduced overhead and easy scalability makes online business an invaluable opportunity for companies like yours, so make sure your new years resolution list contains a plan to build your online store!

Be Ruthless Toward Unnecessary Costs

Many people start the new year looking to shed a few pounds. (And this is certainly an admirable goal, especially considering the fact that some studies have shown a correlation between promoting physical health and improving your financial well-being.) That being said, you should make it a goal to trim fat from your business operations as well! Overspending can really harm small companies dealing with tight budgets, so analyze the ROI on each and every dollar carefully.

Highlight What Makes You Unique

No two businesses are alike. (And this is a good thing.) Identifying what makes you special to your customers and to your industry is the cornerstone of any brand-building campaign — and you would do well to emphasize this through social media, customer experience, product design, professional photography, and every other medium possible.

 

Learn more about strategies for business success by browsing more articles on the Black and Gold blog — and don’t forget to share your own experiences in the comment section below!

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