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The 7 Step Guide On How To Grow Your Small Business

Now more than ever are small businesses prominent. In 2020, a report had shown that small businesses accounted for 44% of the entire U.S. economy. With  a significant portion of the economy, this number has since then dramatically declined due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, which unfortunately ran a lot of our favorite mom and pop shops out of business. 

We want to help out small businesses as much as we can, so that’s why we’ve created this guide on the several steps to take to grow your small business. Let’s get into it.

#1: Invest in Things That Make Life Easier

Look, we get it- you’re a small business owner, you have a million different things going on at once! From marketing, to sales, to product development, to hiring, attending meetings, etc, etc, etc. In the famous words of James Taylor, “Time will take your money, but money won’t buy time.” So stop doing everything yourself, and instead, invest in systems that will save you time. A business that is powered through structured systems is one that can handle multi-layered demands of expansion. 

Having a powerful customer relations management system (CRM) can be a game changer. Or, try introducing a strong e-commerce software. Take a look at what is taking up most of your time, and evaluate if there’s a system out there that can take over. 

#2: Make Your Website & Blog Shine

We’re all about digital these days– so it would make sense why having a good website is just as important as having a good storefront. Your website is your storefront– digitally, that is! Growing a small business online is less expensive than a physical location, but that doesn’t mean you should be skimping on costs. When designing a website, it’s best to have it professionally done by a graphic designer and web developer. By doing so, you can ensure that your site is built properly, the user experience has been planned out, and that the site can meet all your goal expectations. 

Your blog should be bringing value to your audience, and be the informational side connected to your store. For example, if you sell candles on Etsy, you may want to have a blog post go out talking about what to do with the empty jars once the candles have been used. Connect what you’re selling to what you want others to know.

#3: Measure Data

So many business owners underestimate the power of knowing their numbers. Growing a small business online requires a lot of data analysis. When you know your data, it’s going to be a lot harder to mess it all up. There are three things you should be doing immediately and that is:

  • Have someone or be the someone who does the company’s bookkeeping and understands financial data. Look at your goals and how the numbers are supporting them, or if they’re not.
  • Have a Google My Business account. GMB is a free tool that lets you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps. That includes adding your business name, location, and hours; monitoring and replying to customer reviews; adding photos; learning where and how people are searching for you, and more.
  • Have a Google Analytics account. Google Analytics shows bounce rate, page visits, average time on site, and how your audience is arriving at your website, which can provide insights into where to focus your marketing efforts. Unbounce is another analytics tool worth considering, especially for figuring out how to optimize landing pages and increasing conversions.

#4: Take the Risk!

You’re not going to grow if you don’t take risks. Calculated risks, notice the keyword “calculated”, are the best way to ensure that you’re making moves in the right direction. By focusing on the end goal and proactively identifying potential roadblocks, you’ll set yourself up for success, even when your next move feels like a risk.

#5: Remember Who You Are and Your Brand

There’s a reason you started this business: stay true to it! Just like there are quarterly reports and check-ins, there should also be quarterly personal check-ins. Every once in a while it’s useful to determine if your goals have changed, if your brand is staying genuine, and if you’re keeping your focus on what makes you different or better in the first place. 

#6: Help Your Team Help You

Starting and owning a small business is no easy task. There should be no room for ego in the way you manage. You hired people to help you do more and achieve more. Let them. Nothing is worse than a small-business owner who refuses to be proved wrong. Do not micromanage your employees, and support them by helping them help you. Listen to them, not just hear them. Without embracing the fact that you’re not an expert in everything (even your own business!), you won’t achieve and get better. Trust the team you have built, and let them do what they signed on to do.

#7: Have Your Marketing Be On Point

If you’re a small business owner that already doesn’t have a lot of time, why on Earth would you take marketing on as well? It’s common for small businesses to attempt to do their own marketing, but many fail once they realize there are many different parts of marketing, such as social media, SEO, data analysis, paid advertising, graphic designing, targeting, and so much more. Like Tip #1 said, invest in things that make your life easier. If you want more sales, traffic and leads, then it may be time to hire a digital marketing agency. With professionals there to do everything for you and bring results, that means you can spend more time doing what you do best: running your small business! 

Owning and running your own small business is no easy task. More than ever are small businesses being recognized and supported. Implementing these several tips will change the way your day to day operations run for the better. Give them a try and let us know if you found something useful in this article! 

Target River was recently named 2020’s Best Marketing Agency, as well as awarded within 14 different categories of marketing by the State of Utah. We provide transformative results using our strategical and proven #WhoHowWhat formula. If you or someone you know is struggling with their marketing efforts, contact us today at www.targetriver.com

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