By Amy Conrad
Manager, Accounting Services
Email Amy
As you enter the new year with a fresh slate, now is the chance to try different approaches in how you do business.
Here are some suggestions of what you can do to switch things up a bit …
Host a business retrospective. After the holidays, you may need time to adjust. To ease into the new year, you should consider taking a few days to look back at your company’s performance in the previous year and set measurable goals for the new one. At Sponsel, we do this with our annual “firm retreat” at our downtown Indy office. Seeing our team gather in person reinforces the idea that we’re all in this together, working toward a common goal. Joining everyone in taking a step back from the daily grind provides a clearer perspective of the company’s accomplishments and pain points.
Host virtual events. Although this may seem contrary to the previous suggestion, it’s geared more toward reaching a wider consumer audience. Eliminating the need for travel and introducing your business to prospective clients in a less formal virtual space is beneficial in helping you tap into different regions and demographics. Try hosting free online workshops every month — or more casual events like digital bingo or trivia nights. Virtual meetings / conferences can also be effective tools for recruiting, as they eliminate some of the stress and formality of the traditional interview / hiring process.
Increase your social media presence. Recent studies show nearly 90% of small business owners reporting that social media has aided their business. A strong social media presence can be vital in reaching and retaining audiences. Plus, social media analytics enable you to see what your audience is engaging with the most, thus allowing you to adjust your focus on particular products and services.
Redesign your website. Sure, you can still catch customers with a billboard or brochure every now and then, but for the most part, audiences are online — and not just on their laptops or desktop computers. In fact, mobile browsing currently makes up about half of all web traffic. Consider making your website faster and more mobile-friendly. Maybe freshen up your logo as well. Allow users to schedule an appointment with you through the website. Create registration pages for those online workshops mentioned earlier.
Consider automation. Automated email marketing campaigns not only save you time in interacting with your client base, but they can also revitalize existing customer relationships. Automation can also help with simplifying the payment process.
These are just a few of the many things you can do this year to breathe new life into your business. We wish you the best!
If we can assist you further with your personal or business affairs, please call us at (317) 608-6699 or email Amy.