The task of running a business has always been a complex one that comes along with its share of challenges.
However, in the age of the internet running a business has changed in many ways. In some ways managing a business has become more simple due to the convenience that the internet offers. Yet in others, it may have become more challenging since the ease of starting a business online has opened up room for more competition.
Ultimately, it is still possible to see success and business growth in modern times, even if it requires changing your original approach. If you are looking for ways to help your business grow and develop with the help of new technology, here are some things to keep in mind.
1. Keep Up With New Types of Technology
Whether you have a business that is purely online, one that is a brick-and-mortar store, or a combination of both, using new kinds of technology can be important for starting and maintaining business growth.
From network signaling security to organizational software, there are many different things that can be beneficial for your business and for streamlining mundane business tasks. For example, using AI to take care of small customer service operations can free up time for your customer service representatives, so that they can focus on managing more complicated customer issues.
Even though it may seem like you are slowing things down initially when you introduce new ways of doing things, the truth is that new kinds of tech can be great for your business in the long run.
After the adjustment period, the new tech you have can not only help you ensure that basic tasks are getting completed more quickly, but also that they are more accurate as well. This means greater business efficiency and the opportunity for you and your employees to spend more time on the kinds of complex tasks that will move your company forward.
2. Make the Most of Social Media
Social media can feel like a chore or a necessary evil to some. However, what they may not realize is that social media can offer many exciting opportunities for business development and growth.
At times it may simply seem like a vehicle for sharing information about your company, but it can be so much more than that. With social media, you not only have the ability to share information with existing followers, but you can reach new groups of potential customers as well.
It can also be a great tool for gaining marketing insight and developing new products and services that will truly interest your customers. By creating engaging and informative content, you can help ensure that you are keeping your current follower’s interest and that you will more easily gain the interest of new potential customers.
Additionally, by posting questionnaires and asking questions about what appeals to your followers the most, you can learn what they are truly interested in, and use this knowledge to develop better products.
Along with connecting with your followers, social media offers the opportunity for you to better define your business and your brand. Every time that you post, no matter what you are posting about, you are making a statement that contributes to your overall brand image.
The more that you can maintain a consistent tone in your posts, as well as discuss issues that are important to your company, the better defined your brand will be. Ultimately, the more well-defined your brand is, the more recognizable it is, and the more likely customers will be to think of your business first when they are looking for a particular product or service.
3. Try Out New Marketing Strategies
In the online age, another thing you need to think about and adjust on a regular basis is your marketing strategies. Because consumer trends can change rapidly, it is necessary to keep track of them and to keep looking for ways to improve them and stay ahead of the competition.
Something else that you need to think about when it comes to your marketing is your target audience. Even though some may like the idea of marketing far and wide to as many people as possible, the reality is that it can be a better idea to target your marketing efforts directed towards those who are most likely to be interested in your products.
By focusing your efforts on a target audience, you can help save yourself time and funds.
4. Keep Doing Plenty of Research
During the beginning stages of launching a business, it is likely that you did lots of research to understand your market and how to make a place for yourself in it.
What some don’t realize is that it is essential to keep doing research, even after you are past the initial stages of starting up a business. As your business grows and you seek new ways to keep it growing, you will need to keep doing research.
However, you may need to do more detailed research if you want to achieve your business goals. Taking time to tap into your business analytics and study them can be a great idea for helping expand your business in meaningful ways. By studying the keywords that your customers type in to get to your business, you can get a clearer idea of how they view your business, and what their needs are.
Looking at your analytics can also show you how effective some marketing strategies are over others, and allow you to refine the way that you market.
5. Be Willing To Adjust Your Plans
As you develop your business and adjust to the frequent changes that you are likely to experience, you may also need to be willing to adjust your original business plans.
While some may feel more secure sticking with their original plans, the reality is that there may be situations where it would make more sense to alter them and adapt, especially as you do more research and better define your place in the market. That being said, you may not necessarily need to change your business plans at any point.
However, it can still be a good idea to check in with your business plans from time to time and reevaluate them, and make sure that they still are the best plans for you. This can not only help to remind you of what you want for your company, but it can make it easier for you to set meaningful goals as well.
6. Hire People That Will Make a Difference
Something else that’s key when it comes to setting your business up for success in the modern era is making sure that you hire people that will make a difference for your company.
This can mean different things for different businesses, but ultimately it boils down to making sure you hire candidates that will be willing to go the extra mile for you. Not only that, but you also need to make sure that you are hiring candidates that can grow and change with the changing technology in your field.
While some may think the best way to accomplish this is to go straight for the candidates that have the most experience, the reality is that it can actually be more effective to hire those who are newer in the field.
These candidates tend to want to prove themselves and develop their skills, two things that can be great for a growing business. Beyond that, an employee who wants to prove their skills is more likely to be loyal to the company and to want to see it succeed.
7. Tailor Your Customer Service To Your Customers
If you truly want to have a successful company, then you need to make sure that you are offering the best customer service possible. This is particularly true in the age of the internet, where it is so easy for customers to leave reviews and post about their experiences with your business on multiple platforms.
When customers are happy with their service and post positive reviews, it can be great for your business and function almost like free advertising. However, if a customer happens to be dissatisfied with the service they get, then it could be highly detrimental for your business.
Even a couple of bad reviews could have a lasting negative impact, and could even drive away potential customers. One way to offer quality service is to make sure that you are always prompt in addressing customer issues. By taking care of their concerns promptly, you show them that you take them and their issues seriously.
Something else that can help when it comes to offering quality service is making sure that you are always friendly when dealing with your customers, no matter how they are behaving towards you. This can show them that you respect them, and appreciate them as customers.
Some Final Thoughts
Running a business can be both complicated and stressful, but ultimately rewarding as well. This can all be especially true in the time of the internet when there are more opportunities, but also more challenges.
The good news is that running a successful business doesn’t have to be difficult and that there are many simple ways you can effectively grow your business in modern times.
Paisley Hansen is a mother of three and a small business owner. She spends her time caring for her children and taking her business to the next level. When she’s not busy working or taking care of her kids, you can find her at the gym or curl up with a good book.
