Top ways to grow your business

Image credit: Scott Graham from Unsplash

The new year has officially begun which means it's time to think about your business year ahead. We have declared 2021 to be the year businesses make a comeback and and thrive, businesses all over the globe have struggled to keep going, if you are one of the lucky ones that have managed to stay open over the last year then well done, it's now time to start planning to grow and run your business successfully throughout the year ahead.

Make Or Revise Your Business Plan
Every business should have a business plan in place, if yours hasn't been updated or reviewed in a while then take the time to check in and see if you are still on plan. If you are a new business looking to start writing your plan then there are many templates online that you can use. When writing your plan have a time period in mind, whether it be a 1 year, 5 year or 10 year goal this will be helpful to keep you on track to achieving your aims and objectives. Keep reviewing your plan every 6 months to see if your values or end goal has altered. 

Grow Your Online Presence
It is essential for any successful business to have an online presence in 2021, so if you don't already it's time to think about creating a website and / or social media pages for your business. If you already have a website then you might want to consider rebranding or upgrading. Ensure your website is optimised for all device types and is easy for customers to navigate.

If you are planning to optimise your site, then you need to make sure that you are using the right SEO service. For instance, if you are running a software business, then you need to explore SEO for SaaS companies. A service like this will guarantee that you don’t slip into any negative tactics.

Once your website is up to scratch, it's time to set up your social media accounts. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the leading social media platforms. Choose one or two main platforms to focus on, having too many accounts running at once can be overwhelming and hard to keep track of. When your social media accounts are up and running you can start using the advertising tools they offer. They allow you to target specific, ages, genders and areas, which will help guide the right customer to your site.

Think About Location 
When running you business location is key, if you are a physical business then you might want to be positioned within a busy highstreet so you get organic walk in traffic. If you are located down a side street it might be hard for your customers to find you so ensure you are somewhere more prominent. If your business is online you might not think that location is important, however people have preconceived ideas about the status of a business based on their location.  A great way for you and any team members to collaborate, or for you to meet with current and potential clients, is to look into a suitable coworking space so that you’ll have the flexibility to utilize it when needed. If you are looking to expand where you conduct business you should get a CBD virtual office to help you grow your business outside your usual area. By setting up a few virtual offices will help you gain customers from all over the world. 

Set up a warehouse
As your company begins to grow, so will the demand for the products you have on offer. As a result, it's important that you are able to meet this increase in demand as swiftly as possible, as customers are much more likely to complain should they have to wait weeks on end for delivery. One way in which you can combat this issue is by investing in a warehouse. By having a warehouse storage space at your disposal, you can stock up on products ahead of time, especially when you are anticipating an increase in sales (such as during the festive period). This will help you to easily cater to customer demand. They can also be useful in storing scrupulous products or materials that you might not need right away but could come in handy further down the line. In short, while you may have started by storing your products in a small space within your offices - as your company grows, it's far better to have (or invest in) your own company warehouse. 

​Now it's time for you to apply these tips to your business and make it a successful year. While you are here check out Three ways you can reduce your workload in your small business.