Being the end of the year there are plenty of predictions flying around for what the next 12 months will bring to small businesses. You’ve probably seen quite a few of them yourself.
So what is it that the experts are saying you should concentrate your efforts on next year?
1. Revenue rather than employees.
With the ever-advancing world of technology it’s not necessary to rent office premises and hire a bunch of employees, all of which increase your overheads dramatically. Instead look at what you do best and focus your energy on it, then outsource the rest.
The rise in technology has also led-way to an increase in remote workers, so finding a reliable professional Virtual Assistant who can complement your business isn’t as difficult or as nerve-racking as it once was.
2. Getting social.
With 75%* of businesses relying heavily on word of mouth to attract new customers, and 26%* expecting social media such as Facebook and Twitter to help build their new customer base, social media is where it’s at.
If you’re not a social media expert, or quite simply don’t have the time for it, that’s a job that can be easily outsourced to a VA. As long as you know what kind of image you want to portray, and the tone of voice you want to chat in, a Virtual Assistant can do the rest. And with lots of time saving apps available, your VA could do this in as little as just 1 hour per day.
3. Content is king.
New content is the main player for 2013. If you haven’t started blogging, now is definitely the time to do it. With search engines changing how they rank websites almost daily, it’s not all about keywords anymore. Fresh, relevant, exciting new content that gets your target audience talking and interacting will play a major role in expanding your reach.
4. Staying personal.
It doesn’t matter how big you are or how much revenue you make. It’s about reaching out and being a face for your customers. Being treated equally is key, so when dealing with your customers remember it’s OK to be human. Being honest, upfront and responsive will help built customer loyalty and trust.
5. Strategic planning.
56%* of small businesses wish they could devote more time to strategy and planning for the future. It goes without saying that this is a fairly important part of any business – big or small. So make time. If you need help there are many Virtual Assistant and Strategic Consultants available offering exactly this kind of expertise and guidance.
Stay ahead of your competition and make 2013 the year of growth. Outline a strategy for the next 12 months and have some measureable goals set so you can stay on track more easily.
Recent research carried out by the American Express UK Small Business Barometer highlighted that just over half of small business owners across Britain (51%) expect their businesses to grow in the coming 12 months. 37% expect their businesses to stay roughly the same, and only 11% expect their business to contract in 2013. Additionally seven in ten UK small business owners expect growth to come domestically.
What great news! Help your business be one of those by starting 2013 fully prepared. If you haven’t already, find yourself a Virtual Assistant who can support you and your business giving you the peace-of-mind to just get on and grow!
So all that’s left to say is have a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
* Research carried out by American Express UK Small Business Barometer
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