There’s no better feeling in business than getting your company up and running. Seeing the development of your client base and the growth of your brand is validation for the hard work that it takes to get a business off the ground. However, a successful business is one that is always looking for ways to move forward. The most established companies are those that have found reliable mechanisms to help them to take their business to the next level. Something as simple as choosing a business credit card can impact your bottom line. These techniques can be equally applicable to a smaller and newer business with big aspirations for the future.
Crowdsourcing
Sometimes it can be difficult to see the big picture on your own. Crowdsourcing helps you to gain new perspectives on a business situation, whether taking onboard new concepts from employees or reaching out to clients for constructive feedback. Qmarkets offer a range of distinctive tools that are useful for businesses of any size, from its Q-optimize tool that helps to streamline workflow processes to its Q-ideate system that looks to harness the creative potential of employees.
By regularly undertaking crowdsourcing tasks, a business stays in a constant process of improvement. It also lets employees and clients know that this is a business that is keen to move forward, and one that values the opinions of everyone connected to the company. The feedback from crowdsourcing tasks could be instrumental in taking a business to the next level, whether through an innovative idea or a way to optimize existing processes.
Social media
Almost every business has some sort of presence on social media, but how do you make the most of your brand’s digital identity? At its most basic level, social media can be an effective way to deliver practical information to existing customers. However, social media platforms also offer a unique way to reach out to new clients, particularly those who would otherwise have no means of learning about your business.
Developing a distinctive voice for your brand can be an intimidating pursuit, but services like Hootsuite offer a range of advice and services for businesses looking to capitalize on their social media reach. Hootsuite’s guide for small businesses identifies the importance of developing a clear social media plan, taking the time to build relationships, and the value of posting interesting visuals to increase engagement.
Community links
A new business almost always relies on some links in the local community, otherwise that initial traction is hard to achieve. However, making regular and varied links with your community can help you to build that all-important strong local base, providing a platform from which to expand outwards. Credibly offer a range of financial services for businesses, but they also offer advice for small companies looking to improve their foothold in the local community.
One great way to build an established presence in the community is through sponsorship, whether of a sporting team, a charity, or an event. This provides permanent advertising, as well as permanent goodwill. Also, simply being an active member of the local community and a fixture at events in the area is all good publicity in itself.
At their core, each of these three tips are about finding new ways to connect with customers. While all businesses should of course value their clients, those looking to expand and diversify should get creative in their approaches.
