Ready to say goodbye to 2020 forever and grow your business in 2021? I know we are!
But a goal like “I want to grow my business this year” means nothing without mapping out the practical steps you’ll take to get there.
So today, we’re sharing with you 7 New Year’s resolutions that will help you grow your small business and build a life you love.
1. Build more connections in the community.
A lot of small businesses closed for good in 2020. A lot. The ones that didn’t shut down leaned into their relationships with the community.
They got creative—and survived as a result.
Some businesses expanded their services or their hours to meet the needs in their community. They asked real people what they needed and listened.
Others made an extra effort to help those who were struggling in their local area. In doing so, they showed their city that they truly care.
It may look different for your business, but forging deeper relationships with real people in your community is one of the best New Year’s resolutions you can make this year.
2. Hire an accountant and make a plan.
Small businesses that are surviving the pandemic also got creative with their finances. They hired professionals to help them manage their money and make plans for the future.
Several of our clients got grants worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars because we were there to let them know what opportunities were available. Without that influx of cash, who knows if they could’ve made it through 2020?
Our advice to you is to hire an accountant (like us!) or a CPA who can give you valuable financial insights and update you on the latest grant opportunities. This is a surefire way to grow your small business!
3. Optimize your website.
If COVID-19 taught us anything, it’s that having a website is absolutely crucial to succeed as a business. Throughout 2020, people were far less likely to go to stores in person, whether because of government restrictions or simply their own precaution.
So what did they do? They looked online. They browsed and shopped online. They ordered delivery—all online!
Small businesses that don’t have a website are missing out on one of the most popular ways people shop nowadays.
Make sure your website is up to date and accurate. That includes your business information and location, store hours, employees (if you feature them on there), your services or products, and your copyright year.
It also means making sure your website design is clean and attractive. Having a clunky or ugly website can actually hurt you because it gives people the impression that you’re not taking your business seriously.
Thankfully, there’s no better time to build a simple, beautiful website than now. You can create one easily on Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress, all of which have templates you can use. No need to be a website developer or know coding—these website builders make it easy.
4. Increase your online presence.
In that same vein, it’s important that you increase your business’ visibility online. By that, we mean posting regularly on social media where your ideal client spends time.
Some of the most popular social media platforms right now are Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you sell products, especially craft products, Pinterest is a great fit for you. And if you target other business professionals, then LinkedIn is a fantastic platform to focus on.
We recommend starting by choosing 2 platforms you will use, then post faithfully on them. The key to a good online presence is posting at least several times a week.
That’s what we did last year and we’re already seeing great results! Our website traffic has increased, our followers have grown by the hundreds, and we’ve gained new leads—all because we chose to take our online presence seriously.
5. Plan at least one vacation.
We know, we know—2020 made us all think we no longer have time for a vacation. But you do.
You might have noticed that we write about self-care and mental health a lot on our blog. That’s because, at Foray Business Group, we know emotional health has a huge effect on business.
We recommend business owners to practice self-care, take regular vacations, and help their employees stay healthy and balanced.
You, friend, are no exception. Prioritize your vacation this year!
6. Get to know your customers and employees.
Relationships are the lifeblood of any small business.
Why do customers choose to shop at your store instead of Walmart? Because they like you and believe in what you’re doing. Why do employees choose to work for you instead of Target? Because they trust you as a boss.
Nurture those relationships by talking with customers and employees when you get a chance. Letting them know you genuinely care about them and your community can go a long way in fostering loyalty.
7. Hire a bookkeeper.
You knew we had to talk about this. After all, bookkeeping often takes the most time for small business owners—and they usually don’t even enjoy it.
But for bookkeepers like us at Foray Business Group? We love it! And we love even more the opportunity to help small business owners focus on growing their businesses instead of reconciling their accounts.
Plus, small business owners have admitted to us that they really don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to bookkeeping.
They have a box of receipts tucked away in a filing cabinet that they pull out during tax time. Or they use an online accounting software but aren’t categorizing transactions correctly. As a result, they spend hours trying to figure out the problem, but their bookkeeping is still a mess.
That doesn’t have to be you this year! You can hire us to do your bookkeeping for you so you have more time to do what you do best.
Want to find out if we’re a good fit to do your bookkeeping? Schedule a free consultation with our accounting team!