3 New Year's resolutions to help your small business thrive.

Okay, we get it: There hasn’t been a lot to smile about in recent months. However, all of this doom and gloom just might mean that good things, including prosperity for your small business, are right around the corner. Why not kick 2020 to the curb by coming up with some positive resolutions that just might make a huge difference for your small business in 2021?

Go touchless.

COVID-19 may have put a major damper on most things, but it certainly helped to catapult certain technological innovations into normal use. Because of fear of contracting the virus, consumers were reluctant to touch surfaces, including POS terminals and cash. Fortunately, they already possessed the tool that could promote health, higher security, and convenience when it came to conducting transactions: Their smartphones.

With touchless payments, all that is necessary is a “smart” credit card or digital wallet-equipped smartphone, and a contactless card reader. Simply by placing the card or device near the reader, a consumer’s payment information can be safely transmitted to the service provider for verification and authentication. Within mere seconds, the entire process is completed. If you don’t have a contactless reader for your small business, resolve to upgrade your system today.

Get social.

TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, the list goes on and on. Any small business owner who is not capitalizing on the free marketing available via these venues is missing out.

No, you don’t need to be Kim Kardashian to harness social media. All that is required is that you establish pages on sites your customers use. (Think Facebook and Pinterest for older demographics and TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram for your more youthful shoppers.)

Spend a little time crafting your page, and then update it regularly. Converse actively with your customers, and provide information that is fun, useful, or both. Make your brand compelling and engaging, and never stop incentivizing your customers to return for more. This is how they will stay in touch with you, and keep connected to your products. 

Find other ways to stay in touch with customers.

Today’s successful businesses don’t wait for consumers to come to them; they reach out and provide enticements that attract both current and future buyers. Social media tactics are one effective way to do this, but there are others. These include:

• Writing a blog. Your last name doesn’t need to be Capote or Rowling to be a successful blogger. Your jottings can cover any number of topics – just strive to somehow connect them with your brand and products. Fun facts, how-tos, and behind-the-scenes sneak peaks are fun ways to communicate with interested customers.
• Using your email database to send out monthly newsletters. These can provide updates about new products and promotions, answer customer questions, describe upcoming contests, introduce staff members, or anything else your heart desires. Newsletters are a great way to spread the word about your brand while portraying your company’s unique style.
• Appeal to mobile phone users. It should go without saying, but your site needs to be optimized for customers using tablets and cellphones. Today’s consumers tend to do a good deal of their shopping via these devices, and you can’t afford to miss out. If you haven’t done so already, use your tech skills to make your website mobile-friendly to attract this ever-growing customer base.

You might be asking where you will possibly find the time to write a blog or newsletter, or tweak your website. If day-to-day work tasks have absorbed all of your attention, dig into that cash drawer and hire someone to help. Resolve to connect more dynamically with your customers today.

The problem with many resolutions is that they get lost in the shuffle. Therefore, perhaps your most important goal for 2021 is to make the goals you set a reality no matter what. Once you do, your business will be far better equipped to be resilient and successful in these challenging times.