2020 was one of the most challenging years for small businesses in recent history. With the COVID pandemic and lockdown, there seems to be a shift in the way businesses are done. Where everything is online, we’re seeing more and more hybrid business models.
Nonetheless, these businesses are quickly adjusting to what the new normal of doing business demands. These include increased deliveries, e-commerce models and frantic use of digital media to reach the target audience.
Critical to staying afloat for any business whether small or big is having the ability to shift to new operating models, while at the same time ensuring you are updated with the latest trends. To remain above water, many business owners adapted spontaneously and were able to identify innovative approaches to modify how they operate.
In 2021, the rapidly changing technology is putting pressure on what small businesses need to adapt and meet consumer demands. Today, as a business owner you will need to stay updated with the current trends to keep your business in the market. The trick lies in the ability to spot the behaviour that may emerge from the change or the forced trends of the new “normal” way of doing business. Here what your small business needs in 2021:
What Small Businesses Need in 2021?
Here are some of the things a small business needs in 2021:
Prioritize Digital Presence:
Prioritizing digital presence is one of the first things small businesses need. Internet and mobile usage were up in 2020. According to a joint study headed by Next Web, the number of people using the internet has grown by 7.3%, mobile usage by 1.3%, and social media users by 13%. With the number of social media users now surpassing half of the world’s total population.
As everyone is spending significant time on the internet, having a great digital presence and branding will help small businesses when competing for a space in the market, potential customers, partnerships and opportunities. Being online is an excellent way to highlight your product or service, engage and build a community of people who are interested in whatever product or service you are selling.
Pivoting online is no longer just a good idea—it’s quite essential. Having a strong online presence helps shield you from the ups and downs in the local economy because you have access to a much larger customer base.
More paid placement advertising
The second thing your small business needs after getting an online presence is getting your business content targeted at the right audience. With paid advertising, you can achieve that.
Paid advertising is any kind of advertising that you have to pay for, versus owned or earned advertising. Paid placement is coming into its own, with immersive, targeted, and video-centric content.
With paid placement ads or pay-per-click (PPC), you appear in the search results along with organically-ranked articles. That’s powerful because customers who are searching for what you sell will see your content. You are guaranteed reach and can utilize your content to elevate your brand with specific targeting and obtain more qualified leads.
Adoption into Ecommerce
Customers are shopping differently in 2021. They are prioritizing convenience and ease of access. For customers, e-commerce makes shopping from anywhere and at any time possible. That means buyers can get the products they want and need faster without being constrained by the operating hours of a traditional brick-and-mortar store.
Ecommerce has had a major impact on customers. It is revolutionizing the way modern consumers shop. And because of this, small businesses of all kinds need to expand their mindsets and seek ways to update this massive trend. Ecommerce also makes it easier for companies to reach new, global customers. An e-commerce store isn’t tied to a single geographic location — it’s open and available to any and all customers who visit it online.
Automate Your Customer Service with Chatbots
Automated customer service is a trend changing in the way brands communicate with their customers. Chatbots are redefining the way customer engagement is being done: it has made it possible for you to help customers 24/7, automatically resolve questions without any human intervention, and provide support to multiple customers at once.
One of the biggest perks comes in the form of time saved: since chatbots resolve simple questions quickly, your team has more time to tackle more complex queries.
Creating a convenient experience for your customers in 2021, it’s crucial to operate with a digital-first mentality and provide options.
Conclusion
As a business owner, it is important to be up-to-date with trends, it’s best to be prepared for anything. The best approach is to be flexible and agile, ready to pivot in new directions at any moment. When you can’t predict the future, you need to rethink your assumptions and be open to new possibilities.
In a challenging business environment, one way to increase sales and attract more customers, or even stay ahead is by evolving. Identify opportunities in your business to leverage current shifts in technology and consumer interest.