Small businesses must remain nimble and adapt to changing economic conditions. Leveraging small business trends can help.
As a small business owner, you have both challenges and opportunities to grow and stay competitive. To boost your business, meet your revenue goals and improve customer satisfaction, you have to stay apprised of emerging trends. And considering how swiftly things can change, you could be left behind.
Your business is unique, and you can’t follow every trend out there. Try something new if it makes sense for your business.
Looking Forward: Small Business Trends for 2023
As you consider small business trends, don’t forget that keeping apprised of trends is an ongoing effort. This includes monitoring your business, observing the competition, networking, reading about trends, staying connected to your customers, and following industry leaders. Here are some of the small business trends identified for 2023:
1. User Reviews Are Important More Than Ever
You probably think of user reviews in the context of online purchases only. But user reviews are important for many types of other businesses, too. People who read positive reviews are much more likely to patronize your business. And there is no cost if you ask satisfied customers to provide a Google user review.
2. Increase Your Online Presence
A strong online presence is vital in today’s marketplace. At the very least, you need an updated website that can be viewed on a desktop and a mobile phone. If viable for your products or service offerings, include an e-commerce option. Make sure your contact information and address are accurate. In other words, make it as easy as possible for them to find you – and buy from you.
3. Be Active on Social Media
Research has found that 77% of small businesses use social media to promote sales, marketing, and customer service. Small businesses should consider using this to their advantage by identifying what platforms their target audiences use. Research ways to help make your small business get views on popular platforms such as TikTok or Instagram. Social media accounts such as these are free platforms for you to highlight your business and what it offers. You can do product tutorials or short videos that answer customer questions.
4. Dealing with Inflation
As a small business, inflation is hitting you hard, and there is no one solution to dealing with it. Raising prices and or negotiating better deals with suppliers are two steps to consider. The balancing act is to keep customers while raising prices. Customers are smart, be honest with them about what is happening and that you value their business. They may still be unhappy about the increase in prices, but will appreciate you being straightforward with them.
5. Go Green
More consumers want to support environmentally conscious and ethical companies with sustainable business practices. Even small changes to your business practices that you can advertise can make a big difference in perception. Some ideas include using LED lighting, recycling, and upgrading to more energy-efficient electronics. Get your business recognized by sponsoring a local charity event that enhances the livability of your community, such as a group creating green spaces.
