Small Business Trends 2023
Small businesses have always been the backbone of our economy, but times are changing and we’re seeing many unexpected changes in how they operate. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted some of these changes, making it more difficult for new entrepreneurs to get ready to start their own businesses. While this may deter some from starting a business, there are still ways to improve your odds. Start by keeping track of what is happening in the industry you want to enter. Learn as much as possible about your competitors and see what new ideas are trending in your space. Keep researching until you find an area where you might be able to bring something different to the table. Once you’ve identified the trends to keep an eye on, take stock of everything you need to know before getting started so that you don’t end up wasting time or energy (or both). In addition to learning about your competitors, also consider which features your potential customers are looking for when choosing a product or service. By determining all this information, you’ll ensure that you can offer quality products or services to your market, and you’ll make sure that you’re doing everything you can to build brand awareness. Make sure it’s easy for customers to reach out to you, too, by offering several social media channels to connect with your clients and customers. This makes it easier to communicate with them, answer questions, and get feedback on your work. Finally, focus on developing customer loyalty by building strong relationships and showing interest in every interaction. For example, if you offer discounts on orders, then customers will probably want to stay in touch with you and return again and again. At least that’s what I did. If you use my link below you’ll receive $50 off! CLICK HERE NOW!
Small Business Trends 2023 – Your Quick Reference
The biggest change in small business trends is how people shop online these days and the resulting impact on e-commerce companies like yours truly. Our world has taken us into a digital age where everything exists on the internet, including buying anything from food and groceries to office supplies and electronics. So, while big things may still happen at physical stores — brick-and-mortar still rule — small businesses are using technology more often and in more significant numbers than ever. To make it easier for your team to understand this and help steer your operations to the right place, here are some of the most important small business trends that are going on today. The following lists include several different categories of industry-related technologies and trends. These technologies may not apply directly to any one small business or even your specific niche, but they certainly can drive results for any type or size of operation. Let’s take a look! Technology for Online Shopping
More people are shopping online more frequently now than ever before. According to Statista data, 71% of Americans who shop online do so between two months to three years. A survey done by Shopify found 81% of merchants who utilize the platform report that there was an increase in sales during the beginning of 2020. With so many people shopping online, you’ll want to look into ways to adapt your strategies accordingly. Here are five ways small businesses can remain competitive in today's digital environment: Mobile commerce is growing rapidly. More consumers are connecting with retailers through their smartphones. On average, mobile transactions reached nearly 1.2 billion in 2019. Therefore, it’s very attractive to sell online to new audiences. It may seem counterintuitive to go after new customers through traditional marketing methods like email and direct mail; however, it also allows you to target an audience that might ordinarily only be browsing through Facebook or Instagram. Even better, you can attract loyal followers who have already purchased items elsewhere because they’ve seen that they appreciate your efforts and are likely to continue using you. Social selling is another way to promote your small business online. People tend to spend approximately 30 minutes researching a particular product before deciding to purchase. As such, social selling makes sense. When done correctly, social selling is effective. You can set up profiles on relevant platforms and create groups that would allow members of those networks to exchange suggestions and provide valuable recommendations. However, to maximize the effectiveness, it's best to choose a few different options that complement each other. Use free tools and software to run targeted ads around your chosen group of interested shoppers. Include your company name and information about your business so that when a member of that network comes across your ad, they know immediately that it's worth considering. There are plenty of other great ways to engage prospective buyers through social selling. They are just trying out the latest trendy fads, discovering the next big thing, or simply looking for unique solutions to solve common problems. Other than that, try to develop engaging videos that tell exciting stories, explain things in detail, demonstrate concepts, and teach about various methods through examples. Don't forget to include links to your main website. Digital content marketing is constantly changing and evolving, so this is yet another area that needs thorough attention. Be sure to update your blog posts and other web pages with fresh and useful information to keep visitors coming back. Search engine optimization also includes finding keywords that will help your site appear higher in organic search results. That way, your listings show up above search engine results and potentially lead a visitor to a landing page with additional information. Google Adwords and Bing Ads are popular tools that can help get your ranking higher, but they aren't entirely necessary for success, either. Many marketers use local SEO to put their business on top of a map, which means users know where they are located after searching for your location. Not only does it save you money since there's no expensive advertising campaign, but it also allows users to easily locate your store, as well. It also helps with long-term visibility with future prospects. Plus, local SEO works well for anyone within driving distance and offers benefits beyond convenience. Create interactive maps to guide visitors around your store via GPS-enabled devices like street clocks, geofencing sensors, and smart door locks — whatever enhances your experience. Pay attention to reviews and ratings, too. Just because someone left a review with 4.7 stars doesn't mean they liked your product or service and will recommend it to friends and family. Review your offerings thoroughly to gain insight into whether you're getting good returns in the short term. Consider offering incentives, such as coupons and special deals to entice users to post positive reviews about your store. Also, don’t ignore user complaints — many websites require a minimum number of reviews before being featured on top of SERPs. Try having ‘Help Us Help You’ or ‘Have Questions? Contact Us sections linked on your website as convenient guides users can consult for details on ordering. User engagement through comment forms on your website and social media pages is another way to keep users engaged. Encourage and engage with your community by responding to messages, providing responses, or sharing updates regularly. Users appreciate a little help if they want to become repeat visitors. Take advantage of the opportunity and provide value to others through helpful comments, articles, and photos on your social profiles that promote your business and remind customers it is worth their consideration. Investing in automation tools can also enhance your bottom line by ensuring that your business remains efficient without sacrificing speed and ease of use. Most importantly, create clear messaging for potential customers and make it clear why they should engage with your business. How to Get Customers Online
One factor that seems to come up in nearly all discussions regarding small business trends in this year’s interview roundups is that e-commerce continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. In fact, according to UBS research, e-commerce spending increased by 13% between 2017 and 2018. Moreover, almost 40% of online shoppers were prepared to buy a certain number of items before their decision-making process actually took place in a store. Because of this, small businesses need to think outside the box when it comes to attracting and converting new customers. And, because e-commerce is expected to account for 10.5% of total retail sales in the US alone by 2022, it’s important to prepare for the upcoming wave of growth. No matter how your business operates, you must keep up with current technology to compete effectively. Let’s take a look at some e-commerce features to include in your overall strategy when planning ahead to meet the demands of consumer expectations these days.
Growth & Productivity Apps
E-commerce apps can be used by small businesses to manage tasks and monitor inventory, but what they really need are productivity apps that encourage their users to do more. Think Amazon Go, Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Etsy, and Pizzeria. All these apps have made it way easier for individuals to access everyday necessities, especially grocery stores. Although it’s important to remember that the amount of time spent on these products and services varies depending on factors like location or the number of purchases made. Some apps can be used alone, while others can be integrated with offline stores and storefronts. Each app is designed specifically for its customers about individual usage patterns, budgets, or preferences. For instance, if you’re running an e-commerce store catering to families and working moms, rather than focusing exclusively on women of color, you would want to incorporate a separate tab for kids’ clothing. Additionally, you should consider creating a separate payment channel for children’s apparel and accessories, as well. Lastly, look into third-party integrations with other applications to make sure your store can function smoothly as part of larger systems. For example, with Amazon. However, it’s important to note that there are limitations for each application that limit its full functionality and utility. After you find an app that fits your
