As a business owner, you are in charge of ensuring your company continues to turn a profit. That is easier said than done, however. In order to maintain a growth trajectory and satisfy your employees and any applicable stakeholders, you must chart a course to make it happen. Follow along we discuss three things every business needs for success.
Ensure you are SEO-strong.
SEO is the backbone of any thriving business today. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it includes the steps to making your website easier for users to find online. This process is geared towards unpaid traffic or those who are searching for information online through a query process, or as people say, “Googling.”
SEO is a complex endeavor and it requires constant awareness of how people use the internet to find what they are looking for. This is why you should partner with an SEO Agency to help you achieve your business goals. SEO experts understand what it takes to ensure your website ranks at the top of a web search instead of two or three pages in. Today’s world is fast-paced, and people want to find what they are looking for immediately. If your website does not pop up on page one of a search, a new search will begin instead of clicking over to the next page to find what they need.
An SEO agency will provide you with more than standard keyword services, they also serve to enhance your reputation via the nature of their work. By rendering your website accessible and easy to find, they are lending you credibility. People tend to view their first search results as ones that are often used and referred to for use and information. You want to be there, and the professionals can help you get there.
As part of the SEO process, analytics are tracked. This data is reviewed and poured over to determine the best route forward and make changes in SEO strategies as needed. Unless this is in your wheelhouse or you have time to learn, it is best left to an SEO agency so you can continue to do your job.
Maintain a positive online presence.
Being online is where you need to be, this is essential whether you have a traditional storefront or not. In today’s world, consumers want to learn about your company and what you stand for any time of the day and from the comfort of their digital device – whether that is their smartphone, laptop, tablet, or even their smart TV. They want their information, and they want it now.
In addition, the advent of technology over the past decades means that people who have difficulties accessing a brick-and-mortar business can still partake in your products or services via your website. Having an online presence is empowering to those with disabilities or limited access to transportation. And, when a global pandemic hits, your established online availability equates to an ability to continue business even if the world stays home.
Another key point of being online is ensuring your presence is positive. That equates to dedicating an employee to monitoring your company’s social media channels. They should look for all mentions of your brand names, company name, products, and services. Investigate whether the messages or posts are positive or negative. Regardless of the tone, task your team member to respond to each one in turn.
The posters should be properly thanked or acknowledged for their purchases, product or brand loyalty, and any other comments they share. As for negative comments, these need to be handled and responded to expeditiously. After all, your reputation is at stake, and the way things go viral on social media can be a death blow to a company’s reputation. Work hard to maintain your credibility by responding to each negative comment. Ask questions of the poster to get to the heart of the complaint or problem. Offer to speak with them offline or privately. Give replacement products and compensation as appropriate to show your company stands behind its products and good name.
Watch this video to learn why businesses like yours should be active on social media.
Treat your team well.
Human capital is meaningful. When you have an employee with an outstanding skill set, you want to keep them in your employ. Any amount of training you have put into their position along with whatever talents, expertise, and education they bring to the job are all valuable.
Over time, they prove to be invaluable. Consider this, if a knowledgeable employee leaves your company for another, you have not only lost one team member, you have lost all of the effort put into their skill building, on-the-job training, and company knowledge they have gleaned over time. All of these abilities move with them to a competitor, and you have to start all over with a new hire.
Sometimes attrition is natural, the best move for everyone, and you should support that growth. At other times, when an employee leaves due to feelings of disrespect, low earning potential, or a lack of upward trajectory, it is time to take a look at how you treat your team.
Take a step back and ask your staff how they feel coming to work each day. Discuss ways they, as people on the front lines of the company, feel the processes can run more efficiently. After conducting a thorough assessment of your business, take action and implement changes to keep your human capital happy and on your team.
While there is plenty to do to keep your business running smoothly and successfully, if you take proactive steps toward implementing these three tasks you will hit your stride in no time. The key is to not lose focus or pace. Call on the experts to do what they do best and help your business with recognition and results placement. Maintain online visibility to stay at the forefront of consumers’ feeds and respective eyes. Treat your team well, and you will reap the rewards.
