By Jane Garfinkel - Review Response Specialist
You made it to 2019, congratulations! Don’t let out that sigh of relief just yet. If you’re a small business owner eager to see a positive change this year, now is the time to prepare. Below we’ve listed five resolutions that every small business owner should make this January to ensure a great new year.
1. Value your team
Employees are the backbone of your business. They spend the majority of their time helping grow your business and supporting your customers so it’s very important for them to have a positive attitude while they're at work. Further, happy employees are more likely to stay with your company for the long haul, providing the consistency that loyal customers love.
Overall, increased employee engagement leads to increased profitability.
Make a promise to get to know your team better, acknowledge their needs, and celebrate their accomplishments.
2. Listen to your customers
Ultimately, if the customer is not satisfied then your business will not be a success. The best way to find out what customers think is to talk to them. Not only will this help you learn what aspects of your company need improvement, it will also demonstrate that you are truly invested in their experience. A great source for customer feedback and sentiment is online reviews.
Negative reviews in particular show you what changes need to be made to improve the customer experience.
This year, set aside more time to listen to your customers, both in the store and online.
3. Delegate tasks
As a business owner, your priority is growing the business and guiding the business in the right direction, stepping in when issues arise. This is impossible to do if you are constantly distracted by less-than-strategic, daily tasks. It’s time to go through your to-do list and select three items that can be delegated.
Yes, it can be hard to trust others to take over a chore you have owned for years, but it will free up your time so you can focus on what’s most important. Whether it’s assigning more responsibility to an employee you trust or hiring an outside service, make it a goal to lighten your load.
4. Upgrade your Google My Business page
Google My Business (GMB) is pivotal for small businesses. The GMB is often responsible for making the first impression on prospective customers. This is where they come for basic information like your company’s phone number and location. They also spend time trying to understand what your past customer’s think of your product or service by reading reviews.
Take advantage of this free marketing: confirm that your GMB is displaying correct information and then update it regularly. Make a resolution to check it at least once a week. Post videos and pictures, answer customer questions, and of course, respond to reviews. Which leads us to resolution number five.
5. Take control of your online reputation
You should be tracking your company’s online presence at all times. Now more than ever, customers and prospects depend on the internet to help them determine which business they choose to patronize.
In fact, 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much an in-person recommendation.
Keeping tabs on what customers are saying about you online is pivotal to gaining market share. Reviewers now expect companies to respond: over half expect a response within a week.
For the coming year, make it a priority to monitor and respond to your online reviews. An easy way to do this is by hiring a reputation management service such as Widewail. We will ensure that you’re always in charge of your online reputation!
Make these five resolutions for your small business and 2019 will be the best year yet!
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