What should you be doing in 2020 to stay competitive and grow your business?
It’s easy to spot a killer website when you know what to look for.
Learn tips, hear advice, take action steps, and watch videos to become more productive.
Resolution #1: Write a List of Goals for the Year
If you haven’t already done so, write down your list of goals for your business for 2015. Develop a plan of action for the coming months. This may seem daunting so set a date on your calendar to get it done by (e.g., Jan. 15th) and commit by circling the date on a calendar. In the meantime, look around at what others are doing and see where your business is lacking. Refer to the recent article I wrote (bit.ly/1tek6mr) to help get you started. Figure out what it is that you really need to accomplish this year. Write down your goals. Post them where you can see them, and start the year off with a clear and detailed plan in place!
Resolution #2: Join LinkedIn or Enhance My Profile
If you haven’t already done so, join LinkedIn. Simply put, LinkedIn is the best professional network out there. Every small business owner should have a complete and professional profile on LinkedIn. Not only does LinkedIn give you a place to connect with potential customers and clients, it is a place where you can connect with other professionals and network online. If you already have a LinkedIn profile, good for you! Now resolve to make sure it’s complete. Set a date on a calendar and circle it. For tips on creating a killer profile, refer to the articlehttp://www.onlinesuperninja.com/7-steps-to-linkedin-success/.
Resolution #3: Join a Local Chamber of Commerce
Local chambers of commerce may seem outdated in this era of social media, but these business organizations remain one of the best ways to network with other entrepreneurs in virtually any community. Some benefits of joining a chamber include giving members the opportunity to partner with other members to help you solve business problems (e.g., your client needs help with something that you can’t provide). Another benefit is they sometimes offer free information seminars where you can learn something new, or act as an expert by leading one. Many times, other members will offer discounts to one another that you can benefit from, or just having that connection with another business owner may result in financial benefits for your business. Finally, being an active member of a chamber can raise your profile as you meet with area leaders and other professionals on a regular basis.
Resolution #4: Figure Out an Amount I Can Afford to Spend on Social Media Marketing
They may say “The best things in life are free” but that’s not the case when it comes to social media marketing. Facebook has taken steps time and again to push small business owners toward paying for their marketing efforts on the network. We are no longer able to ignore this as FB rolls out a new policy later this month that will remove most (if not all) posts from business pages on news feeds unless they are boosted. While this is a major setback for many pages, it’s not the end of the world. There are other options out there. One of those is committing a part of your marketing budget to social media marketing. Read my recent article to learn more about the changes coming to Facebook, the reasoning behind it, and what you can do as a small business owner to come out on top by clicking the link:http://bit.ly/1Df7O6j
Resolution #5: Improve My Time Management Skills
If there’s one thing that can make a huge difference in your daily productivity level, it’s having great time management skills. This is probably the most important resolution for my business goals this year. Typically, I juggle anywhere from 8 to 10 projects on a daily basis. Strong time management skills are key when there is so much going on (obviously this carries over into the daily routines of being a parent as well). To improve my productivity, I’m trying something new beginning today. Instead of the daily checklist of projects that I intend to work on today, I’ve created an actual schedule. For example, from 9:30-11 I will work on Project A, then from 11-1:30 I will work on Project B, and so on. I’m hoping this will allow me to focus better throughout the day, and therefore increase my productivity. If anyone has any other tips for improving their time management skills, let me know!
Resolution #6: Keep Learning
Never stop learning. Improve yourself and your small business by resolving to attend conferences and workshops, explore online classes, and watch tutorials and instructional videos throughout the year. A good way to commit to this is to work it into your schedule. Take a Friday morning off to attend a workshop or participate in an online class. Over the weekend, research upcoming opportunities in your area or online, write them down, then register and put it into your schedule.
Resolution #7: Make Sure My Online Presence is Professional
These days, it’s not enough to just have a website. To be taken seriously as a business owner, you need to have a professional-looking site. Your website may be the first chance you have at making a good impression on a potential buyer or client. Even if your product is the best out there, first impressions can make or break your ability to get new business. You only have one shot at making a first impression. Make it good.
Resolution #8: Improve My Work-Life Balance
Most everyone can relate to this one. We all face demands, both professionally and in our personal lives, that make finding a happy medium very difficult. With an increase in people working from home, or the ease of joining in on work conversations and meetings via smartphones, developing a good balance is complicated. This article from WebMD offers 5 great tips for improving your work-life balance. It’s all about scheduling, focusing, and allowing yourself some downtime. I’m trying out these tips starting today! http://bit.ly/1cCXuco
Resolution #9: Reconnect with Past Clients Throughout the Year
For any business owner, customer loyalty is key to continued growth. Sometimes though, we lose touch over time with past clients/customers. It’s important to work at continuing that relationship. One of the best ways to engage a past customer is give them a new reason to engage with you. Offering them a free item, a discount, or reduced rate to bring them back is one way. Remember oftentimes a past client can become one of your biggest sources for product feedback and brand advocacy. My focus will be on developing a method for reconnecting on a regular basis with clients I have worked with, either with the intention of renewing a working relationship, or as a seasoned referral source.
Resolution #10: Seek Opportunities Where I Step Outside of My Comfort Zone
We all love our comfort zone. It’s safe and secure. It’s our happy place. But, choosing to not leave that zone means never challenging yourself. I resolve this year to seek out opportunities where I’m forced to step outside of my comfort zone. I want to face challenges that will help me grow, and potentially make me better at what I do, both professionally and in my personal life. Here’s a great article listing 6 reasons why you should step outside of your comfort zone. http://huff.to/Zg4g2G
Resolution #11: Check Out the Competition
There are many reasons why you should be keeping an eye on your competition. The main reason is so that you can learn from them. Their successes and their failures can help you better craft your own business. Subscribe to their newsletters to see what they are doing. Follow them on social media to see how their marketing tactics are working. Keeping a close eye on the competition is a great way to improve your own business. This article explains 3 reasons why it’s important to know your competition (minus the sales pitch at the end) http://bit.ly/1wdgX6E
Resolution #12: Take Breaks Now and Then to Stay Productive
There’s a science behind why we need to take breaks at work. Like a lot of people, I tend to stay at my desk throughout the day. Taking breaks from work means not getting work done. I’ve heard time and again how important it is to incorporate breaks in a work day to be more productive and focus better. I resolve this year to finally begin incorporating breaks into my day. It’s amazing how much a break can stimulate your mind. Here’s a great article on why we should be taking breaks, as well as helpful tips on how to schedule breaks throughout the day: http://bit.ly/1q6GpfI
Resolution #13: Establish Milestones to Track Success
Now that we’ve written down our goals for 2015, what’s the best way to achieve those goals? Establish milestones. A year is a long time to stay focused. Create a schedule with monthly (or weekly) milestones. Make those milestones measurable so you can track your success. Note any roadblocks that come into play as you’re working toward your monthly goals, then make changes accordingly as you move forward to the next month.
Resolution #14: Blog More
If you have a blog, you need to update it regularly. Period. Why? Well, there are many reasons. In regards to SEO, writing separate blog posts targeting different keywords will get you more SEO benefits. More blog posts = more keywords you can target. Plus, there are SMO benefits. The more blog posts you write, the more they can be shared on social media channels, retweeted, liked, etc. Not to mention regular posts will present you as an expert in your industry, and give you more opportunities to present the different aspects of your business. Finally, Google loves fresh content. In fact, Google has a term called “QDF” or Query Deserves Freshness. If you are publishing content regularly, your content has a better chance of getting picked up in some of the searches, as compared to old content. Need help fitting it into your schedule? Check out this great articlehttp://www.shoutmeloud.com/how-to-maintain-blog-posts-frequency.html and get writing!
Resolution #15: Get an Early Start Every Day
Did you know many of the most successful people out there are early risers? There’s a reason for that. Getting things done such as a workout, mapping out the day ahead, running through emails, etc. before you ever sit down at your desk to begin your workday really makes a big difference. Nothing will damage your productivity for the day more than wasting the first hour or so trying to get organized. It’s a fact that morning people have been found to be more proactive and productive than non-morning people. So set the alarm, pull yourself out of bed, and start the day off right. Everyday. The article “5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8am” will help motivate you: http://onforb.es/1eQ5nIh
Resolution #16: Ask for Help
Many small business owners try to do it all. Now is the time to realize that you can’t. Sometimes you need to ask for help. How do you do that? Outsource. Find other professionals who can do what you don’t want to do, or aren’t necessarily skilled to do. Not only will outsourcing build professional relationships, it will help your business grow. Read this article on How to Build a Better Business with Outsourcing:http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/204652. It’s not just for big business anymore.
Resolution #17: Evaluate My Pricing and Make It Reflective of My Service
Any freelancer will admit they have a hard time figuring out what to charge for their services. It’s a fine line. You want to be paid what you’re worth, but you don’t want to scare away any potential business. In the end, many freelancers end up charging less than they should. Here’s a great guide explaining how to figure out fees, calculate a rate, compare pros and cons of how to charge for a project, and much more: http://bit.ly/1lSNIGr
Resolution #18: Ask for Testimonials and Referrals
It’s natural to feel nervous about asking for testimonials and referrals, but doing so is an excellent way to grow your business. Both are great selling tools. It’s a fact that people would rather do business with people they know (or know of). Personal recommendations go a long way. After all, a positive endorsement from someone you know and trust is very reassuring. In addition, having a testimonials page on your website will give potential clients a chance to learn more about you. Check out this article from HubSpot that not only offers advice on how to ask for referrals, but includes an email template as well: http://bit.ly/1xYaher
Resolution #19: Support My Community by Donating My Time and Services
There are many reasons why small businesses should be giving back to their community, either by donating their time or services. For starters, helping others is always a good thing to do, both for yourself and for your recipient. As a small business, it’s also a great way to expose your company to the community, and it may introduce you to people you wouldn’t normally meet. If you’re a business that has employees, it’s a way to boost morale and promote team building through community service activities.
Resolution #20: Use Contracts
I’ve been using contracts with projects for the majority of time that I’ve been freelancing. Early on, though, the contracts basically listed out the price for the job, what that cost entailed, and the project objective. It wasn’t until years later when I realized I needed to include specific information in the contract to protect myself. After learning that lesson the hard way, I now include detailed information in every contract. Check out this fun article from WikiHow on how to create a freelancing contract before moving forward on your next project. http://bit.ly/1yxIhxf
Resolution #21: Evaluate Clients and Projects from the Past Year and Note What Worked
One of the best ways to measure success is to note the number of clients that come back year after year. As my business grows, that number grows as well. What brings clients back time and again? Consider conducting a customer survey. A survey will show clients that you care about their needs, as well as allow you to gain valuable data on processes that aren’t easily quantified. Ask clients what they like about your business, changes they’d like to see, and other services that might interest them. Take special notice of any problem areas and resolve to fix them this coming year. Analyzing the data will give you a better idea of how you’ve gained (and maintained) client relationships, and better prepare you as you begin new relationships in 2015.
Resolution #22: Remember, Running a Small Business is like Running a Marathon
Becoming a successful small business owner is like running a marathon. Building a successful business takes time. We all go at our own pace. It’s important to stick to a pace that you’re comfortable with, one you can manage, to get to your end goal. Trying to keep up with others who are moving faster may not be in your best interest. Do what you can do in the time that you have available. It’s very important to not burn out. Any business owner knows how easy it can be to burn out. There is always something that needs your attention. Taking a break may make you feel like you’re not committed to your business, but the opposite is true. Allowing yourself some downtime, a chance to “refuel”, will help your business grow. Growing a business is a journey. Similar to running a marathon, it takes endurance, dedication, and plenty of hard work along the way. So stay focused on that finish line. You’ll get there eventually!
As 2015 gets closer, we all prepare the annual list of changes we want to make in the new year. While many may focus on general ideas of healthier lifestyles and losing weight, small business owners should take this opportunity to develop a very specific list of goals. This is a chance for us to step back and take a good look at our successes and our failures over the past year. Did your business grow? Did you add a new service or two over the year? Did you invest in your business? If you said “Yes!” to one or more of these questions, great! If not, this is definetly the time to grab a pen and a piece of paper and start writing out the changes you need to make so 2015 is your best year yet. Even if you had a very successful year, there are always new goals you should focus on as the new year begins. To begin, let’s break it down into 4 distinct categories of goals: Marketing, Networking, Professional and Financial.
This could include running more print ads, developing a strategic social media marketing plan, focusing your efforts on email campaigns, or anything else that puts your business in front of your target audience. For example, one of my marketing goals for the new year is to run a monthly e-newsletter that goes out to my current client base. In addition, I’d like to add 50 new subscribers by years end. To do this, my focus will be on providing interesting content so subscribers don’t unsubscribe, as well as making it easy for new subscribers to sign up, offering simple forms on social media outlets, in emails, and on my website. One great thing about marketing with an e-newsletter is the ease of which I can track what works and what doesn’t. At the end of next year, I can take that information to establish better methods moving forward.
You may want to consider developing a direct mail piece this year to promote your business, or maybe invest in the development and design of a brochure that you can hand out to potential clients. Consider various advertising outlets and how they may benefit your business. Also, consider how much you are willing to invest in marketing your business over the coming year, put a number on it, then begin steps to stay within that price range. This includes online marketing. Some outlets allow you to promote your business for free, but you will probably need to invest a bit this year to really promote your business online. Facebook has made many changes, none of them beneficial to the small business owner. We need to accept the fact that free online marketing is becoming a thing of the past. If you really want to use social media to promote your business, namely Facebook, you will probably need to open your wallet this year. Just make sure you have a number in mind before you begin paying for any online marketing.
Networking is the area that I’ve paid the least attention to over the years. My business has grown strictly from word of mouth. But as I continue to grow, I realize I can’t rely on word of mouth alone. I need to get out there and network. For starters, I joined a networking group last September but have yet to attend a meeting. Obviously, belonging to a network does not mean that I’m now networking. My networking goal for 2015 is to attend meetings regularly. In addition to that, I plan to attend 3-5 large networking events in 2015. On my “to do” list is begin researching some events for the upcoming year and registering for them. As a small business owner who works from a home office, it is very easy to sit at my desk all day and work on projects. As long as I have work in, I justify my inability to attend meetings and other networking events. Not in 2015. I have concrete goals: attend meetings as often as I can with the network I belong to and register for 3-5 large events in the coming year.
To help you develop your own networking goals, consider who you should know to grow. Are you a member of a local Chamber? If not, joining a Chamber is a great opportunity to put your business out into the community. If your business would benefit more from online networking, consider developing strategic networking campaigns to promote your business online. For example, join relevant groups on LinkedIn and start conversations. On Facebook, follow similar business pages and see what they are doing to network their business online. Comment on status updates. Make professional connections online.
After 8 years as “Erin Sweeney Design”, 2014 was my most successful year yet. One reason was I was able to dedicate more time to my business. I also invested in the business more this past year than before, buying a new laptop and new software. One problem, though, was that I found I was a little too busy. I spent so much time working on project work, I never allowed myself the chance to improve my skills and knowledge, which was a goal I had set for myself in the beginning of the year. I had planned to take a course or two over the year. I also planned to learn new software that I have but never set aside the time I needed to teach myself. So, my first professional goal for 2015 is a focus on education, learning new software programs and taking at least one course this year.
In addition to these goals, I plan to offer 2 new services in 2015. Depending on the industry you are in, if it’s possible, consider adding to your list of services each year. Even if it’s only 1 or 2 new services, expanding on what you offer will grow your client base. With this in mind, I also have a specific goal of gaining 15 new clients in the new year, as well as reaching out to past clients throughout the year and reconnecting. If your goal is to grow your client base, consider where they are. This is where your marketing and networking goals will come into play. Next, write down a number and develop strategies for hitting that number.
At the end of the day, every business owner wants to make money. The trick is figuring out how to make enough to stay in business. This is a time to look at what you made over the last year, comparing it to the previous year. Did your business earn more? Less? About the same? Whatever the answer, now is your chance to write down how much you want your business to make next year, then develop goals to make that happen. For example, figure out your hourly wage. Decide how much you’d like to make per week (realistically). Next, figure out how many hours you need to work to make that amount of money. Are you able to dedicate that amount of time each week to your business? If not, readjust your number to something that will work for you and stick to it, or make changes in your pricing to help you reach your goal.
You could look at 2015 as the year that you really invest in your business. Buy new software or equipment, dedicate an amount of money to advertising and promotions for your business throughout the year, hire assistants or employees, etc. Consider how investing in your business will help it to grow, come up with an amount that you’re willing to part with to make that sort of investment, then make it happen.
Be SMART: Make sure your goals are Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. Setting specific goals can be hard for a small business owner, but it’s proven that we are more successful at reaching a target if we have a specific number in mind. We all know what we want to happen, but the fact is that just wishing for a great year isn’t going to cut it. You need a detailed and specific course of action ahead of you to achieve your goals. Having hard numbers is the best start. Write it down. Keep your list posted somewhere that you can see it every day. Develop a means for achieving those goals, making sure the goals are SMART. Then, as you reach a goal, check it off the list. You may be surprised how quickly the goals are met once you focus your energy on a real course of action.
Good luck and here’s wishing you a wonderfully successful 2015!
Working exclusively with small business owners, and as a small business owner myself, I know what a struggle (and expense!) it is to promote your business. Clients come to me wanting a website that not only represents their company and brand, but will also be seen by potential customers. This is where search engines come into play.
Search engines, such as Google, find your site. Every small business owner wants their website to show up at the top of search engine page results. How can that happen without having to pay for it? It all begins with the content of your site and the inclusion of keywords. In this article, I’ll explain how to use keywords, markup and document interlinking to optimize your site and make it SEO-friendly….your first steps to being found!
Keywords
Your website can have all the bells and whistles in the world, but if search engines can’t find keywords in your content, many potential customers will never see it. Keywords are the words and phrases that users put into a search when looking for information online. How do you know what keywords or phrases will direct users to your website? This takes a bit of research. Sites such as Adwords External and Google Insights can assist you with keyword trends and help you to determine the keywords and phrases to use for your content.
Once you’ve established the keywords and phrases to use, follow these guidelines:
- Make sure the keyword or phrase (or a variation of) appears in the page title. It is recommended that page titles be a minimum of 40 characters.
- Identify 2-4 keyword phrases (2 or more words long) to be used on each page since single keywords tend to be more competitive. Consider that when a user is entering phrases that are 3 or more words long into a search engine, they are looking for very specific information. This is the customer that you want to find you. One who is doing a more focused search.
- Place the keyword in the first paragraph of the copy. So the topic of the page is immediately clear.
- Use keywords and phrases throughout your page content while writing in a natural style. Don’t overload the copy with keywords to the point that it appears artificial. Search engines can tell when the page is stuffed with extra keywords and will weed your page out. Also, it is recommended that you use a minimum of 300 words per page and write in short sentences using easily understood words for optimization.
Markup
The second issue to consider when optimizing your site content is the way the pages are organized.
Follow these tips for search-engine friendly ways to create your page:
- Construct page titles carefully. Page titles are the most valuable real estate as far as search engines are concerned. Titles need to include primary keyword phrases and convey the key content of the page.
- Only include one <H1> tag per page. Make sure it contains the primary keyword phrase and conveys the central message of the page (page titles use H1).
- Include subheads that will utilize the <H2> tag. Keep them short and sweet. Use subheads to organize the page for SEO and readability. Also, when using subheads, limit them to no more than 4 levels of subheads, and avoid putting H1 and H2 headings adjacent to one another.
- Make sure the content of the page is well organized. It is recommended to create an outline as you would do when writing a paper. The easier it is for the search engine to scan your page, the more likely it will be able to locate keywords.
- Use top keyword phrase in the very first paragraph. Make it nice and easy for the search engine to locate it.
- Use unique captions for each image. Another opportunity for keywords!
- Create a unique meta description for each page. Meta descriptions are short phrases (up to 150 characters) that describe your site. It appears below the title of your document in search engine results. Make them factual, but also inviting so it will encourage readers to read the page (click on the link!)
Document Inter-Linking
Using hyperlinks on your page will help search engines locate appropriate information that a user is searching for. Link building is one of the most important factors for SEO. Interlinking your web pages and blog posts are a sure way to give your web presence a real boost. Again, this is all related to easy navigation on your site, both for humans and search engines.
Follow these guidelines for utilizing links:
- Optimize anchor text. Avoid phrases such as “Read more here” or “Follow this link”. Instead, this is another opportunity to use keywords and phrases to direct users to your site. Doing this allows both search engines and readers to see your keyword as the linked text which will increase your rank.
- Link to other pages on your site. Linking internally increases the keyword relevancy of all pages within your site.
- Good (aka easy) navigation. Interlink your web pages in a way that makes it easy for people to go from one page to another. Link directly to a product description to the relevant product page, or link directly to a blog page. This allows users to easily find what they need and improves their overall experience.
- Include breadcrumbs. Breadcrumbs are navigation aids that help visitors see the path to their current location (i.e., Home page -> Category page -> Subcategory page). Each page is linked so that people can easily get back to the previous page, and the path is typically found near the top of a page.
- Link your blog posts: Use tags, categories, archives, anything that will link your blog posts to your page content. Content interlinking is one of the best ways to provide your readers with tons of relevant content.
So, now that you have some work ahead of you, grab a pen, some paper and start figuring out those keywords. And remember, this is just a start. Showing up at the top of a search takes time. The more often your information is found by search engines on the web, the higher you’ll rank. Starting with some great, well-organized, easy to read content that is keyword rich will set you on the path to a strong web presence. Good luck!
It’s a lesson we learned as children. To make new friends. Make a good first impression. Going in for a job interview. Make a good first impression. Going out on a date. Make a good first impression. The first impression is what sticks. This is especially true when you begin to promote a new business. Make a good first impression. It’s what your potential target audience will remember.
First things first, if your website isn’t where you want it to be, the last thing you want to do is promote it. A potential client may visit it, see a lack of quality and immediately question your ability to provide them quality service. Good design is not an unnecessary expense. It really makes the difference. Think about some of the websites you’ve been on. If you get to the homepage and see a beautiful site, nicely designed, pleasing graphics, soothing colors, I bet you think “Wow. What a nice site. I’m sure they are just as professional as the site suggests they are. High attention to detail and quality. I want to see more.” Next, recall a site you landed on and saw errors on the site, no design, bland colors, bad imagery, bad everything. What were your thoughts of that business? High-quality? Attention to detail?
See what I mean?
Does your site say “Look at me! I provide high-quality service!” or does it say “Hey. I kinda know what I’m doing.” If it’s the latter, consider hiring a professional designer to make the first impression a memorable one, and one that will pull in business. Let your site be a window into your professionalism and talent. Stand out with a good first impression.