5 New Year’s Resolutions for Small Businesses
December 1, 2022 8:24 amThere is no doubt that the last few years have been tumultuous ones in the business world. Staying afloat amid a global pandemic was just about all small business owners could handle in the middle of the chaos. Thankfully, things seem to be normalizing a bit, and businesses can get back to thinking long-term and making some goals as we head into a new (and hopefully better) year.
As the new year inches closer and closer, we’d like to suggest that small businesses resolve to make some improvements this year in at least one area. Whether it is in client relations, employee retention, office culture, or improving your brand’s online presence, making small goals can help your business grow and evolve even during the turbulent recovery from the pandemic.
Here are some new ideas to get you started.
#1 Increase Your Online Presence
If business owners have learned anything over the past few years, it’s that being online and having your services and products readily available to customers on a website is paramount to running a successful business.
For many business owners, being online consistently is a new concept that will take time to completely embrace. Remember that there are local services that can help you assimilate to online life as well as how to promote yourself online.
The Enterprise Center at Salem State University offers a Small Business Technical Assistance Program. This program is designed to address these current circumstances, meet the businesses where they are, and provide individual solutions and peer support to address the economic needs of small businesses that have been made vulnerable as a result of COVID-19.
#2 Prioritize Work-Life Balance
Many people in the American workforce have come to realize that there are more important things in life than commuting, working all day, and commuting home, day in and day out. During the months working remotely, they got a taste of what a real work-life balance could be with their family.
Embrace the concept of being flexible with your workforce in the coming year. This can look different for each business but play around with flexible hours, hybrid work, and flex work options to meet the demands of reaching a happy work-life balance.
#3 Prioritize A Positive Work Culture and Incentives
Retaining skilled workers is a huge problem in our American workplace recently. One step that business owners can take to help solve this issue is to promote a positive work culture. This may include more incentives for good work, positive feedback for a job well done, or even company events to reward employees for all that they do.
#4 Identify Areas of Improvement
Now that we can all catch our breath after the last few years, it’s a good time to take stock of what happened and where improvements can be made at your company. Call together your employees and ask for their input as to what is working and what isn’t working and pledge to take steps to make improvements.
#5 Connect With Your Audience
One of the best ways to improve your bottom line in any business is to make more sales and provide more services. To do this, you may need to widen your audience or connect with the target audience better.
Use your social media presence online to connect and engage with your loyal consumers and make new connections with consumers who may be considering using your business.
We look forward to a healthy and happy new year. Please continue visiting our blog in the new year for more helpful articles and insights on the economy of our region.
Categorised in: small business, Small Business Administration, workforce