8 Easy Ways to Grow Business in 2021
2020 wasn’t the best year to grow business, what with the pandemic and all. But that doesn’t mean 2021 has to be the same. The pandemic gave rise to some interesting market trends that businesses can capitalize on. So today, we’re going to discuss some of the ways small and medium-sized businesses can grow by using simple tactics.
1- Engage Audience with Creative Content
The easiest way to grow business in 2021 is still the good old-fashioned way: produce creative content. Even though what constitutes creative content has evolved over the decades, it is still the best way to capture consumer attention.
Today, users scramble towards video content. In fact, according to one report, over 85% of all U.S. internet users watched video content every month last year. That’s because it’s easier for users to interact with video content than with the written word. Not all users prefer reading, and businesses have begun to realize that as well.
So if you aren’t already producing video content, start now! Another great way to capture attention through creative content is through podcasts. Take some time to understand your target audience and create content that they are likely to respond to.
2- Tap Into Email Marketing
Most users think ‘boring’ when they think about email, but marketers know it’s a valuable way to grow a business. That’s because there were 3.9 billion email users in 2019 across the globe. And this figure is set to cross 4.3 billion by 2023. No business wants to miss out on such a vast target market, especially when the ultimate goal is to grow a business.
That’s why you should start making an email marketing strategy today and put it into action. Email marketing can be used for all sorts of purposes, including letting consumers know about promotions, special offers, new products, newsletters, and the latest content.
The trick to effective email marketing is to make the emails relevant and eye-catching. Fortunately, there are plenty of email marketing tools out there, including SharpSpring, Hubspot, and MailChimp.
3- Provide Real-Time Customer Service
Let’s paint a picture. A user visits your website and wants to order a product, but they have concerns about the quality. So they message a customer service representative and ask for details. But there’s no agent at the other end, and by the time they respond, hours have passed, and the customer is long gone.
That’s why real-time customer service is key to growing your business in 2021. You can make use of AI-powered chatbots to engage customers and answer their queries. If customers receive an immediate response from your company, they’re more likely to purchase your product or service and spread positive word of mouth.
4- Personalize the Customer Experience
In 2021, business growth is going to come down to user personalization. The businesses that can provide the best-personalized experience will expand their customer base drastically. So there’s no doubt that companies need to personalize user experience. The question is how to achieve it?
Well, one way is to use artificial intelligence to enhance user experience. Some of the most successful brands like Google and Amazon use simplified user interfaces to make the online experience pleasant.
Another way is to use AI to predict user behavior while they are browsing. Thanks to advanced analytics, e-commerce stores can suggest products similar to those customers have shown interest in already. That makes the users go, “Wow, how’d they know I would like that?!” which is always great.
5- Use Data to Devise Strategy
One of the best ways to grow a business is to make smart decisions. And there’s no better way to make decisions than to base them off of cold hard data. The 21st century is all about data-driven decision making, and that’s what your business needs to be about, too, if it is to grow.
Setup Google Analytics to collect essential data about your users in real-time. With this data, you’ll be able to understand where your online experience is lacking for users. And you can make smarter decisions moving forward about who you want to target and how to market to them.
6- Integrate Paid Marketing into Your Business
Here’s a stat for you. 96% of all U.S. brands are spending money on Google Ads. That’s because paid marketing is how businesses reach more customers and grow over the years. So if you haven’t integrated paid marketing into your long-term strategy, now might be a good time to start.
You’ll need a Google Ads account to get started. Appearing in search display ads and video ads on YouTube is a good start. But you want to aim for conversions rather than views. That’s why you should advertise on social media as well. Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn marketing are an excellent way to start.
7- Ease User Experience on Website
A website is the face of your business. So make it stylish, beautiful, and most importantly, easy to navigate. When users can’t navigate a website easily, they become annoyed, which doesn’t bode well for a brand. If you want to grow your business, you need to get on your users’ right side.
So keep things simple, and make your website easy to use. If you’re an eCommerce store selling products, keep the focus on the products. If you’re offering services, offer all the details upfront, so there’s no ambiguity. An easy way to ease the user experience is to think like the user. So when you sit down with a website developer, ask yourself, “What’s the easiest way I can get from point A to B as a user?”
8- Don’t Forget about Google My Business.
And finally, Google My Business is a sure way to grow business in 2021. In 2020, over 60% of U.S. users used Google My Business to find various brands in their locality. This Google service allows interested customers to find you easily. It lists all the details of your business, including address, timing, and reviews, when users search for relevant keywords in Google.
If more customers can see your business, more customers will visit your business. It’s as simple as that. So list your brand on Google My Business to become visible and grow business in 2021.