In a very short time, we will move into not only a new year but a new decade. Once 2020 lands, this will be the perfect time to take your business to the next level.
What better time to pursue your business goals – after all it’s now or never!
Whether you have a new business which is ready to scale, or a business which you’ve wanted to take to the next level for some time, taking the necessary steps can seem daunting. However, there are a few simple tips and tricks which can help you overcome this. Take a look at our list of the 6 things you should do to take your business to the next level in 2020.
Check Your Cybersecurity is up to standard
One of the biggest threats faced by businesses large and small in 2020 will be cybersecurity. In our modern world businesses are unfortunately being constantly targeted by cybercriminals and malicious software seeking to gain access to data, funds or something else. If these element are successful in their attacks this can be extremely damaging to businesses in both the short and long term. Additionally, have great cybersecurity systems in place not only protects your business against threats, but it also puts you in a stronger technological position and therefore gives you an edge over your competitors.
Diversify Your Outreach
If you want to grow your business, you’re going to need to attract more customers. In turn, the key to attracting more customers is outreach, and if you’re looking to go bigger in 2020, you will need to use multiple marketing and outreach strategies. In order to scale, just using social media to promote your business will not be enough. A diverse outreach strategy will include various strategies such as a well-designed website, great social media across multiple platforms, digital PR, in-person networking and email marketing.
Take Credit Card Payments
If your business is currently only able to accept cash, developing the functionality to accept credit card payments will be essential if you want to take your business to the next level. Buying able to take card payments will provide a better service to your customers, as well as reducing the barriers to purchase. After all, you want to make it as easy as possible for customers to buy your product or service! Make 2020 the year where you sign up for a credit card processing system. Even if you have a mobile business like a market stall or a food truck, this doesn’t mean you’re limited to accepting cash payments only. For these kinds of businesses, a portable card machine is a great solution for being able to accept credit card payments without having a bricks and mortar store.
Take the 60/20/20 Approach to Time Management
As a business owner or manager, time is your enemy. You are probably continuously racing against the clock trying to get everything done. It can also be a challenge to know how to dedicate your time, with a seemingly ends series of tasks in front of you.
One way to address this is to take the “60/20/20” approach. Under this method, you:
- Spend 60% of your time on tasks which add value to your business, and only those which you cannot delegate to others
- Spend 20% of your time on planning, which means organising the smooth running of the business
- Spend 20% of your time on strategizing, that is, evaluating what you need to do to improve fundamental aspects of your business and/or drive more profits.
Doing so will help you to not only focus on the tasks at hand and “fight fires”, but also do what you need to do to grow and develop your business.
Have Strong Documentation
In the early stages of running and building a business, it is possible to gloss over certain documents and plans. However, when you come to take your business to the next level you will find that these plans are absolutely essential for growth and development. You absolutely must have formal, documented plans including a business plan, a marketing plan (preferably including a style guide), an employee manual and flawless financial records and reports.
Learn to use Google Properly
Ok, so you’ve gotten by so far with a decent website and a basic understanding of SEO. However, if you want to grow your business in 2020 you really need to understand how Google works and the many ways you can use it to attract more customers and grow profits. Yes, there are other search engines, but with more than 90% of all online searches occurring on this leading search engine, it really is all about Google. Take the time to learn how Google works, and know that it is developing all the time, so keep on top of the latest developments. A solid SEO strategy should include not only the design of your site, but also digital PR techniques such as link building and content marketing.
Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash
