There is so much to juggle when you have a small business. Here are three easy ways to invest in trends now so you can reap rewards tomorrow.
TREND #1: USER REVIEWS ARE HUGE
User reviews play a significant part in influencing us to buy a product. It makes us feel more comfortable if people have already tried something and reviewed it. It has become the number one thing we look at before buying something. According to a report by Fan & Fuel, 92% of people hesitate to make a purchase when there are no reviews. Reviews have become absolutely essential for products and services, the fact that your product has a 4-star rating by many customers makes it immediately more appealing to customers.
Here are three ways to increase customer reviews:
After your customer or client makes a purchase, send a follow-up email and ask for a review. Include a link on where you want the review to appear – Google Places, Yelp, Amazon, etc.
Reward those who review. For example, you could provide every client who gives you a review a 10% off coupon. You don’t even need to let them know this is coming their way. What a great surprise!
Run a contest. This is an effective way to market your business with a little help from your current customers. Ask customers for a review and you will randomly pick a winner for a prize. For example, Show Us the Love this Valentine's Day.
NOTE: Contact those who leave you negative reviews. Ignoring these won’t make them go away. Try to respond to negative reviews, especially if you think the reviewer is justified in their complaint or other customers have complained about the same issue. Take this opportunity to learn from your clients and improve your business.
TREND #2: TELL YOUR STORY
Stories are taking over. They were first introduced by Snapchat and now they’re all over social media. Stories are short video content that disappears after 24 hours. They are more in the moment content which makes them authentic and more connectable to an audience. According to TechCrunch, stories are growing 15x faster than the news feed.
Along with live streaming, stories will become the primary way by which brands convey their message. Businesses will start to pay more attention to stories, try to build an authentic voice and find ways to connect with an audience. A good example is Dr. Brandt Skincare, they were able to use stories in Instagram effectively to drive sales by up to 500% and gathered tens of thousands of followers. They posted photos of their products and how-to style tutorials on their stories. Users could even initiate check out by simply ‘swiping up’ on their stories.
How to Create a Story:
Determine where you want to create your stories. Popular ones are Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, Snapchat Stories, Youtube’s Reels, Twitter Moments (in a way), and Skype Highlights.
Figure out what you want to share. Do you want to show “Behind the Scenes” or “Let’s Get Personal with our Music Instructors” or “How-to Videos of How to Use Our Products” or “How Our Products are Created”.
Google the platform name + how to create a story. Follow the steps or watch a video to get started.
Make your first story. Don't wait for next week. Don't put it off. Make your first one. You will only get better with practice.
TREND #3: SAVE MONEY WITH GIGS
Many small businesses might not be in a position to hire permanent employees. It can be hard for small businesses to identify and hire the right talent for specific requirements and problems that require expert help. It comes as no surprise then that the top challenge for small businesses, according to the State of Small Business Survey by Wasp Barcode, is hiring new employees.
Almost 36% of US workers are in the gig economy according to a poll by Gallup. This statistic goes hand in hand with the rise of the remote worker. Gig workers want (or need) flexibility and they like being their own boss. The gig economy is a benefit in this scenario as you can tap into the best talent from a pool of freelance workers. You might have a lot to gain by working with an expert freelancer.
Here are job sites to find freelancers for specific gigs (instead of hiring full-time help):
Upwork.com: Upwork allows people to post a project (some ongoing, some for a fixed period) for freelancers to complete. There are hourly and fixed-price jobs.
Fiverr.com: Fiverr claims to be the biggest global network of freelancers. The site exhibits freelancers work in a variety of fields, from tech to graphic design to music to writing. Most jobs are only $5 or $10, so this is a great site for small and quick tasks like a logo for an upcoming promotion.
AskMrsOwen.com: A virtual assistant to handle the little details so you can focus on your most important goals. Simply give Mrs. Owen your to-do list and get on with the things you love to do.
Behance.net: Behance.net is specifically for projects and people in creative industries, including photographers, designers, illustrators, and more.
TaskRabbit.com: TaskRabbit allows people to post requests for help with various chores and tasks, ranging from making deliveries to cleaning spaces to moving boxes.
Gear up for the new year by incorporating something new that may be out of your comfort zone. The only way to stay in the game is to stay ahead of it.