Give yourself a makeover for a more successful 2019
You may have seen the news that the FEI World Cup Dressage has been given a makeover to appeal to a broader audience. The two-year pilot project was launched at Olympia and includes major changes to the Grand Prix. It now not only features music, but riders have to give an interview straight after their test in front of the audience.
Simon Brooks-Ward, show director at Olympia, hopes the changes will broaden the Grand Prix’s appeal and make it as “meaningful, relevant and exciting as the Freestyle”.
This is something we could all learn from. Sometimes a simple makeover is all our business needs to increase customer engagement and appeal to a new audience. It can also boost productivity and motivation for you and your staff.
Here are our top tips on giving your business a new year’s makeover.
Make a clean start
You know how great it feels when your home has been de-cluttered, well a clean desk – or tack room! – feels just the same. Clearing away the clutter will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired.
A clear email inbox has the same effect, as does clearing space on your computer’s hard drive. So do your business a favour and set aside some time to clean up.
Give your website a facelift
Assuming you have a website (and you really should have one in 2019), now is a good time to take a look at its design and content.
You’ve got around 30 seconds to grab someone’s attention online, so your website needs a modern, clean design. It should also be simple to navigate and responsive – which means it works on all platforms (ie laptop, desktop, smart phone).
Analyse customer needs
Customer needs should be at the heart of your business. Start the new year by finding out what they love about you and your business and what you could be doing better.
Social media is a great way to collect valuable customer feedback – whether through survey and polls, monitoring customer mentions or collating product feedback.
Look at your brand
One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make is to have an inconsistent brand. If your Instagram feed doesn’t seamlessly blend with your Facebook page and Twitter profile, it’s time to take things up a notch and get a professional look and feel for your business.
Spruce up your social media
When was the last time you updated your profile pic or bio? A few simple tweaks can help you make a real impression.
• If your profile picture is more than a year old, replace it with a professional headshot or company logo and make sure the ‘about’ section is snappy and informative.
• De-clutter your Facebook news feed. If there are people or businesses whose posts you no longer want to see, ‘unfollow’ them, and leave groups and ‘unlike’ pages that are no longer relevant.
• Take a look at which social media channels are the most effective. There is no point in spending time managing four or five channels, if some of them aren’t driving customer engagement.
Start a community
Starting an online community, such as a Facebook group, around a specific topic is a great way to boost engagement and refresh your presence on social media.
For more great advice on boosting your business and making the most of your marketing, get in touch.
