9 Ways Your Business Can Stay Ahead in 2021
9 Ways Your Brand Can Endure 2021 With Ease
It is safe to say, this year has been one of the most dreadful, roughest, and financially tense year the world has experienced, ever. Along with remaining mentally strong we have learned to gain empathy, care, and a mind of charity for all communities that required support. In business, we currently need to go into a specific mode to return to a new state of normalcy –recovery mode.
But here we go.
With 2021.
She needs to come in this world with style and grace. I mean she better not act up. We have been through too much. But on the contrary, 2021 seems like a breath of fresh air. It is a new sound, a new way of life. It is a chance to breathe again even though we will be wearing a mask for the rest of the year.
Maybe, who knows?
For now, we need to understand that the short-term outlook for small businesses vary by industry. The below methods apply to all industries, however there are no guarantees on your brands outcome.
But, either way this list of important ways to stay prepared in 2021 will readily assist you with the right actions, the best frame of mind and overall, the best advice to keep your business on its toes. I certainly hope that all corporate and personal brands are considering a new way of doing business in 2021. And although this list may have come to you 2 weeks before the new year, it still offers a nice frame of advice that you can implement immediately. So here we go:
1. Create A Contingency Plan for The Next Crisis
We can only pray that another epidemic like Coronavirus never pops up on this earth again. However, the reality is that we can not foretell the future and we can not control the spread of a new illness or the onset of another financial crisis. But what you can do is execute a contingency plan for your brand. The best way to start a contingency plan is to make a list of your lessons learned. What did your previous experiences teach you about business?
Consider your continency plan as your busines blueprint to success. Will you need to add how you can be more agile in 2021? Ready to bend, adapt and grasp new concepts. Or will you need to add how liquid cash savings will be the main priority in your business’s future? Think and consider all facets of your business and how you can grow that plan into a sound blueprint for the new year.
2. Cultivate an Employee Retention Strategy
The state of the economy took a major hit in the United States work force. When jobs open you better believe that many companies will see a revolving door of new hires turned new quitters in 2021. It is time to consider effective strategies to retain your employees. This is called am employee retention strategy. This plan is meant to reduce employee turnover rates. From company polices and programs to special incentives this plan can boost every level of your business.
However, every employee isn’t ready to jump ship. Many employees would rather stay with a company that shows empathy and can assist with their professional growth. And let us be honest here, with so much stress in our day to day lives, the community of an employee’s job may be the comfort one needs to just get through the day.
A few things to consider is creating a new hiring process:
· Take a second look at the benefits and salary offered
· Train your effective leaders and managers
· Encourage a culture, and make changes were needed and suggested.
· Be clear in your objectives
· Encourage a work/life balance that your employees can benefit from.
Either way you slice it encourage new benefits, cultivate processes and programs, and creating a supported culture can greatly benefit your business A new employee retention strategy may the prescription you need to keep the revolving door closed.
3. Discounts bundles and coupons will be appreciated
This may seem old school to some but to those that have not been in the job market for the past ten months it can mean a whole lot. Even though your business may have taken a terrible hit financially still consider this form of traditional marketing with your consumers. Surprise discounts, new sales promotions, bundles filled with value and useful coupons can really help grow your brand loyalty and awareness.
You do not have to offer these ideas every day, but it would be advantageous for you to add these marketing strategies to your sales toolbelt. Get creative, get your employees involved, showcase the happy sales and stories through user generated content. Did you notice an increase in a certain service or product in 2020? Use that service/product as a steppingstone to an astounding deal.
If you purchase a rug between this date and this date you will also receive 30% off on a loveseat. Surprise them at point of purchase with a coffee and tea bundle from the local coffee shop. “As a thank you for purchasing our product we have partnered with our local coffee shop to enhance your purchase. Relax and take a load in 2021.”
See, how easy that was?
4. Create A New Timeline
Rebuilding is one of the key words for 2021. Gluing back the fallen pieces of business can be a painful but necessary process. With this notion it is important you consider your new timeline in 2021. What does success look like for your business? How soon do you want new licenses or certifications to happen for you and your business?
At this very moment individuals and businesses are thinking of ways to establish credibility and maintain trust with their clients. In rebuilding your timeline, it would be valuable to add in new tools of credibility to your portfolio. In addition, rebuilding your timeline can help prioritize your most important actions first. It can help create a steady heartbeat with your business to keep your brand alive and thriving.
5. Increase Micro Moments
This is one of my favorite rule of thumb to all my clients. Distinctive micro-moments are the pearls of brand loyalty. How do you get consumers to keep you top of mind? Micro-moments are intent-rich instants when decisions are made, and a preference is shaped. It is the texture of your marketing that must gain consideration. Every touch of your website, every post on your social media and even at the cash register is a chance for you to create a moment that is specific and distinctive to your brand.
In 2021, their will be anew breed of consumers. They are readily prepared for purchases before the enter your business or consider your brand. Empowered by mobile, consumers know what they want, they know how much they want to spend and most of the time they instantly make purchase decisions.
You have the curious consumer, the demanding consumer, and the impatient consumer. Each one will need to have a robust prepared plan to enhance their customer journey. Your business will need to unlock this hyper-segmentation revolution by moving from mass marketing to massive customization. Focus on each consumer as an individual – the decision-making journey can seamlessly turn a potential sale to a closed sale with insightful micro moments.
6. Create an Agile Marketing Strategy
Agile Marketing is a necessary approach to getting work done as a team or independently. I use this term a great deal because, as we all know, you can never be prepared enough for new changes in business marketing. Moreover, the digital field is shifting every day. More than we realize. From Search Engine Optimization to new algorithms remaining agile in your strategies will take your business/brand a long way. Your high-value projects need to be the first to implement an agile marketing plan. With all stakeholders involved the project can always be readily prepared for any rapid changes or ne and critical data. Agile teams use sprints (a short period or work) to measure impact and improve results of their organizations progress.
With this form of marketing, you will always keep your finger on the pulse of new changes in your industry Agile marketing does require agile marketers. If not, you sabotage the success of your series workflows and projects. If you are not agile now, take a moment to educate yourself and become adaptable to this new concept. The adage” this is how we all have done it in the past” should be laid to rest in 2021.
7. Always Create Buzz – Always Consider Publicity
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz! All brands want it, but some are never prepared for it. With more buzz comes more people. However, all brands want marketing and promotion the easy way. Whether you are playing around with low hanging fruit of putting your busines in the hands of top-tier public relations agencies, publicity will always remain as a dedicated platform in the business and public relations world.
Before I consider a brand to work with I always, I mean always, check to see the value of their products and services. Afterall, a public relations agency job is selling your business to the masses. If the product or service lacks value, buy-in and true goodness then what will have to sell?
Presence. Passion. Persistence. Was taught to me as a publicity intern at Sony BMG/Columbia Records. These three words from Yvette noel-Shure still stick with me to this day. To gain publicity that the media can grasp it will take these 3 P’s to simultaneously work together. Nothing in publicity is overnight. Well in the viral world it can be but even in that sense if you go irl and must plan behind your virality then there goes a great opportunity flowing by in the wind. Brands need to do more than consider their target they also need to know their target media. Clarifying where your business can thrive will be your first step in gaining publicity and growing your market.
8. Create Content In Batches
Google Trends and Think with Google are my premier way of understanding the trends and gaining knowledge on what is happening in real time. Adding these useful tools to your content marketing will not only enhance your consumers but also place you as a thought-leader in your respective field. These powerful websites along with Google Alerts are a triple threat for your brand. Although, there are amazing public relations intelligence platforms out there. Using these tools are free and useful in developing content and speaking a detailed language that is on trend.
Once you gain this data it is now time to showcase this knowledge to your audience. In this realm, you have the option of creating content one by one (on the fly) or you can create a content marketing strategy in batches. I like to create content strategies that has a solid bone structure for the entire year. In this structure I leave room for agile continent creation that will assist with our marketing endeavors. If you have content that can place you in an authoritative level – you will have a great footing ahead of your competitors.
9. Leverage Influencers, Ambassadors, And Partnerships
Oh, the possibilities are endless in this realm. Leveraging partnerships, using ambassadors and influencers are more than all the rage. They have proven to be an amazing brand awareness and profit increasing technique for all brands. Learning, gaining insight and growing your consumer-base through these useful strategies can offer a wealth of good juju to your business. Consider the brands that fir your target market and can help grow your baseline. If you have a stellar market than maybe you can assist with a smaller brand and help partner in their growth.
For example, the types of partnerships you can leverage are:
· distribution partnerships
· small business partnerships
· Charitable Partnerships
· Affiliate and Influencer marketing partnerships I want you to hit the ground running. Put on your game face. Take charge with knowledge, innovation, and a humanistic approach to all facets of your business. Know your numbers and use this future to close out your exit plan of 2020.
