Business Tips - Vyde

Improve Your Online Presence Part 2: Perform a Quarterly Social Media Audit

So you’ve reviewed your website and got it looking top-notch? That’s great! The next step in improving your online presence is to perform a quarterly social media audit. Here is a quick checklist for doing that:

Make a list of all social media accounts that your business is part of and plan to update each account. Note any specific edits that you’ve been meaning to fix and haven’t yet.
While you’re doing this, make a list of all usernames and passwords and store them in a safe place. Update your passwords as needed and share them with the correct people in your company.
Make sure all links on your website and newsletter work properly and are directed to the correct account. Only display links of accounts that are actively managed.
Check all contact information: make sure phone numbers, emails, links to websites, and addresses are current on all accounts. Refresh your “about” page(s) and business description as needed.
Update all cover photos with a fresh look and make sure any important information isn’t hidden behind profile pictures. Your cover photos should show the benefits of your product or service, have a call to action, or show happy people with your product or logo. Check out this complete list of social media cover photo sizes before you begin designing.
Create an editorial calendar for your team. It should include a consistent posting schedule for all social media accounts. A good rule of thumb is to update your Facebook page at least once a week, Twitter once a day, Instagram two to three times a week, and Pinterest at least once a week. Ideally, a member of your team could manage all social media accounts and post even more than that. A great resource for scheduling your social media posts from all accounts is Hootsuite.com.
Place a call-to-action on your social media accounts. You can use Facebook to share an “offer” (maybe a free month of your service or a coupon for your followers); post a few quick tweets asking followers to sign up for your newsletter, or include a link in your social media posts that simply directs traffic to your website.
Plan contests, sales, discounts, and giveaways for the year and advertise them through social media. All of these things should be announced and advertised in advance, and then include an extra push on social media while the sale or giveaway is occurring.

Not only do refreshed and well-maintained social media accounts keep your business image looking sharp, they help you engage with your followers, learn about your audience, and interact with current and potential customers on a personal level.

Read the rest of the series here and here.

Improve Your Online Presence Part One: 8 Steps for Reviewing Your Website

Your website is often the first introduction of your small business to potential clients and customers. Keeping it in perfect condition can help boost sales and keep your image looking sharp. Make it a priority to review the functionality and usability of your small business website at the beginning of each year, so you can catch and correct and bugs sooner rather than later.
While doing a complete overhaul and review of your website can sound like a daunting task, taking a systematic approach to the job can simplify things. You can take care of these items yourself, or ask a client, friend, or family member to do the following:

Check all links on the website. Make sure each link directs properly and none are broken or linked incorrectly.
Review all content for spelling and grammatical errors. Small business websites generally contain a lot of information and even the slightest grammatical or spelling error can send the wrong message to clients. Keep your focus on the most important and most visited pages of your site, rather than reviewing old blog posts for grammatical issues.
Update the appearance of your website. Not all small business websites need refreshing, but updating even just the homepage of your site can give it a more modern look and feel as you start the new year. Add current photos, remove outdated features, and keep it simple. Make sure the overall appearance of your website conveys the message you want it to.
Keep your brand at the forefront of your website. Make sure your logo is the focus of at least one page, and place it on other pages within your site as well. Keep colors and design consistent with your brand. Your website should look uniquely yours.
Think functionality. Make sure your site is easy to use. Items should be in their usual places on the website and your navigation bar should be simple and straightforward. Compare your sites with others in your industry to improve functionality.
Refresh testimonials. Clients who are thinking about using your services or purchasing your goods don’t care what Joe Smith said back in 1999. They would rather know what your clients are saying now. Solicit testimonials from current clients via email or social media and keep your published testimonials within the last five or so years. Hint: adding credentials behind your reviewers name is an added bonus and makes your small business look more credible. (ex. “I love this business!” -Joe Smith, CEO at XYZ Hospital)
Social media. If your small business is on social media, those links need to be on your website. Direct clients to your social media accounts for the latest happenings within your business, since they are likely updated more often than your website.
Make your contact information visible on every page. Your business name, address, phone number, and email should be on every page of your website. Keep it readable and easy to find.

Keep in mind that a functional, attractive and error-free website is extremely important, but don’t get so hung up on perfection that you neglect other aspects of your business. You could probably spend all year updating, tweaking, and perfecting your website but 2016 is calling and it’s time to go out and make your small business more profitable than ever!

Read the rest of the series here and here.

3 Tips on Making Your Small Business New Year’s Resolutions Last All Year

Most people who are familiar with new year’s resolutions are also familiar with a feeling of defeat within a few weeks or months of setting their goals. They realize they’ve gotten too busy to achieve them, that their goals are too challenging or overwhelming, or they just abandoned them completely without reason. In fact, 46% of people give up on their new year’s resolution by the end of January, and 64% give up on their goals within six months.

This is true in the workplace, as well. So how do you set new year’s resolutions for your small business that will outlast that fresh start enthusiasm? Here are three proven tips on making your small business new year’s resolutions last all year long:

Be really specific. The goal that continually tops the list on personal new year’s resolutions is “lose weight.” For small businesses, it is simply, “increase profits” or “grow my business.” What is missing in these statements? Specificity.

Would you be happy losing one pound? How about increasing your yearly profits by $50? If you aren’t specific in your goals, it’s nearly impossible to create a plan to carry them out. If you can use numbers in your small business new year’s resolutions, do so. For example, “We will take our annual sales from $150,000 to $200,000 in 2016,” or “We currently have 200 clients. We will obtain 100 new clients in 2016.” Specific statements like these give you a benchmark to analyze data.

Tip: Make your small business new year’s resolutions pack an extra punch by putting your statements into a can-do format using words like “will” or “can,” rather than “hope to” or “want to.”

Create a plan of action, and then set the wheels in motion. Small business new year’s resolutions don’t resolve themselves. You and your employees will have to work together to create a plan and stick to it to accomplish the goals you set. For each goal you decided on, list the action steps it will take to make it happen. For example, if your goal is to obtain 100 new clients in 2016, your actions might be:

-Spend 10% more on advertising/marketing efforts

-Hire two new employees focused on client acquisition

-Hold one meeting per month to discuss ideas for new client acquisition

Each of these tasks should be assigned to someone on your team, and given a deadline. Employees should report the progress of these action steps regularly to help you stay on track with your small business new year’s resolutions.

Review regularly and especially at year-end. Your small business new year’s resolutions can ultimately become a plan of action for the year, and thus should be revisited and even tweaked or edited accordingly. Plan to review your new year’s resolutions quarterly, and then a large year-end review for your entire staff. Schedule specific meetings for discussing these goals now so you don’t haphazardly throw something together at the end of the first quarter.

When you review your small business new year’s resolutions with your team, be sure to discuss which items you can check off your list, what worked, what didn’t and why. Do what you can to move the team forward and continue working on the goals throughout the entire year. By making this a yearly process, you can see and record noticeable changes in every aspect of your business, according to the goals you set.

FAQs about Setting Small Business New Year’s Resolutions

Why do many small business owners struggle to maintain their New Year’s resolutions?

Small business owners often face challenges due to vague goals, lack of specific plans, and insufficient follow-through.

How can I make my small business New Year’s resolutions more specific?

Specify goals using measurable metrics like revenue targets or client acquisition numbers. Utilize words like “will” or “can” for added commitment.

What steps can I take to ensure my resolutions translate into actionable plans?

Break down each goal into actionable steps with assigned responsibilities and deadlines. Regularly review progress and make necessary adjustments.

Why is it important to review small business resolutions regularly?

Regular reviews help track progress, identify successes, and address challenges. They ensure alignment with long-term business objectives.

How can I ensure my team remains committed to our resolutions throughout the year?

Foster a culture of accountability by involving team members in the resolution process, assigning tasks, and holding regular progress meetings.

20 Ways to Cut Business Expenses

Hire Independent Contractors: An independent contractor can save you money because you aren’t paying for any employee benefits for them. They’re a great option if you don’t need a full-time person doing the work.
Change Your Phone System: Phone systems can add up. See if you can simplify your system and use free options instead.
Stay Virtual: If you can run your business online, do it. Opening a physical location can add a lot of expenses (think rent, insurance, utilities, etc.)
Create your own forms: Instead of buying forms from a local office supply store, create your own. This will help keep them unique to your business and save you money.
Renegotiate Your Rent: If you have to have a physical location talk with your landlord and see if you can renegotiate your rent. If there are a lot of empty spaces in your city, then your landlord may be more open to discussing your rent.
Buy Recycled Ink Cartridges: Ink cartridges are really expensive, especially when people are frequently printing. Instead of buying brand new ones, buy recycled. It will save you money and you’re more eco friendly.
Reevaluate Your Medical Insurance: Medical insurance is a big expense for businesses. Don’t leave picking a policy for the last minute. Really research your options and see if you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
Hire Temporary Employees: If you know you’re going to have a busy season coming up, but won’t need employees after the busy season ends, then hire temporary employees.

Resources

Category: Business Tips

Improve Your Online Presence Part 2: Perform a Quarterly Social Media Audit

Other posts that might interest you

Improve Your Online Presence Part One: 8 Steps for Reviewing Your Website

Other posts that might interest you

3 Tips on Making Your Small Business New Year’s Resolutions Last All Year

FAQs about Setting Small Business New Year’s Resolutions

20 Ways to Cut Business Expenses

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