With March marking Small Business Month in NSW, it seems a fitting time to talk about the future of small business and growth opportunities.
Small businesses have felt the impact of the pandemic harder than any other business in the country. Staff and supply shortages and lack of customers put enormous pressure on them, with hairdressers reporting up to 60 per cent absenteeism earlier this year, according to the Australian Hairdressing Council.
Small businesses are the backbone of the nation – making up 98 per cent of the Australian business community. So isn’t it time small businesses caught a break and were able to get back to the core of why you started your business in the first place and not focus on the struggling?
Not only has the pandemic pressurised but small businesses are also suffering from admin and overtime overload. On average, a small business owner is working one extra day a week to meet the overwhelming amount of admin and paperwork. Between juggling clients, services, phones and admin, it can be completely overwhelming.
So, what’s the solution? You can up your digital game.
Going digital is so much more than just selling online – it can be a tool to help keep your business top-of-mind during downtimes and help your business be better, not bigger.
Many small businesses are already using multiple apps or software programs but choosing the right platform will be a gamechanger for a small business by increasing efficiencies and enabling financial growth. It will help you get found online, stand out from the competition, get paid faster and on time, and win more customers.
So, if this resonates with you and if you’re a small business with heavy admin and overtime, here are three things to consider to up your digital game:
1. Automate
Automation is a time saver and reduces manual, mundane tasks that hold you and your staff up. It will allow your small business to scale its output without having to hire more people. Plus, automation tools enable you to be more data-driven and more effectively track your ROI, which is even more important for a small business.
2. Invest in the right CRM
There’s only so much you can do on your own. With the world having undergone a digital shift, you cannot afford to operate your business manually.
This is why having an end-to-end CRM, or Customer Relationship Management tool, to handle the heavy lifting is a must. CRMs are great for staying organised and getting the most out of your customer data but, the right CRM will do that and more to make running and growing your business a breeze.
3. Remember your customers
How will any new changes affect your customers? The goal is to make things better for them. It’s important to make sure they know your mission to provide them with excellent service is still at the top of the list.
Take the time to build out customer service policies that will make sure they always feel in the loop and continue to receive the quality service they’ve come to expect from you. It’s a must to understand what your customers experience when dealing with your business.
Remember, the main goal is to alleviate the pressures of business administration on you by digitising the tasks that are keeping you up at night.
