This is a collaborative post

Did you start your own business in 2021? 

Like many people across the globe, 2021 saw a big shake up in terms of employment. With many jobs being placed on furlough during lockdown, people had the opportunity to reassess what they wanted from their future. Some people decided to change careers, learn new skills, retrain or move industries, whilst others decided to take the plunge and set up on their own, finally committing to creating the business they had been dreaming about for years.

Whilst it’s quite a challenging time for setting up your own business, here’s what you need to help take your business to the next level in 2022.

Branding 

You may have been surviving during the launch on word of mouth and the support of family and friends, but now is the time to work on creating a business brand. You dont have to spend a fortune on graphic designers and logo artists to build a solid brand image. Use something like Canva to create a logo and web header, keeping it simple yet striking so that potential customers can clearly see what your business does and what you can offer. Save your image in a variety of sizes and resolutions, so you can easily tailor them to what ever marketing method you use next.

Social Media

If you haven’t already done so, start thinking about your social media strategy – how are you going to get your brand seen by your target customer base? How can you increase engagement and interaction? Where are your audience most likely to hang out, and what social tools are the best option for reaching them? If you are brave enough, dabble into the world of reels – these short videos can be a great way to highlight products and services – get them right with trending music, and you can very quickly get your business seen by a huge amount of people in a very short space of time. Don’t forget to stick to your niche however – no one wants to see dog reels on a baking account. Stay focused and keep sharing.

Consider next steps 

What is currently holding you back? Think carefully about what you need to grow your. business, whether that be access to capital, cash flow, marketing strategies or operational support. You could even consider a business mentor – click here.

Keep track of your customers

How are you keeping track of your customers? Are you making sure they are happy, reaping the benefits of repeat custom, keeping them in the loop when new products are launched? A zoho crm partner can help keep all your customer interactions in one place to help drive growth and increase your profits.

Stay focused 

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Whilst business growth doesn’t (always) happen overnight, each new interaction is a potential business lead. Stay focused and stay positive. Good luck!