How to Future-Proof Your Business for the New Year

Pretty soon you’ll be shifting from bustling holiday activities to a bright new year packed with potential. It’s your moment to seize success, whether craving a positive reset in your personal life or your business strategies. And for many small brand owners, the pair are tightly woven together.

Future-proofing your business should be high on your list for a prosperous calendar year, especially whenever economic times are uncertain. Minimal efforts won’t be enough to keep the lights on, and you need to step up to each challenge to extinguish any setbacks threatening to emerge. 

Keep spirits soaring with this checklist of tips that will help bolster your brand so you can secure your new year’s resolutions.

Prioritize the Customer Experience

Customer expectations are ever-changing, so you’ll need to pay close attention to these trends as they shift and evolve. Businesses that are willing to adapt and change direction to meet current demands are more likely to reap rewards in the year ahead. 

Consider the customer journey. Someone out there has a problem they’d like to solve. Does their search lead them to your business? If so, is it easy to navigate, communicate, and checkout? An exceptional customer experience makes it a cinch for potential buyers to sail smoothly from curiosity to conversion.

You’ll also want to avoid the costly mistake of thinking the journey is over as soon as your customer crosses the finish line. Create lasting relationships with loyal visitors by continuing to offer an outstanding customer experience. This will not only bring in repeat business but also lucrative referrals thanks to word-of-mouth reviews from pleased customers.

Offer Today’s Flexible Payment Options

Flexible payment options have been skyrocketing in demand since the pandemic began in 2020, and we predict this trend will continue in the year ahead. That’s why you shouldn’t discount the impact of offering a multitude of payment options that make purchase commitments effortless for every customer.

Global Payments conducted a survey and found that 53% of merchants planned to expand payment methods in 2022. Younger demographics are especially eager to embrace convenient payment options that match their digital lifestyle. Are you meeting this demand, or shying away from sales?

How can you make payments more flexible:

• Offer Buy Now, Pay Later plans with bite-sized installment billing
• Use digital wallets for credit, debit, bank, and loyalty information
• Modernize with payment by QR code, digital invoices, or custom links

By giving your customers a choice, they’re able to pick what works best for their financial situation, which is beneficial to both parties. Looking for a good starting point? Take a look at our mobile payments via text, a modern method for bill payment.

Make it A Snap to Contact Your Business

Effective communication is never a one-way street. Your customers want to get in touch with you, whether they have questions before making a purchase or feedback about their experience. Shutting them down or limiting their ability to get what they need will not gain any favor and could cause that customer to move on entirely.

As a business owner, it’s important to provide multiple communication channels to diversify how customers connect with you. Preferred methods include email, text, Webchat, and voice. The good news is that Podium is here to help you seamlessly incorporate these methods into your company’s communication strategies.

Remember, your customers are probably on the go a lot, and might jump from one mode of communication to another in the blink of an eye. Make it easy for them to accomplish their goals, no matter which device they use or which communication channel they cherish the most.

Truly Listen to Your Customers

One thing remains the same year after year: customers value businesses that value them. Showing you care doesn’t require complex grand gestures either. Express your commitment to customer satisfaction by listening to what each one has to say, even when it’s hard to hear the truth. 

A good way to gain helpful insight is by asking for feedback via surveys and reviews. These responses will shed light on where you’re winning and losing with customers. Another sign you’re listening to your audience is by engaging in social monitoring, the practice of gathering information from social media interactions.

According to findings from Sprout Social, over 75% of consumers expect social media responses from brands within 24 hours. A timely follow-up will show your customers that you care. Then use the insight you’ve learned to improve your business practices, an effective marketing strategy known as social listening.

Think About Employee Satisfaction

There have been a lot of challenges in staffing over the last few years, compounded by recent events. This has led to weighty stress for employees and employers alike. Unfortunately, the consequences are significant. A Gallup workplace report notes that low engagement from employees costs the global economy an astonishing $7.8 trillion.

Soothe workplace worries by showing how much you value worker contributions. Even better, point out the specific ways their efforts have made a positive impact. But don’t let your gratitude appear hollow by only offering supportive words. 

Along with thanking your employees, make genuine efforts to meet their needs. This encompasses everything from arming workers with the resources they need on the job to evaluating whether their current pay matches market rates amid rising inflation.

It’s also vital to strive for work-life balance so employees can decompress and recharge between productive tasks. Consider adding wellness benefits to employment perks along with frequent opportunities for upskilling and career growth.

By supporting the goals of your team, you’ll foster a healthy environment positioned for victorious days ahead.

Perform a Full Website Checkup 

The most impressive small business websites are kept in tip-top shape, with fresh additions and regular audits to existing content. By making periodic adjustments, you’ll be able to remain relevant as trends rise and fall. You’ll also be able to keep your website in sync with best SEO practices so you can keep up with competitors across search engines.

Check out our detailed guide for small business website maintenance to learn the best way to tune up your online web pages. The process will become less daunting if you draft a regular schedule for each item on the checklist.

Here’s a quick rundown to get you started:

• Add fresh new content to your website regularly
• Scan your site for any unexpected broken images and links
• Audit and update all content to make sure it’s still relevant
• Make sure you’re only advertising valid promotions
• Keep your site up-to-date with best SEO practices
• Try viewing your website through a customer’s lens
• Prioritize responsive mobile-friendly web design 
• Consider the user experience during navigation
• Test your web speed to ensure your site loads swiftly
• Implement easy communication throughout your website
• Streamline checkout processes to avoid abandoned carts

Add the Right Tools to Your Toolkit

Podium’s platform is here to help small businesses realize their goals in the new year and beyond. How? We designed a slick set of tools that connect you with your customers. You’ll be able to improve communication and gain the valuable insight necessary to move your business forward.

Give the Podium small business suite a try today with our free 14-day trial.