Whether you\u2019re running a startup or large company, you\u2019re always looking for ways to grow your business. For a small business, this can be challenging because of limited manpower, money, and resources but even large companies want to grow their business with the least amount of money spent possible.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re going to reveal some obvious and not-so-obvious ways to grow your business by spending little to no money. Most of these ideas you can do yourself, without needing a whole team to work on so dive in and start implementing them on your business today!<\/p>\n
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Building a good relationship with your customers is key to your success; your customers need to know that you genuinely care about them and their feedback that you want to help them. And so, creating clear communication channels is a great way to start.<\/p>\n
If you have a brick-and-mortar store, be sure to always have someone by the phone to answer customers\u2019 concerns and questions as well as having someone navigating around the store and offering in-person assistance to visitors.<\/p>\n
And if you have an online business, ensure your website has your contact info displayed clearly or use a contact form plugin, if you\u2019re using WordPress, which they can fill in to have you contact them.<\/p>\n
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One of the best ways to grow your business without spending extra money is to create and share valuable content that is relevant to your industry. This could include blog posts, infographics, videos, or even podcasts. When your content is valuable, it will be shared by others, which will help you reach a wider audience.<\/span><\/p>\n To create viral content, you need to make sure that it is interesting, informative, and easy to share. You should also target your content to your specific audience. For example, if you sell shoes, you might create a blog post about the latest trends in footwear. Or, you could create an infographic that shows how to choose the right shoes for your feet.<\/span><\/p>\n The key to creating viral content is to provide value to your audience. If you can do that, your content will be shared and your business will grow.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some additional tips for creating viral and valuable content:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If your customers love your product\/ service and get helpful customer service then they\u2019ll most likely be willing to recommend your business to someone or leave a good review.<\/p>\n You can ask them for their review\/ feedback via email or if you have a mobile app, you can have a review\/ rating feature to show up after a successful purchase.<\/p>\n Simply direct your customers to where you want them to give their feedback and they\u2019ll do the rest! For example, if you have a restaurant, ask them for a Yelp review or if you\u2019re running a travel agency, then a review on Tripadvisor would be great.<\/p>\n If this works then you can start thinking about a referral program where customers get perks like bonus points, freebies, or special discounts whenever they refer someone to your business.<\/p>\n Find more about<\/strong> Ways to Get Your Business Off The Ground<\/a><\/p>\n Customer retention is the key to long-term business success. When you retain customers, you’re building a loyal customer base that is more likely to continue doing business with you in the future. This can lead to increased sales, profits, and brand awareness.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many things you can do to increase customer retention, but here are a few of the most important:<\/span>how to make your business grow<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the most important things you can do to grow your small business is to pinpoint what makes you different from your competitors. This is your unique selling proposition (USP), and it is what will help you attract and retain customers.<\/span><\/p>\n There are a few different ways to identify your USP. One way is to conduct customer interviews. Ask your customers what they like about your business, and what makes you different from the competition. Another way to identify your USP is to analyze your competitors. What are they doing well? What are they doing poorly? How can you differentiate yourself from them?<\/span><\/p>\n Once you have identified your USP, you need to communicate it clearly to your customers. This can be done through your marketing materials, your website, and your customer service.<\/span><\/p>\n Here is an exercise you can do to help you identify your USP:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. could be your strongest marketing tool \u2013 if used correctly. Business owners need to give their social media accounts attention and continuously post on them. A post every few weeks isn\u2019t enough to make a difference with your customers; you need to ensure your posts are useful to your customers and optimized with the right keywords and hashtags as well.<\/p>\n Posts or Tweets don\u2019t need to be product-specific, they can just be helpful tips in the industry, how-to-dos, or interesting facts. But before committing to a certain channel, you need to study your customer personas and understand what platforms they use, what are they looking for, and what is your business\u2019s unique proposition.<\/p>\n Also, try to have an active presence on social media by always responding to your customers, thanking them for their feedback, and addressing any concerns.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Corporate social responsibility (CSR)<\/b> is the practice of businesses taking responsibility for the impact they have on their stakeholders and the environment. This can include things like reducing their carbon footprint, giving back to the community, and producing sustainable products.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many benefits to practicing CSR, even if you’re on a tight budget. For one, it can help businesses attract and retain customers who are looking to do business with companies that share their values. Additionally, CSR can improve a company’s reputation and make it more likely to be covered by the media in a positive light.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some specific examples of how businesses can practice CSR on a budget:<\/span><\/p>\n By practicing CSR, you can show your customers that you care about the environment and the community. This can help you attract new customers, retain existing customers, and improve your reputation which will reflect to grow your business<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is important from the start of your launch to collect as many emails as possible from your website visitors because it is unlikely that visitors will revisit your website after the first time.<\/p>\n Email marketing <\/a>has been proven to get 10 times higher conversion rates than social media campaigns because an email newsletter is better targeted and personalized, it is sent directly to the user\u2019s inbox, it won\u2019t just show up on their timeline where they might or might not see it. Your newsletters need to add value and keep your customers engaged with your business.<\/p>\n So even though users are active on social media, it\u2019ll be hard to target them one-on-one and studies have shown that at least 91% of consumers check their email daily.<\/p>\n Neil Patel, the founder of Crazy Egg and QuickSprout, said that out of all the channels he tested as a marketer, email continually outperforms most of them. You can customize your newsletters to include new blog posts, the latest sales, or any updates about your business.<\/p>\n With an email marketing service, you can send out mass emails to your subscribers, run A\/B tests to find the best email structure, and get reporting data about your subscribers like how many they are, what countries they\u2019re from, etc. The most popular email marketing tools are Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Sendinblue, and ConvertKit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Building a strong network in your community is essential for business growth. When you have a strong network, you have access to a pool of potential customers, partners, employees, and investors. You can also share industry insights, emerging trends, and best practices with others in your network.<\/span><\/p>\n One way to build a strong network is to network with complementary businesses. This means finding businesses that are in your industry but do not compete directly with you. For example, a coffee shop could network with a bakery, as they both serve customers who are looking for a quick and easy breakfast or snack.<\/span><\/p>\n Another way to build a strong network is to attend industry events. This is a great way to meet other businesses in your industry and learn about new trends. You can also volunteer your time to industry organizations, as this is a great way to get involved in your community and meet other like-minded individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n By following these tips, you can build a strong network that will help your business grow and thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some additional tips for building a strong network in your community:<\/span><\/p>\n By following these tips, you can build a strong network that will benefit your business for years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are many online communities and forums where people go to looking for answers, socialize, or to find helpful content. The most popular communities are Reddit<\/a> and Quora<\/a>, where you can find discussions and questions from multiple categories and industries.<\/p>\n They are free to use so you just need to find them and start advising! Find out what your potential customers ask, what are the popular platforms they use, and then you can direct them to your website when appropriate (don\u2019t spam the comments with your website\u2019s link but explain why it would be helpful and how it could be of use to them).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Business franchising<\/span> is a common growth strategy for small businesses. This means you sell your business rights to an independent owner. Then, they open and operate their own franchise of your business. Many well-known companies sell franchises, like McDonald\u2019s, Starbucks, and Marriott hotels. When a new franchise opens, it increases the number of locations of your business, which helps bring in more revenue.<\/span><\/p>\n Before you agree to sell the rights to your company, you have to know if your business is franchisable. The franchising process is more appropriate for certain types of industries, such as fast-food restaurants or gyms.<\/span><\/p>\n Franchising is a business model in which the owner of a successful business (the franchisor) grants permission to another person (the franchisee) to operate a replica of the business under the franchisor’s name and branding. The franchisee pays the franchisor a fee for the right to use the business model, branding, and other intellectual property.<\/span><\/p>\n Franchising is <\/span>a common growth strategy for small businesses <\/span>\u00a0It allows the franchisor to expand their reach without having to invest in new locations or hire new employees. The franchisee, on the other hand, gets the benefit of operating a proven business model with the support of the franchisor.<\/span><\/p>\n However, franchising is not right for every business. The business must be scalable and have a repeatable business model. The franchisor must also be willing to provide training and support to the franchisees.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some of the benefits of franchising:<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some of the challenges of franchising:<\/span><\/p>\n If you are considering franchising your business, it is important to weigh the benefits and challenges carefully. If you think that franchising is right for your business, you can start by researching different franchise opportunities and finding a franchisor that is a good fit for you.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some additional tips for considering franchising your small business:<\/span><\/p>\n Provide training and support to your franchisees.<\/b> Your franchisees will need training and support to be successful. Make sure you have a plan in place to provide them with the resources they need.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There\u2019s no question that franchising gives you a chance to increase your customer base. But if your business isn\u2019t franchisable, there are alternatives to franchising, such as expanding your business through exporting which is the best way to grow a small business to extend to new markets. This can be done by exporting your products or services to other countries, or by opening new business locations in other parts of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many benefits to extending to new markets. First, it can help you reach a wider audience and attract new customers. Second, it can help you increase your market share. Third, it can help you diversify your business and reduce your risk.<\/span><\/p>\n If you are considering extending to new markets, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you need to do your research and make sure there is a demand for your products or services in the countries you are targeting. Second, you need to get the right documentation and permits. Third, you need to find a reputable freight forwarder to help you ship your products or services to your target markets.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many startups, online businesses, or home-based businesses fall into the mistake of using their home address for business or they don\u2019t state an address at all. Without a professional business address, how do you expect to grow?<\/p>\n Renting an office, especially in a major city like New York or Chicago can take a toll on a small business or startup that runs on low resources and money.<\/p>\n But by using your home address, you are risking the privacy and security of your home and family since it\u2019ll be available online, for everyone to see. A great way to get a professional business address in a commercial location is to rent a virtual business address.<\/p>\n A virtual business address is a real street address that can be used as your mailing address<\/a> as well as your business address. You can use it on your social media, website, or even business cards!<\/p>\n Virtual mailbox services providers offer addresses for you to choose from, each with a unique mail forwarding service. You can accept mail from your customers, partners, investors, etc. at this address and have it forwarded to you, wherever you are.<\/p>\n With a real US mailing address<\/a>, your business will maintain a professional image and it is a great scalable solution that doesn\u2019t limit your business\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n Your mail is delivered to secure mail facilities then the envelope of the package is scanned and sent to your online mailbox. You can log into your mailbox through your computer or mobile device and stay up-to-date with all new packages. Send out orders to forward, open & scan, shred & recycle, or archive and certified mail operators will carry out your request.<\/p>\n Read more about:<\/strong> Benefits of Having Virtual Address For You Home Business\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Diversifying your product or service offerings is a great way to grow your small business. When you offer different products or services, you can reach a wider audience and attract new customers.<\/span><\/p>\n There are two main ways to diversify your product or service offerings:<\/span><\/p>\n For example, the company Moment started out by selling lenses for smartphones to improve photography. They then diversified their offerings to include apps and accessories to use with their lenses. This allowed them to reach a wider audience and attract new customers.<\/span><\/p>\n If you are considering diversifying your product or service offerings, there are a few things you should keep in mind:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n By learning a few SEO tricks, you can quickly boost your website\u2019s traffic \u2013 without even needing to hire a specialist! We\u2019re going to explain what to do on a WordPress website because it is the most popular CMS and is used by most businesses.<\/p>\n Firstly, you need to run a test and check if your website appears in the search results. If it doesn\u2019t, go over to the admin tab, open the settings then the Reading Page, and check if the \u201cSearch Engine Visibility\u201d is checked. If it is, you need to uncheck it and save changes. Here are a few tips to follow to enhance your website\u2019s SEO:<\/p>\n Lastly, and one of the most important methods of SEO-improvement is optimizing your blog posts for SEO, but we decided to tackle this point on its own below!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your website\u2019s content, whether it\u2019s a landing page or a blog post, needs to be valuable. If you can\u2019t hook your website visitor within the first 5 seconds through a well-written ad, captivating image, or by the intro of a blog post, then you lost that customer.<\/p>\n Create content that\u2019ll educate and help your customers, provide them with real and useful info; never go rambling about your product\/ service, and add nothing else. There are a few things you can do to optimize your blog post and they are:<\/p>\n These were our top tips for promoting and growing your business for as little as possible! Of course, you can always look into paid advertisement and marketing but these great pointers should be considered, regardless of your budget.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Whether you\u2019re running a startup or large company, you\u2019re always looking for ways to grow your business. For a small business, this can be challenging because of limited manpower, money, and resources but even large companies want to grow their business with the least amount of money spent possible. 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Ask your customers to help spread the word!<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Increase Customer Retention<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Pinpointing What Makes You Different<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Update your social media channels<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Practice corporate social responsibility<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Build an Email list<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Build strong network in your community<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Become an expert in your industry<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Consider Franchising Your Small Business<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Extending to New Markets<\/b><\/h2>\n
Use a Virtual business address<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Diversify Your Product or Service Offerings\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Improve your website\u2019s SEO (Search Engine Optimization)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Content Marketing Strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Image Credit by bleakstar<\/a><\/h6>\n