Running a small business is tricky in any economy. Right now, certain industries are booming and that includes Miami’s nightlife, social culture and food and beverage sales. That means that while there is a lot of opportunity, there is also a lot of competition. How can one business stand out from the echo chamber in the marketplace right now? How can one get noticed in today’s largely digital economy? Take a look at these 10 tips for small businesses in Miami to make a splash and get your business growing quickly and exponentially.
- Advertise Everywhere Possible
Visual advertising, whether it’s commercials, social posts, or out of home advertising, is an absolute must for any small business. Small businesses on a budget should look into some of the smaller but effective miami billboards as well as taxi ads and bus panels.
Not only should you advertise wherever possible, you should be as creative as you can with your ads. Consider hiring creative contractors and designers to help you bring the aesthetic you want to your placements and campaigns. It’s an extra expense along with the ad placement itself, but in the long run it will benefit the overall product you end up with.
- Limit the Amount of Time Checking Emails
Too often we feel the need to check our emails and correspondence all day long. This is not only unnecessary, but unhealthy and keeps you tied to your phone all day. Stay focused on your tasks and designate one to two specific times during the day that you actually check and respond to emails. This will ultimately keep your workload manageable and ensure that you are spending your time taking care of tasks rather than getting tied up in unnecessary emailing.
- Maintain Your Personal Life
Maintaining a work-life balance is an important factor even when you are a business owner. The time you have to spend with yourself or your loved ones will be limited already, so it’s important that you prioritize that. If you spend all your time working, you’ll feel burned out and frustrated. Make time for your life outside of work, you’ll be thankful in the long run.
- Accept Customer Feedback
Take what your customers say seriously. In today’s market, consumers are defining business practices. Your customers are your most important asset as a small business and inviting their feedback will strengthen the relationships you have with them.
- Explore New Marketplaces
Consider what other markets your business can enter. It’s normal for markets to fluctuate, and if one part of your business is struggling there could be an opportunity to offer adjacent services in a similar field. Expanding your business will help you grow in the long run.
- Focus On Your Niche
While it can be helpful for growth to expand a business, having your priorities in your niche is important for keeping the core of your business alive. Chances are, no matter what your idea is, someone else has or is doing something similar. Find the unique spins you can put on your products and lean into that as much as possible. Especially for businesses that rely on foot traffic and serve the bustling nightlife and tourist community.
- Host Entertainment Nights
Something that small businesses in Miami can do to attract more customers is hosting some kind of entertainment. You could host a trivia night, a movie marathon or put on karaoke or small concerts to both involve the community and bring in more clients.
- Choose Partners Wisely
It’s easy to want to hire directly from your network of family and friends, but be cautious when thinking of hiring someone you are close to. Business relationships and friendships take on different roles in our lives, and it can get messy to mix the two. Take this into consideration when looking for new hires.
- Set Realistic Goals
Keep your goals for growth realistic and clear. If you set your goals too high, you’ll ultimately be setting yourself up for failure. Especially for small business owners weighing the benefits of offering more in-person services, you want to make sure you’re prepared to scale back if necessary.
- Use Personal Messages Instead of Emails
Don’t lean too heavily on emails. Today’s workforce relies on quick, easy communication to relay information throughout a team and long emails with lots of cc’s are more likely to get ignored. Lean on tools like slack to share information with your employees and team. That way quick communications can be read and dealt with quickly rather than getting caught up in someone’s inbox.
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