In some respects, the tools available to a modern business make it easier than ever before to seek out new customers and develop new markets, but you need to be aware of modern megatrends and be prepared to adopt a contemporary approach to driving your business forward.
When you visit a website like www.reliantfinishingsystems.com/powder-coating-equipment/ for example, you can see how a bespoke approach to giving the customer what they want can give you and edge, so here is a look at some of the trends that you need to take notice of.
Keep up or you will be playing catchup
If you are a business owner who likes to try and stay ahead of the game in order to ensure you enjoy continued success with your venture, you will already know that staying informed on the the latest business trends is often pivotal to continued success.
It may be an obvious thing to say, but it is easy to forget that the world of commerce is constantly evolving, with changing economic conditions, new channels of communication opening up and a 24-hour shopping mentality, all distinct challenges that you will have to contend with, if you are going to ensure that you are keeping up and not catching up.
Making the most of social media opportunities
There is no denying that social media has been a real game-changer, and if you don’t already communicate with customers via sites like Facebook and Twitter, or use YouTube for instructional videos or entertainment purposes, you are almost certainly missing out.
The problem for many small business owners in particular is that when you look at the diverse range of social media platforms that are already available and a steady stream of new ones trying to establish some market share, it can be a bit overwhelming.
Social media is one of those megatrends that you simply have to embrace if you want your business to compete and grow. These online platforms allow you the chance to communicate directly with existing and prospective customers, and this level of interaction often proves to be marketing gold, with some valuable insights into how your customers are thinking, all for a modest investment or most of the time, for free.
There is no such thing as a local business anymore
Although you may well be a small business and do indeed operate locally, another strong trend that is being adopted by companies of all sizes, is that you need to think global.
Not so long ago, it would have been a crazy idea to try and reach out to international customers if you only had limited resources and no established international sales network. The internet changed all that, and you can find numerous examples of small business owners who could be selling products from their garage but are shipping their goods to customers around the globe.
There is no reason for a local company not to think on an international scale, so make the most of this strong trend and use the tools at your disposal to fill your order book with customers who are definitely not local.
Better payment options
One of the barriers to doing business overseas in the past was how to get paid for your goods in a cost-effective way, or how to get paid at all in some cases.
Another strong trend has been the rapid improvement in payment solutions. It is now possible for customers to pay you quickly and easily in a multitude of different ways, even using their smartphone to send you the money, in a growing number of transactions.
PayPal is another example of how much easier it is to collect payment quickly and efficiently, without ever having to go to your bank.
Cloud computing can give you a big edge
Cloud computing is being touted as the future and in view of the fact that less than 10% of business ventures park their workload on the cloud, tells you that there is a long way to go to with the takeup on this trend.
Although cloud computing is a relatively new option for business right now, there are a growing number of business gurus who suggest that embracing cloud computing for your business, will give your business a degree of agility, that is not otherwise possible, giving you a potential edge over your rivals in the process.
If you want your business to thrive and evolve, it would most likely pay to take note of some of these significant trends and use them to your advantage.
Kiera Vincent is a business consultant who is knowledgeable in a wide range of business needs, from marketing to recruiting. His articles are published online at a variety of small business blogs.
