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The Better Business Bureau published an article in May 2019 titled 7 Ways to Build Trust with Your Customers and Why It Matters. Although this was published nearly two years ago, I can’t think of a more relative time than now. It begins with discussing how, at that time, authenticity was the latest buzzword, as younger generations want authentic connections and transparent corporate practices with businesses they use.  Two years later, authenticity is still around; however, it is no longer a buzzword, but rather, an expectation from consumers. The most effective way to prove your authenticity is from being a business known for its trustworthiness by building trust among your customers. Being able to truly say you are trustworthy will make your business stand out from the rest, especially with such fierce online competition.

We’ve made it through the first quarter of 2021 giving a bit of an insight as to the trajectory of the remaining nine months. For some, sales have never been better, but others are struggling to keep the doors open and pay employees. Regardless of which side you are on financially, it’s a good time to evaluate your social media and advertising strategies. It’s important to look at each quarter as if they are a mini year-end review. This allows you to make necessary tweaks and adjustments before they become huge issues later on. My quarterly mini year-end review steps are as follows:

No matter what type of business or service your company offers, the pandemic has catapulted the e-commerce side several years forward. We have seen it coming for a while now, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced all of us to re-think and adapt to meet the needs of our clients. I have said it before and I will say it again, the resilience of small business owners has astounded me. As the vaccine rollouts continue, we can hopefully reach some kind of pre-pandemic normalcy or a new and improved version of normalcy. Personally, I like the new and improved option because I love having the option to do my grocery shopping online and have them delivered to my home (boy, what I wouldn’t have done for that when I was raising babies and my husband traveled for work) or to see a home virtually before deciding on an in-person showing. Businesses that continue to evolve with the new and improved normalcy will be the winners when the pandemic dust settles. Follow these tips to get your business ready for the new and improved normal:

If you were still on the fence as to whether or not social media and influencers had any impact on business, the last week in January 2021 should have removed any doubts. On Tuesday, January 26, GameStop Corp’s stock began a wild ride surging 93%. In a nutshell, had it not been for social media none of this frenzy would have ever happened.

We are all tired.  Tired of staying home, tired of missing our families, tired of the news on TV, tired of everything.  Did you know that there was such a thing as Zoom Fatigue? I know, right?  Another thing to worry about!  But this one, I think you will find interesting.  

Some may think that email marketing is no longer effective in the age of social media and instant customer engagements. I beg to differ as email marketing campaigns still have a place in this era. I agree, the last thing I need is another email piling up in my inbox. However, the companies that do it right reap the rewards. For example, I wouldn’t say that I am a huge clothing shopper, but J Crew’s emails get me every time.

The year 2020 won’t be a year that we forget anytime soon. It taught us all how to adapt to circumstances that none of us could have ever prepared for a year ago. Business owners have had to go above and beyond expectations just to survive. Now that the calendar has turned to December and the end of this unpredictable year is coming to a close, what now? As a business owner, planning your marketing calendar for the upcoming year may be the most important thus far. However, this year will most likely look different from the past. Where should you start?

Short of being off the grid somewhere in the mountains, I don’t think you can be anywhere without being surrounded by brands. The advancement of technology has amplified that about a million times. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with it, because building a brand and brand identity are among some of the important things a business can do. The best way to do that is through consistency. Websites, social media platforms, print advertisements, and all other advertising mediums are excellent and necessary for a business’s success but without a consistent presence, they aren’t worth much.