4 Business Trends to Help Your Startup in 2015
Can you believe 2015 is almost here? If you have been considering starting a new business, this year could be the time to make your move. The economy is finally starting to gel and more businesses and consumers are feeling confident about spending money.
If you are starting a new business, it’s important to be on top of business trends when doing so. What are some of the most important business trends for 2015? As an entrepreneur myself, and someone who works with many small businesses, here are four of the major trends I’ve observed.
- Everyone wants to do things faster in as few steps as possible. Whether they’re running a business or a household, no one wants to waste time. Think of a business that could save people or companies time, and you’re likely to succeed. And no matter what type of business you’re starting, make sure your business website, customer service and location are set up for maximum convenience. That might mean adding a click-to-call button on your website or making it easy to use on a mobile phone. It could mean staying open later hours so customers can visit you after work. Or it could mean offering customer service by phone, email or online chat so your customers have lots of choices. For example, on our business website, customers can quickly get an insurance quote, do live chat or get the phone number to call us.
- Even though the economy is getting better, people are still cautious. They may feel better about spending money, but that doesn’t mean they want to waste it. Your startup doesn’t have to offer the cheapest prices in town, but it does need to offer value in terms of quality products and services that are worth their cost. To reach the biggest market, you might want to offer products and services in “bundles” at various price points, such as a value pack or a “gold” level service so all types of customers can find something that’s right for them.
- Everything is going online these days, especially in the business world. Companies are using virtual assistants instead of hiring full-time secretaries, or using virtual workers to do things like provide customer service assistance or proofread documents. Starting a virtual business service means you can attract business customers from all over the country, which gives you a bigger market and a better chance of success. If you have a skill from your current job that you’d like to turn into a business, think about how you could do it virtually.
- Maybe it’s because so many things today are going online, but customers really seem to want personal service, personalized products and anything that they feel is customized for them—whether it’s a computer system for their business or a personal training plan for their fitness. No matter what type of business you start, be sure that you provide a personal touch. This is where small businesses can really stand out from bigger competitors, so take advantage of your ability to get to know your customers individually. Getting to know them and talk to them will also show you what they want so you can plan your future products and services better.
No matter what type of business you’re opening in 2015, taking these four trends into account will help you get off to a good start.
