The funnel representation makes it easy to visualise and identify a potential customer’s location in their buying journey. This insight could help you decide what actions to take to guide the prospect to the next stage. It can also help you improve areas where you notice more drop-offs.

Stages of a sales funnel

While the stages of a funnel can vary based on how a business functions and its end goal, a basic sales funnel typically consists of four stages:

1. Awareness

A potential customer steps into your sales funnel when they come across your brand for the first time. While some may have discovered your business through their own research or word-of-mouth, others may have caught a glimpse of your business through ads, social media posts, blogs, or any of your other marketing initiatives. To attract your target customer, conduct brand awareness activities and create content that’s relevant to your audience.

You can do this by:

• Sharing your expertise through quality blog posts
• Posting engaging social media content
• Conducting webinars on topics relevant to your industry
• Creating gated content, like ebooks and white papers

2. Interest

If you want to guide your prospects toward recognising that you have a potential solution to their problems, you need to promote content that acknowledges their specific concerns and shows how you can address them. You can do this by sharing informative materials, like customer case studies, product demos, video tutorials, and webinars. When the prospect sees value in what you’re offering, they may feel genuine interest in learning more about your business and start to engage.

3. Desire

When a prospect reaches the third stage, it means they are seriously considering a purchase. Of course, this doesn’t mean they’re not evaluating your competitors. The best course of action here is to actively follow up, build trust, and politely reinforce all the benefits they would receive by choosing your business over others. Free trials, discount vouchers, and in-person training can all work in your favour. You’ve managed to bring the prospect a long way in this journey, so do all you can to convince them.

4. Action

Once your prospect reaches the bottom of your funnel, they are ready to make a decision. If they decide to go ahead with the purchase, it’s time to start working on strengthening your relationship. Your ability to nurture the customer relationship post-purchase will impact retention and the overall perception of your business. During the nurturing process, identify areas where you may be falling short of expectations, and make the necessary improvements. When customers notice the effort you take to exceed their expectations, they often feel encouraged to stay loyal to you.

Steps to create a sales funnel for your business

1. Define your target audience

When you’re running a business, it’s important that you communicate with your audience effectively and create marketing campaigns that resonate with them. To do this, you need to have a deep understanding of your target audience’s interests and pain points. It’s also helpful to keep track of other important details, like their typical age group, location, and behavioural traits, so you can make informed decisions about marketing and communication.

Check out this blog post to learn why having a customer profile is important, and how you can build one for your business.

2. Develop a marketing strategy

To draw people into your sales funnel, you need to craft an effective marketing strategy that sparks interest in your business. Whether you do this through SEO, paid ads, social media promotions, or event marketing, the goal is to attract quality leads from a variety of sources. This way, you can reduce the risks associated with relying on a single source for revenue growth. From choosing the platform where you’ll reach your audience to deciding how you’re going to engage, it’s important to have a clear plan for converting a visitor into a qualified lead, and guiding them to the next stage.

Here are 12 effective marketing strategies you can try to promote your business.

3. Create effective landing pages

Landing pages are web pages designed to persuade people to take a targeted action. They are effective because they keep your audience’s attention focused on a specific goal. With targeted messaging and clear calls to action, well-designed landing pages can convey your brand’s value more effectively and boost your conversion rates.

Learn how you can create a landing page to drive conversions.

4. Use a CRM

When you automate your sales process with your CRM, you can easily visualise your funnel and clearly understand what’s happening at each stage. A good CRM will not only help you track and identify the leads you should pay more attention to, but also help you automate various tasks in your sales process, like sending follow-up emails or updating contacts. The AI capabilities in Zoho CRM can even help you detect deviations from your projected sales pattern without the need for manual intervention.

5. Nurture your prospects

When prospects are still in the early stages of research, they may need time to make an informed choice. During this phase, you should look to nurture them by sharing relevant resources, being available to answer questions, and regularly following up. When you nurture your prospects the right way throughout their journey, you’ll be at the front of their minds when they are ready to purchase. The only catch is that you need to do it without being too pushy.

6. Track and optimise

While you’re busy closing deals, it’s important to keep tracking what’s working for your business and what’s not. For example, if there is a particular stage where your prospects seem to get stuck, dig deep to find out what’s delaying them from moving to the next stage of your sales cycle. An easy solution is to use a CRM with good analytics capabilities so you can find underlying trends and get insights into customer behaviour. All this data can help you optimise your customer journey and increase your likelihood of closing deals.

Source: Zoho

The post 6 Ways to create a money-making sales funnel appeared first on Small Business Connections.

While it’s understandable that not every person who expresses interest in your business will turn into a customer, you can save time for everyone involved in the sales process by taking steps to identify your most realistic leads.

Sales qualification is the process of evaluating a prospect to determine if there’s potential for them to turn into a paying customer. During a sales conversation, asking your leads the right questions will help you recognise key prospects early, so you can prioritise their journeys. Qualified leads can even help you build an ideal customer profile, which you can use to improve your marketing efforts.

In addition to the standard set of questions you ask a prospect to understand their business requirements, there are a few important questions you should add to the list. Although these questions are not tailored to any specific industry, they can be a great starting point for any B2B and B2C businesses that are attempting to filter and prioritise a pool of prospects.

1. What’s the one main goal you’re trying to accomplish with this purchase?

There can be a bunch of different reasons why someone is interested in your business. Some may want to cut down their costs, while others could be interested in switching to a different product to improve their current business operation. The reason usually varies from business to business. Instead of making an assumption about why someone wants your product, it’s always best to ask the lead directly. Their response will give you an idea of their overall expectations and help you lead the call by addressing relevant pain points.

2. “Do you have a budget range in mind for this purchase? This will help us give you better suggestions that may fit your requirement.”

Money is a tricky subject. You want to avoid coming across as a mercenary, but at the same time, you don’t want to invest in a prospect who could never afford your products. The right way to talk about budget is by starting the call with introductory questions and bringing the topic up once you’re ready to elaborate on your offering. Remember, just as much as you’d be keen to know your prospect’s budget, they would also be curious to know your quote. Instead of beating around the bush and pushing the topic to your next call, be upfront and get a rough estimate on what they can afford.

3. “Are you evaluating any other products at the moment?”

The answer to this question will clearly tell you what you’re competing against. This information is crucial because it lets you know if you already have the upper hand in this deal or if you should make a better offer to sway your prospect to your side. You can take this chance to politely state some facts on why you’re better than your competitors and what value customers get by choosing your business over others.

4. “Are there any more people involved in the decision-making process?”

Unless it’s a small organisation, it’s likely that the person you’re talking to was assigned to do some initial research for the product. If that’s the case, suggest scheduling a group meeting so you can address the decision makers directly. Talking to the right people will give you better chances of closing the deal—and it will save time. Alternatively, if you know how many others are involved in the process and their roles, you can modify your pitch to provide your contact with the materials they’ll need to convince their supervisors.

5. “How soon are you hoping to make this purchase?”

This is another great question to help you learn how interested someone is in your business. If a prospect is serious about finding a solution, they are likely to give you a fixed timeline on when they intend to make the purchase. If they don’t, ask them if you can follow up with them on a specific date. That will give them some additional time to consider their decision. If they don’t seem very keen on that idea, it’s time to give them some space and wait for them to get back to you. Sometimes, business decisions can take a while. Especially in a volatile economic market, business priorities change so frequently that what’s important on one day can become less so the next. In such situations, it’s best to focus on prospects looking for a solution now rather than those intending to purchase in the long run.

6. “Do you mind sharing what’s stopping you from making this purchase?”

Sometimes, even when a client appears very invested in your business, they’ll keep you waiting for a commitment. When you feel that you’ve done all you can to convince the customer, and they still hesitate, it is helpful to identify the underlying reason. Only when you get a definitive answer on what’s been stopping them can you provide them with a solution that will convince them to purchase.

Here’s why we, at Zoho, think this is a crucial question:

“Sometimes, the person talking to our sales team will have limited technical knowledge. And so they’ll struggle to explain and convince their teammates how and why our products can benefit their business. In such cases, our team offers a detailed presentation to help them convince the board. Quite often, this helps us close the deal. But this would only be possible if we ask for the genuine reason for the delay,”

-Thilakraj V, Zoho ANZ Enterprise Sales, 12+ years experience selling software

Source: Zoho

The post 6 Questions you need to ask during every sales call appeared first on Small Business Connections.

Looking for b2b events to take part of? Check out SmallBiz Week and B2B Enterprise Week in 2023. Both events offer a chance to get in front of thousands of engaged visitors at expos, networking functions and conferences.

Here are some ways to make the most of business events:

Be picky with your events

If you think attending as many events as possible will give you the desired exposure for your business, you’re probably mistaken. Business events require a lot of strategic planning, especially if you choose to host an exhibit. Even if you’re willing to spend a lot of time and money at an event, you need to first consider questions, such as:

• Will your intended audience be there?
• Has the event seen a good number of attendees in the past?
• Will you be able to stand out from the competitors who are exhibiting?
• Does the cost of exhibiting justify the potential exposure you’ll receive from attending the event?
• Are any controversial sponsors involved in the event?

If you wish to maintain your credibility, it’s important to be very selective about the events you attend and the brands you choose to associate yourself with.

Do your research beforehand

Whether you’re attending an event as a participant or a spectator, gather as many details about the event as you can before signing up. Make sure you thoroughly research the event’s official website and keep an eye on social media to find out who is likely to attend. Once you have a decent number of names on the list, make a note of companies with whom you are hoping to establish connections. Strategise ways to approach them and consider details you’d like to discuss. You can even try emailing them a day or two before the event expressing your interest in meeting.

However, amidst the chaos of the event, you may not end up meeting everyone you initially intended. That’s completely fine. Focus on letting the conversations flow naturally and building genuine connections with everyone who stops by your booth. Never turn your interactions into a sales pitch, unless a visitor seems interested in hearing more about your product or service.

Find the right team

The people representing your business at the event are the face of your business. How they greet people at your booth and conduct themselves will reflect on your brand. So it is always important to be extra careful while choosing your team. A good representative for your business should be:

• Confident and able to initiate and drive conversations naturally
• Knowledgeable about your products and services
• Able to maintain their professional demeanour at all times
• Capable of effectively communicating your business’s unique selling proposition

Above all, it should be someone who feels proud to represent your business.

Make your presence memorable

Once you’ve done the groundwork and prep, it’s showtime. On the day of the event, attendees will come across many exhibitors, all trying their best to showcase their offerings and build conversations. That’s why it’s crucial to make the extra effort to stand out from the crowd. Try to set up a visually appealing booth with a welcoming atmosphere. Be strategic about your booth’s placement, dress code, giveaways, and all the tiny details that will draw attention to your business. If you have enough room in your budget, you can even try hosting interactive games, a photo booth, or a coffee cart to make your station more enticing.

Keep the buzz alive online

Business events create an excellent opportunity to humanise and show the real faces behind your brand. The next time you’re at an event, make sure you create some buzz on your social networks by posting live updates and keeping your audience actively engaged. Give them a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes, and post pictures and videos capturing your booth’s atmosphere. Use the event’s official hashtags and tag the right people (with permission) on your social platforms to gain better traction.

Screenshot of a post from our LinkedIn handle

Be quick to follow up with your leads

Once you’re back from the event, it’s time for diligent follow-up. First, make a list of all the people or businesses you interacted with. Then, prioritise them based on the quality of your interactions. It’s a good idea to send a follow-up email or a LinkedIn DM within the next 24 hours, while your conversation is still fresh in your leads’ minds. Consider highlighting a favourite part of your interaction, and ask if they’d like to catch up again to discuss things further. You can also reach out to those you couldn’t meet at the event and let them know you hope to catch up soon.

Looking for b2b events in Australia for your business? Check out SmallBiz Week and B2B Enterprise Week in 2023. Both events offer a chance to get in front of thousands of engaged visitors at expos, networking functions and conferences. 

The post 6 Steps to get the most out of business events appeared first on Small Business Connections.

Why Start a Business With the Future in Mind?

The attribute of most successful entrepreneurs are those who don’t follow the herd but anticipate the needs of the market earlier than the competition. Of course, such anticipation is not without risk, but the payout can be considerable.

After all, seminal inventions, such as the automobile, the Internet, and the smartphone, were all regarded with high degrees of skepticism when first introduced. Equally important, the impact is not only cultural but economic as well.

The automobile gave rise to a global network of small businesses, such as parts makers, dealerships, and service centers. The Internet has spawned a host of online companies, many of which, such as Amazon.com and eBay.com, have grown from small operations to very large ones indeed. So what are the small businesses of the future, and where will we find them?

The fields of energy and clean tech seem to be among the ripest areas for growth, as do nanotechnology, entertainment, and the growing demands of adapting the planet to accommodate its burgeoning population–even if they might strike some of us now as being a bit far-fetched.

The pace of change in the business world is faster than ever these days, thanks largely to globalization and digital technology. One way to zero in on fields that will be hot in the future is to stay away from those that are not. Below are some of the business ideas that will be hot in the foreseeable future.

50 Best Trending Future Small Business ideas for 2022 – 2030

1. Data Crunching

The era of big data is just getting started, with many firms eager to tap vast new databases to gather more info on their customers, their competitors, and even themselves. The challenge isn’t just crunching numbers; it’s making sense of them, and gaining useful insights that can be translated into a business edge.

Marketing and market research are two growing fields where the use of data is exploding. With the right gadgets and know-how, you can position yourself for this time bomb business.

2. 3D Printing Shop

The basic idea underlying this business is fabricating items in low cost printers. At this stage in 2016, there is plenty of hype but 3D printers are still extremely expensive. When you need a need a new lens cap? Print it! That’s the idea behind this.

That’s the way of the future. Instead of the long processes and procedure of fabricating in a factory and shipping the item wherever it’s needed, 3D printers are expected to produce everything from architect models to sinks to spare camera parts. “It’s already happening at service bureaus. It hasn’t happened at a physical shop like Kinko’s, but it’s very possible and soon

3. Computer Engineering

A lot of software development is done overseas these days, but the need for high-level computer experts able to tie systems together is still strong. In finance and investing, for instance, high-speed computing is increasingly a prime competitive advantage. And most big companies will need networks that are faster, more seamless, and more secure.

4. Asteroid Mining

Right now, this idea is slightly beyond sci-fi. The idea underlying this future business is exploiting and exploring space. Since resources are running out here on Earth, the value of rare metals and minerals may someday be worth the cost of lunar or asteroid mining, especially when you consider that deep sea drilling requires investments of billions of dollars.

If you realize that everything we hold of value on earth is in near-infinite quantities in space, you realize there will be vast wealth created on the space frontier. Many entrepreneurs are not concerned with the difficulties inherent in mining an asteroid; as they are already convinced it’s possible and lucrative.

5. Scientific Research

New technology R&D will continue to generate breakthroughs in medicine, manufacturing, transportation, health-tech and many other fields, which means there will be strong demand for workers schooled in biology, chemistry, math, and engineering. Some areas that show particular promise: biotechnology and biomedicine, nanotechnology, robotics, and 3D printing, which allows the manufacture of physical products from a digital data file.

6. Body Part Making

This has to deal with the use of degrading polymers and stem cells to engineer tissues. This is not about growing a foot or an arm in a lab. It’s about growing skin or tendon or muscle–in other words, single types of tissue. But the possibilities are immense.

For instance, a Connecticut company already has the tech and they are working to heal ACL tears without taking tendon from another part of the body to surgically repair it. The company uses a degrading polymer placed where a tear occurred and lets stem cells in the blood do the healing. Using a device that looks like a high-tech shoelace, it’s braided. It looks like about a 5-inch shoelace from your sneaker made from very small fibers, like smaller than a human hair.

7. Marriage Counseling and Therapy

There’s now widespread recognition that mental health is as important as physical health, which is likely to increase demand for professionals in this field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the need for marriage and family therapists, as one example, to grow by 41 percent.

8. Bottled Air Company

The idea is using this ubiquitous natural resource as product but it is still at the stage of space balls. If water can be bottled and sold, why not air? In 2009, bottled water was a $10.6 billion business that involved packaging 8.1 billion gallons in the U.S. But air is somewhat easier to find than a cold sip of water.

Still, oxygen bars went through a mildly popular phase in the ’90s, and seven or eight companies still market oxygen canisters to the action sports set. “It increases the oxygen content in your blood and gives you a boost when you’re tired or fatigued. Thus far there are no plans for pure mountain air in bottles, unless you’re talking pure irony.

9. Car Charging Station

It’s common knowledge that electric vehicles is already in the U.S. Auto market and hundreds of charging stations have been built, thousands will have to be built to cater for the increasing consumers. The all-electric Nissan Leaf completely sold out before the car even arrived in U.S. showrooms.

With that kind of demand, the charging stations to get those cars running are also going to be in high demand. The idea is to ensure that people don’t hesitate to buy electric because they’re worried about fueling. The key is that they fuel a little differently.” In general, the cars take hours to charge, so stations are needed where cars are parked.

10. Veterinarians

Two out of every two people love pets and they are more popular than ever, and some of them get medical care that’s practically fit for a human. The BLS expects the need for vets to rise 36 percent by 2020.Every household owns a pet. But due to the hurry burry life style most of them have find no time to take care of their lovable pets which makes the pet care to be consider as the best business to start in 2014.

According to “American Pet Products Association” this pet care industry grows by 5%each year. Pet care industry includes the services like pet sitting, pet mobile grooming and assisting the people who want to grow farm animals like bees and chickens in their home located in city etc.

11. DNA Design Firms

If you don’t know, reading DNA gives clues to disease. At this junction in the history of human existence, DNA reveals some diseases, much more to come if we invest in this area. But testing DNA for patterns that correlate with diseases won’t disappear so easily. BioNanomatrix, a Philadelphia company that provides technology solutions for reading DNA, is working on a grant to get DNA sequencing under $100.

The long-term possibilities of cheap DNA testing involve a better understanding of aging and endless possibilities for new ways to cure and treat disease. The great dream is that you take a person’s DNA when they are a baby and you profile it in a very thorough way, which can make easy the prediction of the health status of the baby.

12. Greenhouse Gas Auditors

The Idea is about private companies auditing polluters, at this stage, it is still dependent on policy making. Doing a greenhouse gas audit is endlessly complicated, because so much of our daily lives, from heating to transportation to food, involve contributing to climate change. As policy shifts to stop impending environmental degradation, the jobs will follow.

There are going to be a more roles related to greenhouse gas management, auditors are one role that a lot of people focused on initially. It has been the most clearly defined role in these early days of carbon markets. But there will be a whole population of carbon specialists. In the end, the objective is to make the information that has been collected useful. And that depends in large part on policy.

13. Holographic Theater

Right now, the idea is beyond 3D. The hologram of today is a clever version of an old illusion called Pepper’s Ghost. In the mid-19th century, the trick was done with thick glass between the audience and image that could make a figure appear to be floating in the air.

Current illusionists use highly reflective polymer, invisible to the audience, to create life-size images. A top application for the technology is using holograms for real-time telepresence for meetings. The capacity already exists for numerous people in different cities to appear on stage on another continent, in real time. Of course, hologram theaters could replace 3D, as well.

14. Jet-Pack Dealership

The idea is hinged on personal flight. It is actually commercially available right now but has not been embraced by consumers. An aircraft company is already taking orders for the first commercially available jetpack. It’s recreational, so you’d need to go fly in a field somewhere, rather than to work.

It’s also expensive, stating a price of $100,000. If that price comes down, however, it’s not hard to imagine that folks might want to fly to work instead of drive. That is, until air traffic looks like the freeways of today.

15. Lunar Tour Guide

This is a form of pay to play lunar travel and will be available in the next few years. Accessing space used to only be the province of governments or large aerospace giants. That is no longer the case, with numerous companies sending paying customers into the heavens. That may go a step further, with lunar missions, in the next five or 10 years.

Ever since Eugene Cernan stepped off the moon on Dec. 14, 1972, the moon has been devoid of human contact. The next person to return may well pay for the right to do so. Space Adventures has commenced the business, by planning a lunar mission for tourists in the next three to four years.

16. Marijuana Cigarette Maker

This is already in the black market but this idea is built on the legalization of drugs. California’s legalization measure didn’t pass on Nov. 2, but California and a number of other states are already well into a gray area of legalization. Further, legalization advocates say the vote itself was as step forward.

It elevated and legitimized the discourse about marijuana legalization like nothing ever had before. It shifted the debate from whether marijuana should be legalized to how. For the small pot farmers and joint rollers, business is good, and few are looking forward to the Phillip Morris of weed. That doesn’t stop the push for legalization.

17. Lab-Grown Meat & Fake Meat

Can you imagine growing meat in the lab? That is what this is about. Even though this is already been done but the taste is not there yet. Using techniques that come out of stem cell technology, numerous groups of scientists have grown meat in the lab. Stem cells are placed on scaffolding and soaked in nutrients to grow. What about making non-meat products that taste like meat?

Daniel Riegler is the co-founder of Karana, Asia’s first whole-plant based meat brand that offers minimally processed whole-plant based meat alternatives using jackfruit.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are behind the push for lab meat. In 2008, the group offered a $1 million prize to the first group that can grow commercially viable amounts of chicken meat in a lab. New Harvest is a nonprofit founded by Jason Matheny in 2004 to do just that.

18. Nanomedic

This is the use of nanotechnology for the reparation of cells. A report commissioned by the British Government earlier this year, “The Shape of Jobs to Come,” flubbed in suggesting that nanotechnology would lead to subatomic medical treatments and hence, nanomedics. We’re on board with nanotechnology providing advances in medicine, but this was a problem of size.

Bruce Donald, a computer science professor at Duke University, has been creating microrobots that could possibly insert electrons into neurons in the brain. The world’s smallest untethered, controllable robots, Donald’s nanobots are about 60 microns wide (200 could fit on an M&M). It’s not hard to imagine medical applications for the robots.

19. Nanosatellite

This idea is about making things smaller than it was half a century ago. As satellites get smaller, the costs of launching them get lower. That’s the major limiting factor. Nano satellites and the even-smaller picosatellites can be packed with all sorts of useful equipment that have business applications.

The types of nanosatellites and microsatellites that can be built by small companies and universities will become more robust. We’re heading in a direction where small teams and small companies will be able to do far more in smaller packages.

20. Cybersecurity & Privacy Protection Firm

The use of smartphones connected to different grid of information has exposed our information to those who want to steal it. The need for data protection and reputation management growing rapidly. From credit-card numbers to photos from the latest kegger, more private information is online than ever before. There’s also a growing need for cybersecurity firms that help businesses protect themselves with growing

Businesses need to protect that information, and individuals need to be careful with it. Right now, states are only now beginning to pass laws that require companies to have written security plans to prevent data breach. Beyond data, a cottage industry is developing in the field of reputation management.

21. Robotics Mechanics

Right now, robots are scrubbing floors but they cannot wash dishes. Thousands of robots have been blown up or damaged by improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan. So robot mechanics already exist. But we’re talking about something as ubiquitous as a computer repair shop.

The world robot population is growing rapidly, with an estimated 13 million robots by the end of next year, according to IFR World Robotics. Many are industrial robots, but personal robotics is growing rapidly, with research robots doing dishes and ironing. Soldiers risk their lives trying to save bots on the battlefields. It will accelerate massively.

22. Space Hotel

This is a form of space tourism and it is targeted toward the upper echelon of our world. The punchline is that we are now seeing the birth of the Googles and Apples of the space business. There are a number of companies working on space hotels.

At the forefront is Bigelow Aerospace, which launched two prototypes of space hotels and currently plans a commercial space complex by 2014. Called Sundancer, the hotel is expected to have space for up to six people on a short-term basis. A Russian company called Orbital Technologies is also racing to have the first commercial space station.

23. Stem Cell Pharmacy

Even though it is promising, the political atmosphere concerning the issue is really charged. This concept is concerned with healing with cells moves medicine away from drugs. Stem cells are already used to model diseases and test new drugs, but as the technology advances, stems cells may actually push drugs aside.

Even now, stem cells are showing promise for degenerative diseases and regrowing cells after surgeries. Pharmacies full of drugs, however, could well be replaced with pharmacies of cells that are more natural and work better.

24. Vertical Farming

Single-story, high-tech greenhouses save significant amounts of water and increase productivity. So why not stack them up and makes cities self-sufficient? The idea for vertical farms came from an infectious disease ecologist, Dickson Despommier, who turned his knowledge of parasites into a way of looking at cities.

“Instead of the city behaving like a parasite, it should be a symbiant. The future city has to take a big lesson from nature and start behaving like an ecosystem.” By that, he means zero-waste cities.

25. Water Trading

Water is becoming scarce. It has been said that water is the oil of the 21st century. But humans don’t need to drink a liter or two of oil every day. Early signs of coming conflicts over water are already apparent around the world and in the U.S., where the Southwest is ever-thirsty.

Water issues are a coming tidal wave, especially considering the amount of water needed for agriculture. People will actually make a choice: I could drink this water, or I could let my plants drink this water. Soon this element is going to be the subject of conflicts and wars. If you don’t know, Bottled water already a billion-dollar business.

26. Home Care for the Elderly

Due to the ever-aging population in the United States and other developing countries, there is an increasing demand for independent living by the elderly. And any businesses that can cater to this need by offering personal home care products and services to the elderly; with respect to physical therapy, grocery shopping, cooking, etc will be of great relevance for years to come.

27. Services for Retirees

Everyone wants to live a good life even after retirement. And it is expected that by the year 2020, 80% of workers born in North America will be older than 50; a statistic revealed by Entrepreneur magazine. This trend will open huge opportunities for businesses targeting adults that are over 50, who are looking to enjoy a blissful retirement. Such businesses include retirement real estate, retirement recreational services, nutritional counseling to help seniors look better, etc.

28. Mobile Marketing Consulting

Due to the ever-increasing number of people who surf the web using mobile devices like Smartphones and tablets, businesses are now realizing the need to adopt mobile marketing as a way of targeting prospects that use mobile devices.

This has led to an increase in the demand for mobile marketing consultants. Since indicators are suggesting that mobile devices will continue to dominate for a long time (just as the need for mobile marketing), there’s a huge opportunity for mobile marketing consultants.

29. Social Media Consulting

Social media has dramatically increase in the popularity of social networks like Facebook and Twitter, businesses are deeming it more necessary than ever to start using these platforms for reaching out to prospects. This has led to a huge demand for marketing consultants who advise businesses on how to promote and market their products and services on social networks; and this demand will keep increasing for as long as social media continues to remain relevant.

30. Outsourcing Agency

Due to the current state of the economy, businesses are looking for ways to cut down cost and streamline their operations. One way businesses are trying to achieve this is by outsourcing to freelance contractors what used to be in-house functions; such as human resources, accounting, and IT related tasks. If you can setup an outsourcing agency, you are in for huge profit potential.

31. Translating Services

Globalization in all the areas has actually created a tremendous demand for the translators. Without requiring any big investment in the upfront, you can simply start your business as a freelance translator. All you need is a sound knowledge in the languages you are going to deal with. Remember though, just being aware of the languages will not be sufficient to carry out an effective communication.

32. Employee Monitoring Services

Due to the technological development, now most of the jobs can be done without leaving your doorsteps. According to the recent study there will be more than 1.3 billion employees work in mobile fashion by 2015. The question here is how the employers will keep track of their employees work? This is where the role of employee monitoring services come into play.

Now this industry makes use of “vehicle tracking time clock, mobile time clock apps” to monitor their employees. But still when it comes to billing and payroll, employers require a dedicated staff member to manage all these. So consider starting a company in this sector that provides effective employee monitoring services and additional human resource functions in an outsourcing fashion.

33. Web Designing

Nowadays every small to large businesses have started to establish their online presence through websites. It has created a huge demand for web designers. Starting a business in the web design is more economic. All you need are just a PC with internet connection and a bit of creativeness.

So, if you are in the field of technology or completed your study in computer science, when it comes to choose among the best businesses to start right now, starting the web design and development company should be your ultimate choice.

34. SEO Firm

This is related to Web designing, as the demand for the good SEO services seems quite high. Every webmaster who holds a website want to be found by the search engines and people to increase their profit margin. You can even provide SEO services from your home. To survive the competition, make sure, your learning curve is not going to end at any time soon. Equip yourself with every new search engine updates and change your SEO tactics regularly.

At age 13 Harry Sanders discovered his love of SEO (which determines Google ranking). But by age 17, he was homeless. Still, he followed his dream and started his own SEO business during that tough year and later open an extremely successful SEO agency: StudioHawk.

35. Smartphone Repair Services

The high competition in the smart phone market, leads to the dramatic price reduction and in turn it has increased the usage too. Now everyone afford to get at least one smart phone in their hand. Luckily, there are no much smart phone repairing services are out there. As it opens a wide opportunity, without any doubt it would serve as a best small business to start now.

36. Accounting Firm

To start a small accounting firm, you won’t need a strong economic and financial background. Your investments are just a professional degree and of course a practical accounting knowledge. Regardless of the nature of the business, everyone requires an accountant.

So if you are an accounting whiz, consider starting the accounting firm. Provide your best, regardless of the size (small scale, medium scale or large scale) of your clients. Because satisfied clients are the best advertisements to your business.

37. Kids Friendly Apps

Kids are your future customers, so gaining their loyalty now isn’t a bad idea. JWT Intelligence also cited the connectivity of kids as a big trend for the future starting from now. According to Common Sense Media, three-quarters of kids have access to a mobile device.

This spells a big business opportunity for anyone who can create products or design apps just for kids. And, if they also happen to be educational or promote good health, you’ll win their parents over, too. You can start small by designing a few kid-friendly apps and see where your business goes from there.

38. Solar Powered Office

With tax breaks, advances in core solar technologies and a new generation of gadgets, fairly soon you will be able to power your entire SMB with the sun. State-funded renewable energy programs mix tax breaks and direct grants to drive solar deployments. Outfits like PowerFilm Inc. are developing custom-made flexible solar panels that can power literally anything.

39. Management

The boss earns a lot for good reason: His job isn’t as easy as it might seem. Effective management in the future will require basic business knowledge plus the ability to oversee operations in many locations and countries, and some technical know-how.

Anybody who can improve a unit’s performance while lowering costs should rise quickly. The BLS and IBISWorld also expect growing demand for some support fields such as human relations, benefits administration, and event planning.

40. Testing Services

Apps, mobile-friendly websites and e-commerce have become must-haves for every business. Often, however, they don’t work properly. One reason is that businesses don’t always test their applications or software carefully enough; meaning testing services are now in hot demand.

For example, one company, SOASTA, offers cloud testing services for clients. And there’s room in this market for growth — a service that specializes in niche testing, for instance, would have an edge over broader testing services.

41. Freelance Marketplace

Companies are increasingly turning to freelance and contract workers to fill the skill gaps in their staff. It’s not hard to imagine that you could build a whole company around providing freelance services of one sort or another.

According to Freelancer.com, which lists more than a million freelance projects on its site, the most in-demand freelance services are data entry, academic writing, Excel projects, data processing, Web search and Facebook-based jobs. Some freelance gigs pay by the project and others pay hourly and the rates can vary greatly. But as you gain more experience, your earning potential will soar.

42. Food Trucking

A December 2012 study by Intuit and Emergent Research predicted that revenue from the food truck industry will reach $2.7 billion by 2017. A truck is a much less expensive investment than a brick-and-mortar restaurant, and according to Mobi Munch founder Josh Tang, the failure rate for food trucks is just 10 to 20 percent (as opposed to 60 to 90 percent for restaurants). With the right equipment and some great recipes, you can have your mobile eatery up and running in no time.

43. Box Subscription Services

Box subscription services are popping up everywhere in the food, beauty and even pet product sectors, ready to deliver goods right to your door each month. One of the perks that keep customers coming back for more is the idea that these subscription boxes are carefully curated just for them based on their likes and interests, and each month, the boxes’ contents are a surprise.

Find a unique product category that’s still untapped by the box subscription industry, or find a way to put a new spin on an existing service, and you could have a lucrative business on your hands. Keep it as inexpensive as possible, offering cheaper products will help you stand out from the competition.

44. Instagram Consulting

In its annual trends report, The Future 100 — which highlights the big and small trends to watch this coming year — JWT Intelligence reported that more and more companies are using Instagram as a marketing tool. According to the report, the social media app reached 400 million users in 2015, and the number of companies with more than 100 employees using Instagram for marketing is expected to reach 48.8 percent in 2016. Despite Instagram’s growing popularity, not all brands know what they’re doing on the app.

45. Bio-Fuel Production

There are different forms of bio-fuels and different sources for it too that won’t hurt the pocket. The fuel is so cheap and to think that it can actually be also made from waste and to crown it all, bio-fuels doesn’t emit smoke like the conventional energy sources like kerosene and petrol we have around here. You can start to produce your own bio-fuel too and create your own invention that would run on bio-fuel. It could be a generator, a tricycle or even a motor vehicle.

46. Power Storage Business

Uninterrupted power supply systems also known as UPS or inverters are gadgets used to store energy, so that when there is absence of power, the UPS can be used as a back-up source of power. UPS are used in hospitals, schools, information technology companies, individual homes and almost every company out there. You would definitely make good money from selling this hot item.

47. Car Sharing Business

Car sharing or car sharing (US) or car clubs (UK) is a model of car rental where people rent cars for short periods of time, often by the hour. They are attractive to customers who make only occasional use of a vehicle, as well as others who would like occasional access to a vehicle of a different type than they use day-to-day.

The organization renting the cars may be a commercial business or the users may be organized as a company, public agency, cooperative, or ad hoc grouping.

48. Electric Car Production

One major expense that people undergo daily is motor vehicle fueling. Imagine a world where you didn’t have to fuel your vehicle. You can develop your own electric vehicle or employ people to develop one and sell the idea to you for reproduction.

I am certain that a lot of people would receive this innovation with open arms. However, you need to be deep-pocketed to do this kind of business. And in case you are asking if it’s possible for cars to run on electric, yes it is. A little bit of research would clear you of any doubt.

49. Wind Energy Installation

A lot of people are also embracing wind energy. It’s not uncommon to see an entire community that runs on wind energy. You could set up a wind farm in your area and have people pay you to supply their houses with wind energy. Like solar energy, wind energy is cost-effective.

50. Solar Water System

Water is very essential and everyone knows that water pumping machines sap a lot of energy. You could start a business that helps people install water pumping machines that run on solar power and makes it cheaper and easier to pump water.

The future is already here and if you intend to be part of the relevant class of the society in the days to come, then you should invest in any of this business above. You should also know that most of this business is in the field of science and technology which need loads of research years before the products can be commercially viable, so the time to start is now, not later.

More Innovative Future Business ideas

51. Migration-as-a-Service

Migrating from one platform to another is a pain and as technology improves, there’s going to be an increase in need for migration services, so that platform users won’t lose data while moving across SaaS platforms.

52.  Wellness and natural health

The wellness and natural health industry will most likely exceed the mainstream healthcare industry in the nearest future. So, natural health experts and products will be in great demand.

53. Care for the elderly with special needs

As there is an increase in the number of elderly people with temporary or permanent disabilities and ailments, there will be an increasing demand for services that help such people — such as skilled nursing and medical care for the elderly.

• Sperm Bank
• Cybersecurity
• CryoBank
• Botox clinic and Body reconstruction services
• App Development
• Genetic research and engineering
• Biotechnology
• Alternative energy
• Equity Financing (Venture capitalism, Angel investing)
• Blood Bank

Source: Profitable Venture

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News Xtend recently pivoted our ‘Brave are the Small’ research project to focus on COVID specific consumer-led insights and how changes in behaviour can create new opportunities for marketers and businesses.

Each fortnight over the next 8 weeks, we’ll be sharing a one-page snapshot of current consumer insights and trends to help you identify marketing and business opportunities.

Consumer Behaviour Snapshot from 20th – 26th April 2020

EVENTS PROMPTED: COVID19 has prompted people to re-visit their financial circumstances. Most prevalent is people accessing their super for immediate support, however, others are learning to invest, and some even paying off their existing debt.

MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO: Once COVID19 is under control, Aussies are most looking forward to social distancing restrictions relaxing, and it appears they will reintroduce social occasions into their everyday lives pretty much immediately.

SHIFT IN SPEND: Category spend has most significantly increased on household basics (food, utilities, supplies), online and offline entertainment, and overall health & wellbeing (supplements) – more of this spend is taking place online than in physical stores.

SHIFT IN ACTIVITIES: Increased spending in key areas is also evident in activity uptake, with more cooking, cleaning, gardening & DIY. To counter social distancing, we are also chatting online and using contactless payments when in physical retail environments.

SHIFT IN MEDIA CONSUMPTION: Media consumption across the board has increased. Video conferencing sees the biggest uplift as people use it for work and leisure, followed by social media, and long-form content. Ultimately, consumers are looking for more ways to be occupied and entertained.

The post A deep dive into the impact of covid-19 on consumer behaviour appeared first on Small Business Connections.

The survey, which was conducted between April 2 and April 6, after many countries had implemented stay-at-home orders, found that consumers have already begun shifting their purchasing priorities. For instance, consumers overall said they were currently buying more personal hygiene and cleaning products, as well as canned and fresh foods than they had been two weeks prior — while purchasing fewer fashion, beauty and consumer electronics items. 

More importantly, however, the findings indicate that many of the changes in consumer behavior are likely to continue long after the pandemic. In addition, the crisis is also causing consumers to more seriously consider the health and environmental impacts of their shopping choices. For instance:

·     60 per cent of respondents are spending more time on self-care and mental well-being, with about six in 10 consumers (57 per cent) saying they have started exercising more at home;

·     64 per cent of consumers said they’re focusing more on limiting food waste and will likely continue to do so going forward;

·     50 per cent of consumers said they’re shopping more health-consciously and will likely to continue to do so; and

·     45 per cent of consumers said they’re making more sustainable choices when shopping and will likely continue to do so.

“The scale of the changes identified in our findings clearly suggest that this is a long-term shift,” said Oliver Wright, managing director and head of Accenture’s global Consumer Goods practice. “While we have been seeing these trends for some time, what’s surprising is the scale and pace — compressing into a matter of weeks changes that would likely have taken years. The new consumer behavior and consumption is expected to outlast the pandemic, stretching far beyond 18 months and possibly for much of the current decade.” 

Pandemic is accelerating digital adoption

Not surprisingly, the survey found that the pandemic is causing more people to shop for groceries online. In fact, one in five respondents who said their most-recent grocery purchase was done online were first-time online grocery shoppers — for older consumers, this was one in three. And while 32 per cent of consumers’ current purchases of all products and services have been online, that figure is expected to rise to 37 per cent going forward.

“The realignment of purchasing priorities, personal lifestyles, and working practices is mandating significant changes to retail and commerce,” said Glenn Heppell, Products Lead, Accenture Australia and New Zealand. “Groceries were, until recently, one area in which many people were reluctant to shop online, but COVID-19 has quickly changed that. The findings show how people who haven’t been as comfortable with ecommerce and other digital technology have been pushed to overcome their hesitancy — and this shift is huge. As organisations adapt, their watchwords must be trust, relevance and convenience.” 

COVID-19 is also accelerating digital adoption more broadly. For instance, the number of consumers who said they’re interested in buying or increasing their use of technology has increased dramatically. More than half of respondents said they are likely to increase their usage of voice-enabled digital assistants, online recommendation apps, self-service apps, intelligent home devices and wearables.

“The pandemic is likely to produce a more sustainable, healthier era of consumption over the next 10 years, making consumers think more about balancing what they buy and how they spend their time with global issues of sustainability — suggesting a healthier human habitation of the planet,” Heppell said. “At the same time, it’s a wake-up call for companies to ensure they have the agility and capability to be relevant to consumers and customers — with a portfolio of products and services that match shifting purchasing patterns — not just today, but post-pandemic as well.”

Originally published: B&T

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2020: a brave new decade of business

If small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) don’t have clear growth strategies in place for 2020 and beyond, they may be left behind. Meanwhile, innovative companies are staying on top of trends, constantly reinventing themselves, and moving into the new decade with targeted strategies for development. 

Recently there’s been upheaval in the way SMEs do business. From the Haynes Royal Banking Commission to the seamless integration of advanced technologies – such as AI and fintech – into everyday business models, SMEs are having to adapt quicker than ever. It’s increasingly important for small businesses to stay on top of new regulations, trends and tech that allow them to compete in aggressive and ambitious markets; stand out from their peers; and satisfy the needs of increasingly tech-savvy customers. 

Exhibitors, sponsors and speakers who support, develop and connect the small business sector

Our sponsors, speakers and exhibitors – including Bendigo Bank, News Xtend, Judo Bank, Hewlett-Packard, American Express, Airwallex and Medibank – are committed to the fundamental goals of B2B EXPO: to bring SMEs together with the products, services, tools and networks they need to grow their business, reach new markets and secure vital funding in 2020.

From advanced technology to digital marketing and financial services, our partners are equipped with the resources and knowledge to help small business owners, entrepreneurs and startups succeed in this rapidly changing business landscape.

Strategies for success from industry experts and business leaders

B2B EXPO 2020 is a one-stop-shop event that connects businesses across all industries with the best services, ideas and products available in 2020. As the market gets crowded with innovative tech, digital platforms and sophisticated competition, it’s critical for SMEs to ensure that their business is equipped with sustainable, long-term growth strategies. 

From CEOs of successful businesses to young entrepreneurs just starting out, B2B EXPO 2020 delivers a wealth of opportunities for attendees to learn new skills, develop strategies for success, and create invaluable business networks. The free two-day event comprises daily seminars and panel discussions led by renowned business leaders and industry experts, networking events, and opportunities to connect with thousands of engaged visitors and hundreds of exhibitors. 

Trends, tech and topics impacting SMEs now and into 2020

B2B EXPO 2020 addresses high-stakes issues that are vital to SMEs, including cybersecurity and funding options. 

With rapidly increasing occurrences of hackers targeting SMEs, from data breaches to ransomware, the potential for exploitation is growing. Meanwhile, the Haynes Royal Banking Commission changed the way banks lend to small businesses, making it more difficult for SMEs to secure the funding needed to expand and enter new markets. 

B2B EXPO 2020 is putting issues like these front and centre. Our exhibitors have diverse solutions for complex problems including advanced tech like artificial intelligence and cloud technologies, in addition to new solutions for acquiring funding, such as seamless international wireless transfers, neobank small business loans and sophisticated fintech. 

B2B EXPO 2020 takes place on March 18-19 at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne.

Entry is free – Register to attend here. 

The post Discover the latest trends, tech and strategies for success at B2B EXPO 2020 appeared first on Small Business Connections.

Attending exhibitions should be a vital part of every marketing team’s plan – not only because some are free to attend, but they can also reap high rewards for your team and for morale. After all, a happy team is a productive one. Here are three reasons why your marketing team should be attending exhibitions:

Be inspired

Exhibitions are inspiring places to visit.

From free entry and free seminars to learn something new or to hear from market and industry leaders, to seeing new and exciting products and services that you may not have otherwise heard of, inspiration can be found in every corner. You really can walk away with real useable knowledge to grow and develop your team and your business.

When we spend a lot of time with our head buried deep in whatever task we’re doing, exhibitions are a refreshing break to gain some perspective of that all-important ‘bigger picture’. You can find out what the major players are doing and what’s on the horizon for your industry and growing your business.

Check out the competition

Visiting exhibitions where you know your competitors are exhibiting allows you and your team to scope out the show for your future marketing- exhibiting plan. Although you can find out things like target market and demographics of visitors from most exhibition organisers, you may find it’s best to visit the exhibition yourself – especially if it’s a future investment for your business.

Not only will this give you a good chance to see the types of exhibitors that go to the event, but it will also help you to see your competitors face-to-face. To find out what offers they give while at the exhibition, what displays they’re using and how large their stand is. Make sure that if you exhibit next time, you can compete.

Plan your future Stand

Seeing how other people exhibit and how they use the space available to them can be a great source of inspiration of how you’re going to plan your next stand. There’s nothing better than really seeing how displays are put together and how each item works in unison to create a great display.

Critiquing other people’s displays is a great way of making sure that your business heads in the right direction by aligning best practice – for what attracted you and detracted you as a visitor – against your campaign objectives.

B2B EXPO 2019 now in the fourth year will showcase eighty exhibitors over sixty keynote speakers and host thousands of visitors.

To attend free exhibition and free daily seminars, register now online at www.B2Bexpo.com.au

Author Simon Barnett Director ABF Events.

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So what’s hot these days? What do you need to pay attention to and learn to embrace? Recently, I interviewed several industry leaders to see what they consider to be the most significant marketing trends happening right now.

We’re getting down to creepy levels of personalization

Just a few years ago, personalization in marketing meant customizing an email to address the recipient by name. Brandi Smith, VP of demand generation marketing at Uberflip, says we’ve come a long way since then. Account-based marketing (ABM) and technology are being used to dive deep into an audience base to deliver highly personalized content, especially for B2B marketers.

If you don’t stay on top of the latest trends, you risk missing out on serious potential for revenue growth and customer acquisition. Industry leaders share what’s hot.

© WEYO – ADOBE STOCK

Smith says, “We can creep their social profiles to see what information is hot and trending to them, we can look at their company’s annual reports, and look at the footnotes or just the content in general to find out what might actually be a key focus in a key directive for their business moving into the new fiscal year.”

It’s necessary, she says, to use tools like artificial intelligence in meaningful ways to create a personal experience without the customer feeling like the company has crossed a line into creepy.

Nissar Ahamed, senior director of demand generation at Atomic Reach, agrees with Smith. “There’s too much noise, which makes it more difficult and also more expensive to create content that hits the mark and converts,” he says. And that’s why, according to Ahamed, hyper-personalized content based on the buyer’s journey, demographics, location, etc., make for much more effective marketing. He cites the example of emails that Amazon sends: no two are the same because they’re based on a shopper’s past history, profile, and demographics.

Ahamed encourages marketers to invest in tools and automation that can help personalize content in a meaningful and relevant way.

Email marketing is making a comeback

Though we’ve heard this claim already, “email marketing is just as effective today as before,” says Ahamed. That’s due, he says, to the fact that it’s become more integrated with content marketing to build audiences. As algorithms and advertising policies change on social media, it has become more difficult to own an audience there.

Meanwhile, reliable email marketing offers distribution and the ability to build an audience through an established and proven channel.

Content is becoming increasingly interactive

Content marketing certainly isn’t a trend; it’s here to stay, but its delivery and consumption continue to evolve.

Gaurav Harode, founder and CEO of Enablix, sees that content is becoming more and more interactive. “So, right now we have static content, maybe some web content and video. But I think there is going to be a middle ground where there are going to be a lot of platforms and a lot of flexibility where content is going to be interactive,” he says.

One example Harode gives is calculators that businesses use to attract leads. You can use these calculators to calculate ROI, auto or home loan payments, and more. But what’s less obvious is these are interactive content tools designed to drive business to a company.

Ahamed concurs: “Content is no longer a siloed department within marketing.” He says it’s now a cross-team function, and he also sees more integration of content in other aspects of marketing, sales, and other departments.

AI is no longer a mysterious black box

Ahamed also says that 2019 is going to be the year of heavy exploration and implementation of artificial intelligence for brands. He believes that as companies of every size start to realize that AI isn’t there to replace humans and jobs—that it is, in fact, there to augment and complement those roles—more brands will adopt AI in innovative ways through marketing.

Chatbots are going to take charge this year

Smith also sees that chatbots are going to increase their presence in 2019. In fact, 35% of consumers would interact with one to resolve a complaint or problem, and 33% would use one to make a reservation at a restaurant or hotel.

There are plenty of marketing functions chatbots can serve, from directing a website visitor to a particular product, color, and size to offering instantly redeemable coupons. And as more brands find proven success with chatbots, we’ll see an increase in adoption as well as inspiration for how to use them to reach an audience.

Trends matter

If you’re serious about reaching your customers on their terms, pay attention to these trends. While they may evolve (or even disappear completely) over time, right now they are an effective means to build a real and sustainable relationship with your audience.

Source: Forbes

The post 5 of the hottest current trends in marketing, according to industry experts appeared first on Small Business Connections.

1. Articulate one clear, unifying idea

Amid a fragmented media landscape, we don’t have the luxury of dispersing multiple concepts across a diverse range of media simultaneously. Instead, treat your message like you only have one chance to impress it upon an audience.

Your idea cannot be disparate or in a network of spread-out messages. You must integrate all your marketing to express one large, concise idea. Develop a clear outline, connect the brand to a compelling, easily digestible insight, and pump it out as a succinct message.

2. Deliver that message bespoke but consistently across every relevant channel

Given the breadth of platforms, successful campaigns take one idea and deliver it in a way that is consistent yet bespoke across customer channels. Make sure it fits the format, but don’t alter the concept.

The “rule of seven” may muster an eye roll from a modern marketing audience, but it’s effective in impressing the importance of clarity and frequency in this context. Make sure your message can fit the conventions of all the desired platforms and push it out evenly.

3. Know your audience

Just as the internet has fuelled the transformation of regional subcultures into a globalised amalgam, so too has it transformed almost everything we thought we understood about demographics. They don’t amount to much if you don’t take genuine efforts in determining the needs and desires of those societal cross-sections.

Identifiers like age, gender, race and location no longer shape the fence around a particular marketable group. Instead, we have disparate tribes that are defined by their vociferous passion for ritual, habit, language or belief. Behaviour in the online space vary wildly between groups and need to be intimately understood in order to be harnessed.

4. Talk to your customers through the things they are passionate about

Today’s consumers are hard to reach at the best of times. However, everyone has things they plan their lives around. Find out what your customer’s passion points are and show up genuinely in that space.

In these spaces, you need to talk to your customers, not at them. Often, they expect to see marketed content at certain times and, through this anticipation, are unlikely to engage with it. By meeting them on their own terms of use, you can subvert this desensitisation. Make your message just as entertaining and engrossing to your target market as the content that sandwiches it.

5. Consider the growing Chinese and Indian communities

As some of the fastest growing communities in Australia, these groups can make or break brands and can open up sales channels overseas and yet, most brands either don’t talk to them or simply translate their campaigns.

Besides tuning social media targeting to geographic regions or common interests, you can also target audiences based on their language. Consider China’s social media behemoth WeChat. Quite simply: if you’re not there, your brand’s cultural credit is compromised.

6. Engage your staff in the cause

In this world of marketing, staff advocacy is often part of the job. The wins you score for your clients represent your own successes, too. But when trying to harness your employees’ social presence for the advocacy of your own brand, it isn’t always so easy.

Consider offering “ambassador” or “partner” opportunities to loyal staff willing to engage on social on your brand’s behalf. Keep your own social media curated and business-forward to lead as an example.

Jack Watts, CEO, Bastion Collective

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