Chris Makell

Business success in 2012

Where are the small business opportunities for 2012?

How can you get ahead of the pack and attract, serve and delight more of your clients and customers?

Get started, now, by using these trends to set the stage for your success in the New Year!

Here’s a quick recap of the first 5!

Technology disruption accelerates: The cost of software will drop dramatically as the same functions become available cheaper or even free online.

Segmentation picks up steam: Small businesses should analyze existing customers as well as target markets to identify as precisely as possible those that are most profitable.

More and more mobile: Mobile searches on Google have quadrupled in the last two years alone. And despite tremendous growth, the upside remains huge.

A co-marketing comeback: In a slow-growth, value-seeking market, such partnerships can help businesses squeeze more out of their marketing dollars while delivering value-added service to customers.

Social soars: Any debate about social media’s staying power is over. Social is now part of the day-to-day marketing fabric of just about any business, from large to local.

Now on to the final 5 small business trends for 2012!

1. Reputation management rocks: The explosion of Web-based business directories, local search engines, review sites, blogs and social media has created a vast digital world where bits and pieces of information about your business exist in places you never heard of. As the digital universe expands, online reputation management will become even more critical to running a successful business.

This includes what you’re posting in social media, writing about on your blog and of course your marketing materials. Be ever vigilant about your reputation because the prospects that are “following” you will decide if your personal and business messages are a match to their “vision” of working with you.

2. Geo-targeting gets real: Search engines and social-media sites have been rushing to offer new and better ways for customers to find products and services on a geographically-specific basis. As local businesses start taking greater advantage of those new tools, creating local marketing campaigns online will take off.

Take a look at your keywords, Meta tags, etc. so that you can be “found” locally while online. More and more businesses are becoming “savvy” to finding support and partners online…and you want to be found!

3. Ideas as capital: In a slow-growth economy, innovation and great ideas will be your most valuable asset. In 2012, small companies will use more Web-based computing and other low-cost, easily available technologies to execute faster. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking great ideas only come from brilliant people. Game-changing ideas are already out there just waiting to be spotted and made your own.

There’s a saying… “There is no shortage of money, just money making ideas!” So in the New Year, how are you capitalizing on those business ideas that are just swirling around in your head?

Shameless plug – this is a major focus for my business in 2012…helping you discover and leverage your “winning business idea.”™ I will show you how to turn your “ideas” into income! Contact me if you’re ready, now.

4. Value is bigger than ever: Whether you sell to consumers or businesses, customers are better informed than ever. That puts more pressure on you to clearly articulate the value that your product or service delivers – and how you are different than everyone else. In 2012, customers will more closely scrutinize every company’s “value proposition”.

It truly is about the “value” you bring to the table. If you’re not sure what your value is…ask your clients/customers what THEY value. That will tell you where to put your focus and energy in 2012. It’s just that simple!

5. Global goes local: After years of outsourcing, manufacturing and sourcing of services is shifting back toward local again. Rising cost of transport will force larger customers to buy locally and a new generation of low-cost automated manufacturing equipment is making small businesses competitive again.

Whoo hoo for small businesses!!! How can you use this shift to your advantage? Will these customers need your help to leverage technology, client information, regional insights, etc. that you have developed over time? Think bigger about what this could mean for your business, for your clients, for your partners, etc.

Excerpt from ARIZONA BUSINESS GAZETTE, Nov. 10, 2011 and Dan Kehrer at www.bizbest.com.

I hope you enjoyed the 10 small business trends for 2012! I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on these “forecasts!”

Do you think the trends are right on? Will they impact your business? What will you do differently now?

Just hit reply and share your thoughts!