It seems like only yesterday the internet was created. Yet it is now almost impossible to imagine life without it. The advent of the digital age has changed the business landscape forever. Primarily for the better. But sometimes for the worse. Running an independent business in the digital age has become increasingly challenging. Having to compete with monolithic companies like Amazon and Google. Which is why we are here to offer you 8 tips for success.

Utilize Social Media

Social media is the most powerful marketing tool in your arsenal. You need to have an active profile for your business on as many platforms as possible. And you should endeavor to maintain a regular upload schedule where possible.

It is important to ensure any information posted on your social media platforms, such as opening times or special deals, are up to date and accurate. Social media is the ideal place, not just to highlight what your business has to offer, but also to connect with your customers on a more personal level.

Hire A Web Designer

This is the most important step in ensuring the success of your business. Web design is so pivotally important. That is why you should outsource it to a web design company. You need to ensure the company that you end up choosing is reliable and has a proven track record for creating successful business websites.

We know that the process of choosing a web design company is often a long and arduous one. But it is absolutely essential that you give it the time it deserves. Nothing will turn customers away faster than a poorly designed website that is difficult to navigate.

Delegate Where You Can

One of the main mistakes independent business owners make is taking on too much themselves. You need to learn how to delegate. Even if you only have a couple of people working under you. You need to trust in their abilities and allow them to lighten your load.

The first step is to rank jobs by order of importance. Naturally you will want to tackle the most important tasks. While delegating the less important tasks to your team.

Customer Service Is Key

As an independent business you can’t afford to run the risk of losing out on potential customers. And one of the key elements to bringing in new customers, and retaining them, is good customer service.

You should prioritize your customer interactions as much as possible. This ties into delegation. Having someone whose job is solely to handle customer relations is a huge advantage for your business. The person you hire for this job should have experience working in a customer facing role. They should be friendly, motivated, and be able to keep their cool. As we all know, the general public can be infuriated sometimes. So you need to ensure the person dealing with your customers is able to maintain a level head at all times.

Streamline Your Workflow

Staying organized is one of the pillars to success for any business. And one of the biggest advantages of the digital age is the wealth of websites and programs that can help streamline your company’s workflow. Airtable, Trello, Tines. These are all great examples of systems that will allow your business to operate more efficiently.

Optimize With AI

AI is another innovation of the digital age that is slowly becoming indispensable to independent businesses. AI can help optimize a lot of the smaller day to day tasks of your business. Organising emails, generating reports and invoices, handling complex database issues, and so much more.

Always Be Networking

Networking should become a critical part of your working life if you want to succeed. Networking is about more than just finding potential clients. It is also about building relationships with other business owners. No matter what industry you are working in, there is always more you can learn. And networking with people in your industry is the best way to go about furthering your knowledge.

Look After Yourself

Too often I see people’s businesses fail because they burn themselves out. We are only human after all. Our bodies and minds can only deal with so much before they crash. So this is the most important tip we have to offer. Look after yourself.

Make sure you are giving yourself enough downtime in a day. And giving yourself days off too. Ensure you are maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise. You also need to ensure you aren’t being too hard on yourself. Success doesn’t happen overnight. Give yourself some grace and believe that with time and perseverance you will see the results you want.