The holiday season has arrived, which means a new year is just around the corner. Here at Harmonic Media, we are extremely grateful for the chance to make the most of 2022 and all the opportunities it brings. It is standard to make a resolution or two during this time of year — and who are we to mess with tradition! 😏
Like every aspiring entrepreneur and small business owner, we have a mission and an idea in our head of the reality we want to create via our brand. Big dreams are a great start, but checking off the items from a “how to reach my full potential” list is the difference-maker. Here are 10 things you’ll find on pretty much every business owner’s wish list when they are looking to go from good to great.
1. A Consistent Brand Image
The most successful brands have a consistent look and feel throughout every marketing channel. This is what makes a business recognizable and memorable when going up against competitors. It starts with a detailed brand guideline and relies on the ability to bring it to life via print, digital, social media, and everything in between.
DEN: Wish You Were Here Campaign - We helped create a life-sized postcard campaign to celebrate DIA's 20th anniversary. Check out more here
2. Well-Deserved Attention
If people don’t know your business exists, they can’t purchase your products and services. As a business owner, you need to market yourself in a way that is equally informative and intriguing. Being consistent and smart with your marketing tactics plays a major role in helping potential customers get to know your brand.
3. An Element of Authenticity
Consumers nowadays are smart and can sniff out superficiality. People are looking to support brands that choose to be genuine in their efforts as opposed to overly sale-sy. As an owner, you want to represent your business in a way that showcases the passion you have for your work in a genuine way.
4. An A-List Reputation
Word-of-mouth is extremely powerful, so you want to be sure that people are saying good things about your business. Invite consumers to connect with your brand with marketing that tells a story that speaks to the values you are committed to upholding. Then prove it through your actions: exemplary customer service, professionalism, transparency, kindness, and all that good stuff.
5. A Positive Workplace Culture
Everyone wants (and deserves) to love where they work. Fostering a positive work environment will have a direct impact on you, as the business owner, along with your employees. Your retention rates of talented workers will be higher, the level of productivity will be greater, and the feelings of optimism will be stronger. Basically, your workplace culture has the ability to make your business more profitable while allowing everyone to have more fun. High fives all around 🙌
6. Lower Customer Acquisition Costs
You don’t have to be a mathematician to understand that reducing your customer acquisition costs equates to an increased ROI (Return On Investment). The less money and resources you have to spend convincing people to purchase your products or services, the more you stand to make every time they do. Conduct surveys and do market research to properly identify your customer base. This will ensure your marketing efforts are strategically sound and more effective.
7. Loyal Customers
The ultimate goal is to turn one-time customers into loyal, lifetime customers — maybe even brand ambassadors!. When people can count on your business to deliver consistent, high-end products and services, you are able to earn their trust. In the world of small businesses and entrepreneurial endeavors, that trust translates into a greater potential for profitability.
8. Beneficial Collaborations and Community Connections
It’s not just what you know, but who you know that matters. When you are an entrepreneur or small business owner, the people within your community and social networks can make or break you. Find ways to get involved by participating in local events, becoming members of clubs, and supporting nonprofits. All these things go back to the concept of authenticity and earning trust. You will find yourself with a stronger foundation to stand on while discovering mutually beneficial business relationships. As much as competition plays a part, there is always room for working together.
9. The Ability To Pivot and Problem Solve
As a business owner, you must have the ability to overcome challenges that will inevitably present themselves. The idea is to always be thinking of ways to improve and move forward. Take mistakes as learning opportunities. Use one of life’s unexpected plot twists as a means to write a new chapter of success. It’s all about perspective. Reminding yourself why you became an entrepreneur in the first place and using that as motivation to stay the course, surrounding yourself with a support system and team that can help make anything possible.
10. A Sense of Pride and Fulfillment
This is a big one. It’s one of the main benefits of becoming your own boss and taking charge of your own destiny. As a business owner who has chosen to take a risk for the potential of a far greater reward, feeling proud and fulfilled by your work is a non-negotiable. About one-third of our lives will be spent at work, so you need to make it worthwhile.
We’re going to let you in on a little secret...Harmonic Media custom graphic solutions has the ability to help you achieve everything on this list. And unlike other secrets, we don’t mind if you tell all your friends about what you know. Another important thing to remember is that it doesn’t have to be a new year to have a new beginning. Unlike Santa, we work magic 24/7/365 to deliver gifts that bring business owners joy year-round (no offense to the beloved big guy and his elves).
Just do your best to stay on the nice list and whenever you’re ready, we’ll be here to get the conversation started.