insight

This has been quite the year, hasn’t it? If it has taught us anything it’s that time is too precious to waste, and to expect the unexpected. It’s quite clear by now that several businesses faced quite a few roadblocks this year, as we did too. However, that does not mean we stop moving just because they are there. Instead, it’s about rising to meet those obstacles head-on and getting through it together as a team. 2021 is almost here, so we wanted to share what we’ve been looking into on how we can step it up from this year.

 It’s not about working harder, but smarter. With all the uncertainty going into 2021, have a backup plan for your business. Think about plans and strategies to stay ahead in the market. Reflect on what went well and what didn’t in 2020, and use that to build your tactics.

Get your team on board and trust in their abilities to deliver. It is important to build on team relationships and define mutual goals if you’re looking at expanding the horizons of your business. Try to step out of your comfort zones and look at other communities or businesses to see how they’re doing – you never know what could come out of it.

Networking is more important now than ever as this is the most ideal time for you to reach out to others because it can be surprising to discover how you can help each other out. Observe how you can benefit from each other to improve your businesses as not only does it encourage collaboration but also develops new and existing relationships. Looking into providing other services? Look out for new markets and expand your potential. The more diverse you are as a business, the more opportunities there will be.

And don’t forget about your existing customers or clients! Be sure to maintain those relationships too, keep in touch and reach out to them by offering your services so that they have you in mind when necessary. Learn to create new experiences for them during these tough times to show how much you value them, and how you’ve evolved to cater to their current needs.

Be sure to stay positive at all times! This year inflicted so many rules and regulations about what businesses can and can’t do, but it is more important to see what you can do. A common example is businesses that operated physically have transitioned to online or e-commerce businesses instead. Digital services have increased and taken over the way we do things. We have also re-looked our digital marketing strategies according to current times and are adapting as we go along. Try to look at the brighter side of things because times are already hard enough for you to waste time thinking about the negatives. With this positive mindset, it’ll set a better tone for 2021 and you can implement it as a business strategy moving forward.

If there was ever a time to show off your strengths, it’s now. Now’s the time to re-look that marketing strategy of yours to show your capabilities as a business or even as an individual. On the flip side of this pandemic, you have an abundance of time, so why not make the most of it. Look at 2021 as a clean slate and how it provides an opportunity to improve. If your company or business hasn’t already adapted digitally, it’s definitely time to do so. This will be in your favour when the world begins to move again and it’ll help improve your customer relationships and experiences.

Last but not least, the best thing you can do for yourself and your business is to dream big. Once you realise that you are exceptional as you are and your business is as successful as you want it to be, you can align your goals, strategies and tactics towards achieving that dream. Nothing drives a person more than being motivated or determined to achieve the desired outcome. It’s okay to colour outside the lines, or how we like to put it, ” think differently”.