In almost any contemporary business advice column, some lip service will be paid to the pressing, modern needs of business in the digital age. It’s not hard to see why. The process of marketing and engaging new customers, handling support requests, taking inspiration from your branding and optimizing internal operations have changed extremely quickly in the last twenty years. Elements of business life have become more convenient but also hyper-competitive as a result.
To this extent, it’s essential to keep up with everything, and all the developments that might include you. Starting a business now compared to the year 2000 is so night-and-day of a difference it’s quick shocking to analyse. But while it can be tempting to think that every modern process is in some way influenced by ‘the future,’ there are still pillars of business still uneroded by the march of time. To this extent, it’s worth ensuring that while in your focus to adapt to the future of the competitive landscape, you’re not ignoring sage wisdom that has always been relevant.
Let us consider what those pillars might be:
Signposting
We can often feel as though marketing is only ever valid through the eyes of the internet. SEO, targeted advertisement, the use of easily-generated content, it can all gather outreach and help your firm engage with its audience. This is all deeply true. But there’s no point advertising your business online if you do not signpost the road that leads to your store. For example, it might be that on a busy industrial estate, you wish for your retail park location to be brilliantly visible. The use of professional store signs could provide you this benefit. It might also be that you’re simply trying to get over the competition. This branding focus can do the work for you.
Goodwill
You cannot force goodwill, you cannot gain it through clickbaited methods, and you cannot buy it. You need to build it. You need to treat customers as if they are extremely valuable people. You need to be willing to go the extra mile. And you need to always keep your standards high. More than that – you need to be flexible, and have the ability to confidently listen. If you can do all this, you’ll notice the difference in how you and your firm are both treated.
Employee Health
It’s essential for you to ensure that your employees are healthy, or at least are given the potential to be treated and look after themselves. Keeping the offices hygienic, keeping good safety practices, ensuring that they are not overworked or overstressed, allowing their personal needs to be listened to and acted upon with their consent, and also finding ways to help them develop their personal working satisfaction through training and becoming more competent in their skillset will drop your yearly staff turnover by a large and profitable margin.
With these tips, you’re certain to sustain the pillars of business that will never erode due to technology.
