Five things you should do in 2021 to enhance your small business

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1. Get tailored business advice

We all
know that small business owners need to wear many hats, but no-one can be an
expert in everything. Leveraging the knowledge and expertise of a business
advisor means that you can learn from their successes and mistakes and get good
quality feedback by yourself ideas and concerns.

It needn't be expensive either, programs like the Federal Government's ASBAS Program can connect you with a local industry professional for free.

John Carnohan has been advising businesses for over seven years and believes that good business advice is essential for each business, regardless of where they are within their journey. “Whether you're setting up a strong foundation or tackling a specific issue, working with a business advisor can give you confidence in both your business strategy as well as your ability to execute it,” Carnohan says.

2. Upskill yourself and your staff

With the pace and progression of digital economy it has never been more essential for businesses to keep their skills fresh. By upskilling you're future proofing your business, ensuring that you have the tools and the knowledge not only to succeed today, but also tomorrow. There are a range of courses and tools available, from university courses through to shorter workshops and online videos. Want to start small? Why not sign up for one of Bayside BEC's free workshops and upskill within two hours.

3. Optimise your online visibility

Did
you know that 75 per cent of people don't go past the first page of search
results on Google? Put simply, if your business is not appearing where people
are searching online then you're passing up on qualified sales and leads.
Online visibility isn't just your website either, it's any space online, from
social networking to Google My Business, to directories where a customer might
interact or be prepared to interact with your brand.

When you are looking at social media Edwin Smith from The Social Sandwich recommends that you simply, “Find the one or two social platforms your audience is on and and focus on creating great content for your audience. Don’t try to be a master of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, SnapChat and MySpace, because inevitably you’ll become a master of none.”

4. Make cyber security a priority

Is
cyber security part of your current business strategy? Otherwise, it should be.
Currently small businesses account for around 43 per cent of all cybercrime in
Australia, yet many small businesses don't have any cyber risk policies at all
in place.

Babette Bottin from Das Insure states that, “A good place to start is to ‘define you crown jewels’. Ask yourself what kind of data matters most to your business and how is it collected, handled, stored, protected and have you got a tested back-up. Lost data means lost trust.”

5. Become part of a business community

Connect with the people who have done what you would like to do. By joining a residential area of like-minded individuals you’ll be creating a support network that you can share ideas and resources with. It doesn't have to be an in person group either, there are plenty of great Meetup and Facebook groups that connect business people digitally from across the globe. Joining a business community won’t just expose you to new perspectives, it will also provide you with access to potential clients, collaborators and mentors.

You can register for a FREE Government funded one-on-one session with John, Edwin or Babette here.