The New Year always comes with new opportunity. It has been a rough couple of years for business, especially small business, in our state. There has been a lack of skilled workers to higher. There has been a lack of sales for our products and services. There has been a lack of help from the government side, lowering the business tax to a level that lets New Jersey businesses put some of their profits back into their companies.
However, with the bad, there has been some good. Internet sales for NJ businesses have increased. The unemployment rate has stopped rising. Governor Christie is hopeful on making business tax cuts that will help most NJ businesses, instead of only a handful. These good things will continue and grow in 2011. Along with a few other helpful hints, take the steps to make your business successful this coming year.
Think global. Get online and allow customers to access your products and services from anywhere in the world or at least, anywhere in this country. Once you have a website, it removes the limiters of how big you can grow and where your customers can come from. Another exciting opportunity it opens up is the chance to hire outside the state. There has been a shortage of skilled labor for high level positions in companies for New Jersey. If your business is online, it doesn’t much matter where your employees are located. Recently, I took a look at the fastest growing companies in NJ for 2010. Every company on that list has a website. Now there is something to think about.
Go mobile. Just a friendly reminder to most retailers: Your customers are way, way ahead of you when it comes to using mobile as a resource. Make sure you are doing one of two things: making your e-commerce website compatible to mobile devices or create a mobile application for your store. People want to know the special offers and coupons for your store, especially if they are in it. Next to that, they want product pricing. Is it cheaper to buy in-store or online? Which store has the better price? These are the things your customers want to know. Make it available to them on their smartphones and half of them will choose you over a competitor every time.
Have pride. Sure, business is about making money, but that is not everything business is for. It’s a great way to prove you can be successful. It is a great tool to create change in the world, making it better for you and those around you. Recall any ethics class or discussion you’ve ever had and remember that it is important, vital even, an owner have pride in their business and the products or services it offers. Your business in New Jersey is a reflection of you personally, on a level. Whatever it is your business does, do it with vigor. Get excited and get motivated about letting everyone know your business, its products, services and employees are amazing.
As we all know, the previous years have cleared out quite a bit of former competitors in this state, so 2011 is ripe for good business to grow fast. Get your website up or have it tested and overhauled, but start making the decisions that will put your company on the list for top growth next year.
