In honor of Memorial Day, all of our offices will be closed today, May 30, 2022. Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday of May, is a federal holiday honoring United States military personnel who have died while serving in the US armed forces. Originally called Decoration Day, this day recognizes those men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in order to bring freedom to the nation. This Memorial Day, let us recognize the price of war while paying tribute to our fallen heroes.
It has arrived… Small Business Week, one of our top weeks of the year, where we have the opportunity to celebrate with 65% of our clients, who are entrepreneur-owners of their own small-sized businesses. They are in the stellar company of 32,5 million small businesses in the USA alone.
Leaders who not only encourage but inspire and educate other entrepreneurs to follow in their footsteps, as shown in the 70% of all small businesses owned and operated by a single person. Visionaries who have broken the 9-5 barrier to follow their hearts and pursue their own dreams. Inspired by their attitude, 29% of all small business owners say they started their own business just to be their own boss.
Small businesses play such a vital and undeniable role in our economy that not only should their contribution be celebrated each day, but national efforts should be increased to cultivate the ‘small business mentality. In celebrating Small Business Week, we are listing the latest top trends in 2022 to keep an eye on that offer small businesses ample opportunities for growth and expansion:
E-commerce is the source for new, small business options. Recent years have seen tangible stores packing up their premises and re-launching themselves online. The benefit of eCommerce is that products and services can be sourced anywhere nationally, or even internationally, on an ‘as and when needed’ basis. Whether eCommerce is a primary, a secondary source of revenue, or just an add-on to an existing offered service, an online store can improve the efficiency of a small business operations. In the following year, data-driven insights used to monitor performance will accelerate.
Recent years have seen marketing become increasingly complex and personalized, resulting in marketing strategies and activities adapting to become more diverse and multifaceted. Businesses often face the dilemma of smaller marketing in-house teams, unable to cope with the constant changes and at a loss in managing the perpetual change needed to be effective. The solution is to harness external expertise by outsourcing marketing activities.
By outsourcing their marketing, small businesses get immediate access to highly qualified talent while at the same time removing a significant business function from their workflow. Marketing outsourcing also enables businesses to acquire specialized capabilities while simultaneously eliminating substantial workload from their operations. Now companies can concentrate on the core functions of their operations. Leaving the marketing activities to the professionals will give you the freedom to do what you do best. In the meantime, your outsourced experts can bring in new clients and build relationships with them while growing your business.
Mobile marketing is one of the fastest-growing small business trends. It allows businesses to focus their marketing and advertising efforts on ‘users-on-the-go’ and their unique challenges using smart technology devices.
Smart technology is growing, with an estimated five billion smartphone users worldwide. As this market expands, the opportunity for mobile marketing is developing accordingly. With mobile technology aiding society, offering a myriad of daily activities to be run simultaneously, such as booking appointments and buying groceries online, small businesses need to become visionary and partner with other mobile apps to ensure longevity.
Small businesses that create their own mobile apps are on the rise as they open new channels for customer connection. We see this as an opportunity to engage with clients differently, e.g., by sending messages containing the latest product specials or easy links to use for purchasing.
Establishing and growing your online community can birth invaluable associations to boost your brand and strengthen your mark in the digital business world.
Building a community takes consistent time and effort and can be done by sharing content that demonstrates expert knowledge and experience by using multimedia tools that are on the rise, such as:
The younger generation of consumers calls on businesses to be accountable for social and environmental issues. No longer can social responsibility be excused; it should take its rightful place as the backbone of every business. Businesses can be empowered to participate by changing their work culture into one that embodies social responsibility. Two things small businesses can do to maximize their impact are:
Just doing it is not enough; small businesses should also let the world know by including social responsibility in their bold mission statement and promoting their strategies to their customer base on multiple levels.
In 2022 knowing who your customers are and what they need will be vitally important. By understanding customers’ behavior and establishing purchasing patterns, you will be better positioned to market your product, business, or brand. Customers no longer have the time or the energy to be overwhelmed by countless options; they want and expect service crafted to their preferences and will give precedence to businesses offering a personal touch.
Personalized customer service is not just about tailoring your product but the entire user experience you offer around the customer’s unique requirements. Statistics show that loyal customers are more likely to increase their purchases by 23%; offering customized service can increase existing customer loyalty behavior and help establish new customer relationships.
A key trend is a concern for privacy. Small businesses need to work harder to comply with the changing Privacy Regulations. Customers expect their personal information to be protected, in whichever form they entrust it to corporations.
Brands will either have to comply or be left by the wayside, passed by competitors catering to customer needs.
The use of video in marketing has grown exponentially, providing far more sensory stimulation than any other marketing channel. Small businesses are not investing a lot in video marketing, and historically it has been utilized chiefly only by large organizations. However, it is time for small businesses to tap into the video marketing trend. A 2021 report by Wyzowl has found that 94% of marketers have stated that video media has assisted in increasing user understanding of their product or service, and 78% say that video media has directly increased their sales.
Hybrid and remote work is here to stay. Small businesses with a limited marketing capacity can find hiring outsourced marketing support instrumental and essential in their growth. The fine line between success and failure lies in alignment, and a partnership with a proven and trusted international marketing specialist can make all the difference.
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GET A FREE MARKETING CONSULTATION
Every business is different, but one thing that all have in common is the need for good marketing to win new clients, sell more & grow. Marketing activities take knowledge, time, effort, and consistency, so what if we told you that you could have a team of people taking care of your marketing so that you can just focus on what you do best – run your business?
Find out how BBSA can help. Learn more about our marketing outsourcing services.
Get a free marketing consultation.
BBSA – Anna Stella, Marketing Expert & CEO
Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22, with nations from the four corners of the globe demonstrating their united support in favor of protecting the environment. Building on the rich legacy of the first Earth Day held on April 22, 1970; our modern-day commemoration has grown into an array of global events hosted by Earthday.org.
Bolder and brighter, this year is bursting with opportunity, drawing more than 1 billion people from 193 countries and showcasing programs and products initiated by the very best of this generation’s creative and innovative minds. Exciting and exhilarating, 2022’s official theme is ‘Invest In Our Planet.’
Inspiring change means making a difference. The time is now, and brands must choose to be sustainability leaders and own an environmental position and commitment. Whether you are introducing your eco-friendly products and brand to the world or just taking a stand and making a difference, Earth day offers your business many marketing opportunities.
Improving and enhancing your environment doesn’t have to be challenging. If your marketing plan lacks your passion and zeal for creating a sustainable environment, then read on.
Effortlessly implement these five marketing ideas into your marketing strategy and make your mark on Earth Day.
Whether creating a big group event or a solo cleanup, you can host your company clean-up event anywhere. Don’t forget to promote it and register it here.
Draw from the wealth of experience of companies that birthed and built their brand in the contributing fires of the climate change battle. Incorporate their best practices and grow your corporate environmental footprint.
Evidence is clear, we, as the world, will not meet our climate goals without substantial food production and consumption changes. Being significant in your contribution starts now… become an environmentally-minded business using sustainable production materials.
Do you significantly impact your environment by recycling or upcycling the materials and ingredients used in your business? Do you convert what was once considered ‘waste’ into a material source, reusable to you or others?
Motivate your customers by offering them a chance to win a prize, purchase a discount or product offer, by inventing different ways of recycling your old product parts.
On Earth Day, you don’t have to fly solo. Work with eco influencers and creators, inspiring your employees and clients to live greener lives, make an eco-difference and BE the change for future generations.
Promote clean air by inspiring your employees to cycle to work. Display bicycle racks in front of your business and offer their usage to your customers. Play a pivotal role in reducing emissions that pollute the air by allowing your employees to work from home and minimizing the usage of public or private transport.
Share the story of your efforts to protect the environment on Earth Day. Post photos on social media showing how your business utilizes best practices to promote clean air.
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GET A FREE MARKETING CONSULTATION
Every business is different, but one thing that all have in common is the need for good marketing to win new clients, sell more & grow. Marketing activities take knowledge, time, effort, and consistency, so what if we told you that you could have a team of people taking care of your marketing so that you can just focus on what you do best – run your business?
Find out how BBSA can help. Learn more about our marketing outsourcing services. Get a free marketing consultation.
BBSA – Anna Stella, Marketing Expert & CEO
On International Women’s Day we celebrate the many and varied achievements of women in marketing and business across the world. Women are a driving force in our industry and are highly represented in the marketing sector, as reflected in the fact that here at BSSA 67% of the associates are women. The high level of representation in the sector perhaps protects us from some gender inequity issues in our day-to-day workplace experiences, but we have not lost sight of the fact that true gender equality is yet to be realized anywhere in the world.
Traditional brick-and-mortar companies have a low percentage of female CEOs, with figures in the U.S. reaching just under 5% for the Fortune 500 list and only 6.3% for the current S&P 500. The situation persists despite corporate and societal efforts to progress towards gender parity, harassment-free workplaces, and pay and promotion equality. With the hope the gender gap will be breached soon, today we proudly celebrate the great women in our sector as we inspire them to be their best selves.
We have gathered leadership quotes from 20 of the most extraordinary female CEOs of the world who have inspired, motivated, and empowered those around them and hopefully, their words can do the same for you.
1. Estee Lauder – Founder
“I have never worked a day in my life without selling. If I believe in something, I sell it, and I sell it hard.”
2. Gail Blanke – President of Lifedesigns
“Walt Disney told his crew to ‘build the castle first when constructing Disney World, knowing that vision would continue to serve as motivation throughout the project. Oftentimes when people fail to achieve what they want in life, it’s because their vision isn’t strong enough.”
3. Robin Chase – Founder of ZipCar
“I have never been motivated by money.”
4. Anita Roddick – Founder of The Body Shop
“Whatever you do, be different. If you’re different, you will stand out.”
5. Virginia Rometty – CEO of IBM
“I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.”
6. Ann Handley – CCO of MarketingProfs
“Be an amateur. Not everything you do has to be good, especially at first.”
7. Mary T. Barra – CEO of General Motors
“Don’t confuse progress with winning.”
8. Alaina Percival – CEO of Women Who Code
“I realized that if I was willing to step up and be in the spotlight, I’d be able to make everyone else around me much more powerful as well.”
9. Leah Busque – Founder of TaskRabbit
“I wake up every morning and think to myself, ‘How far can I push the company forward in the next 24 hours.”
10. Marissa Mayer – Former President of Yahoo!
“If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”
11. Virginia M. Rometty – CMO of IBM
“Don’t let others define you. Define yourself.”
12. Denise M. Morrison – CEO of Campbell Soup Co.
“You can lead the change or be a victim of change.”
13. Meg Whitman – CEO of Quibi
“The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of a mistake.”
14. Alexandra Chong – CEO and founder of Lulu
“Build something you’re passionate about. As an entrepreneur, you have to have the passion and drive to stay the course.”
15. Ellen J. Kullman – CEO of DuPont
“With kids, they don’t do what you want them to do when you want them to do it. Organizations don’t necessarily, either. You’ve got to listen. You’ve got to learn how to influence.”
16. Irene B. Rosenfeld – CEO of Mondelez International, Inc.
“Our emerging workforce is not interested in command and control leadership. They don’t want to do things because l said so, they want to do things because they want to do them.”
17. Lynn Good – CEO of Duke Energy
“Effectiveness comes from those qualitative things that give you the ability to network, communicate and lead people toward an outcome they can’t see.
18. Sara Blakely – Founder of Spanx
“Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.”
19. Coco Chanel – Founder of Chanel
“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”
20. Indra Nooyi – CEO of PepsiCo
“Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.”
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GET A FREE MARKETING CONSULTATION
Every business is different, but one thing that all have in common is the need for good marketing to win new clients, sell more & grow. Marketing activities take knowledge, time, effort, and consistency, so what if we told you that you could have a team of people taking care of your marketing so that you can just focus on what you do best – run your business?
Find out how BBSA can help. Learn more about our marketing outsourcing services. Get a free marketing consultation.
BBSA – Anna Stella, Marketing Expert & CEO
Where will marketing be heading in 2022? Let’s take a look at five trends that are predicted to change the face of marketing.
More and more digital channels are emerging as a result of increased customer engagement with the online world. Effective marketing entails consolidating data and customer experience across multiple channels. Customers expect and want branding consistency throughout the various channels they use to communicate with friends and family, and such consistency is what ultimately enhances brand recognition and trust.
Accordingly, marketers must be able to seamlessly transition conversations from voice to SMS to social media. The challenge is how to present an attractive and coherent brand experience that works across all channels and the many ways in which customers access information.
Recent years have seen marketing become increasingly complex and personalized. As a result, successful marketing strategies and activities have become ever more diverse and multifaceted. Sometimes in-house teams are unable to cope with the constant changes required, and companies are starting to outsource a growing number of activities in order to harness external expertise.
By outsourcing their marketing, companies can obtain immediate access to highly qualified talent while at the same time removing a significant business function from their workflow. This allows them to concentrate more on core activities. It’s a no-brainer: leave those specialist marketing tasks to the experts. They have the knowledge and skills needed to win you new business, develop client relationships, and take your company to the next level, while you can get on with what you do best.
The use of smart speakers and voice search has escalated dramatically in recent years, and this trend is certainly having an effect on how marketing content is conceived and created. But does it also diminish the importance of visuals and graphic design? The answer is a clear “no”.
People respond strongly to attention-grabbing visual images. Research consistently indicates that people prefer visual content to plain text. Proof of the power of the image can be seen in the expansion of platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram. Be sure you do not neglect visual content in your marketing strategies.
Social commerce isn’t a new concept, but now it’s finally catching on as a significant factor in people’s shopping habits. And successful brands are keeping pace with this trend, employing a range of increasingly sophisticated techniques such as e-commerce platforms that mesh smoothly with social media channels, the adept use of influencer marketing, and generating advertising that fits seamlessly into social media feeds.
According to research by Statista*, social commerce will be a growth area in 2022, and there is no indication that this growth will slow in the foreseeable future.
Instagram and Tik Tok have played a big role in pushing forward this social commerce trend. Instagram Checkout, for example, has been zeroing in on the e-commerce market by allowing brands to easily promote and sell their products in-app. Meanwhile, with tools like Creator Marketplace (where brands can link up with creators who are a good fit with their products and priorities), Tik Tok is completely re-writing the rules when it comes to influencer marketing. Likewise, Tik Tok Shopping skillfully enables brands to engage with their customers right through the app. Social commerce is clearly an area that cannot be ignored.
Just as importantly, we expect the trend of customers’ high regard for their own privacy to continue in 2022. Many people are apprehensive of trusting businesses, even those they’ve trusted in the past, due to well-publicized concerns about big firms and social media platforms collecting and using personal information about their customers. As a result, we’ve seen many firms, including social media platforms, rushing to provide guarantees about how they will protect their customers’ privacy and security.
Notable in this trend have been Google and Meta, two tech behemoths, both of which have come in for adverse publicity about privacy issues. Meta (formerly Facebook) was rebranded in part to distance itself from poor consumer impressions of its record on privacy, and with that transition will come new security initiatives. Similarly, Google announced plans to limit data collecting on its Chrome browser back in 2020.
While it is recognized that time will be needed to put an end to the use of basic data gathering features like cookies, there is no doubt that in 2022, the level of privacy expected and demanded by users is going to rise. Brands will need to respond constructively to this demand to avoid losing out to their competitors.
____________________________________________________
GET A FREE MARKETING CONSULTATION
Every business is different, but one thing that all have in common is the need for good marketing to win new clients, sell more & grow. Marketing activities take knowledge, time, effort, and consistency, so what if we told you that you could have a team of people taking care of your marketing so that you can just focus on what you do best – run your business?
Find out how BBSA can help. Get a free marketing consultation
BBSA – Anna Stella Marketing Expert CEO
Small Business Saturday is a celebration of small businesses. First observed in the United States on November 27, 2010. The Day is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively. Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to visit local brick-and-mortar businesses that are small and local. When you shop small, you’re not just supporting the neighborhood favorites but also investing in your local community!
Join us today to celebrate #smallbusinesssarturday and thank you for supporting us!
Global Entrepreunweship Week is a celebration of innovators who dream big and launch startups that bring life ideas. It’s a global opportunity to honor and praise the success of the talents that makes our global, national, and local economies flourish.
Over the years, Global Entrepreunweship Week has been inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. It has helped educate the public on the importance of innovation and creativity and play in our daily lives. Entrepreneurship is our best national investment in the future, and this week at BBSA, we are celebrating our talent pool and innovators.
Join us this week in our Dover (Delaware) office to celebrate #GEW2020 and learn more about making the most of the opportunities for innovation and creativity. Get in touch to get a ticket.
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