2019 TRENDS & PREDICTIONS for small business growth

Early Implementation is Key!

I gathered this list from a variety of sources with the hopes that this knowledge will help you adopt them as you strive to reach your vision.

➤ Key words: Fast, seamless, and personalized service. The consumer will have even more buying options in 2019 and they will gravitate towards businesses that can fill their needs fast, seamlessly and with personalized service. This is one area that small businesses have an advantage. Large corporations are slow moving, whereas small businesses have the capacity to “change on the fly.”
➤ Technology and artificial intelligence will continue to improve, but they will not replace the human touch when it comes to delivering memorable customer experience. In the future, AI may play a bigger role but for the coming year, relationships will still be the main driver for business growth.
➤ Personalization will continue to grow in all marketing areas. Providing high-value and personalized content will be a must for small business growth. Understanding and narrowing of your target market will be necessary to deliver personalized content.
➤ Customer reviews influence more than 95% of online customers/purchases. This translates to the importance of having both on-line and off-line testimonials where your prospects can easily find them.
➤ Mobile apps – an almost “must” for small businesses. Having a mobile friendly website is no longer enough. Mobile apps are much more affordable with many new start-ups offering easy to use templates. 90% of mobile time is spent looking at apps and the average American spends more time looking at a mobile phone than television. Some immediate benefits:
     ➮ Be visible at all times
     ➮ Have a direct marketing channel
     ➮ Build brand recognition
     ➮ Improve customer engagement
     ➮ Stand out from the competition.

These are the trends that I see as significant for 2019. Don’t procrastinate in their implementation!

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Tips & Advice by Nick Petra, CFP – Founder of Strategic Duck and BizQuack