Welp, 2021 has proven to be equally as unpredictable as 2020, but we made it! We’re weeks away from the start of a new year and a fresh start. And along with a fresh start comes new trends that you can choose to embrace within your business to not just stay afloat, but to flourish..
Small Business Trends for 2022
Continued Remote Work Nearly half of all employees were remote in 2021… and they loved it. Eliminating a commute can add back hours to your team member’s day, and could exponentially increase their job satisfaction. And it’s not just a win for team members – employers win as well. Think about it as a business owner - lower overhead costs with no permanent space to pay rent for, limited supplies needed and happier employees who can manage a better work-life relationship. Remote work has proved to be a great success for many businesses and is certainly not going away in the near future.
Boost in E-Commerce Business E-commerce businesses have really boomed this year due to the pandemic. It’s convenient, easy and pants are optional. And on the flip side, business owners don’t have to worry about having a physical store location. Lower overhead costs and 24/7 accessibility for customers make this a win-win. Website creation doesn’t have to be expensive, and having an online presence is the new business card. If you haven't already considered an online presence, now is definitely the time to consider entering the e-commerce space if you’ve been on the fence about starting your business.
Increased Virtual Events In-person events have just started to resume around the country, but virtual events are still holding strong (reduced travel expenses, no need to secure childcare, and the pants are optional again!). Hosting virtual events can help expand your reach, allow for more attendees and cut overhead costs. (Are you seeing a common theme with overhead costs yet??)
Video Marketing will Boom Marketing trends are constantly changing and can be exhausting to keep up with. One trend that isn’t going anywhere is video marketing. Reels, Tik Toks, Facebook/Instagram Live - videos are where the engagement resides. Approximately 84% of people say a brand’s video convinced them to buy a product or service. And, 54% of consumers want to see more video content from a brand or business they support.
Freelance Employees will be Highly Sought After Last year, there were 59 million people doing freelance work in the United States. (Crazy, right?!) That number is only going to grow in 2022. Freelancers can boost your business in a variety of ways including outsourcing work (mostly stuff you dread doing or is too time consuming,) finding experts in certain aspects of your business to help you grow, getting one-time projects done quickly or simply having extra support without a physical person in the office or to put on payroll.
Part of being a business owner is staying up-to-date with what is happening within the business world and strategically picking trends to try out that will help you grow a strong and sustainable business. What business trend are you most excited for? Need help developing a business strategy or plan for 2022? ASE Group can help!
