The Only Tip You Need for 2023

The Only Tip You Need for 2023

It's no secret that 2022 is coming to an end, and a brand new year is right around the corner. And as we head into 2023, most small business owners are feeling one of two ways…

️〰 EXCITED to dive in and make it the best year yet.
〰️ Nervous and unprepared, already feeling behind on planning. 

…Or maybe it’s a combination of the two! 

As a small business owner or maker, you’ve made it through Black Friday/Cyber week, and even the majority of holiday shipping. So naturally, you can’t help but think about what’s ahead. 

However you’re feeling about a fresh new year being upon us, I’ve got some good news. There is ONE tip that, if implemented well into your business, will help you thrive in 2023!

But before we dig in, let’s back up for a moment. Because you see, the past 10 years have led us down a social media spiral. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing! In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Social media platforms like Instagram have allowed businesses of all sizes to humanize their brands, engage with their customers, build brand awareness, generate leads, and so much more. I personally love using social media to connect with new people, and I also use it as a creative outlet! 

But here’s the thing about our social media accounts: we do not own them. 

Sounds harsh and well, it kind of is. I can’t tell you the number of friends/fellow business owners who have tragically lost access to their social media accounts because of hackers or other *totally uncontrollable* reasons. So here’s my point: if we’re pouring all of our energy and resources only into social media, it can be a recipe for disaster. No business owner or maker wants to wake up only to find that their account has been hacked and they have to start everything from scratch. 

Here’s where I’m going with this: when it comes to goals to set for your business in 2023, I would like to invite you to consider things outside of just financial/profit goals. 

I believe the biggest opportunity for your small business in 2023 and the ONE tip I would give you is to strategize and plan BEYOND social.

Preparing your business to have a strong presence outside of JUST social media will pay off in big ways, and will also give you a security blanket knowing that even if your IG account was swept out from under your feet, you’ve got a strong base to fall back on. 

Now you may be thinking “Okay, Lucy…you have my attention but what exactly do you mean?”

I’m so glad you asked. 

There are SEVERAL ways to diversify your efforts when it comes to brand presence and engagement with your audience, and here are the top 3 I would recommend you spend time building and/or enhancing in preparation for 2023!

WEBSITE

If you don’t have a website yet, that’s totally okay. But go ahead and create one! And hey, while building a website can feel super daunting, there are a LOT of easy-to-use templates on sites like squarespace, and you can also hire a freelance website designer on sites like upwork to help you bring it to life! And if you’ve already got a site up and running, make sure it’s working FOR you. I am personally walking through some website overhauling as we head into the new year and my goal can be summarized in one word: simplicity. It’s tempting to feel like we need “all the things” on our website…but simple is actually better. 

And if you’re thinking “no, I don’t really need a website”, here’s why it’s important: your website is something that you OWN! Further, you can use powerful copy with keywords that will help your website appear higher on search engines. Plus, if you sell products, you can sell them through your website. If you offer a course, you can do that through your website. There are SO many reasons a website is vital to your business, and at the top of that list is brand validity. People (customers) value being able to visit a website.

BLOGS

Similar to the power of using copy on your website landing pages for SEO, blogs are another great way to not only share information about topics you’re an expert on but also to rank higher on search engines! Now, don’t get this twisted for the type of blogs we saw in the early 2000s. The blogs I’m referring to here are those that offer education or insight on a specific topic, and use keywords that benefit the searchability of your business’ offerings. 

Lastly, blogs are a great creative outlet. Consider the topics that are specific to your business, but also be willing to go outside of the “norm”, inviting your audience to learn more about you, your interests, and your expertise. Blogs can truly be a game changer because they aren’t going anywhere. Even blogs from years past have the power to show up on Google searches, etc. Again - you actually own these which means everything. 

EMAIL LIST

Last but not least, 2023 is the perfect time to build your email list. Whether you’re just starting out, or if you have an email list that you never send things to - start now! Emails are the best way to stay top of mind with your audience - letting them know what you’re up to, what new products you’re releasing, blogs you’re publishing, events you’re hosting, and so much more. If you're not sure where to start, check out these two blogs: How to Grow Your Email List / How to Create an Email Sequence in 5 Easy Steps.

Now, all of this is NOT to say that you should throw all of your social media efforts by the wayside. I’d actually recommend adding a new platform to the mix in the new year, like Pinterest or BeReal! 

Expanding your efforts outside of social media, and letting each “area” work for the other will help you reach your goals for 2023, and give you the security you didn’t know you needed in regard to owning your content. 

If you’re curious about strategy and how to put all of this into action, click here to book a call with me! I’ll share tips and insights into scheduling ALL of this so that it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Can’t wait to connect!