As a business owner, you don’t want to fall behind the times. From technological to cultural advancements, there’s a whole lot happening in the world of business right now – and you need to be on top of your game!
You can ensure long-term success by modernizing your business on the inside and outside. Sure, it can’t be done overnight. But by using this 5-step guide, you can modernize your business over the remainder of the year and beyond.
Step 1: Increase your global appeal
These days, a lot of modern businesses are operating on an international level rather than a purely domestic one. This is largely done by shipping products to different countries. According to Statista, in 2020, a little under 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars’ worth of goods were exported to other countries around the world. Clearly, the market opportunity is huge.
So, providing you have the financial capacity to do so, it’s a great idea to give international expansion a shot. You should start slow – for example, a U.S. business looking to grow could begin by shipping to Canada as a starting point – before expanding further.
However, to appeal to different countries, you need to do excellent marketing. And if you’re marketing to a different language entirely, you can’t rely on Google Translate to help you – as it won’t work!
Instead, you need to localize your content through localization software and expert translators who can tailor culture-specific content on behalf of your business, whether you’re targeting Italy or Japan.
Through localization software, you can manage all your translation projects – from website content to e-commerce material – in one easy-to-manage place. Plus, you’ll even be able to automate various translation processes that would otherwise take up a lot of your time. It’s a game-changer!
Step 2: Consider rebranding
When done right, rebranding can truly breathe new life into a business.
Contrary to popular belief, rebranding doesn’t mean you have to knock everything down and build it up again. In some cases, it can simply mean redesigning your logo or altering certain features of a product. Take Coca-Cola, for example, who are rebranding Coca-Cola Zero Sugar to taste more like regular Coke.
However, if your business has become stale and is in drastic need of a new, modern feel, it’s worth giving it a full-scale rebranding. Your website, social media pages, and core branding materials (even your company name) can be changed to fit a new outlook and personality. Although this will be costly in the short term, it will provide you long-term sustainability and profitability – making it more than worth the sacrifice.
Step 3: Allow employees to work from home
Sit down and have a think for a second: “Could I let my employees work from home?”
At this very moment, a huge cultural shift is taking place – and it’s exciting. More companies than ever have begun to realize that allowing employees to work from home is not only good for them – it’s positive for the employees, too.
Step 4: Become eco-friendly
Climate change is a hot topic right now. In response to this, businesses are going green to provide themselves longevity and to protect the planet.
Step 5: Create a culture of creativity
Modern workers want the opportunity to express their creativity and ideas freely, whether it’s through Zoom meetings or office discussions. The wonders of modern technology allow this to be possible, so make sure to encourage workplace creativity. It comes with no downsides – only positives.
