SEO Pro: How to Build a Better Business Plan in 2021
Think about your business plan for 2020. It probably had a lot of ambitious goals and plans. But as you plan for 2021, you’ll need a better business plan to fit the current time.
Your new business plan needs to consider the existing pandemic and potential future lockdowns and changes. That way, you’ll be able to adjust your operations quickly and efficiently.
Keep reading to learn how to write a better business plan for 2021.
Review What Worked
When creating your business plan for 2021, consider what worked well in 2020. Perhaps you had an online sale that drew in a lot of business. Or maybe you started offering take out to customers.
You should also review what didn’t work so well. Maybe you reopened your store too early and had to close it again. Or you put in too large of an order and weren’t able to sell all of it.
Use what you learned from last year to formulate a better business plan for this year. That way, you can increase your chances of your business being successful.
Consider Your Funding Options
Many businesses have struggled to get by financially this past year. Think about if your business also needs more money to operate. If so, research your options for funding.
The latest stimulus bill includes more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program. You can also look at loans from the Small Business Administration or your local bank.
If you have personal savings, consider if you can afford to invest that money in your company. You can also ask friends and family for a small investment to help cover your business expenses.
Do what you need to do to get the money you need for your basic operations. You don’t need to make tons of money in profit, but you do need enough to get by.
Focus on Diversification
Last year taught a lot of people the importance of diverse income streams. You never know when one income stream may whittle away. Luckily, you can create multiple income streams in your business.
If you own a restaurant, you can offer dine-in but also curbside pickup or delivery. You can also offer catering and other to-go options so that customers can still enjoy your food safely.
And if you own a clothing store, you can also offer curbside pickup or online or phone orders. That way, people can shop safely and comfortably.
Open an Online Store
No matter what business you have, consider focusing more on an online store. You can set up a store on almost any website host, so you can use your existing website for the venture.
You can sell physical products, such as clothing or hair care products. If you do consulting, tutoring, or something else, you can offer those services remotely.
Another option is digital products. If you sell books, consider if you can get the rights to the digital version to sell directly on your site. Even if you have a brick and mortar business, operating online can help you reach more customers in and around Tampa.
Adjust Your Operating Hours
No matter what business you have, consider shortening your hours through the pandemic. That way, you can limit the time you and your employees have to be out and working in-person.
If you run an office, you can also have half of your employees work in the office. You can also rotate between two groups of employees each day or week.
Consider how changing your work schedule or methods can help. Last year, working from home seemed impossible to some. But now, there are a lot of tools you can use to still get work done.
Be Flexible
When building a better business plan, you should also focus on flexibility. It may be safe to return to the office, but try not to force employees to before they’re ready.
We aren’t out of the clear yet, so it’s important to prepare for another lockdown. After all, new strains have started appearing all over the world, and it’s unclear if the current vaccine can protect against them.
If your business does need to close, you need a way to keep operating. Don’t be afraid to have some or all of your employees work remotely so that they’re used to it.
You can also set up a website to connect with customers and get sales. That way, you can still earn money when you close your shop.
Make Remote Work Easier
A better business plan should also include remote work procedures and opportunities. Even as the world opens up, some workers won’t be comfortable going back to the office.
While restaurants and stores need people in-person, consider if your team can work from home. If so, do what you can to make working remotely easier.
Use cloud systems for remote desktop access. Get a tool like Slack so that people can communicate throughout the workday. That way, you can all work and stay safe until the pandemic subsides.
Build or Improve Your Website
Even if your business can operate in Tampa, you should focus on your website. You never know when you may need to shut down or move online.
And if that happens, you’ll need to rely on your website to bring in customers. Luckily, you can get an affordable SEO package to help optimize your website for search.
Then, local customers can look for your business or industry. If they need a good restaurant or store, your site can show up in their search results, and you can still bring in new business.
Develop an SEO Strategy
Better business planning should also include an SEO strategy. You can hire a company to help you choose the right keywords and phrases to use on your website to help show up in relevant search results.
Include a bit of your SEO strategy in your next business plan. Outline how you plan to use SEO to grow your business despite the pandemic and why you want to use SEO.
You can also use your SEO strategy if you have a YouTube channel for your business. People search for videos all of the time, so you can create relevant videos to share on YouTube to further help grow your business.
Implement Digital Marketing
Having a good SEO strategy is an essential part of digital marketing. But it’s not a replacement for other types of online marketing, such as with social media.
If you haven’t already, create an account on Facebook and Instagram for your business. You can create a Facebook business page and link it to your Instagram profile.
Then, you can post and use hashtags and location tags to reach your ideal customers. You can also create a targeted ad campaign to reach even more people who may not follow you.
Include a Sales Plan
You could have the best SEO in the world and rank first for every keyword on your site. But that doesn’t always mean you’ll see massive growth and sales in your business.
Your business plan should also include how you plan to get sales. That could mean offering discounts once each month. Or perhaps you start an email list and use a newsletter to encourage people to buy from you.
Maybe you include customer testimonials or reviews on your website. Consider how you plan to convert visitors into paying traffic so that your website can work for you.
Follow the Rules
Make sure you follow local guidelines and news for the Tampa area. You may need to close your business or operate it with a lower maximum capacity.
While you may not be able to create the business plan you want, you can be sure that your business won’t get shut down. Your business may be able to remain open during various lockdown restrictions, and that’s great.
But if you don’t have an essential business, you should prepare to close. Give yourself and your employees time to make the transition, and put all of that in your business plan.
Write It All Down
As you start creating a better business plan for 2021, write it down. You don’t have to use a super professional format or template. All you need is a place to log your plans for the next year.
That way, you have something to refer to when you have questions about running your business. If you decide to get an investment, you can polish your business plan for the presentation.
But in a lot of cases, you’re the only one who will look at the plan. Either way, your business plan will give you a roadmap for how to run your company for the next 12 months.
How to Create a Better Business Plan
A good business plan outlines your basic plans for your company. And a better business plan helps you prepare for the future and account for any potential challenges.
With the pandemic still raging on, it’s important to recognize the issues your business may face. That way, you can adapt to the times and keep your business going.
Do you need help bringing your business to the 21st century? Contact us for some SEO help.
