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As a small business owner, having a website is crucial to your success in today's digital age. If you don't already have a website, or if your current website is outdated or hard to use, it's time to consider investing in a new one. Here are 5 reasons why your small business needs a new website:

1. Reach a wider audience: With a website, you can easily share information about your products and services with potential customers from all over the world. This can help you expand your customer base and increase sales.

2. Improve your credibility: A professional-looking website can establish your business as an expert in your field, which can help you attract more customers and build trust with potential clients.

3. Save time and money: A website can streamline your customer service process by allowing customers to find answers to common questions on their own. This can save you time and money, so you can focus on running your business.

4. Stay competitive: In today's market, having a website is increasingly important for small businesses. Without a website, you may be at a disadvantage compared to your competitors.

5. Gain valuable insights: A website with built-in analytics can provide valuable data about your visitors, such as where they are coming from, how long they stay on your site, and what pages they visit. This data can help you understand your audience better and make informed decisions about how to improve your website and marketing efforts.

In conclusion, a new website is a crucial investment for any small business looking to stay competitive in today's digital age. With a new website, you can reach a wider audience, improve your credibility, save time and money, and gain valuable insights about your customers. Don't let your small business fall behind, take the first step towards a modern and effective website today by scheduling a demo with Webware. Our team of experts will work with you to understand your business needs and create a website that will help you reach your goals. Don't wait, schedule a demo with Webware today and take your small business to the next level!

Digital marketing is constantly evolving, and as we move into 2023, there are several trends that small business owners should be aware of.
 

Video Content:
One of the biggest trends in digital marketing is the continued rise of video content. More and more businesses are using video to engage with their audience, and this trend is only set to continue in 2023. Whether it's live streaming on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, or creating engaging videos for YouTube and Vimeo, video is a powerful tool for reaching and engaging with potential customers.

Personalization:
Another trend to watch out for in 2023 is the increasing importance of personalization. As consumers become more savvy and more selective about the content they engage with, businesses will need to find ways to tailor their marketing messages to individual customers. This could involve using data and analytics to create personalized email marketing campaigns, or using AI and machine learning to personalize the customer experience on a business's website.

Influencer Marketing:
In addition, the use of influencer marketing is also set to grow in 2023. Influencer marketing involves partnering with social media influencers who have a large following in your target market and using their influence to promote your business. This can be a powerful way to reach a large audience and build trust with potential customers.

Chatbots:
Finally, the use of chatbots is also set to increase in 2023. Chatbots are AI-powered software programs that can simulate conversations with customers in real-time, providing quick and convenient answers to common questions and helping to improve the customer experience.

In summary, digital marketing in 2023 is all about video content, personalization, influencer marketing, and chatbots. Small business owners who want to stay ahead of the curve should consider incorporating these trends into their marketing strategies.

Need help with website and digital marketing for your small business? Join over 4000 business owners like you that are a part of Webware. Book a Growth Session with us and let’s look at your current efforts and if Webware is the right fit for you.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

How To Identify Your Superpower, Know Your Next Key Hire and Buy Back Your Time
using the Love Your Day Formula Framework

Hello Everyone!

I’m Cory York, Co-creator and CEO of Webware.io.

If you are a business owner who is overwhelmed by the demands and challenges of your business; if you are running a reactive rather than proactive hiring practice; if you are doing a series of low-value tasks that are holding you back from growing your company, then come and check-out my Staples Virtual Spotlight Session on February 10th, 2022 at 2 pm. In this session I will Help You Create a Life and Business You Love!

I know running a company is hard. I have had two companies that have grown from 0 to over 10 million in annual revenue, I have raised venture capital, and I’ve had a successful exit. But the most significant lesson I learned, while labouring in those trenches, is that things don’t get better, you get better!

In my live session, I will guide you through The Love Your Day Formula framework to help you:

1. Identify your superpower, and how to align your team’s superpowers so the are PERFORMING LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE
2. Easily determine your next key hire, THAT WILL UNLOCK YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AND HELP YOUR COMPANY MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, and
3. Buy Back Your Time - and free up your schedule so YOU CAN FOCUS ON THE AREAS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTFUL TO YOUR BUSINESS

This is GAME-CHANGING TRAINING and a must-see for all business owners. I am personally hosting the event, and I’m excited to share with you the strategies and tools that have had the greatest impact on my success. I can’t wait to see you all.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

To Register please click the link above!.

It’s going to be awesome! Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Cory York, Co-creator and CEO of Webware.io.

For Registration and More Information CLICK HERE!

January is approaching fast and so is 2022. This has been another challenging year in the small business world but as the year draws to a close, it is important to start planning for next year. Many of us make personal New Year’s resolutions whether it be going to the gym or working out, trying to eat healthier, or discovering a new hobby. But how many small business owners make New Year’s resolutions regarding their businesses? 

December is a great time to reflect on your past year and get ready for the new one ahead. Evaluating your business over the past year will not only help you to see what worked and what didn’t but it will inform decisions you need to make for the upcoming year. 

So here are some tips to get your small business ready for 2022: 

1. Reflect on what worked and what didn’t work in 2021. 

   Features: are my specific products and services solving specific problems that my customers have? 
   Does my business have distinctive competencies over my competitors? 
   Marketing: which channels am I using to market my business (blog, email, social media, etc.)? 
   Which ones have I received the most ROI from or the most qualified leads? 
   Are there any channels that I should be adding this year? 
   Time management: What did my schedule look like this past year? 
   How can I create more time to focus on strategy for my company? 
   Are there ways that I can automate some of the day-to-day tasks that are necessary but time wasters? 

2. Make sure that you are capturing your customers’ emails

   Did you build up your email list over the course of the past year? 
   If not, how can you change that this year? 
   Make sure that you are capturing your customers’ emails by offering them something in return. This could be in the form of some tips, or a special offer. 
   Most small businesses are very busy over the holidays and it is important to capture those customers’ email so that you can re-engage them in your business’ down time.  January is a perfect time to reach out to these clients. Consider using automated email or marketing to target them to return to your business. 

3. Run your financial reports. 

   This is the ideal time to reflect and get a better understanding of how your business is performing financially. 
   Profit and loss statement - this is your income statement that details all of your business’ revenues, expenses and costs
   Balance Sheet - this shows your business’ assets and liabilities, including any outstanding amounts owed to investors. 
   Cash flow statement - this shows how your business manages funds
   If your business doesn’t have an accountant or someone that is in charge of your financial statements, think about investing in some accounting software. 

4. Create your company goals. 

   Take a good look at your accomplishments this year. Did you meet your goals set last year? 
   Did your company reflect the mission statement or vision proposition that was set out last year? 
   This is the time to set some future goals. Set some objectives for your business. Then determine what strategies are going to help you achieve those goals. Lastly, make sure you determine the actions that will take you to your goals. It is a great idea to review these each quarter to make sure that you are on track. 

5. Review your website and map out your content for the year. 

   First, review your website and make sure that it is user and mobile friendly. Make sure all of your information on your site is up to date. 
   Next, plan your upcoming online content goals for the next year. You do not need to map out each and every blog post, newsletter and social media post, however it is a good idea to consider your overall content strategy. If you are going to promote a particular product or service in the first quarter, brainstorm some ways to market to your target audience. Remember to consider times of year, seasons, holidays, etc. as these can all affect the way your content changes throughout the year. 

6. Meet with your team. 
   
   Your small business is only as good as its employees. You should schedule time to speak with each team member one-on-one, and give them some feedback about their performance last year - what you liked best about working together this past 12 months; areas in need of improvement or change going forward?
   As well, give them the opportunity to give their own feedback and ideas. This not only helps them feel heard but they may have many great ideas that you haven’t thought of. 
   It is also a great time to review and update your employee handbook and any standard operating procedures. 

7. Think about new hires. 
       
   Once you have evaluated your business’ performance over the past year, you may come to realize that you need to hire new employees in the new year. Most small business owners state that hiring new employees is the most challenging task and can have the biggest impact. 
   Perhaps areas that aren’t performing well, need a new hire that can help or direct that area’s team? 
   If you are launching a new product or service you may need a new hire to head up that process. 
   The New Year is a great time to assess your staffing needs and plan out any new hirings. As it is challenging to find the right employees to fit your company’s needs and specific role, the importance of planning is paramount. It may take you some time to sift through resumes, conduct interviews until you find the right person. Some companies decided to outsource or automate some of the hiring process, but when it comes down to the actual hire, the small business owner needs to ensure that they are the right person for their company and specific role. 

8. Take some time off. 

   As much as it is important and advantageous to get your company ready for the New Year, it is equally important for you as a business owner to take some time for yourself. 
   Taking the time to relax and recharge will allow you to reenter the workplace with a clearer head and renewed energy devoted to building your business in the New Year. 
    

The last 18 months have been challenging for everyone, especially small business owners.

Unpredictable health guidelines, supply chain issues, changing consumer behavior, and much more, have wreaked havoc on our lives and businesses.   

You’ve weathered the storm and are ready to get back to what you do best -- providing amazing products and services to your customers.

However, most small businesses are now seeing a new, unexpected challenge: Recruiting and keeping the necessary  staff to keep your business running.

With the right strategy, you can win this battle too. 

Here are our top tips to hiring:

Transparency and clarity is key to your job posting.

1. Keep the job posting simple, descriptive, and relevant.

2. Avoid using lofty jargon and run-on sentences when clear statements will do.

Wrong: “Candidates will use excellent customer communication skills including active listening to assess, respond to, and meet the desired needs of customers.”

Right:  “Our teammates are great listeners and act quickly to provide amazing customer service.”

3. List the compensation in the job posting.

4. Don’t be afraid to list the difficult things which will be expected of the job. If nights and weekends are required for some employees, make that clear in the job description.

Once the job posting is live, be prepared to act quickly.

1. Before you post a job opening, ensure you are fully prepared to act quickly on any applications. If you don’t have the time to call applicants quickly, hold off on placing the job posting until you do.

2. Set up notifications to let you know when you have received a new application.

3. Call viable applicants within the same business day, if at all possible. The sooner you put a human voice to the process, the more likely you are to stand out among the other options applicants have.

4. Schedule interviews within 24 hours, and same-day if possible.

Be prepared and consistent in interviews.

1. Have a defined set of topics to cover with all applicants.

2. Have a list of 10 questions, and a scorecard to determine how well the candidates answer the questions.

Don’t be afraid to make real-time offers.

1. Too often we see small businesses lose terrific talent because they wait too long after an interview to make an offer. Sometimes it is an oversight. Other times it is a lack of preparation. Many times you force yourself to keep interviewing “just to see who else is available” when the perfect candidate was right in front of you.  If you are prepared and are consistent with your process you will know the right candidate when you meet them and should not hesitate. 

2. Be prepared to make firm offers within 24 hours, and even at the time of the interview.

You’ve hired the perfect candidate -- now make sure to perfectly onboard them.

1. Set start dates as soon as reasonable. Many entry-level workers are in a hurry for their next paycheck. Don’t lose a perfect candidate because you put their start date too far out and they choose another job which starts sooner.

2. Make sure their first day is amazing. Have anything they need for their job ready for them at their desk. Show them you cared enough to be prepared.

3. Have a casual 1:1 with them at the end of the first day. Sure, talk about how the work went, but mostly just get to know them as a person and show they are not just a number to you. That personal connection can keep many new hires invested during what can be a stressful new time for them.

Recruiting and keeping those new recruits is more challenging than ever. 

These tips can help you set yourself apart from the competition and make your company the go-to place to work.

If you have any questions, or need some more guidance, feel free to reach out to mark@webware.io.