Business Surgery: Lucinda Sloane, of Bird Media, suggests five ways to grow your brand in 2023

Here we go again, it’s the start of another year, brimming with possibilities to grow your business – or perhaps start a new one.

Whether established brand or exciting start-up, you’ll be wanting to know the key ways to attract new customers and be ahead of the curve, right?

Well, to-do lists and business plans at the ready, here are five key ways to grow your business brand in 2023.

Create a social responsibility content plan

In a previous column, I explained the importance of your business “why” and aligning your values to those of your customers. A brand’s social responsibility and awareness of issues, such as climate change, LGBTQIA+ rights and racial equality, influence consumer purchasing behaviour – particularly among Millennials and Gen Z. So, what do you stand for?

Engage influencers

Social media is an essential communication platform for your business – you know this – but have you ventured into the realm of social media influencers yet? Collaborations with influencers and thought leaders are a highly effective way to tap into new audiences and increase brand awareness.

The good news: influencer engagement doesn’t have to mean vying for the attention of celebrities. Micro-influencers – that is, those with a smaller but more loyal and engaged following – are your target here.

Keep video content short

Need I say more? Okay, one word – TikTok.

Blog, blog and blog some more

Paradoxically, long-form blog content is a must-do in 2023. Blogging has been around for almost 30 years and it’s not going anywhere. It is incredibly effective in generating a brand following and influencing purchasing decisions. Why? Because it establishes you as a trusted expert in your field, engages customers through free advice, and improves your discoverability via search engines.

Get to grips with SEO

When someone starts spouting about SEO, more often than not business owners become glassy-eyed, begin slowly nodding in feigned understanding, or run for the hills. It isn’t that complicated, I promise. But what it does require is a change in perspective. To ensure your website is optimised for search engines you need to pay attention to its content – is it accurate, original, relevant and of value to your potential customers and industry? If so, you’re at least on the right track. If not, talk to me.

In forthcoming columns, I will expand on these points, so stay tuned to keep your business on an upward trajectory in 2023. Let’s start as we mean to go on, eh?

But if you’d like a quick chat or need more advice in the meantime, email me at lucinda.sloane@thisisbirdmedia.com

Follow Lucinda on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lucinda-sloane

Business Surgery is published each Friday in the Bury Free Press