Tomball business owners can maintain growth during economic challenges by focusing on innovation

Use technology to help things go more smoothly.

You probably hear this all the time but using technology can really help. Think about making boring tasks automatic. Using software like QuickBooks to better manage your money can help you save time and make fewer mistakes. It's easier to talk to each other when everyone is busy going in different directions. Tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams help with this.

Instead of going through a lot of emails think about how much easier it would be to talk to someone with a tool that is more organized. Technology keeps things going just like a well oiled machine. Think about this McKinsey did a study that found that businesses that automate 45% of their current tasks can give their employees back about six hours a week. Those saved hours give you more time to do what you love grow your business.

Having a strong online presence is also very important. A clean easy to use website with a responsive design can help you get new customers. People who aren't very good with computers can still make professional websites with tools like WordPress or Squarespace. You can also use Google Analytics and other tools to see how customers behave and change your plans based on what you learn.

Provide more goods or services

How many times have you seen a business change what it does and do well? Not only is diversifying good for your investments but it's also good for your business plan. When things get tough having more than one way to make money can save your life.

Let's say you have a small store in your neighborhood. You can get new customers by offering one of a kind products or by making your online presence bigger. If you own a restaurant you could make more money by selling meal kits that people can take home or by teaching people how to cook online. You can get more customers and markets by offering a wider range of products.

But don't go too far. The most important thing is to only offer products and services that are in line with your brand and what you know. The article "Some General SoP Advice from the Guy Who Read Nearly 50 of ..." (https://www.reddit.com/r/gradadmissions/comments/k2x7ha/some_general_sop_advice_from_the_guy_who_read/) says that to successfully diversify you need to pay close attention to what customers want and how the market is doing. So do some research before you get started. What do your customers want? Can you meet those needs without going too far?

Promote a culture of new ideas

People come up with new ideas. If your team isn't on board no amount of technology will help. How do you get people to think outside the box? By making it a place where new ideas are not just heard but also welcomed.

People should be able to give and get feedback easily and often. If you have regular brainstorming sessions or feedback roundtables you might come up with new ideas that you wouldn't have thought of otherwise. Workers should be able to speak their minds without worrying about being judged.

Consider Google's famous "20% time" policy which let workers spend 20% of their time on projects that interested them. This method came up with new ideas like Gmail and Google News. You might not have Google's resources but the idea is the same let your team have space and trust to come up with new ideas (Google's “20% Time” Policy. Case Study | by Naresh Sekar | Medium).

Strengthen your ties with people in your area

Businesses in the area often forget about the power that is right outside their doors. When things are tough your community can be your best customers and supporters. Not only is it good for business to get involved and make close connections but it's also good for business.

You could pay for local sports teams or put on events in your community. These are natural ways to get your brand involved in the community. And it's a two way street when you need it most a strong local network can be a big help.

You might want to think about teaming up with other businesses in your area. You can meet new people online and in person by working together on events that promote both of your businesses. You can use sites like Meetup to help you set up these community events.

Change how you advertise

You need to change your marketing to keep up with the times. Why keep using old methods if they don't always work? Instead think about a more unified method that makes use of current trends and tools.

For one thing we know that content marketing works very well. Writing useful blog posts making videos or making podcasts can show that you are an expert in your field. People trust you more and when they're ready to buy your business is at the top of their minds. Make sure the things you write are helpful to the people who will read them.

Social media is another thing that has changed the game. Facebook and Instagram aren't just for posting pictures of yourself and memes they're also great for advertising. You can talk directly to your audience by giving them a look behind the scenes or hosting live Q&A sessions. It's easier for people to find and understand your business if you use these sites.

Email marketing can be very effective if done correctly. Sending personalized content to a carefully chosen email list makes it more likely that people will interact with it. You can use tools like Mailchimp to automate the process which will free up time for you to do other important things.

It's not just about new cool gadgets or crazy ideas it's also about making useful changes that last. Even though the economy is bad Tomball is a great place for business owners to grow. You can make your business stronger and more successful by using technology expanding your reach encouraging new ideas building relationships with customers and changing how you market your business. Life is full of changes but with the right plans you can always grow.