If you look five years into the future, do you see your business exactly as it is today? With hope, that won’t be the case. Goals and aspirations for growth are healthy and expected when you run a small business. What should you be doing every day to ensure business growth?

1. Know Your Audience

Who are the people walking in through your doors every day? The better you know your audience, the better that you can cater to them in the future when you bulk up your marketing campaign.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Apply For Loans

It costs money to make money no matter what kind of business you run. If you’re holding out on taking out business loans, reconsider. Yes, it’s another bill every month and you need to have decent credit, but if it helps your company to grow then isn’t it worth it?

3. Try Different Approaches

Not every marketing tactic is going to work. When you’re getting to know your clients and finding your footing, find the approach that will work for you and your customers in the end.

4. Make the Most of Social Media

Who knew when Facebook was introduced in the early naughties that it would jumpstart something so big? Make use of the different social media platforms out there to reach a wider audience. Don’t forget to follow other businesses in your niche as well.

5. Work on Professional Development

Learning is never a waste of time. Work with your staff to improve everything from automating processes to learning better ways to deal with difficult clients. The better prepared they are, the better they will act at the moment.

6. Network, Network, Network

Remember when you started following other businesses on social media? This is a great start to networking. Get to know others in your industry and consider starting a partnership with them.

7. Develop a Strong Company Culture

You feel better about doing business with people who share your values and you bet that your customers feel the same. What is it about your company that people like and want to see more of? What morals and values do you want to be associated with your business?

8. Create Loyal Customers

Your customers are some of the most important people at your company, and breeding loyalty means that you go above and beyond for them. Think of rewards like points cards, coupons or a referral system to bring people back for more.

9. Make Customer Service a Priority

Taking care of your customers is not something you should ignore, and this point goes hand in hand with loyalty. Deliver fantastic service to your clients to show them that you care and want their experience to be great.