Small Business Trends for 2022

In this article, we explore some of the most important small business trends to look out for in 2022. From software development to e-commerce, read on to find out more!

Small businesses have always had to adapt and pivot in regard to how they function and make money, however Covid-19 really threw a curveball! As life slowly gets back to normal, we're seeing new business emerge and business that were struggling rise again. So, what trends do we think we need to consider as small business owners for 2022? 

1- Flexibility 

Now, more than ever, we can see just how integral flexibility is in terms of who you hire, the hours they work and their location. Previously we have had to hire someone close to the office and perhaps we have not gained the best person for the job. Although thrown into it, small businesses now have an opportunity to hire for talent alone, give their employees an opportunity to work and travel and to hire those, who perhaps need to work flexibly around children or elderly parents. Business infrastructure has changed so dramatically and the communication tools we use have developed with our needs to fully support companies!  

2- Coaching and mentoring employees 

After a few years of not quite knowing what would happen, it became increasingly clear that employee nurturing was a necessity in companies. Not only will you retain your best employees, but you can also really mould employees into what you want your company to be. Take time to offer coaching and mentoring, as well as learning opportunities to your workforce using an external agency or perhaps a platform, such as Udemy. Remember, if you water your grass, it grows beautifully and this is a trend which will be far more valuable to your company than free beers or games night! 

3- Influencer marketing 

We have all seen the rise of the ‘influencer’ over the past few years and through the pandemic influencers have really become the best way of marketing your business or project for a relatively small fee. The best place to start is reaching out to influencers with a large audience, who would be great for your product and see who is willing to jump on board! Looking specifically at apps and tangible products, influencers both large and small (micro-influencers) strengthen the story by providing relevance and endorsements, particularly through Instagram or TikTok.

4- Family feel, empathetic businesses 

The pandemic has been a wake-up call for many of us. We have been forced to reassess our lives and introduce our own values into our careers. Due to this, businesses have had to adapt and truly care about their employees. Successful start-ups are implementing a people first workplace, where people are truly cared for- think management caring about personal, as well as professional goals and checking in with your workforces' emotions. empathy has become one of the most important qualities in a business leader. This is because we now realise that happy employees lead to productive employees. When people feel valued and cared for, they are more likely to be creative and come up with new ideas. They are also more likely to stick around, which saves the company money in the long run. So, if you want your business to be successful, start by putting your people first. 

5- Prioritising Digital Marketing 

When it comes to running a small business, digital marketing is an essential tool. With its low cost and high reach, digital marketing allows entrepreneurs to spread the word about their products or services to a broad audience quickly and efficiently. Additionally, digital marketing allows small-business owners to track the performance of their campaigns with great precision, enabling them to tailor their efforts according to their goals and results, but remember you do need a pipeline and a following for this to work effectively! Knowing how to use tech to your advantage is integral in growing your business (we’re happy to help and advise here).

While in-person networking will never go out of style for building relationships with potential customers or clients, digital marketing remains a key part of any successful business strategy in today's world. Ultimately, small-business owners need to embrace digital marketing as an indispensable part of their marketing arsenal if they want to remain competitive and thrive in this rapidly changing landscape. 

6- Staying current with technology 

Success in the next ten years will be driven by your ability to use and leverage the digital and cloud technologies in use today, and your willingness to stay on top of whatever technologies your customers are using. Right now, we are pros of Teams, Slack and Asana, but who will release the next cloud-based solution- could it be you? One way to stay ahead of the curve is to create your own solutions. Remember, your problem will probably be experienced by others, and you could monetise the solution. Technology has proved just how helpful it can be and with entrepreneurs developing new tech daily, let’s see what we are learning to use next.  

7- Hybrid working 

As any manager or business owner knows, having a workforce that feels empowered and in control is critical for success. People like choice and the freedom to do things their own way, so it is no surprise that many are now seeking out hybrid work arrangements that allow them to both work from home and use coworking spaces as needed. By giving employees the ability to choose between different working arrangements, businesses can help to build a motivated, engaged team that is invested in the success of the organization. 

Furthermore, we also need to consider the next generation of employees who have been raised and educated in an online environment. These workers are comfortable with remote work and hybrid work arrangements, making them ideal candidates for today's fast-paced business climate. At the same time, they also expect these types of flexible options from their employers, and are not willing to sacrifice their personal happiness for professional success. For businesses looking to thrive into the future, then, accommodating hybrid work arrangements is essential for attracting and retaining top talent. 

8- Networking 

A thing of the past? Pre-pandemic networking was the best way to form real human connection and it’s back, but now it can be virtual, as well as in person. Sign up to a few events a year to ensure you keep your network growing- you never know who you’ll meet and how you might prove useful to each other! You might gain lead referrals, a new colleague or someone to sharpen your pitch with- no matter the outcome, people make a business. 

9- Build on Strong Foundations 

Building your processes out in a strong, automated fashion are integral to any great start-up. One of the major benefits of robotic process automation is its ability to save labour time. By automating repetitive tasks that currently require a lot of human involvement, such technology has the potential to significantly reduce costs and increase efficiency within organisations. These are attractive benefits for businesses, as automating these kinds of tasks can help to maximise their productivity and minimise their operating costs. Furthermore, since these tasks are fairly simple, they are among the easiest to automate. As such, by focusing on them first, organisations can quickly reap the benefits of robotic process automation and gain a competitive advantage in their field. But what could I automate? Think of anything involving data entry, a sales process or perhaps inventory! 

Now, these are just a few trends we see coming into play for small businesses in 2022, but as mentioned you never know when the next big thing is being developed or digitalised! If you have an idea you want to create and put into action, don’t hesitate to reach out for a chat to see if we can help. 

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