2012 New Year Online Resolutions

Well 2012 is well and truly here so here are our 5 top online marketing resolutions businesses should be sticking to this year. You may have made your personal resolutions already - you may even have forgotten about them already - but when it comes to your business online there are a few resolutions you should really stick to in 2012.

1. Listen to your customers online

Social media is fantastic for businesses as it gives us a direct and instant connection to our customers, even though that might not always be what we want. Take the time to listen to what people are saying about you online, reply if possible, if someone has a bad experience with your business talk to them - it's a great opportunity to improve your service and show your customers you care. Now that can't be a bad thing!

2. Reward loyalty in your customers

Let's face it, you can't always compete with Amazon or any of the other MASSIVE online retailers in volume or price - but that's not why your customers like you. Keep your customers coming back by rewarding them for doing so. If you are a bricks and mortar business use a check in service to reward returning customers. Send out discounts to regular shoppers online or, even better, give them something free - it doesn't matter what it is they will appreciate the gesture.

3. Be more personal

You may feel that when you represent your business online you should be impersonal and business-like at all times but the truth is quite different. You are not in a meeting and people want to do business with real people so take the time talk about the weather, the football, the x-factor. You still have to be professional but you can also be personal.

4. Admit your mistakes

If something goes wrong, even if it is not your fault, you can turn disaster into an opportunity. Get online, talk to people, explain the situation, be humble - don't overdo it, but social media gives you a great opportunity to step into the light and show people that you are just human after all.

5. Try something new

The classic resolution, simple and often the hardest resolution to keep. It's easy to get distracted, overwhelmed or confused by the choices available to you online - but there is always something new to try. Have you tried using QR codes? Location based check-ins for people visiting your premises, blogging, making videos and posting on YouTube or something more exciting?

We hope some of these resolutions inspire you to make 2012 even better than 2011, if you want to discuss more ways to improve your business online then please talk to us, were on twitter @GorillaCreative, you can contact us or give us a call on 01324 718640.