business growth

How to Make the Most Out of Business Awards

MOMENTUM Business Support Business Support
A trophy placed on an office desk next to an open laptop and documents

If you’re running a business, you already know that it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and devotion. That’s why it’s essential to commemorate your success and acknowledge your team’s efforts. And what better way to do it than by winning an award? So, in anticipation of the 2023 Adur and Worthing Business Awards, we’re exploring how to make the most out of business awards!

Prepare Your Entry Carefully

Your entry is your chance to impress the judges and stand out from the crowd. Therefore, it’s crucial to take the time to prepare it carefully. Make sure you highlight your achievements, provide evidence and statistics, and showcase why your business deserves to win. Ensure that you tailor your entry to the specific award that you’re entering. Each award has different criteria, so make sure you address them comprehensively in your submission.

Promote Your Entry and Celebrate

Once you’ve submitted your entry, it’s important to promote it- so tell your team about the nomination and encourage them to share the news online. You can also use this opportunity to reach out to your customers and spread the word! If you’re shortlisted or win the award, make sure you celebrate with your team and update your website and socials. This is great for increasing audience engagement as well as tapping into new networks within local communities.

Use the Award to Your Advantage

Utilise your victory and leverage it to grow your business further. You can use the award’s logo on your website, social media, as well as other marketing materials to display your new accomplishment. Don’t forget to share photos/videos from the night; it will help to boost your online presence and emphasise your businesses involvement within local communities. You can also use this opportunity to gain press coverage, attract new customers, and network with other industry leaders.

Keep Improving Your Business

Winning a business award is an excellent milestone, but it’s crucial to remember that it’s not the end goal. It’s essential to keep refining your business and striving for excellence. You can use the feedback you receive from the award judges to identify areas of improvement. This will help you stay ahead of the competition, continue growing, and win more awards in the future.

Winning a business award is an excellent way to gain recognition, increase credibility, and stand out from your competitors. If you have an individual or a business in mind that deserves recognition, or would like to nominate your own business, why not take part in the fun this year? Entries for 2023 are open! Swing by https://awbawards.com to get all the exciting details.

Why Adaptability Is An Essential Business Strategy

MOMENTUM Business Support Business Support
A person in a white t-shirt holding up a blue card with the words "Time to Adapt" written on the front

In a rapidly changing business landscape, the ability to adapt and be resilient in the face of challenges is more important than ever. The most successful businesses are those that are able to innovate and evolve to stay ahead of the competition, while being flexible and having the elasticity to overcome obstacles. The ability to adapt is what sets successful businesses apart from those that are set in their ways and ultimately fail. It is clear, that in today’s ever-changing environment, adaptability is the most important business strategy.

What is business adaptability?

Being adaptable is not just about changing course quickly, it also involves having a culture that embraces change and encourages innovation. It means being open to new ideas, taking risks, and constantly learning and improving. Successful businesses stay ahead of the game by anticipating future changes, being proactive, and continuously tweaking their products, processes, and strategies. They also understand that change is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that requires constant attention. In addition, adaptable businesses prioritize their customers and employees. They listen to feedback, respond quickly to customer needs, and create a culture of trust and empowerment for their employees. This fosters a dynamic and collaborative work environment where new ideas are encouraged, and experimentation is celebrated.

Why is it important?

Adaptability is essential as it enables businesses to quickly and effectively respond to changes in their environment. It helps to accommodate new realities, meaning that companies are better able to survive and thrive in new or unexpected circumstances. Such flexibility also enhances creativity and innovation, as individuals and organisations are better able to recognise and exploit new opportunities that arise. Finally, adaptability promotes both personal and professional growth and development. It encourages the learning of new skills, in order to navigate challenging situations and flourish.

Where do I start?

  • Find a way to embrace change. It’s a natural part of life, and the more you accept it, the more adaptable you and your business will become.
  •  Be open to new ideas and perspectives. Keep an open mind and try to see things from different angles.
  • Be willing to learn! There is always something new to explore, so try to keep your mind focused on learning new things and developing new skills.
  • Be decisive. Develop your decision-making skills and learn to be comfortable making quick decisions when needed.
  • Be flexible and willing to adjust your plans as needed. This can help you adapt to new situations and changes that may arise.
  • Practice resilience! It will grant you the ability to bounce back from setbacks and challenges. Remember to stay positive, seek support from others, and focus on your strengths.

If you’d like to find out more about nurturing an adaptable business mindset or have any other queries you’d like us to support you with – we’d love to help! Get in touch:

T: 01903 688789 E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com

Why Client Testimonials Are Essential For Maintaining Business Growth

MOMENTUM Business Support Business Support, Social Media
Laptop computer with two speech bubbles emitted from the screen displaying five star reviews

As the world becomes more and more digitised, it’s important for SMEs to establish and maintain a strong online presence. In order to do so, businesses must build credibility and trust with potential clients. One of the best ways to do this is through client testimonials. Providing reassurance to your target prospects, testimonials help to establish your business as credible, trustworthy, and renowned.

Why Testimonials Are Important

Testimonials are an important way for businesses to establish credibility and trust among target prospects. They are a great way to showcase the unique benefits and experiences customers have had with your company. Simply put, testimonials are a form of social proof that your product or service works, is high quality, and can be trusted. By displaying authentic testimonials, potential customers will gain insight into your product’s effectiveness, reduce any doubt they may have, and view your offerings as a real, tangible solution. Ultimately, testimonials help to convert leads into new, paying customers, leading to increased revenue and business growth!

How To Get Testimonials

Apart from directly asking your clients, there are many ways a business can collect testimonials. Survey tools such as feedback forms or questionnaires are a popular choice, providing a quick and proactive way of receiving detailed feedback. Alternatively, if you’re looking to increase your brand awareness third-party review sites can also be a great option. As part of your onboarding process or post-purchase process, you could ask customers to visit a “Review Us” page that links to your profiles on sites such as Trustpilot, Yelp, or Google reviews. If you’re struggling to gain testimonials, you may want to consider a “reward system” for customers willing to share their experience. Finally, remember to always thank your clients for taking the time to provide feedback!

What To Do With Testimonials

Once you have collected your testimonials, the next step is to optimise them for usage and promote them on your websites and other channels. It’s important to feature your testimonials prominently by placing them on dedicated pages of your website, using them on product pages, or even featuring them in a slider on your homepage for maximum visibility. Additionally, you could create a customer success section that displays quotes, stories, or customer photos that can help onlookers visualise how great your customers find your product or service. You can also share customer testimonials on your social media channels. Testimonials that include photos of customers or products tend to perform better, providing visual appeal while helping to break up the text and grab attention. You can also experiment with different formats, such as stories, reels, gifs, or other short form videos that will help you captivate your followers and show off the customer’s experience.

Testimonials are an essential tool for any business looking to establish a strong online presence and increase business growth. Be sure to leverage them to the fullest, by optimising them for usage online. This will not only help boost customer trust and validate your product but will also be beneficial for overall brand visibility. If you’d like to find out more or require any additional business support, our team would love to help! Get in touch:

T: 01903 688789 E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com