Deep in the heart of winter, there’s a part of us that’s convinced warmer and longer days are never coming back. That longing to shake off the muck and misery of the past few months is probably how the phrase “spring cleaning” came to be.
There’s something about the bright sun finally shining through past 4pm and the promise of t-shirt weather that puts a pep in your step and motivates like nothing else can. As the weather finally shifts, it’s natural to want to mimic nature as she clears the gray and the snow to make room for new growth. (Are we poets?) Clearing out your own space goes a long way in making things feel light and fresh – but what if that feeling didn’t have to end with scrubbing your tub within an inch of its life?
This is actually an ideal time to take stock of your branding and business; we’re far enough into the new year to analyze various strategies and see what’s working while still having time to pivot in case you’re a bit off track.
Below you’ll find a few ways you can harness the power of spring cleaning and apply it to your business plans and not just your closet re-organization campaign (though we’re proud of you for that one):
- Review Your Brand Messaging: Evaluate how your mission statement and overall goals are aligning with how business is actually unfolding in 2024. To borrow from spring/overall cleaning guru Marie Kondo, “Does your current mission spark joy?” Does it drive every pitch you make and every customer interaction you cultivate? If not, there’s no shame in going back to the drawing board and re-determining the reason you do what you do. Your why is the most important thing your business has, and it will also evolve as you and your business grow.
- Visual Identity Overhaul: How does your current color palette and overall aesthetic feel? If you’re tired of it, chances are your customers might be too. Keeping things fresh is a great way to shake things up, catch more eyes, and remain relevant while still maintaining the overall essence of who you are and what you do.
- Content Audit: Especially if you decide your mission has shifted, your content will have to change to match that. Aside from that, trends change, terminology shifts, and in order to be relevant and SEO compatible you’re best served to make sure your content appeals to today’s audiences.
- Customer Feedback and Testimonials: In that same vein, how recent are your customer quotes? If your latest review is from 2018 it might be time to reach out and gather some more recent feedback, especially if you’re entering your “overhaul era.” You want reviews to reflect where your business stands now since that’s going to paint a better picture of what it’s like to work with you today, as opposed to 5 years ago (yes, 2018 was 5 years ago. We’re sorry).
- Collaborations and Partnerships: Take a look at any up-and-comers in your industry; we’re not saying partner up with your nemesis or competition, but if there are other people or teams within the realm of the service you provide, collaborations are a great, mutually beneficial way to level up. Especially in the world of TikTok, you have a wealth of influencers ready to help launch your product into the digital stratosphere.
- Email Marketing Cleanup: If you’re still emailing those same 20 clients who never open or respond, you’re wasting your time. Instead, why not craft compelling intro emails to a pool of potential new leads; emails that align with your new branding and all the fun new ideas you have coming down the pipeline? As your business grows and shifts, your client base might as well, and that’s okay.
- Internal Communication: If you’ve decided that change is the name of your game, and you have employees, it’s crucial that they be thoroughly debriefed on the shifts you have planned. Ensuring you have a team that’s just as ready as you are to reflect your new and improved business is vital to the overall success of your overhaul.
Well, there you have it. If you’re in the mood to explore some evolutionary options to help your business grow with you, we happen to specialize in that department. Spring can be a fantastic time to reflect on the legacy you want to leave in this world, and even small shifts can have huge impacts on your business and your bottom line.
Happy cleaning!