This blog post has been authored by Stand Out Online Member Elizabeth Marasco, Brady Events and Marketing (BEAM)

Want to knock it out of the park this year? Hear the crowd go wild as you round each base? If you answered YES, then this newsletter is for you!

We’ve put together these top business trends that will have you sprinting across home plate in the new year!

MORE PERSONALIZED CUSTOMER SERVICE: According to Gartner, in the new year smart personalization engines used to recognize customer intent will enable digital businesses to increase their profits by up to 15%. The days of showcasing every product you offer to every customer are over. Think about the last time you visited Amazon. If you previously shopped the site and purchased, let’s say dress shoes, you will see similar items the next time you jump on the site. Customers migrate toward businesses that offer personalized service, giving them precisely what they are looking for. Whether you are a large or small business, you’ll want to be that type of business.

PRODUCT REVIEWS WILL BE KING: Did you know that 92% of consumers hesitate to make a purchase if a product has no reviews? It has, in a way, become the number one thing a customer looks at before buying a product or service. Since small businesses have a smaller marketing budget than giant enterprises, focusing on product reviews becomes all that more important. If your brand is being advocated for by other consumers, you gain trust and credibility that will boost sales.

STORIES DOMINATE THE NEWSFEED Stories have become the default social media feature. They offer authentic, in-the-moment content that connects with audiences. Along with live streaming, stories will become one of the primary ways in which brands convey their message. Since stories are short with a 24-hour window of opportunity, marketers will need to get creative to capture the attention of consumers before they move on to the next one.

REMOTE WORKERS WILL MAKE A RISE: Brick and mortar space can be a drain for a small business. Real estate is not cheap, but growth is important. With the introduction of laptops and smartphones and video conferencing, the days of the 9-5 workers in a cubicle are no longer the norm. This is one of the fastest emerging small business trends and allows small businesses to hire the best talent from around the globe.

EMPLOYEE HAPPINESS IS PRIORITY: Boosting employee morale and happiness does not necessarily mean a bigger paycheck; it’s about letting them know they matter. Employee happiness has a DIRECT correlation with their productivity.

I help businesses & nonprofits grow their presence online & offline bit.ly/ElizabethMarketingTips