In the digital age, fostering sustainable growth through online platforms is crucial for businesses. We’ve gathered insights from CEOs and Founders to share their most effective strategies. From cultivating a loyal online community to diversifying content across social media, explore the diverse approaches these leaders recommend for leveraging the power of the internet.
Cultivate a Loyal Online Community One effective strategy we’ve found for driving sustainable growth online is to cultivate a community of loyal customers who become your biggest advocates. It’s like having your own cheering squad in the digital world. We engage with our customers through interactive content, forums, and social media channels, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging them to share their experiences with others. Not only does this boost brand loyalty, but it also attracts new customers who trust the word-of-mouth recommendations from their peers. Plus, it’s a lot more fun to have fans rooting for you online than trying to shout into the void alone! This approach not only drives traffic but also builds a sustainable foundation for long-term growth by turning customers into active promoters of your business. - Josh Burris, CEO, STNDRD Utilize LinkedIn for Sustainable Growth I’ve found that LinkedIn can be a main source for any business looking for sustainable growth. As a marketer and business owner, I’ve seen the powerful change that comes from using LinkedIn for networking, brand development, and lead generation. To make the most of LinkedIn, consistently post meaningful content and get involved with peers. This can really boost your visibility in the industry. Additionally, participating in groups and relevant discussions is incredible. To give you an example, just by frequently sharing updates and articles, my own company saw a spike in inquiries, struck up strategic partnerships, and stepped up our brand reputation. LinkedIn isn’t just good for communicating and networking; it’s rich with thorough analytics and precise targeting options for advertising. This means I can ensure our marketing efforts don’t just scatter to the winds but reach the exact audience we want. This care helps drive our sustainable growth directly. - Darcy Cudmore, Founder, RepuLinks Prioritize Content Marketing Prioritizing content marketing is essential for driving sustainable growth using online platforms. Consistently creating valuable and relevant content, such as blog posts, videos, and social media updates, allows businesses to attract and engage their target audience while establishing themselves as industry authorities. This approach not only helps in retaining existing customers but also in attracting new ones, as high-quality content fosters trust and credibility. Content marketing enhances a business’s online visibility and search engine rankings, leading to increased organic traffic and improved lead generation over time. Optimizing content for relevant keywords and promoting it across various online channels enables businesses to reach a broader audience and drive more qualified leads to their website. This continuous cycle of content creation, promotion, and optimization forms a solid foundation for sustainable growth and long-term success in the digital landscape. - James Parsons, CEO, Content Powered Promote Sustainability and Digital Engagement Whether remote or not, businesses can utilize social media, e-commerce, and content marketing to create engaging and authentic brand narratives that resonate with socially conscious consumers. Anyone who chooses to prioritize sustainability, such as reducing carbon footprints through digital operations and promoting eco-friendly products or services, can align with the growing consumer demand for responsible brands. This approach not only attracts and retains loyal customers but also positions the business as a leader in sustainability, driving long-term growth and positive impact. - Danielle Hu, Founder, The Wanderlover Adopt a Content as a Service Model One powerful strategy is to adopt a Content as a Service (CaaS) model. This involves creating a dynamic and flexible content strategy that serves different user segments through various digital channels. At our organization, we create high-quality, relevant content that helps our users become more productive and informed. By offering this content on-demand through our platform, social media, and other online touchpoints, we keep our audience engaged and coming back for more. This not only boosts brand loyalty but also establishes us as a thought leader in our industry, driving sustainable growth through continuous engagement and value provision. - Alari Aho, CEO and Founder, Toggl Inc Simplify Repeat Customer Purchases One effective way for businesses to drive sustainable growth through their online platforms is to set up functionalities that make it easier for repeat shoppers. The thing is, only about 15% of B2B customers want sales support when they’re making repeat purchases, compared to the 76% who look for help with new products or services. This doesn’t mean we should ignore our existing customers. There are still valuable upselling and cross-selling opportunities that can contribute to brand growth. However, a well-designed e-commerce platform can handle many of these tasks efficiently, which allows the sales team to focus on more high-value activities and personalized interactions. To improve the shopping experience, consider adding features like personalized product recommendations, subscription options, and self-service portals. These tools give customers the freedom to manage their own purchases, which saves them time and generally enhances their shopping experience. - Amir Elaguizy, CEO and Co-Founder, Cratejoy, Inc Engage Community for Organic Growth Fostering community engagement drives sustainable growth. Turning The Stock Dork into a hub where investors share insights and ask questions has been transformative. Genuine interaction builds trust and loyalty, encouraging repeat visits and organic growth. Creating a space where users feel valued and heard fosters a sense of belonging, driving consistent engagement and long-term success. - Adam Garcia, Founder, The Stock Dork Personalize the User Experience Personalization of the user experience is an effective approach I’ve used to promote long-term growth with online platforms. At first, everyone visiting our website saw the same products as they did in a typical storefront. Seeing that a more customized approach would be possible, we made the decision to redesign our user interface so that it would change in real time based on the preferences and previous actions of each user. We included intelligent algorithms to examine user actions, including pages viewed, items clicked, and past purchases. Our platform used this information to recommend offers, goods, and content specifically tailored to each user’s requirements and interests. By enhancing user engagement and making their browsing experience more relevant and pleasurable, this personalization also greatly raised our conversion rates. Clients valued the tailored advice, which frequently resulted in return business and purchases. - Justin Crabbe, CEO, BlackJet Delegate to Virtual Assistants Hiring a virtual assistant is the best piece of advice I could offer! They handle social media, Pinterest, engagement, and even administrative tasks. Delegation is key when it comes to optimizing your online presence. We’ve also found that Instagram works best for us when we take a strategic, content-driven approach. We hire a professional photographer to shoot our product and lifestyle imagery. We provide detailed feedback and guidance on the aesthetic we aim for, ensuring the content aligns with our brand identity. We also make a concerted effort to use the products we sell and the environments we showcase them in to drive maximum engagement. Our team biannually refreshes our content, even if it’s highlighting the same core products, to keep things fresh and visually compelling. - Josh Qian, COO and Co-Founder, Best Online Cabinets Train Employees in Cybersecurity In all my years in the field, one of the biggest ways I have seen sustainable growth be attainable for small businesses is through training employees on cybersecurity best practices. Doing so reduces the likelihood of falling victim to cyberattacks, which protects sensitive customer information and preserves business reputation. Employees who are trained in cybersecurity are more likely to understand and implement security measures effectively, which reduces interruptions to business operations caused by security incidents, allowing small businesses to focus on growth and innovation. Demonstrating a commitment to cybersecurity through training also instills confidence in customers, as they are more likely to trust a small business that takes proactive steps to protect their sensitive information. Providing cybersecurity training demonstrates a commitment to employee development and safety, which ultimately can improve employee morale, retention rates, and attractiveness to prospective hires who value a secure work environment. - Christian Espinosa, Founder and CEO, Blue Goat Cyber Educate Customers on Sustainability In my experience, I have learned that sometimes the most effective ways of being impactful are in doing the simplest things. The truth is, with their online platforms, social media most especially, businesses have been able to strengthen their relationship with their customers by humanizing their brand and creating lasting memories with their audience. With this nature of relationship also comes the responsibility of informing and educating their customers about sustainability. This would also make it easier for customers to get on board with the business’s adoption of sustainable growth and to embrace sustainable practices themselves. The fact is, helping their audience learn to become more conscious of their environment is one of the responsibilities that businesses owe to their customers as their service providers. Even though it may seem like the smallest thing on the list of things to do in order to promote sustainable growth, using their online platforms to emphasize and reiterate the three Rs of a sustainable environment is one of the most effective ways businesses drive sustainable growth, because the truth is, repetition deepens the impression. - Cajetan Okwor, General Manager, Topratedlaw Diversify Content Across Social Media Businesses can drive sustainable growth with online platforms by utilizing them to diversify their content across the web, rather than relying solely on search engines to drive organic traffic. Recently, we have seen consumer habits shift from finding businesses via search engines to finding them on social media, and with this, the need for businesses to create a social presence has grown. By using platforms like Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram, small businesses can reach a wider audience and increase the overall awareness of their brand, landing them in front of a whole new set of consumers. Using online platforms to increase brand awareness will help to grow your organic and branded traffic in the long term. Furthermore, establishing a presence on social platforms can also open up opportunities for influencer partnerships, allowing your business to reach an even wider group of consumers. - Rob Deming, COO, Rate Retriever
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