2018 what have we learned

​2018 has been a pretty massive year for us at BK. It has been full of wonderful clients and exciting opportunities, and in taking a minute to look holistically at the year that was, here is what I’ve learnt from 2018. 
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Content is still king, and engagement is its happy bedfellow
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As we focus on digital growth for our clients, we know that having beautiful and well curated content that is on-brand and speaks to your target audience is critical to success with digital marketing.
 
The most important aspects are to know who you are speaking to and the tone of voice of your brand, and ensure that your content, written and digital, always reflects that. ALWAYS.
 
Our top tips in digital are; Be consistent, be concise, and have fun with it. You don’t need to follow the crowd and do what everyone else is doing, you can try different ideas out and see what lands with your audience.
 
There is no easy way to engage with your target market, and cutting corners through bots is not going to get you the cut through with your target market, bums on seats, or profits in your pockets.
 
So, engage. Talk to your audience, listen to them, and be thoughtful in what you say. Just like you would in person.
 
Say yes and then work it out later

As a business owner, you are constantly saying yes, and then thinking, crap can I pull that off? I say yes you can. Don’t let fear paralyse you, just get on with it and wonderful things will be sure to come from it.
 
Your business is only as good as the people you have working in it

As BK Agency has grown with our beautiful clients this year, it has meant we’ve grown our staff too. It is impossible to wear all the hats and do all the things yourself, so invest in the people you have around you who are working in your business.
 
Take the time to train your people, listen to them, inspire them, and nurture their creativity. A happy worker is a productive worker.
 
Know the value of your work

As a service-based business, there will be times when clients try and negotiate the cost of your services.
 
To this I say, know your worth. If you know your work is good, the right clients will see that. If they don’t, they are not the right clients, simple.
 
I have also learnt this year to trust my gut. You know when you gel with a client, so trust that and at the same time listen to that little voice telling you that a prospect might not be the right fit.
 
Self-care should be part of your business plan

I’ll be honest – I have struggled with this one this year, and there’s no sugar coating it. Self-care has slipped way down the list of business (and personal) priorities, and long hours, not eating the best food, and putting exercise to the back burner has been the reality.
 
But self-care as a business owner is so important, because if you can’t drive your business forward because you are tired or sick, no one else will. So, carve out the time and make self-care a priority.
 
Put exercise in the diary, have a power-down time for social media and email, and put that phone on silent until you enter the office in the morning.
 
That’s my goal for 2019!
 
Taking the time to reflect on our businesses and at a personal level makes us better leaders, better people, and helps us to grow.
 
Love to hear your thoughts.
 
Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday period.
 
KB