From revamped websites and review management to outreach and automation, here are 6 small business growth strategies that the smartest organizations are focusing on.
From revamped websites and review management to outreach and automation, here are 6 small business growth strategies that the smartest organizations are focusing on.There’s a lot to think about when it comes to operating a business. The past year was one filled with uncertainties and challenges, some successes, and more than a few failures.
So, what will the road ahead bring? Will there be continued challenges, or will it be brimming with recovery and growth? Will customers keep spending? These are questions that no one has definite answers to, but forward-thinking small businesses are laying the groundwork for making 2025 their best year yet, by making sure these pieces of the puzzle are in place.
Here are the small business growth strategies to focus on for success in 2025.
1. Audit your online presence
It goes without saying that more customers are online now than ever before. Many customers who had never made online transactions before have adapted to using them over the past 18 months. Smart businesses know that they need to meet their customers where they are, and fit with their habits and needs.
To consider doing business with you, customers expect you to have a strong online presence that’s helpful, functional, and consistent.
It’s important to audit your online presence every few months, or at least once a year. As your business and brand evolve, your website and the rest of your online presence might not be the best representation of your company brand anymore.
You might need a revamp for your website, a few touches to strengthen your online presence, or possibly a complete rebrand for your business. In the New Year, don’t look at these as problems, all of these are good things. It means your business is growing and needs some attention to help it on its way.
2. Use video SEO strategies to rank higher on search engines
Some estimates say that by the end of 2025, videos will account for about 82% of all internet consumer traffic. Search engines too are ranking videos higher in search results. Combine this with the rise of TikTok, and the focus of Instagram shifting from pictures to short videos, and it’s clear why video SEO should be a top priority for businesses in 2025 and an integral part of your successful marketing strategy.
Incorporating short videos into your website will drive more organic traffic from search engines, and using them on social media will get your business a whole lot more engagement on those platforms too.
3. Utilize outreach and partnerships to reach a broader audience
Earlier this year, we wrote about using outreach marketing to tap into new networks and audiences, spread the word about your brand and business offerings, and help with link building for your business website.
Partnership marketing is another way to use strategic collaboration with a partner company, to give you both a chance to tap into a wider audience together.
Collaborating with another company that is not a direct competitor, but has a similar target audience can help you develop marketing initiatives that give you both more bang for your buck, and benefit both parties. Pooling resources might open avenues to better ROI on your marketing, better techniques, more brand recognition, and an expanded audience that’s now within reach.
An easy way to test the waters is to start with offering complimentary products or services, or a discount coupon, from one company when a customer makes a purchase from the other. Co-branding a product or project can also exponentially improve both companies’ marketing power.
4. Focus on reviews and reputation management
Reviews matter. We all know that online reviews can make or break a business. As more people make more purchases online, it’s no surprise that they turn to customer reviews to help them finalize their buying decisions.
Quality reviews give your prospective customers a better understanding of your offerings, from the point of view of past customers. It’s important to have a strategy in place to get satisfied clients to share their thoughts about your services and products online, so you can hold on to previous customers and attract new ones.
5. Invest in technology (that’s right for your business)
Small businesses in 2025 aren’t just automating tasks—they’re deploying AI agents to act as 24/7 employees. These tools handle everything from replying to customer inquiries at 2 AM to automating payroll, while you focus on growth.
Why AI Agents?
- Slash Costs: Replace $20/hr tasks with AI tools costing as little as $30/month. For example, a gym uses an AI chatbot (like Botpress) to answer membership questions, saving $15k/year on reception staff.
- Work Smarter, Not Harder: AI agents analyze data to flag inventory shortages, resolve customer complaints before they escalate, and even draft social media posts in your brand’s voice.
- Scale Effortlessly: Tools like ChatGPT Pro generate polished marketing emails, blog outlines, and ad copy in seconds—no copywriter needed.
Getting started
- For solopreneurs: Start with free/low-cost AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Perplexity) to automate emails, FAQs, and content.
- For teams: Invest in end-to-end AI agents (e.g., HubSpot AI, Zoho Zia) that sync with your CRM and handle complex workflows.
Pro Tip: AI isn’t “one-size-fits-all.” Audit your biggest time sucks (e.g., invoicing, customer support) and deploy AI strategically.
The key isn’t choosing between templates or automation—it’s about letting AI do the heavy lifting so you can focus on strategy. Start with free AI tools like ChatGPT Pro to automate emails and FAQs, then scale to custom agents that handle complex workflows like inventory alerts or customer service
6. Make customer experience a priority in 2025
Customer experience is not just customer service, or even customer success. It’s using every interaction you have with your customer to go above and beyond, to leave a lasting impression, building loyalty into how they think of your brand across every stage of the customer journey.
If you want your customers to care, you have to give them very good reasons to. And when customers care about what your business does for them, you’ll win repeat business, referrals, and recommendations.
There are many pieces that go into creating a customer-focused system to enhance customer experience. Customer experience isn’t giving in to your customers’ demands over your company’s well-being. It comes down to helping customers feel they made the right choice by going with your business over your competitors.
For your needs and your unique set of customers, you need to identify opportunities to improve areas and touchpoints of your business that have the potential to delight customers. Mystique’s Customer Communications System can help you create a customer-focused strategy playbook tailor-made for your needs.
30 Creative Ways to Generate More Leads
Lead generation is all about engaging and staying in touch with people who
might become customers. Here are 30 easily executable ways to do just that!
Small business growth strategies for 2025: Which ones are right for you?
The end of the year is a moment for all those involved in small businesses to regroup, take stock of the past year, the challenges and comebacks, triumphs and troubles. It’s a time to rethink how best you can grow your business in the New Year.
The strategies we’ve listed here are just some of the ways you can prime your business and brand for unprecedented growth in 2025. But choosing the right strategies to focus on is key.
By understanding the importance of smart small business growth strategies for 2025 and taking calculated steps to put them into action, your business can grow without having to make risky, untenable investments of your money, time, and efforts.
If you have too many things on your plate, or you’re unsure of what you need to do, finding the right strategic partners can help you continue to grow your business all through 2025 and well into the future.
We invite you to schedule a no-obligation, 15-minute conversation with us to understand how you can help your business grow more, with a strategic plan based on your unique needs.
We’ll guarantee you’ll walk away with some great tips on how to maximize your digital marketing efforts.
Pick a time that works for you.
Schedule time to review your current situation with us and discuss possible ways to optimize your brand experience to overcome your business challenges and reach your goals. Even if you choose not to use us, you’ll walk away with some great ideas to implement in your business today.
