Starting a new digital business in 2022? There’s no time like the present to take advantage of the online space, and having the right team in place is essential if you want to see the kind of success you envision.
Whilst as an entrepreneur, it can be tempting to do everything alone, every successful business professional knows that the key to long term gains is in delegation – and hiring a highly skilled team who know exactly how to help get things off the ground early on could be a complete game changer. Doing so won’t just ensure that things tick over smoothly from the off, but will also free you up to take care of the bigger stuff – but what, and who exactly, do you need?
Whilst the list might grow along with your business, there are five roles you should consider filling sooner, rather than later, to ensure your digital business thrives.
Accountant
Back in 2015, industry leaders were convinced that emerging technology – more specifically automation – would replace accountants. But the events that have taken place in the meantime, such as the global Covid-19 pandemic, have shown that accountants are more relevant – and important – for businesses in the digital world than ever before.
Today, accountants use automation and other technologies to handle mundane tasks more quickly and to reduce human error – and combining the two has been shown to be a powerful mix when it comes to keeping those numbers in order. In successful digital businesses, accountants help in creating financial strategies and managing cash flow so a business can thrive, which is essential for those just starting out – so having a professional in place before things start to get complicated is essential.
In the digital space, accountants help in financial forecasting and reporting, using cloud-based accounting software to collect relevant documents and sales data in balance sheets, income statements, and more. As such, they can create a detailed analytic report on your business finances – as well as creating a detailed map of the best way for your business to grow.
In addition, a skilled accountant will also be able to help you with your planning and budgeting, which are key to optimising a digital business. Using automated payment and invoicing features of a cloud-based accounting solution, an accountant can manage your business budgeting process more effectively, and also help in decision-making and data validation.
Web design agency
Every digital business requires a strong online presence to stand out among competitors – after all, this is the very foundation of this type of endeavour. But surprisingly enough, some businesses still don’t know that customers tend to visit a company’s website before making a purchase, with many failing before they have even started as a result.
Having a well-designed, professional-looking website is the key to generating more revenue and promoting business growth, which means every new digital business needs to be prepared to invest more in web design.
Essentially, that means hiring an expert web designer or a web design agency to handle the development and ongoing management of your digital shopfront, and neglecting to do so could mean you soon find yourself off to a false start.
A website acts as a bridge that connects your prospective buyers and your business, shedding light on who you are and what your business aims to achieve, as well as how it can help and support potential customers and address their problems and needs. And of course, it is a vital tool when it comes to showcasing your products or services themselves, providing information and showing them off to their full potential so that visitors know what they will be getting should they choose to become a customer.
An expert web designer or agency will ensure your website looks professional and that it will successfully attract more visitors, as well as convincing them to buy your products and services. A site with a stylish design and quality content, and that offers excellent functionality and user experience, will also achieve an enhanced good Google ranking – which is crucial when it comes to driving traffic.
So, hire a web designer or web design agency who will ensure your website meets your business goals, and you won’t look back. In the digital age, you simply can’t afford not to.
Social media manager
A social media manager is one of the most pivotal individuals who will contribute to your new digital business success and will both devise and implement your social media marketing plan to drive brand awareness and begin building relationships with potential customers, as well as showcasing your brand personality, products and services whilst meeting your audience where they’re at online.
Your social media manager will have a significant influence on the overall direction and strategies of your social media and besides spearheading your social media efforts, will guide your business and manage your wider social media team, whilst keeping your company’s goals in mind. They will also interact with customers and other stakeholders on social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook and others, starting conversations and solving any issues that might arise.
When hiring, look out for candidates who are well-informed about current trends and shifts in the social media space. You’ll need someone who is experienced in creating and maintaining a strong online presence and who can communicate your brand’s values and unique selling points to the outside world in a way that will resonate with the right people.
Today, social media influences the purchasing decision of an eye-opening number of people. According to a recent study, 74 per cent of consumers depend on various social media channels to guide their purchase decisions, which is a huge number to simply ignore. With this in mind, bringing a savvy social media manager on board so your new business can get off to a flying start is imperative.
Marketing strategist
When starting a new digital business, a key focus should be on attracting customers. To achieve this, you’ll need effective marketing strategies from the outset, because even if you’re offering the best services and products on the market, none of that matters if your target audience can’t find you.
That’s where a marketing strategist comes in. An experienced strategist will handle all of your promotional efforts – both online and off – and will devise your annual marketing strategy and plan. Overseeing the identification of new marketing opportunities by conducting in-depth research, they’ll come up with innovative ways to increase your brand awareness and to put your brand well and truly on the map.
A marketing strategist will be responsible for leveraging marketing tactics to promote your digital business product or service to attract new customers and retain existing ones. But don’t confuse a marketing strategist with a marketing director.
A marketing director oversees marketing projects, ensuring they are completed on time and to requirements. Whilst a marketing director will assign various marketing projects to appropriate team members and oversee the process of getting them done, a marketing strategist will analyse data and keep up with trends – all to find a way to better promote your brand and attract customers while staying within budget.
When hiring a marketing strategist, seek an individual who has a good understanding of your business and your prospective buyers, too. Adaptability is key, so someone who is experienced in working with a variety of different brands and businesses would be an advantage – even more so if they specifically have experience in your field.
Content creator
Every successful digital business needs a content creator. Having a content creator on your side allows you to develop content faster and produce copy and visuals that really speak to your target audience effectively and in a way that resonates.
Content creators will work closely with marketing strategists and social media managers to create content that will attract the attention of any visitor interested in your brand. As a result, they’ll play an important role in helping to create and build your business’s online presence, conversion, and overall growth of your digital business.
Responsible for creating both educational and entertainment content for your brand whilst maintaining a cohesive brand voice across the board, their tasks might include writing blogs and articles, recording audio and podcasts and creating your monthly or weekly marketing emails.
When hiring a content creator, you’ll want to find someone who is skilled in both written and verbal communication and can create content that fits in with your overall brand strategy. Ideally, the individual should have copywriting skills so that he or she can develop content for your web pages, too.
The bottom line
Remember, every new team member you hire has a great deal of skill and experience to bring to the table in fields that you, personally, might not – so doing so could have a huge impact on the success of your new digital business and see it go from strength to strength quicker than you could have imagined. It is, of course, imperative to evaluate every applicant extensively to ensure they have the skills you require and can deliver value to your business.
