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9 Things You Can Do To Help Jumpstart Your Business

9 Practical Strategies to Jumpstart Small Business Growth

October 14, 20208 min read

When it comes to running a business, action beats perfection. If you’ve got a solid idea or a growing venture that needs a push, don’t wait. Start moving forward now.

Maybe you’re trying to breathe new life into your current business. Or you’re shifting into a new model, exploring a different spot in the market, refreshing your brand, or even launching something completely new.

Wherever you are, the nine strategies discussed below can help give your business the boost it needs. And if any of these feel like the kind of support you’d rather not tackle alone, know that our team is here to talk through what makes sense for your next step. You can schedule a strategy session with LOJO whenever you’re ready.

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9 Practical Strategies to Kickstart Business Growth.

1. Think Outside The Box

Every business hits a point where the old way of doing things stops working. Maybe sales have slowed, or your offers don’t feel exciting anymore. This is where creativity matters most.

For example, one local bakery noticed customers weren’t visiting as often. Instead of running more discounts, they introduced a “bread subscription” where people could pick up a fresh loaf every week. Suddenly, what looked like a slowdown turned into steady, predictable revenue.

You can do the same by looking at one part of your business and asking: What if we tried this differently?

Some directions to explore:

  • Deliver your service in a new format (digital, subscription-based, or bundled packages).

  • Launch a referral or loyalty program that rewards customer advocacy.

  • Reframe your offers around customer pain points instead of just features.

Innovation doesn’t have to be expensive—it just has to meet a real need in a new way.

2. Freshen Up Your Brand

Think of your brand like a living thing. It grows, changes, and occasionally outgrows its old clothes. What once felt modern and sharp can start to feel stale or mismatched with who you are today.

Maybe your colors or logo feel dated. Or perhaps your messaging still talks about services you no longer prioritize. Customers notice when there’s a disconnect, and it can make them hesitate.

Refreshing your brand doesn’t mean throwing everything out. Sometimes it’s about updating your tone of voice, simplifying your visuals, or adjusting your positioning so it better reflects your strengths.

A good rule of thumb: if your brand feels more like the “you” of three years ago than the “you” of today, it’s time for a refresh. And don’t be afraid to involve your customers—asking for their feedback not only gives you insights, but also makes them feel part of the process.

3. Redesign your Website For Better First Impressions

Try to recall the last time you looked up a business online. Maybe you were excited to check them out, but their site loaded slowly, the design looked old, and the phone number didn’t even work. Chances are, you gave up and moved on.

Your customers behave the same way. Your website isn’t just “a place to land.” It’s your digital front door, the first handshake with your business. If it’s hard to use or doesn’t reflect who you are, people won’t stick around.

Some common red flags include:

  • You’re embarrassed to share your website.

  • It’s not mobile-friendly (a dealbreaker for today’s customers).

  • It doesn’t show your current services, offers, or team.

  • Visitors arrive, but leave quickly without taking action.

A strong website makes it easy for people to know what you do, why it matters, and what to do next. Whether that’s scheduling, buying, or reaching out—it should feel simple and trustworthy.

Want a second opinion on your site? Schedule a free consultation with our experts.

4. Have an SEO Strategy.

SEO used to mean “Search Engine Optimization.” But with the rise of AI-powered tools, voice search, and smarter algorithms, it’s no longer just about ranking on Google. Today, it’s about Search Everywhere Optimization, showing up wherever your customers are looking.

Think about it: someone might type a query into Google, ask Siri for help, use AI tools like ChatGPT, or search directly on YouTube, TikTok, or even maps. If your business isn’t optimized across these touchpoints, you’re invisible in the very places customers are making decisions.

A strong “Search Everywhere” strategy includes:

  • Understanding what your customers are searching for and where.

  • Optimizing your website, local listings, and social platforms so they all tell a consistent story.

  • Publishing useful, trustworthy content that AI and search engines can pull into answers.

  • Earning credibility through backlinks, citations, and customer reviews.

  • Keeping user experience front and center so people stay, engage, and convert.

This isn’t an overnight fix but an ongoing investment. And the reward is huge: visibility that works across platforms and technology, making sure your business is found whether someone’s searching with a keyboard, a voice assistant, or the latest AI tool.

Need help deciding which of these strategies should come first? Sometimes the hardest part is knowing what will move the needle right now. If you’d like a fresh set of eyes on your business, book a call with LOJO. We’ll help you sort through priorities and build a plan that fits your goals.

5. Invest in Content Marketing: Build Trust And Autorithy

Before customers ever call you, they’re already researching. They’re scrolling, watching, and comparing. The question is: are they finding you in the process?

Content marketing puts your expertise front and center. It shows that you understand your customers’ problems and can guide them to solutions.

For example, a bookkeeping firm noticed they were always asked about tax deductions for small businesses. Instead of answering one-on-one every time, they wrote a simple guide and shared it online. That single piece of content became their most-read article and brought in new clients who were searching for exactly that question.

Good content can take many forms: blog posts, videos, case studies, guides, or even behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team. The key is to make it useful and approachable. Teach first, sell second.

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6. Invest in Paid Ads For Quick Wins.

While SEO and content build long-term results, sometimes you need traction fast. Paid ads can do that.

Say you’re launching a seasonal promotion. Instead of waiting for organic traffic to notice, you can run a Google or Facebook ad that puts your offer directly in front of the right people. With clear goals and careful targeting, even a modest budget can drive results.

Ads work especially well for:

  • Launching new services or products.

  • Driving traffic to a specific landing page.

  • Re-engaging past customers.

  • Testing new messaging quickly.

Launching effective ad campaigns is not just about spending money, but spending it with purpose.

7. Keep Growing Your Email List

Social platforms change, algorithms shift, but one thing you own outright is your email list. It’s a direct line to people who already know and care about your business.

Look at it like planting seeds: the more you nurture your list, the more it pays off over time.

Simple ways to grow your list include:

  • Adding clear signup forms to your website.

  • Offering lead magnets like discounts, checklists, or templates.

  • Collecting emails at events or through social media.

Once people are on your list, don’t just sell. Show up with value—share tips, updates, or small wins from your customers. That’s what builds trust.

Want to see how we approach email marketing ourselves? Subscribe to Marketing Matters, LOJO Marketing’s monthly newsletter, and get practical insights delivered straight to your inbox.

8. Use Marketing Tools To Save Time.

Running a business often means juggling more roles than one person reasonably should. The right tools can help by acting like digital assistants. They automate routine tasks such as sending emails, scheduling social posts, or tracking leads so you can stay focused on serving your customers.

But with so many options on the market, choosing the right tools can feel overwhelming. The best ones will:

  • Save you time instead of adding complexity

  • Integrate smoothly with your business processes

  • Provide clear reporting so you can see what’s working

  • Support personalization to improve customer experience

At LOJO, we recommend GrowthGenie360, an all-in-one sales and marketing platform designed specifically for small businesses. It combines tools you’d normally have to piece together—like email and text automation, lead tracking, appointment scheduling, review management, and reporting—into one system.

As a Platinum Partner, we’ve helped many business owners use GrowthGenie360 to cut down on extra software, save time, and stay on top of their customer relationships. Instead of logging into five different platforms (or more!), you get one dashboard that keeps your marketing organized and running smoothly.

9. Build an Online Community For Deeper Loyalty

People don’t just buy from businesses; they connect with them. When your business feels human and responsive, customers turn into advocates.

Take a local fitness studio, for example. They created a private Facebook group where members shared workout tips, celebrated wins, and asked questions. The result? A tight-knit community that encouraged one another and kept coming back.

You can start the same way by:

  • Responding thoughtfully to every comment or DM

  • Highlighting customer stories and wins

  • Hosting live Q&As or short webinars

  • Creating a private group where conversations can continue

Community takes effort, but it pays back with loyalty, referrals, and stronger word-of-mouth.

The US Small Business Support Hub on Facebook is a place for small business owners and entrepreneurs to connect, ask questions, share insights, and cheer each other on. Come join us; we’d love to have you in our growing community!

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Final Thoughts: Take One Step Today

There’s no perfect time to act—only the decision to move forward. Whether you choose one idea or all nine, what matters is consistent progress.

You don’t need to transform your business overnight. Just take the next small step, and then the one after that.

And if having a partner by your side would make those steps easier, you can schedule a free strategy session with LOJO or call us at (916) 303-4080 to talk it through.

blog author image

Eric Lay

My wife and my boys are my inspiration. God has blessed me with wonderful growing experiences through the years. You name it and I feel like i have lived it. I look forward to future growth opportunities both personal and business. I believe things happen for a reason. We are all here to learn and progress. Fortunately we each have strengths and the opportunity to assist one another through our challenges during the journey. Specialties: Leading, managing, creating solutions, and strategist.

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Built for Growth. Backed by 25 Years of Trust.

For over two decades, LOJO has been a trusted partner to hundreds of businesses just like yours. Whether working directly with owners, managers, teams, or boards of directors, our goal remains the same: to be a reliable and results-driven asset to your business.

Over the years, we’ve carefully built a team of experts—each selected for their unique skills, strengths, and personalities. Our clients choose LOJO because they know we genuinely care about their success.

And after 25 years of helping businesses grow, we’re more committed than ever.

Built for Growth. Backed by 25 Years of Trust.

For over two decades, LOJO has been a trusted partner to hundreds of businesses just like yours. Whether working directly with owners, managers, teams, or boards of directors, our goal remains the same: to be a reliable and results-driven asset to your business.

Over the years, we’ve carefully built a team of experts—each selected for their unique skills, strengths, and personalities. Our clients choose LOJO because they know we genuinely care about their success.

And after 25 years of helping businesses grow, we’re more committed than ever.

Matthew Rogers, President

iProspect Check

After spending several months reviewing multiple proposals from several different companies we engaged LOJO to develop a new website that represents our company effectively. We worked initially with Stephen Platte who helped create the scope of the project. Stephen was knowledgeable and always followed up with me on time and as promised.

He "closed the deal" for LOJO with his professionalism, service orientation and easy going approach. Once we signed the contract we were introduced to Jay Kelly who would be the creative lead for LOJO. This was the most challenging part of the project for my company, as there was no shortage of ideas from our side. Jay managed the project flawlessly, and once we had all agreed to the design, Jay introduced us to Eric.

Eric Lay is one of the founders of LOJO. Eric took the design we had developed and brought it to life. We delivered content as quickly as he requested it. Eric kept the project on task and we responded by exceeding every deadline for content. In turn, once provided, literally not a day went by that Eric didn't add the content and take the next step. In just a few weeks we launched our new website. Eric is a pleasure to work with.

His positive attitude and consultative approach really enhanced the experience and made a big difference for us in the outcome of our project. We would welcome you to visit our website to take a look at the quality work of LOJO. We are very pleased with LOJO and look forward to working with them in the future as we pursue an aggressive SEO strategy."

After spending several months reviewing multiple proposals from several different companies we engaged LOJO to develop a new website that represents our company effectively. We worked initially with Stephen Platte who helped create the scope of the project. Stephen was knowledgeable and always followed up with me on time and as promised.

He "closed the deal" for LOJO with his professionalism, service orientation and easy going approach. Once we signed the contract we were introduced to Jay Kelly who would be the creative lead for LOJO. This was the most challenging part of the project for my company, as there was no shortage of ideas from our side. Jay managed the project flawlessly, and once we had all agreed to the design, Jay introduced us to Eric.

Eric Lay is one of the founders of LOJO. Eric took the design we had developed and brought it to life. We delivered content as quickly as he requested it. Eric kept the project on task and we responded by exceeding every deadline for content. In turn, once provided, literally not a day went by that Eric didn't add the content and take the next step. In just a few weeks we launched our new website. Eric is a pleasure to work with.

His positive attitude and consultative approach really enhanced the experience and made a big difference for us in the outcome of our project. We would welcome you to visit our website to take a look at the quality work of LOJO. We are very pleased with LOJO and look forward to working with them in the future as we pursue an aggressive SEO strategy."

Matthew Rogers, President

iProspect Check

The team at LOJO were wonderful to work with. They are well organized and very patient as we worked through our marketing strategy and developed a well thought out and clear action plan at a reasonable price. We will definitely be back for our future campaign needs."

Jon Crosby, Founder

Dazil