With a new year on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about resolutions. Whether in our personal or business lives, setting goals for the coming year can help us stay on track and achieve success. But in order to make resolutions that are realistic and aligned with our business goals, we need to be aware of the top business and marketing trends and advances.

What’s hot and what’s not? Are millennials still using Facebook? Will Vine make a return? Do I have to learn to dance for Tiktok? That AI thing that was a buzzword a few years ago: where are we on that anyway?

Here are the top 5 business trends we think you should look out for in 2023 to take your business to the next level.

International & Remote Work Forces

With remote work being the new norm, companies are now able to work with talented individuals all over the country and even the world, if they’re open to it.. The local I.T. support business in Leduc can now hire an employee in Prince Edward Island. The boutique pet industry digital agency in Spruce Grove can now hire extremely talented digital ads experts in Mexico. There are already companies that specialize in helping you to get this done.

Virtual Gurus, an Alberta start-up, helps businesses find virtual assistants, social media managers, sales support, and more. 

Deel is the perfect solution for managing your remote and international workforce. With their comprehensive payroll and tax law services, they make it easy to keep your employees legal and paid no matter where they are in the world. So, whether you’re just starting to expand your business internationally or you’ve been doing it for years, Deel has you covered.

These are just a few companies making things possible in this space. Some others to check out are Fiverr, Upwork, and Remote.co. You’re sure to find a solution that works for your small business.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be hard to understand. All you really need to know about it is that it has the ability to do a human’s job much faster and, sometimes, better. The range of jobs this technology can do varies but is growing rapidly. Here are some tools utilizing AI that your business may be able to benefit from.

  1. Copysmith is a content creation tool that has the capability to do the writing for you or revamp existing copy. Whether you need to write a cold email, a newsletter, or a blog, Copysmith can vastly improve your writing, not mention deal with writer’s block!
  2. Sales Master AI is an enterprise sales tool that finds new leads, converts them from cold to warm, and potentially closes them by using artificial intelligence to determine the best times to send emails, Linkedin messages, like social media posts, and perform other engagements in order to close sales for the respective business.
  3. Nauto is on the cutting edge of driver safety, thanks to their AI-powered learning platform. By studying how drivers interact with both the vehicle and the road ahead, Nauto is able to reduce distracted driving and prevent collisions. This makes it an invaluable tool for commercial and autonomous fleets who are always striving to improve safety.

Environmentally Friendly Businesses

As more and more businesses strive to be sustainable and eco-friendly, running a green business is no longer just a nice thing to do—it’s becoming a necessity. Big companies like Tesla, with electric cars, and Patagonia, with sustainable and responsible marketing, dominate the news in this field, but did you know Alberta’s own Unbelts is a certifited B Corp? Part of their mandate is using recycled materials to minimize resource extraction.

Accelerated Digital Transformation

2023 is set to be a year of accelerated digital transformation in the business world. With advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR), as well as new markets such as NFTs, businesses will have to adapt to survive. Consumers will also benefit from these changes, with more immersive and personalized experiences becoming the norm.

Business Link recognized this trend and is offering two government-funded programs to help your small business navigate this trend. Check out the Digital Adoption Program for businesses up to 49 employees, and the Canada Digital Adoption Program for businesses with at least one employee or over $30,000 in revenue.

Small business owners need to be aware of the latest trends in order to stay competitive. However, it is more important to carefully select which trends are worth implementing in your business. Not all trends will be around for the long term, and not all trends will be a good fit for your company. It is important to research each trend before making any decisions.

About the author: Darrio Dean

Darrio is a marketing enthusiast with a passion for copywriting and business. Darrio has been working as a marketer for over 7 years, taking on content creation for companies throughout Canada and The Caribbean. He brings a lot of experience and unique perspectives on marketing and business. Darrio is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow through his current role as a Marketing Coordinator here at Business Link.