So you’re ready to tackle 2015 and make it the best your company has ever seen. Now all you need is a plan! Here we look at 12 things you can do (one each month) so that this year truly is a killer one for your business.
January: Review Your Goals
If it’s been a while since you looked at what you want out of your business, do so now so you have time to modify and adapt your strategy based on where your company is now headed. Your goals may have changed over time, and that’s fine. The important thing is to realign what you do the rest of the year with what you now want. As you review your goals, keep in mind that your target should be to increase profitability and decrease expenses.
February: Add to Your Content Marketing
If you haven’t started blogging yet, now’s the time to start. If you’ve been blogging, let’s amp up your efforts with some new content marketing tools like ebooks, whitepapers, and email. Remember: the more channels potential customers have to connect with you, the more customers you’ll get. Just remember to keep your content targeted.
March: Take Care of Taxes
Don’t wait until April 20 to file your business taxes. Take care of them this month so that you can pay what you owe and then see how much money you have left that you can reinvest in the company. If your taxes are complicated, hire a tax professional to help; he may even find deductions you didn’t know about.
April: Reinvest in Your Company
Now that taxes are paid, look at areas of your business that could use a cash infusion. Maybe your team has been limping along, using a spreadsheet to manage contacts. Now’s a good time to invest in Customer Relationship Management software. Or maybe your computer is on its last leg. A new one will make you more productive (and it’s tax-deductible!).
May: Meet More People
Make your focus this month to get out into your community and meet more people. Find networking groups that cater to small business owners, and start rubbing elbows with fellow entrepreneurs. Remember: your goal isn’t to walk in and start selling, so instead focus on building those relationships. Over time, they’ll pay off.
June: Focus on Innovation
This month I invite you to get creative. Spend a lot of time out of the office, where your juices can really get flowing. You want to look at your business objectively, and identify areas where a little innovation can really help you grow. Maybe it’s time to add a new product to the lineup, or remove one. Or maybe you come up with a genius way to market the biz.
July: Polish Up Your Staff
This might mean training them on new skills, providing a refresher on old ones, or even expanding your employees. Your staff is what makes or breaks your business, so you need to ensure that they’re vested in their work, feel appreciated, and up to snuff on whatever tasks they’re responsible for.
August: Boost Your Social
If your social media efforts have dwindled since January, it’s time to refocus your attention on your social profiles. Respond to every tweet and update directed at you, and expand your network by following people that either fit your customer demographic or are other players in your space. Dedicate an hour a week to managing your accounts.
September: Start Thinking About Christmas
Now’s the time to start planning out holiday promotions and stocking up on extra inventory. Waiting any later could jeopardize your chance to make Q4 your best sales quarter.
October: Learn Something New
Your employees aren’t the only ones who could stand to brush up their skills. Challenge yourself this month to take a course or webinar to learn a new skill, or read a book to deepen your knowledge.
November: Plan Some Downtime
No entrepreneur can succeed without a little rest and rejuvenation. If this is your busy time, then just take a long weekend. Trust me; you’ll come back ready to take on the world.
December: Pay Attention to Your Customers
If you’re swamped in sales, it’s particularly important to observe how orders and returns go. If you’re seeing a large number of returns, get to the bottom of why. Talk to your customers to get feedback on products and services.
You should be working throughout your year to ensure that your business is a success. Use this as a blueprint to divide up the work.
