New Year’s resolutions for business success
We all make grand plans as the we see in another New Year –
drink less, eat more veg and join a gym.
As business owners, it is a great time
to reflect on your previous year and think of some goals for the coming year.
Here are our top 5 tips.
1. Market your business
This is one of the top things that most small business
owners let slip. Whilst you’re busy running your business, promoting yourself
tends to take a back seat. If you want to attract more customers, this needs to
become a priority. A few ideas to get you started:
- Create a marketing plan to keep focus
month-on-month
- Audit your current marketing channels, what is
working?
- Try a print or direct mail campaign
- Host an event and invite past clients, prospects
and suppliers
2. Networking
We all have good intentions of widening our business circle.
This year, book yourself into some local networking events with the goal to
meet others and ask questions. Find out what other businesses are out there,
the challenges and successes they have and make some new business contacts. Our
top tips for networking events:
- Make sure you have business cards handy
- When you receive a business card, make a note on
it - such as where you met
- Ask new contacts questions, rather than
delivering a 5 minute sales pitch
- Be brave and initiate a conversation with
someone who is standing by themselves
3. Delegate
There is a lot to do when running a business – accounts,
marketing, staff training, planning, stock, reporting – the list becomes
endless.
Rather than trying to take this all on yourself, look at ways to
delegate tasks to existing staff or external companies. This will move your
attention away from the small stuff, and will allow you to spend time on
growing your business.
4. Set goals
Put some time aside to evaluate how your business performed
last year – sales, retained customers, marketing outcomes, advertising. Use
this as a basis to set some realistic goals for the coming year. If they’re big
goals, break them down and make them bite-sized, so they are achievable.
Make
sure you book time in your diary for a review in a few months’ time to ensure
you are staying on track.
5. Make time for yourself
If you are run down and stressed out, this will show in your
business. As difficult as it can be to take a step back, it is important to
recharge and refresh yourself. A healthy work-life balance is important to
achieve.
- Block out a few hours a week in your diary –
this is your time to unwind
- Set yourself working hours – no one can work
24/7
- Switch off your mobile from time-to-time. Whilst
it is great being connected, the temptation is there to work late. Switch it
off and spent some time with friends and family instead.
- Take a lunch-break. Even if this is at 3pm in a
local coffee shop. Allow yourself time to take a break from your daily tasks.
You’ll feel refreshed as a result.
Finally, don’t forget you can always pop in to see your
local Mail Boxes Etc. team and discover what we can do to help your business grow.