What are your business goals for 2013? This is the time to sit down to (1) Review your business’ weaknesses and strengths to see what efforts from last year worked and didn’t work, (2) Make a plan for the upcoming year for your business’ success, and (3) Find a balance to a healthy work-life balance so you can achieve a truly satisfying success in the New Year.
Here are some goals that I plan to implement, and ones that may also benefit your small business:
- Promote your business regularly and consistently. To attract new customers/clients, promoting yourself and your business has to be a priority. Go over your current marketing plan to see what has worked and what hasn’t. Make it a habit to utilize the variety of free marketing tools: Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, your business website, Email Marketing. Also, through the use of printed ads, brochures, postcards, business cards, and fliers, distribute your message in a professionally designed and printed media.
- Review your Business Plan on a Weekly/Monthly Basis. Regularly take stock of what is working and what is not. Through online surveys, Google Analytics, website stats, client feedback, and soliciting feedback from other business professionals/friends, you will be able to see results of your efforts. If it’s not working, be honest to admit it’s time for a change.
- Learn Something New. Your greatest resource is your own skill set, and your skills have to grow as your business does. Take advantage of the many free or online courses that can benefit your business. (Commerce Lexington, Richmond Chamber, The Bluegrass Small Business Development Center, IN2LEX, NAWBO,
Lexington Innovation & Commercialization Center are just a few examples of some great resources in our area that offer valuable, regular and often free classes/workshops). - Join a New Business Organization or Networking Group. I can’t say enough about the networking and professional opportunities that are offered by some local organization. There’s nothing like talking to other business people for sparking new ideas, refining old ones, and making contacts. We are so fortunate to have so many choices of such quality groups in the surrounding Lexington, KY area. I have made so many great contacts at the many Commerce Lexington events I attended and cannot say enough about the support they’ve provided my business. But there are so many others, especially for women business owners (Professional Women’s Forum, Women Leading KY, Ladies Leads, etc).
- Put time in your calendar for YOU. I point out how important it is to take the time to recharge and refresh yourself; a healthy work-life balance demands time out. All work and no play is a recipe for mental and physical disaster. So if you have trouble freeing up time to do the things you enjoy, write time regularly into your schedule to “meeting with yourself” and stick to that commitment. And don’t forget to take time to get your creative juices flowing.
