As a business owner, the end of the year can be both exciting and stressful at the same time.
On the plus side, it’s nice to look back at all your accomplishments over the past 12 months.
On the downside, when the calendar turns you’re forced to assess the current state of your business and make changes as you see fit. As you know, this is easier said than done.
If you want to hit the ground running in 2018, here are a few tips that every small business owner can follow:
1. Review Your Business Plan
There is no better time than January to review your business plan.
Do you like what you see? Are you confident that the same approach will bring positive results in the new year? Is now the time to make a few changes?
As you review your business plan, don’t be shy about altering anything that no longer makes sense. This may be necessary to put your company in position to succeed in 2018.
2. Reconnect With Your Customers
There are many ways of doing so, with these ideas among the best:
- Send a newsletter – via email or snail mail – updating your customer base on the current state of your business and what’s to come in the new year
- Reach out on social media, such as by sharing information on a new product or service
- Provide past customers with a coupon or discount code, all with the idea of bringing them back into the fold in the months to follow
The beginning of a new year is often the best time to reconnect with past customers.
3. Get Everyone on the Same Page
As a small business owner, you may have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish in 2018. However, this doesn’t mean your entire team is on the same page.
If there are any important changes taking place – such as a new employee policy or customer service strategy – don’t wait to communicate these to your team.
You want everyone to be on the same page from the first day of the new year.
Final Thoughts
With these tips guiding you, it’ll be much easier to hit the ground running in 2018. It won’t be long before January is in the books and you’re turning your attention to the end of the first quarter. So, it’s time to take action!
For more insights on marketing strategy that actually works for small business, subscribe to the FreshLime Newsletter here. Connect with Jay Bean, Founder of FreshLime and Small Business Marketing Expert on LinkedIn and Twitter. And last of all, if any of these tips have helped you or if you have anything to add please comment below. We’d love to hear from you!