Almost all of us make some kind of New Year’s resolutions. It’s almost as if it’s traditional to do so, whether we like it or not! Have you considered your resolutions for 2010? While many of us intend to change something here or there in our personal lives, few of us entrepreneurs ever consider making a New Year’s resolution or two for our business.
It seems that almost everybody had a challenging 2009 in one way or the other and as we see the vital signs of our economic engines crank back into life, many are looking forward to 2010 with considerable optimism. As this is also the start of a new decade we all have more incentive than ever to reboot systems, spring clean our entrepreneurial hard drives and jump headlong into the new challenge that awaits.
Now is the time to re-evaluate your unique sales proposition or value offering. Why not start a new project, realigning some of your existing products or services and presenting them in a different way? We all need to stand out to get noticed and the chances are that you can re- package your position and creatively attract new business.
Remember the 80/20 rule and pay even more attention to initiatives that you know are working and to clients that you know are productive. Interact with these clients even more. How about offering them a special gift – this could be a holiday gift or a way of welcoming the new year together. Start things off on a good footing by re-establishing in their mind why your business is a good ally for them as they move into the new decade.
Vow to make time to analyze your company and website performance more. You really do need to understand that analytics program. It will help you focus on areas that are successful and that need additional emphasis.
If your business does not have a significant presence on the web, get with it! A traditional bricks and mortar operation can not fail to benefit from having a website, integrating contact with prospects and existing clients through a social media presence and creating and maintaining a comprehensive database of contacts. It’s still amazing to think that 50% of all small businesses have no web presence at all.
For bricks and mortar stores, make your experience a better one. Make sure that you greet your regular customers by name, as this is a very powerful communications tool. Many underestimate how powerful the regular use of a person’s first name can be in a conversation. While you may think it is a little early for spring cleaning yet, now is a good time to get rid of unwanted and excess inventory, especially if you can donate it to a good cause.
If there is one thing we have learned through 2009, it is that human relationships are even more important and we ignore this fact at our peril. If you can give back to the community at all, do it and on the subject of social relationships, make sure that your social media efforts are top-notch.
What are your company resolutions for 2010?
Matthew Toren
