Believe it or not, it’s THAT time of year again. Time to pause for a review of the year now drawing to a close and to make plans for the one to come. In our personal lives, and in our business lives as well.
A recent article in USA Today by columnist and business woman Gladys Edmunds is especially timely advice for business owners as 2008 comes to a close. It’s been a busy, bumpy year and it’s easy to see how running a business can get in the way of making plans and setting priorities. Here are some of the suggestions she made at a recent seminar that focused on developing your business in 2009.To start the New Year, you’ll want to…
Make time to get to know your customers — knowing as much as you possibly can about the people you do business with is the best way to grow your business. You not only build solid, lasting relationships, you might get ideas for new products or services because you truly understand the needs of the customers you serve.
Expand your product line or service offerings — single source income is a risky strategy in these economic times, your best bet is to create multiple income streams. Think beyond your products to other services, instruction or public speaking as ways to bring in additional income.
Think of yourself as improving the lives of others with meaningful solutions — knowing that you have something of true value to offer, that you’re not trying to “sell” someone is a fantastic motivator. It spurs you on, providing the incentive, the drive and the belief that will make all the difference in your attitude and the way you do business.
Spend as much time promoting as you do producing — too often you get caught up in making a product, meeting a deadline, leaving promoting what you do to the end. This i a mistake. You need to set aside a dedicated amount of time, each and every day, to get your product noticed in the marketplace.
Of course no one knows what 2009 will bring… Recovery? Continuing recession? Something in between? Certainly there will be changes to come that we simply cannot see today. Still, by taking the time to plan ahead now, you’ll have your own business in the best shape possible to take advantage of whatever does come along.
Wishing you a prosperous, healthy and happy 2009!
