Fall is in the air, kids are back in school, and the days have grown shorter. And as much as we hate to admit it, summer vacation is long over and we’re fully immersed in the hustle and bustle of end of year business, which for most of us means trying to make up ground, stay productive, and begin planning for the new year.
If it seems overwhelming, it can. It’s a lot to try to accomplish in a short period of time. Our suggestion for making it all a little more manageable: revisit your business plan. It’s a great way to know where you stand, in regards to your goals and objectives, and what you need to accomplish the rest of the year.
Here are seven tips to help you regroup and get the most out of the rest of 2012 while positioning your business for a great 2013:
1. Review your annual goals. How are you performing against your plan? Are your goals still in sight? Reviewing annual goals is a chance to gauge your progress, assess any problems, and adjust your goals for the remainder of the year. Try to focus on the positive rather than the negative. This will keep you energized to see the year out.
2. Close loose ends. Tie up the loose ends that you may have been putting off. Not acheiving prioritized tasks can derail future outcomes. What will it take to have a strong close to the calendar year? Try to focus on what remains instead of what lies ahead. Reprioritize and reassess your goals if needed.
3. Tighten up your website. First impressions matter. And the first place a prospective customer is going to seek out your business is on the Internet. Are all your links working properly? Is your contact information accessible and on every page? Is your content relevant and engaging? Tighten up your website and make sure it looks professional and presentable.
4. Start an editorial calendar. Blogging helps to increase your online presence. And part of maintaining a blog is being consistent. An editorial calendar will help to hold you accountable for all future posts. It should include a schedule of the content you plan to produce and a deadline for publication. Post your editorial calendar somewhere you can look at daily.
5. Try something new. Have you considered sending out a monthly newsletter? When done correctly, a newsletter can be a great way to tell your story while keeping your customers informed at the same time. When developing your newsletter be sure that your layout is branded with your business. This will establish credibility.
6. Make time for networking. Many small business owners overlook the benefits of face-to-face communication. This season set aside time and money to attend different networking events. While at an event, try to focus on building business relationships rather than making the sale.
7. Brush up on SEO. Call it cliché, but today’s digital landscape is all about “word of mouse”. You don’t want your website or content to suffer because you forget to brush up on your SEO. And if you’re site is not consistently increasing in page rank or generating viable leads it may be time switch up your keywords or hire a SEO professional.
This is also a great time to set up a meeting with your accountant and business banker. Hopefully you do this regularly. If not, do it now. Your accountant and business banker can often help you minimize your tax liability through purchases that will help your business expand and grow in 2013.