5 ‘New Year’ Tasks for Business Owners

The new year is a perfect time for business owners to meet with their team and reevaluate every aspect of their company in the past year and see what needs improvement to make the upcoming year even more successful.
There are many items that should be on your evaluation list, but here are five that we believe are very significant to touch on.

1. Resolve to expand your network: Is your business involved in any type of networking or professional group? If not, this is the year to get more involved, engage, and put yourselves out there. A membership in a local professional organization will help increase your connections and spread the word about your business. By joining a networking group, you will build relationships with other business people who could possibly help leverage your business.

2. Evaluate your products and services: Is each product or service you offer providing substantial, renewable income? If not, then it may be time to drop the ones that aren’t. Sometimes offering too many services is not helpful if some of them do not provide any benefit to the business. It is best to focus on the ones that consistently drive sustainable revenue and new business.

3. Evaluate your marketing strategies: Review your 2013 marketing efforts and look for which strategies worked and which did not work for your business. See which ones brought in leads, made the phone ring, and had the most impressions. Look at who you are marketing to and redefine who your target audience to make sure you are getting your message out to the right people. Adjust your budget to one that is reasonable but that can help you achieve your 2014 marketing goals. Only put money and more effort into the marketing channels that will really help you reach your target audience.

4. Change your culture: What is  your current work environment like? Is it one where your employees can work hard, focus and at the same time feel comfortable  in? Is it a professional environment? Do your employees feel like they are being treated fairly? Is there a strong sense of “teamwork” in your staff? These are all questions to keep in mind when creating the positive, motivating and productive culture that you want your employees to be proud to be a part of.

5. Evaluate your goals: Is the way you run your business on track with your company’s vision and mission? Evaluate your short-term and long-term goals for the company as a whole and determine where you are with achieving those goals and what needs to be changed in order to do so.