It’s the start of a fresh new year, with 2021less than a weeks old. Here are 15 actions to do over the next few weeks to make sure your business gets off to a flying start for the year ahead.
- Call one of your biggest clients and wish them a happy new year. No catch, no sales spiel, simply call and thank them for their business and wish them a happy new year. This will be genuine and a great way to reinforce your relationship.
- Schedule a time in your calendar every week to spend on marketing. It could literally be half an hour to write a blog post, or an hour a week to attend a networking event.
- Cast a critical eye over your business website. Can you spot any improvements that you should be making? Schedule some time over the coming month to get these done, and make sure your website is in tip-top shape for 2021.
- Schedule your leave for the year. Plan when a good time would be, and mark your calendar with the dates now. It gives you a goal to work towards and ensures you take time to refresh yourself.
- If you have employees, take a moment to share your vision for the year ahead.
- Write a list of goals for the year. Take time to have an action list and stick to it.
- Start a new healthy habit. Maybe an early morning walk or making time for a healthy lunch each day. Whatever it is, the start of the year is a good time as any to build a new habit. Healthier means more productive and happier too.
- Buy a book on a topic you want to learn about this year. It could be about anything, a how-to-do or about productivity knowledge – order it now and start reading it as soon as it arrives.
- Call a client that you haven’t done any work for in the last twelve months and say hello.
- Look at your top ten clients (point two above). What makes them different from those further down your profitability list? Look at ways you could advertise or market yourself to more of those sorts of clients, and less of the low spenders.
- Thank your employees. A big complaint among full-time workers is the lack of appreciation they often feel. Take a moment to verbally thank a colleague or employee for their hard efforts – they will appreciate the gesture.
- Ask a colleague to check a recent proposal or pitch document. Get them to give critical feedback on what works and what doesn’t. Make changes to your documents to make them sell and read better than the ones you used in 2014.
- Look at the list of goals you had at the start of 2014 – is there still one or two you haven’t crossed off? Make a point to dive into these straight away.
- Take time to enjoy life – your world shouldn’t just revolve around your business. Learn a new language, take up a hobby or visit with friends more often.
- Plan for 2021– Think how do you want to see your business in 2021
If you complete all 15 of the actions above, I am absolutely positive that you’ll be putting your business in better stead for the coming year. Best of luck with 2021!