6 Resolutions Small Business Owners Are Making (and Smart Tips for Making Yours)

For every small business owner with an eye on growth, seeking ways to improve is a daily to-do. But there’s something about the new year that makes setting business goals a special occasion.

Here are three tips to help you pick a New Year’s resolution for your small business:1. Be specific.

The more specific your goal, the more you can measure results. For example, instead of

deciding to increase profits this year, resolve to increase profits by five percent.

2. Be brave.Pick a resolution that takes you (and your business) out of your comfort zone. For

example, if you regularly send out proposals, don’t make that your resolution. Choose

something different that could take your business to new heights.

3. Be realistic.Don’t make a resolution that’s so grand and unrealistic that you’ll never come close

to achieving it — it will simply drag down your morale. When setting your goal, think

attainable.

Already got a resolution in mind? Here are three tips for achieving it:1. Be ready.

Put together an action plan. This plan will help you keep on track during the year.

2. Be accountable.Tell someone — a business partner, a colleague, friend or family member — about your

resolution. He or she can help keep you moving forward toward your goal (even as your

year gets busier).

3. Be open.It’s possible that your definition of success will change during the year, and that’s okay.

Be aware that your resolution may morph as your small business does. Embrace that

change.

Can’t come up with a resolution? Check out some great ones your fellow Staples® SUCCEED: Small Business Network members are making this year — and why you might consider making them, too.

01. Shape a Positive Work Environment for My EmployeesWHY? A happy employee is a loyal, productive employee who will

fuel your business’s success.

This year, John M. Hall, SUCCEED member and president of We Think Global, resolves to invest in employee engagement. “My hope is that [my] employees show up to work not just with their heads in the game, but their hearts also,” Hall says.Find Out How to Make Your Employees Happy

Tip:

Here are two steps you can take toward building a motivated staff:

• Loop your employees in. Keep your staff in the know.

Open the floor to discussion and welcome suggestions.

Those who feel included in shaping the business are

also more likely to feel invested.

• Avoid employee burnout. Help regular “overtimers”

achieve greater efficiency, or consider reducing their

workload. A better work-life balance will preserve their

long-term energy as well as their drive.

• Take a step back to say thanks. Genuine

appreciation goes a long way toward keeping

employees happy and loyal.

02. Flex My Marketing MusclesWHY? Even if your products or services are top-tier within your industry, they will go unnoticed

without good marketing tactics.

SUCCEED member and owner of CityScape Insurance Matthew Gehrman hopes to acquire outside sales agents and develop new marketing tactics. “We have several niche markets where competition is low,” Gehrman says. “By targeting these markets we [can] grow the business, increase exposure and begin rounding accounts.”

Get Three Tips for Effective Marketing

Tip:

Showcasing your expertise is an effective (and low-cost) way to enhance your marketing efforts. To garner exposure:

• Contribute to popular discussions online or during industry events.

• Offer small nuggets of advice, free of charge, whenever possible.

• Build a blog to house industry news.

03. Build a Supportive NetworkWHY? Networking is a powerful way to expand

your knowledge, garner exposure and acquire

new mentors and clients.

Wendi Conrad, Certified Life Coach and SUCCEED member, aims to expand her network in 2015, noting that “it is so important to encourage and learn from each other.” Make the Most of Your Networking

Tip:

Below are three simple tips you can use to boost your networking efforts (after reviewing the proper etiquette beforehand):

• Make connections outside your industry for

added reach and knowledge.

• Follow up with new contacts. Start by passing

along any content that might be of interest to

them.

• Get involved with organizations that interest you

and connect with a variety of influencers.

04. Really Listen to ClientsWHY? Client satisfaction determines whether

your business flourishes or fails. The stronger your

communication, the closer you are to pinpointing

their exact wants and needs.

In 2015, Colin Fitzpatrick Smith, president of The Retirement Company, LLC, and SUCCEED member, plans to solidify his grasp on clients’ needs by “asking the right questions and listening to the response before reacting.”

Try These Two Communication Techniques

• Pave the way for meaningful dialogue

Analyze your client’s daily demands, priorities

and potential pain points. How do your products

or services address these issues, and how can

you let your customers know?

• Follow up as a way to say, “I’m listening”

Continue the conversation. Share with clients

your thoughts on their feedback and any steps

you’re taking to further address them.

Tip:

Actively pursue dialogue with clients to humanize your business, as well as better interpret their needs.

05. Build a Blueprint for My VisionWHY? Temper the uncertainty of being a small business owner by

having a sound structure, sales plan and process in place.

Starr Oldorff, business administration specialist and SUCCEED member, plans to have a concrete sales process and strategy in place by 2015.

Use These Two Sales Tips

• Define your target market

Create a detailed customer profile, considering

everything from basic demographics to behavioral

patterns. Ask yourself: Is this market large enough to

drive growth?

• Map out your method of outreach

Identify the channels you will use to reach your target

market. Are they active on social media? Or do they

tend to withhold personal contact information? Pinpoint

any opportunity for contact before beginning outreach.

Tip:

Creating a comprehensive sales strategy can be daunting, so for a more streamlined process, check these two action items off of your list prior to diving in.

06. Submit More ProposalsWHY? Proposals prompt thinking about your business

and its benefits. At the very least, they support top-of-mind

awareness, and at best, they establish a working relationship.

Principal at SDM Marketing and SUCCEED member Scott Michelson aims to boost business by sending as many new proposals as possible. To make such a goal measurable, review the number of proposals you sent out last year and select a reasonable increase to focus on this year.

Improve Your Odds of Success

Tip:

For any small business, garnering interest among potential clients demands a great deal of perseverance and drive.

• Stand out from the crowd

If you aren’t thinking out of the box,

your proposal won’t stand out from your

competitor’s. Add something innovative to

each proposal to grab attention.

• Do your research

Set up news alerts to track movement and

stay informed about what’s happening in

the company.

Identify and reflect on any failed

endeavors from the previous

year. Your resolution for the

new year should address, not

skirt, any points of weakness.

Advice InspirationActionRemember: Your business

wasn’t built in a day, and trying

to improve every aspect of it at

once likely won’t effect positive

change. Pick one resolution

at a time, and then divide that

resolution into a handful of

bite-sized projects to increase

your odds of sticking to it and

achieving your goal.

“Good business leaders create

a vision, articulate the vision,

passionately own the vision

and relentlessly drive it to

completion.”

– Jack Welch, Author and

Former CEO, General Electric

For more smart ways to build a strong business, visit the

Staples Small Business Hub.

> Building a Better Workplace: Boosting Morale

> Small Marketing Changes with a Big Impact

> Networking Tips to Grow Your Business

> New Year’s Predictions: 6 Trends That Will Impact Small Businesses in 2015

> 5 Secrets For Landing a Whale of a Client

Sources