As the new year kicks off, it’s a great time to set resolutions aimed at turbocharging your small business for the 12 months ahead.
Whether your resolutions are to expand, grow your client base, or hit a lofty revenue target, here’s a handy list of ways to do more for your small business in 2020.
1. Learn to delegate tasks and do it more
Sticking to your business resolutions means having time to focus on them and not get snowed under trying to juggle a million things at the same time.
For this reason, make delegating some tasks—whether that’s admin, accounting, HR, or something else—a priority for 2020. This will give you the time, and headspace, to focus on what really matters.
You can divvy your list of responsibilities to existing employees, a new support hire, or a virtual assistant. It all depends on your particular business.
2. Promote regularly and consistently
Winning in business in 2020 is a lot about getting your product or service in front of the right people, especially in a media market that’s increasingly saturated.
In this context, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of your marketing and promotion and not let this part of the business slide when things get busy.
There are so many ways to promote your business in a powerfully targeted way.
Search ads provide an opportunity to find people when they are Googling something related to your services. Display ads can keep your brand flashing through their heads as they surf.
Beyond that, you can use social media, SEO, community events, and much more to never miss a chance to get seen. Take advantage of as many sales and marketing avenues you can to grow your business.
3. Make business planning a weekly event
When you’re flat out running a small business, it can be easy to drop regular business planning in favor of hustling for new clients, getting through admin, or knocking off accounting tasks (see #1 to help lessen this load).
However, the problem is that business planning is a critical way to take a step back and see if you’re on the right path to achieving your resolutions and goals.
So, if you find weekly business planning regularly gets postponed or canceled, think about shifting it to a time of the week, like a breakfast, that is less likely to clash with other tasks.
4. Join a business org or networking group
While achieving your small business resolutions is definitely about time, it’s also about keeping morale up.
Running a small business is tough and inevitably, there are setbacks—it could be losing a client or contract—that can sap your spirit and leave you deflated.
That’s where joining a business organization or networking group can help.
Not only can this help you form helpful relationships that could lead to extra business, but you’ll be able to share stories of successes and challenges with those on the same journey.
5. Stop doing what’s not working
As a small business owner, going out on your own is scary enough. Not to mention the possibility that things won’t work out.
But remember: it’s better to accept as early as possible that a business tactic or strategy isn’t panning out. That way, you can re-strategize and then set about achieving your goals and resolutions in a different way.
What’s more, as a business owner with a list of tasks that seems neverending, it makes sense to drop those that aren’t achieving results.
Without the drag of those useless tasks, you’re not working round the clock and can ensure your work-life balance is sustainable to avoid burn out in the long run.
