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Your 2012 Small Business Strategy (5 posts)

Are Morch said
1 year, 5 months ago:
Hi friends here at the Small Business Club.
I am independent consultant. And one of the task that comes up now when it is getting close to 2012 is to set up a Business Strategy for the new year.
Now like many entrepreneurs I have to admit this is a task I keep pushing down on my todo list. And often it is not due to the fact that I really know that the Business Strategy will be of great value to me. It set out my direction, and makes rooms for adjustments and changes.
Here are just some of challenging questions I asked myself;
Where do I really start without feeling that this task it to daunting and becomes overwhelming? How much time each day should I dedicate to this task? What sections do I really need in my Business Strategy? How can I best make sure that I am following through? Do I need an accountability partner? If so where do I find one?
Many of these questions ends up on the ‘Things to do Tomorrow’ list, and eventually Tomorrow never comes.
For 2012 I want a effective and fun plan. And ideas that will put me into action TODAY, and I will have my 2012 plan.
Take time to share some ideas that will help a business idea become more then just a business idea. Just like the commercial ‘Windows 7 was my idea’…..
Cheers..
Are MorchHotel Blogger
@aremorch | # | Top
Rich Brooks said
1 year, 5 months ago:
Are,
These are great questions. I, too, struggle with this stuff. Not just for 2012, but monthly, weekly and even daily strategies.
I’m completely overwhelmed with the work and opportunities before me. (Including being leader of the small biz club! But that was too good to turn down.)
Right now I’m trying to evaluate all of my responsibilities with an eye towards what is critical that I must do, what can I outsource, and what provides real ROI for both myself and my company.
Not sure if this will help, but I just posted a new newsletter entitled Six Ways to Improve Your Digital Marketing in 2012. Not sure if it’s exactly what you’re looking for, but maybe it can help frame the discussion.
@rich-brooks | # | Top
Shad McFadden said
1 year, 5 months ago:
Are,
I feel your pain on this as well. I’m an independent consultant and I have two clients right now who are in the middle of a ‘soft launch’ of new products. They have the first shipments of their respective products in warehouses and looking to get them out to the masses. They only hired me after they realized that putting up a website was not enough to become millionaires over night.
So for me, I’m framing the first 6 months partially around my clients sales goals and the best ways to achieve them. They are both looking to reach consumers through social media marketing and I’m looking to learn all I can to help them do just that. Meanwhile since they are both very good inventors, they are both lacking a little in the busienss acumen department. So I am working side by side to help develop the entire operational strategy.
Aside from setting my goals by their desired results, I try to attend 4-5 networking events a month and find out what challenges people are facing today. Meetup.com is pretty good here in L.A. for finding these. By asking folks what they’re dealing with I’m able to find potential prospects and also kick around whether or not I would like to work more directly with their ‘problems’ in the future.
Just some ideas!
-Shad
@shadmcfadden | # | Top
Jim Fierce said
1 year, 5 months ago:
I have some things you may want to consider:
1. Start with the big picture. Take a huge step back and ask yourselves what are the top 2 – 5 that must accomplished over the next year. These have to be “Big Ticket” objectives like increase over sales by 5%, Increase my customer base from X to Y, Reduce O/H Costs from X to Y, The big ticket items should be things that have been on your mind to do for a long time but have put them off AND make a significant contribution to the bottom line. Keep this list small and easy manage.
2. Next look at the low hanging fruit. What are 5 – 10 things that can be addressed fairly easily and by addressing them you will either make life easier for yourself or add to the bottom line. These are things like upgrading software, impleme nting a 5S system to help you get and stay organized in the office, add social media to your repertoire etc.
3. Productivity or software apps such as the following are typically user friendly App to help you monitor your time. I haven’t used this one but it looks like it is a very good app for goal setting.
Hope this is helpful. The key is knowing yourself, what works for you, and how can you implement new tools in the most pain free way.
@fierce_living | # | Top
Carissa Coles said
1 year, 3 months ago:
Are,
We just started a small web development firm here in the Philippines. Though I do know that it is a startup company, it is pretty tough and challenging for me as a co-founder to work on business development stuff. I always search for tips and advices on how to handle a baby business and make it profitable. I think one strategy that could be helpful is check out your competitor and evaluate what are its weaknesses and maybe you could start on that.
@webpreneurph | # | Top