Well, here we are, 2013, and if you’re like most Americans, odds are you’ve got more than a few goals from 2012 left over that didn’t quite see fulfillment. Fortunately, there’s a New Year every year, and you can start 2013 even stronger by setting new, more attainable goals, and more importantly—FOLLOWING THEM THROUGH TO COMPLETION.
Most New Year’s resolutions fail because the people making them focus too much on the destination and not on the path that gets them there. For instance, committing to lose weight rather than addressing the bad habits that lead to obesity specifically.
This year, try to focus on the good strategies and practices that will get you where you want to be, rather than just the end goal. If you want to build your business, and improve ROI, don’t just make it an arbitrary goal on paper—focus on making the strategic changes that will nurture your growth naturally.
Find Ways to Maximize Your Spending
Instead of saying “This year, we’re going to spend less,” say, “This year, we’re going to maximize the money we spend.” For most businesses, the marketing budget dilemma isn’t about how much money is being spent, but how much money being spent is wasted. Get the biggest bang for your marketing buck, and no matter how big or small your budget is, you’ll be seeing a higher ROI.
Develop a Focused Voice
Instead of saying “This year, we’re going to reach more people,” say, “This year, we’re going to make more people want to reach us.” Don’t try too hard to cram your message down your customers’ throats, or spend so much time finding the right sales-y phrasing you lose the humanity of your voice. Instead, develop your own voice, focused on the right values and demographics with the right tone, and your customers will naturally be driven to you.
Revisit Older Strategies
Instead of saying “This year, we’re going to come up with new strategies,” say, “This year, we’re going to take the strategies that have worked in the past, and make them better.” Some of the most successful companies in the world found their place by finding new ways of looking at old ideas, rather than generating brand new ideas from scratch—save yourself the effort and frustration by utilizing what you know already works and reshaping it to better fit your needs.
As we plug forward into 2013, keep your new strategies on target, and as always, we’re here to help you figure out what works and what doesn’t for your unique company.
