Is 2014 Going to be a Good Year?

by Don Kyle

Have you prepared business goals and implemented a marketing plan for 2014 yet?  If you haven’t, you should consider doing so immediately.

Although setting goals and preparing a comprehensive marketing plan are instrumental to your business, they are not a guarantee for success.  However, if you don’t take these steps, you almost can guarantee a disappointing year.  For most of us, it’s quite common to fail to plan for the future since you are so busy working in your businesses.

In previous articles, I suggested several steps in preparing your marketing plan, including: 1) Looking at your results from the prior year and setting overall goals for the new year; 2) Breaking down annual goals into monthly, weekly and daily budgets; 3) Reviewing the strategies you have employed in the past and assessing current and future ones to promote your business; 4) Determining marketing tools and strategies that are available for your business and the expected costs and returns; 5) Preparing your marketing plan and budget; and finally 6) Implementing your plan, and then monitoring your results, making adjustments as necessary.

These are the basic steps in developing a marketing plan for your business.  However, there are a few other areas you should take a look at in order to experience a prosperous year.  These include:

1)    Assess your current target market.  Have there been significant changes in your market, such as shifting demographics, increased competition, demand for your products or services, etc.?

2)    Review your operations.  Are you meeting the needs of your customers?  Are you experiencing return customers, and if not, why?

3)    Are your customers satisfied and are they saying good things about you in your community?  If not, you may want to take a look at your product/service offerings and your customer service procedures, including your staff.  You may even want to consider utilizing a “secret shopper” to help you assess these areas.

I wish you the best and may 2014 be a happy and prosperous year for you!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about setting goals or preparing a marketing plan.

Don Kyle works with business owners who want more customers and higher profits.  He offers a free consultation to business owners who are serious about improving their bottom line and quality of life.

(404) 580-6331, dkyle@smallbizzmbz.com