Almost everyone makes personal resolutions for the new year, whether it’s getting fit, saving money, or taking up a new hobby.
If you’re a business owner, it’s a great idea to make resolutions that will help simplify your life and grow your business. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve put together a list of ten business new year’s resolutions anyone can keep.
10 Small Business New Year’s Resolutions for 2021
1. Review Your Business Plan & Goals
The beginning of the year is the perfect time to review your business plan and goals. Do you need to revise your business plan? Did you set goals last year? If so, how did you do on them? Have your goals changed? Write it all down so you know what you’re working toward in the new year. Having a defined plan and goals helps keep you on track throughout the year and can make all the difference in whether you’re successful.
2. Plan More
You’ve set your goals, now you need to plan on how you’ll get there. If one of your goals is more leads or customers, a new digital marketing plan will help you attract more customers.
If your website is more than a few years old, a website redesign should be part of your plan to bring your business into the new year.
3. Prioritize
When everything is a priority, nothing is. Use your goals and plans to decide what to focus on and what you can move further down your list of priorities (or take off altogether). Not only will this make your life easier, you’ll actually be able to focus on what’s important and start seeing results.
4. Start a Blog (and Update it Regularly)
A blog is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to add new content to your site, which is essential for SEO purposes. It also allows you to share valuable information with your audience, gives you ongoing material for social media, and positions you as a leader in your niche.
Blogging doesn’t have to be a chore and you don’t have to post every day. In fact, one high-quality post per week is better than one poor-quality post every day. And when it comes to what to write, get creative! If you were a customer of your own business, what would you want to read? Chance are, your customers want to read the same things.
5. Use Social Media More
Social media is invaluable to a business. In 2021, make a resolution to use social media daily: interact with customers and other users, answer questions, and post engaging content. There are several free social media scheduling tools you can use to schedule a week’s worth of posts at once, making social media a breeze.
Unsure which network(s) to use? Don’t jump into all of them! Prioritize the network your customers are already using. For most businesses, this is Facebook and/or Instagram. Build your following on one of these platforms and then, if you feel comfortable, you can branch out to Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube, etc.
6. Attend Networking Events
This is often ignored by many small business owners, but it’s so important. In 2021, make a resolution to attend a few networking events to meet fellow small business owners in your area. Networking can help you find new opportunities, clients, collaborators, vendors, service providers, and even friends. Use a service like Eventbrite to find events in your area. Chances are there are plenty of free networking opportunities already scheduled for the new year!
7. Learn to Delegate
If you choose only one new year’s resolution for your business, make it this one. As a business owner, there are probably a thousand things on your to-do list, but you don’t have to do them yourself. Learn to delegate and let others do some of your work this year.
Ask trusted employees to handle day-to-day tasks you get caught up on, hire an agency to handle your digital marketing, or even find a housecleaning service to handle some of your chores at home. The idea is to outsource tasks that others can handle so you can focus on the parts of your business – and your life – that you want to.
8. Get Rid of What Doesn’t Work
In 2021, get rid of the things in your business that aren’t working the way you need them to and find solutions that do. Whether it’s your uncomfortable office chair, the printer that works sometimes, or a supplier that regularly runs out of the things you need, it’s time to say goodbye to them and use only things that work the way you need them to.
9. Listen to Your Customers and Employees
The old saying, “the customer is always right,” means that if your customers ask for something you don’t carry, it’s time to fix that. Is there something your customers have been asking about or even demanding? Look into how you can bring that good or service to them. They’ll thank you with dollar bills.
And the same goes for your employees. Listen to them: ask them what works, what doesn’t, and how you could make their job better and easier. And remember: a good leader listens and follows through.
10. Document Your Processes
With all the positive changes you’ll be making in 2021, it’s important to document your processes, especially if you haven’t done so in the past. Documenting your day-to-day operations, on-boarding, business plan, company goals, etc will make things easier on yourself and your employees throughout the year.
Resolve to Grow Your Business in 2021
If you’re ready to grow your business in the new year, make TheeDigital your marketing and web design partner. Claim your free site audit or call us at 919-341-8901 to schedule your consultation!
