With the Holidays almost here, you’re probably looking forward to your well-deserved break, filled with food, gifts, laughter, family, and friends. But, since the New Year’s coming is also a time of contemplating your past and future, you may be wondering what to improve in your life in 2014 and how to do it.
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”
Like each year, your head is full of resolution ideas. You want to live healthier, organize better, quit bad habits, enjoy life more, and spend some extra time with your close ones. But, what about your professional plans? Have you made your New Year’s business resolution list yet?
If you’re ready to enhance your business, now is the time to strategize to make 2014 your year. Below are some practical, realistic and measurable business-wise and in-house changes to consider when planning your resolutions.
Improve Customer Service
Your customer service may either make or break your brand and reputation. So, ensure your representatives are well trained, thus confident and competent at their job. Also, praise them for achievements and incorporate their current position into their career path, keeping their interest and giving them a profession to look forward to.
Optimize For Mobile
Portable devices are changing the way we do business, so optimizing your mobile strategy is vital. Make sure your website’s design is responsive and adjusts to different screen sizes on multiple portable devices. Eliminate ads, provide mobile sites or their app versions, offer credit card readers, and shorten payment and checkout processes to smooth out the experience.
Enrich Content
Your website’s content, social media updates, and regular correspondence are a reflection of your business. So, provide quality, current, expert, diversity-appropriate, and business-relevant news that informs and engages the public. Include videos, links, eBooks, and whitepapers and initiate dialogs with people to generate and maintain interest in your company. Also, ensure you have a strong optimization and distribution strategy for your content.
Conquer Social Media
Social media platforms may help create online visibility, build brand exposure, and increase profit. Whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, you need to be present and active. Study your demographics and target specific audiences with content that’s always respectfully tailored to their needs and backgrounds. Also, incorporate various media forms and open communication to create interest and maintain relationships.
Expand Market Reach
The Internet connects the world, allowing your brand to grow and reach new audiences. So, ensure your business is stable and start examining potential markets. Take small steps. First, focus on your domestic spectators; then, go worldwide. Learn
cultural diversities, design appropriate campaigns for specific markets, and teach your staff how to handle this expansion.
Utilize The Cloud
With its file-sharing and -storing abilities, multiple productivity-improving applications, and cost effectiveness, cloud computing is an imminent and vital part of a successful business. To utilize this tool to its fullest, find out what cloud options you have for your company, prepare your technology, and maximize your Internet and connection speed.
Value Employees
Appreciated workers are more positive and motivated about their job. So, offer raises, bonuses or gifts. But, remember about praising people’s work, giving them a well-deserved time off, and making them feel an important part of the company. Also, understand and respect their family obligations, and offer flexible hours during their hard times.
Promote Teamwork
Each company has a group of individuals who need to work together to accomplish a goal or achieve success. To build a team, treat all employees like partners, a crucial part of your company, highlighting each member’s importance. Include them in the co-creating, idea-brainstorming, and decision-making processes. If needed, form teams to tackle specific tasks and encourage cooperation between members.
“Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.”
Practice Open Communication
Communication is crucial to any company’s or relationship’s success. Establish an open door policy and encourage feedback from your employees and communication between departments. Create an online outlet, a message board, or hold meetings to share concerns and give ideas. Listen to what people say and treat them and their thoughts seriously and respectfully.
Boost Corporate Morale
Communication is crucial to any company’s or relationship’s success. Establish an open door policy and encourage feedback from your employees and communication between departments. Create an online outlet, a message board, or hold meetings to share concerns and give ideas. Listen to what people say and treat them and their thoughts seriously and respectfully.
Clarify Strategy
Specified mission and approach prevent frustration and discouragement and improve workers’ productivity and customers’ satisfaction. So, bring everyone on the same page. Clearly and politely explain each task and tactic. Ensure all your departments and staff levels understand your company’s goals and their achievement processes.
Now, think of all the times you’ve given up or reached only some of your New Year’s business resolutions. 2014 has to be different! So, discontinue old habits and implement the above ideas. You’ll see they’ll improve your company’s atmosphere and enhance its performance. Your 2014 business success is in your hands!
An entrepreneur with an eye for good design and advocate of simplicity. He brings a fresh strategy and approach to every project and plays an integral role in clients’ accomplishments through collaboration and close integration. Through his hands-on experience in technology and marketing, he ensures user experiences and technology are on the leading edge.
