First off, I do have to apologize for my lack of posting for the past several weeks. Being the holidays, I have been out of town for two weeks and now I am preparing for a whole new year. The start of a new year is very exciting. It's a chance to do things differently. Personally, I am trying to be more conscious of my spending habits, continue working out, and in general, be a kinder person. Although I can say these are my resolutions, they are more goals that I am working towards. This is also a good time of year for businesses to have resolutions. Where do you want your company to go in 2009? Do you want to have more loyal customers? More customers in general? Higher profits? Just stay in business? Redesign? What is it that you want to do?
This is a great time for businesses to look over what happened in 2008 and determine what it is you want out of the next year. But it doesn't have to be a year long plan. Start by planning the next month, the next six months, the next year, and so on and so forth. Sure, you could continue the strategy that you are currently using, but maybe it's time to look where your company is going, rather than where it's been. For example, you decide you want to have a sale to draw in new customers. Think about when your target market is going to be purchasing your product. Do you own a candy store? It might seem obvious but special discounts around Valentine's are always a big draw. Do you specialize in children's clothing? How about a sale during the Easter season? I always got a new dress for Easter.
Another idea is to go through the books and determine slow times of the year. Come up with a few ideas to bring new people in during your slow times. For example, if you own a ski and snowboarding store (depending on your geography) my bet is that you're busiest between November and March. What can you do the rest of the year? Well, you are a ski and snowboarding store, why don't you sell water skis and other water sports paraphernalia. It's just an idea.
There are many ways that looking to the past can help you in the future. Just make sure that when you are looking to the past to help your future that you don't get stuck there.
Happy Marketing!!!
Recent Comments