New Year, New Website, Now What?

The new year is finally here and you’re ready for it. You have incorporated the latest trends and have updated your website to be exactly how you want it. So what’s the next step? People often create resolutions to improve their personal lives. Similarly, your business needs a plan or goals to continue to grow.

Here are four business resolutions to set your business up for success in the new year:

1. Create Your Business Toolkit
The hardest thing about running a business is staying organized despite all the tasks you have to complete. One way to keep everything organized is to create a toolkit for you and your employees. Your toolkit will contain a variety of things that make sense for your business, but the most important things to include are:

• A Brand Folder: This folder should be easy to find on your computer and allow you to easily answer any questions about your brand. Your brand folder should include your products/services, goals and values for your company, electronic copies of design elements, your brand story, and any other information that you may have to share or regularly refer to.

• Brainstorming Notes: As new ideas pop up, you need an organized place where you can keep them. Whether it’s a Word document or a note taking application, keep your ideas and bits of information in one place.

• Your Marketing Strategy: Anything included in your marketing plan, such as a content calendar or posting schedule should be included in your toolkit. You want all of your employees to know where to find this information so that everyone will be on the same page.

A business toolkit keeps all of this information in one easy location.

2. Form a Schedule
When a stressful situation arises and you feel like there is too much in the day to do, having a schedule can help you plan your time better. At the beginning of the new year, mark down any important events for that year in your calendar so that you don’t forget about them. Also, create a daily plan for anything you want to remember to finish on a daily basis. If you map out your days and months in advance, you will save time in the long run. Don’t feel like you have to follow this schedule exactly; things will pop up that you didn’t expect, but having a schedule will help you stay on track and keep you productive.

3. Set Aside Reading Time
If you’re running a small business, you know how important it is to keep up-to-date on what’s happening in your industry. Not only does it improve your business knowledge, that information can be used to attract potential customers by posting a blog about it or sharing an article on social media.

While most of us now want to carve out time in our day to stay on top of current news, it’s a lot easier said than done. Our hectic lives tend to get in the way as we prioritize more important work over spending an hour reading blogs. However, if you set aside some time in your schedule, you will quickly get in the habit of reading up on current trends and news in your industry. Set up a schedule that works for you and stick to it. Even if you only have 10 minutes a day or an hour every week, the knowledge you will gain will be worth the effort.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Outsource Projects
The last thing to remember as the new year approaches is that as your business grows, you may need help. Don’t be afraid to outsource projects. Hiring a professional means you can get quality work completed quickly and allows you to focus on the parts of your business that you excel at. So whether you need help writing content, optimizing your online store, updating your logo, or creating a brand strategy; get the help you need to grow your business.

Planning ahead and staying organized are the best things you can do to give your business a fresh start. If your business needs help reaching its goals this new year, contact Creative Juice.