Every year, every business, no matter how small should contemplate the future year ahead to ensure they have successfully prepared their business to meet emerging market opportunities.
Whatever way you choose to do this task of review; whether you stick to a meeting format, convene over a coffee or a few drinks; you should cover the following key areas to determine where you need to focus your attention in the coming year. Whether you work alone, with your partner or with a small team, the following will help you to structure your end-of-financial-year review.
- Review your authentic marketing plan
A quick look through the key activities from last year’s plan reminds you what you’ve achieved (and should celebrate!); and reinforces the overall vision or purpose and business goals you are pursuing. While your marketing tactics may change depending on the prevailing market conditions, the reasons you are in business does not. - Review your business’ financial situation
Important to review how you’re tracking financially. What was your yearly income, what was your yearly expenditure? What actions and tactics worked for you and what didn’t. Could you do things more efficiently? More effectively? It all should be brought to account here. - Measure your passion
Are you still enjoying what you do? If aspects of your business caused moments of despair last year, think about what was actually happening to cause this reaction for you and whether there are options to change this in the coming year. - Review areas for professional development
It’s important (after checking the finances) to look at your professional needs and wants covering everything from technology investments, hardware and software upgrades, reference books, further education and attendance at networking events. - Reconfirm your business values and goals
Finally it’s important to reconfirm your personal and business values and goals to make sure you’re focused on authentic marketing tactics that will attract your ideal customer and achieve your business outcomes in the financial year ahead.
This is a process that works for us at Zenworkz. Tell us what works for you?
About the author: Teresa Bassham is an Authentic Marketing Coach and Director of Zenworkz Authentic Marketing. Teresa is passionate about helping small businesses create the right marketing and achieve transformational results.
All or parts of this blog are able to be published with permission from the author – provided that the author is acknowledged and a link is given to the original source blog.
This blog is original content influenced by years of experience within the Australian small business culture and may not be applicable to other countries small business cultures.
