Business Success Tips For the New Year
by Dr. Robert Sullivan
Wow,
another year gone! You know what this
means, don't you? New opportunities for
business success in the New Year! But -
What did you put off this last year that
you really wanted to get accomplished?
What changes did you not get around to
making?
Start the
New Year off right by taking care of a few
important items that can make a difference
in your business and have a positive
impact on the bottom line. Start with the
following suggestions and add your own.
- PLANNING.
Review your strategic plan (You do
have one, don't you?). Are you on
course to your objectives and goals?
Update your plan as may be necessary
and make any additions and/or
deletions based on any changes in your
desired goals. Remember the importance
of planning - without a plan in place,
effective decision making is difficult
if not impossible.
- CUSTOMERS.
Make a point to contact all your
existing customers - remember, they
are most likely to purchase your
product or service. Have a
"preferred" sale, send them
all an announcement of some kind, ask
for suggestions. Make them feel how
important they are to your business.
Make personal individual contact with
your larger customers.
- TELEPHONE.
Review your telephone charges. It may
be possible to do a lot better. Shop
around for your long distance and
800/888 service.
- SUPPLIERS.
Contact all your current suppliers and
attempt to negotiate lower prices.
Review your previous year's usage and
consider a larger bulk buys in order
to obtain additional discounts.
- ACCOUNTS.
Contact all overdue accounts. Offer to
negotiate payment terms, if necessary.
Decide if you want to continue to work
with these customers.
- EMPLOYEES.
Do you have employees? If so, make a
point to sit down with each of them
and ask for suggestions that might
improve your product or service. Ask
if they need anything that might make
them more efficient. Be sure to give
feedback at a later date as to how you
used any of these suggestions.
- GUARANTEES.
Review your product or service
guarantee - it is as generous as it
can be? Is a "life time"
warranty in order? Exceptional
warranties sell products!
- TECHNOLOGY.
Are you using technology to the
fullest extent possible? Remember that
technology is one of the great
equalizers between small and large
companies.
a.
Should you have an Internet site?
b. Is your telephone system
adequate? (Do you keep customers
waiting?)
c. Would a fax-back system help get
information into your customers
hands at a lower cost to you?
d. Do you need a fax machine?
- CUSTOMER
SERVICE. Improve it this
year! Review your customer service
policies. Do you need additional
telephone lines? Can you ship product
faster? Provide better prices?
Discounts? Personalized service?
Should you be accepting credit cards?
Would a toll-free number be useful?
- MARKETING.
Plan your year's marketing budget.
Either define a budget amount or have
it vary with total sales.
- INSURANCE.
Review your insurance program. Are you
double insuring? Shop your policies
for better prices. Are any changes
required?
- ORGANIZATION.
Okay THIS is the year you are going to
get organized. Do it - the time
savings are amazing. If nothing else,
get yourself a good personal
information manager (PIM) and use it.
I like ECCO.
Remember,
the continued success of your business is
dependent on many factors, some of which
are not under your control. It is up to
you to take advantage of those you can do
something about.
 Brought
to you by: World Wide Information Outlet -
http://certificate.net/wwio/,
your source of FREEWare Content online.
Robert
Sullivan is the author of The Small
Business Start-Up Guide, and United States
Government - New Customer!. He frequently
lectures on starting small businesses and
appears on CNBC's "Minding Your
Business" as a small business expert.
His books may be ordered toll-free by
calling 1 800 375 8439.
Robert
also developed and maintains an extensive
award-winning Internet website, "The
Small Business Advisor," at http://www.isquare.com
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