Some people have a 5-year business growth plan. Others play by ear, month to month.
I fall somewhere in between. It’s nice to know what to focus on next year, while leaving room for unexpected opportunities and discoveries.
Some of the most profitable projects and ideas came to me when I least expected!
This mindset is especially important now, when things in marketing and technology are changing SO rapidly.
With that in mind, and as my holiday decorations remind me that this year is almost over, I’d like to share how I will approach my business next year.
Let me know what you think of these by commenting below.
1. Survey your followers and subscribers
Some of my best ideas come from taking the time to understand the biggest challenges and dreams of the people I serve. Surveying my audience helps me keep my fingers on the pulse of my target market, as well as generate new ideas. It’s fascinating to notice the differences between the survey results from just 3 years ago and today. Things move fast, people become savvier, new challenges emerge, and new solutions are wanted. When was the last time you surveyed the people in your target market?
2. Plan your vacations and promotions
When I am too focused on collaboration and building relationships with other people, I often forget about my own promotions and self-care. So one of the things I am doing for next year is scheduling my special promotions and blocking several weeks for time off, vacations, and travel. This also means that I can start working on promotional materials ahead of time and avoiding the chaos of the last-minute rush.
3. Stop doing what hasn’t brought results
You may already know what’s been ineffective for you this year, but I like to sit down and review my business growth activities and give an honest review. There are couple of things I may need to stop doing, and not only because they didn’t create results, but because I didn’t enjoy them, either. What have you been spending your time on this year, that didn’t feel good… and didn’t generate any significant results?
4. Capture your wisdom in audio, video, or written format
I’ve always loved creating products and programs, but lately I started seeing this activity a bit differently. It’s not about creating a new product. It’s about capturing your knowledge, expertise, and wisdom in a format that can be leveraged and transferred without spending your personal time. Perhaps you’ll share it with clients, or post it on YouTube, or turn it into a membership site… bottom line, as your expertise matures you have SO much knowledge on your topic. After 17 years of building multiple highly successful businesses, I am excited to start building an online business academy so my clients and customers can easily access my “biggest lessons learned”. Capturing a nugget of your wisdom 10 minutes a day can help you create amazing legacy and even a new profit center.
5. Choose to become a go-to expert in your niche
Being an expert and a go-to expert are two big differences, as my grandmother used to say You’re an expert because you have expertise. You’re a go-to expert because of how you positioned yourself in your niche market. This year was my “year of simplicity” – I was interviewed on dozens of podcasts, shows, and summits about simplicity entrepreneurship, I started a Facebook community called Simplicity Circle, and I launched my program called Simplicity Business Experience. I love knowing that when people think of an expert on building a business without sacrifice, or scaling a business while keeping it simple, they think of me, the “queen of simplicity” as someone coined me Early next year I will be sharing and teaching the #1 strategy that will help an expert to become the “go-to expert” in their niche. SO excited about it, because that’s exactly how I do it every time. What do YOU want to become a go-to expert on?
I’d love to hear from you – please leave your comments below.
Milana Leshinsky
“The Queen of Simplicity” if I may
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