Even if you don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, now is a good time to think about your goals for the next year.
When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, there tend to be two types of people: Those who swear by them and the skeptics. Some people just don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. That’s understandable — Studies show that the number of people who actually achieve their resolutions is relatively small.
No matter where you stand on the issue, every business and organization marketing strategy needs goals, and the new year is an excellent time to think about them.
In my experience, the people who don’t reach their goals are guilty of at least one of two things — either they set unrealistic goals or they don’t make a plan to reach them. So let’s make sure you reach your goals in 2018!
Start by reviewing your 2017 goals
Where were you a year ago? What did you want to accomplish in 2017, and did you do it? Progress takes time, and you might be surprised at how different things are now than they were a year ago.
If you didn’t reach your goals, evaluate where you fell short and why. What could you have done differently to reach your goals? If you can’t answer that question, it’s likely that your goals weren’t realistic enough.
Set specific, measurable goals
More website traffic, more social media subscribers, more leads — these are all common marketing goals, but they aren’t well defined. How much more traffic do you want to generate? Double? Triple? What is your timeline?
A better strategy is to decide how much you want within a certain timeline. Say you want 20 new customers within the next year. Now you can start thinking about a timeline — 10 within six, five within three months. Having a clear and attainable goal and a timeline to reach that goal will help you allocate the resources you need to achieve it.
Does the plan make sense?
Do you have the resources and tools you need to reach your goal? Now is a great time to assess what you can achieve.
Don’t be afraid to ask your team for input. You should encourage your team to give feedback on your plan and propose new ways to improve. A variety of perspectives is a good way to gain new insight and find solutions.
Make a schedule and stick to it!
Do you know what is coming up on the calendar? Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your marketing materials for the month. Having things ready in advance will help you keep things organized and prevent tasks from piling up.
Think about how you can plan in advance each month and anticipate important events and holidays. Start the month with a timeline that will help guide you and your team toward what you are preparing for. Having your marketing materials produced and approved early will ensure that you can distribute them more effectively.
Start today!
Getting serious about planning for your marketing strategy will help you set achievable goals and reach them. Take some time to evaluate, strategize and plan before the New Year. You’ll be glad you did!
If you need help planning a marketing strategy or are ready for a new approach, get in touch with SRJ Marketing Communications. We can help your brand find the tools and resources you need for an effective marketing plan in 2018. To learn more, please call 214-528-7557 for a free consultation.
