When Should Becomes Must

It’s that time of year again when people are asking what the coming year has in store.

For many businesses next year will be a year when ‘should’ becomes ‘must’. All the things you know you should have done this year but haven’t got round to, your business must embrace next year. Because 2009 won’t be very forgiving for those who don’t. We simply have to maximise the manifold opportunities that are out there.


I’m sure you already know that….


* You should learn about the importance of building and keeping good customer relationships

* You should get good at relationship-based email marketing

* You should become good at demonstrating your expertise

* You should properly embrace the power of the internet / blogging / social media

* Big companies should learn to react like smaller companies can

* You should check your overheads on a regular basis

* You should find the time to congratulate your top people

* You should get rid of deadwood

* You should get really good at managing your staff’s time

* You should make internal & external communications as clear as possible

* Sales teams should become better at using their time

* Sales people should be either sharpened up or shipped out

* You should add new marketing strategies

* You should continually be improving your sales processes

* You should have a proper system for lead management

* Marketing strategies should be continually tested and measured

* You should realise it will never quite be the same as it was before

* You should ensure that everything you do or invest in is adding value

* You should always value your loyal customers more than anything else


…..but next year a big gap will open up between those who take action and those who don’t. Big companies must stop deliberating around the board table and be decisive. Small companies must leverage their power to make quick decisions. All must realise that the new territory is going to feel very strange at first.

Oh, and by the way, you really should put all of this into a plan.