Ten Top Business Resolutions 2008
Are you ready for the challenges 2008 has to offer your business? While you're making resolutions for yourself Busy Girl, we thought we'd help you with 10 quick resolutions to prepare your business for the coming year. Whether you manage one or all ten, any of these will make for a great start
Good luck Busy Girl...
1. Improve your cash flow
In 2008, turn your outstanding invoices into assets and improve your cash flow by using a professional invoicing system.
2. Grow
Invigorate sales by encouraging all of your staff to play an active role in introducing new clients.
Ask the members of your team to put together a list of their ideal clients then set about targeting them through correspondence, calls and networking. Offer incentives to reward results.
3. Get protection from bad debt
Get protection from customers who fail to pay, or worse, become insolvent by signing up for a bad debt protection service so up to 100% of the value can be claimed back.
4. Get your IT up to date
Stay ahead of your competitors by updating your IT - there will be easier, quicker and cheaper ways of doing the day-to-day and with the web, it'll be so much easier to find them.
5. Innovate
There are opportunities out there to be taken - think of what your competitors would do in your situation and do the opposite... you need to be different, differentiated - unique.
6. Start thinking BIG
If you're going to really make it, you need to start believing that you can. Raise your goals and your objectives - you'll be surprised what you can acheive if you aim a little higher.
7. Invest in your people
Nurture the talent in your company, tackle any obvious skills gaps and maximise your staff's potential by conducting regular staff training.
8. Integrate marketing activity
Rather than doing the odd bit of direct mail when sales are flagging, plan a coordinated, highly targeted programme, and make sure you communicate your plans internally. Your employees should be your biggest champions. Keeping your employees informed of your marketing initiatives helps them to understand your company's vision.
9. Reduce costs
Start the year off right by increasing your cost awareness. Review your current supplier agreements and ask for reduced rates in return for loyal custom. Why not provide your staff with an incentive to cut unnecessary waste by using some of the savings to fund a company night out?
10. Go green
Adopting an environmentally friendly approach to business can generate additional benefits. In 2008, make it pay to be green - start with simple steps such as recycling waste paper and using efficient light bulbs to introducing more environmentally friendly daily practices.
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