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October 2024

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It’s time to do business prep for 2025.

I know. I know! Don’t panic, but it’s time. And I’ve got some steps for you to take below to help prepare you for next year. 2024 has been….wild….for small businesses, but I know we’ll come out stronger in 2025.

Before we get started I want to say that I know this is go-time for a lot of product-based businesses, so if this is your busy season, just move this whole exercise into Q1. For more service-based business where this is your down season, let’s get to it.

Write out your wins

• Let’s start positive. Look back over your year thus far and write out some wins. Whether that was landing a new client, having a Reel that got lots of views and engagement, or meeting a sales goal, WRITE.IT.DOWN. Those wins should be celebrated.

Look back at your 2024 goals; see what else you can achieve before Dec. 31.

• Think about what you could do during the next 2.5 months to meet any of those. Consider also which of those isn’t worth going after and go ahead and set them aside (guilt-free).

Start conversations with people

• Who do you want to do business with in 2025? Think through why you want to work with them, do they fit with your business, what services work best for them, etc. Then lay out your vision of what a partnership could look like. Then (this is the big thing!) pick up the phone or type an email and schedule a coffee/champagne hour.

Pull out any print materials you have on hand, pull up your website and your social media and look at them.

• Determine if you’re happy with how they look. Decide what you want to change, rewrite, and quit using. Also note what you love and what is working really well for you.

Re-evaluate your social media

• Look at where you’ve been putting your efforts the past year. If you feel spread too thin and it’s stressing you out, set it down. Take Q1 to focus on just one platform where you see the most traction, then go from there in Q2.
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And a couple bonus ideas

• Evaluate your office/work space. Make changes if something isn’t working anymore
• If you have an email service, check your subscription details, make sure you’re using it to its full potential. If you don’t like your provider, spend an hour researching other companies that might work better.
• Determine if you feel like your project management system (whether software or simple hand-written to-do list) is serving you well. If something isn’t working or is causing an inefficiency, spend an afternoon researching alternatives. There’s a ton of free options out there — and I’ve used a lot of them. Email me if you want a change but don’t know where to start.

Remember, too, that sometimes we just can’t do it all. If you’ve reached a point on any of these topics that you just feel like you’ve taken it as far as you can, then make a plan to bring someone in to help you out with that one thing. That way you can refocus your energies on other parts of your business that need you.

WHAT NISHA'S LISTENING TO

The past month has been crazy, and I’ve not had one minute to read a book. So, I've been hitting the podcasts hard. Here’s a couple that stood out to me: ​Small Business PR: Episode 147, Why your sales page isn’t selling​ ​Making Good Small Business Podcast: Any episode that Lauren Tilden releases is pure gold.​ ​Focus on This: Tons of great productivity hacks in this one.​

WHAT NISHA'S POURING

​ Nisha ​nisha@npatelcommunications.com​ ​​​ Subscribe

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