Keeping business ideas fresh in the silly season
How, then, can you plan to use this time effectively for your business, even if you're not generating much revenue? Are you going to spend the weeks worrying about the little business you're getting, or are you going to spend it getting prepped and ready to head roaring into the 2006?
The first thing you need to understand is that it's true, you probably will not be spending as much time making money over the holidays. If you can make peace with that fact, you're well on your way to holidaying businessy success. It is not necessary to work every single day of the year to operate a successful business. In fact, you should be embracing this down time as a chance to concentrate on your business, rather than working in your business.
Businesses do not thrive on being run into the ground. They do thrive on being fed new ideas, thoughts for new products, new ways to network and market when February rocks around. You should spend at least two weeks planning your outlook for the coming months before the end of the financial year.
How did you perform in the first half of the year?
Was it everything you expected and more (probably not, but if it was, plan higher!), or is there room for even greater achievement? Work out your strongest performance areas, and what made them so. How did your approach to these areas differ to the way you handled your problem areas?
What have been your greatest sellers, or most popular service?
Hazard a guess as to why this is the case. Is it their great value for money, the high quality the customer gets, or your own marketing approach to the particular product? How can you adapt these fine attributes to other products and services? Is it possible to boost your revenue by bundling popular products with other high quality but less popular ones in order to generate more exposure for future sales?
What's the market doing?
Use this time to have a look at your market. Have the demographics changed? Have prices risen? Does your business reflect the needs and wants of your target audience? Make sure you are operating in the right place for your customers.
What do you hope to achieve in the second half of the year?
What changes will you be implementing to make sure 2006 is even more successful than 2005?
January need not be your lowest point of the year. We are all so busy that it's easy to forget that as time progresses, businesses evolve and new developments are made. Using slower periods to analyse these changes is a key factor in the longevity of your business.
Some things to think about doing while the turkey is digesting:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Spargo-Ryan is a passionate designer and writer from Australia. She owns an innovative, funky and contemporary design firm, specialising in identity design, brand consultation, web development and copywriting. Please visit http://www.annaclements.com.au/ for more information.