Holiday, what holiday?!

For some businesses, August can be a quieter month. With people away on holiday, progressing deals and projects can be difficult. But that makes August the perfect to take stock, think and plan, and get yourself and your business into the most effective state, ready to storm through the last few months of the year. So here are a few questions you could be asking yourself:

How do you want to finish the year? Is your business on track to achieve your sales or financial targets? If not, what needs to change? Are your team members performing – staff, outsourced services, partners and dealers? If not, what do you need to do to boost their effectiveness?

Are there marketing initiatives you could be setting in motion? Why not check out the forward features lists for your industry publications or web portals and see if there is anything against which your company could make an editorial contribution. What about trade shows and exhibitions? September to November is a lively season for these and you could benefit from last-minute deals if you want to exhibit. Are you planning direct mailing or email marketing campaigns for September? Now is the time to get your letters and emails drafted and check out your data sources. Is the time right to launch a customer newsletter or blog? Does your marketing collateral need refreshing or updating? What about your web site? Whatever it is, do it, now!

Are there network contacts you intended to follow up, but never quite got around to? Are there people or businesses you believe could assist you, but you haven’t yet connected with them? Bring to mind the names of five people who could help you take your business forward. Now call them and get your show on the road.

Do you have ambitions to develop your business in a new direction? You have some ideas, but have never taken the time to think them right through. You want to branch out, but haven’t yet begun to explore new directions in detail. You get excited by the thoughts, but haven’t yet turned them into action. Well, now is the time. Ask yourself, what one thing can you do today, to take your ideas and begin to turn them into reality?

And you could always take a holiday too, I guess.

29th July 2011