Why it’s the most important day of next year…

(Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes)

December 9, 2010 is the most important day of 2011.

Confused?

If there’s a better time to start making your plans for an incredible year ahead, then no one told me.

Today, yes, today is as crucial as any other for ensuring of your lead generation and self-promotion efforts into 2011.

Here’s why: I’m getting my podcasting planned out for 2011, and you should too. There is no better time to take action than right now.

Let’s break that down:

1. You’ve got more than three weeks before 2011 kicks in. That’s a lot of time to get your mission in order
2. You’ve got a fantastic few days between Christmas and New Year’s Day when you can test the choices you make this week, refine them, and put them where they need to be for you to reap the rewards of a well-measured marketing strategy
3. If you start today, you can have your draft sales and marketing strategy down and ready for review by the end of this week.

All sounds a bit far-fetched? Don’t think you need a sales and marketing plan – it’s the stuff of big companies?

Today is the day you start thinking big, and playing the big game in 2011.

You may have heard this before, so excuse me for regurgitating what you already know. Big doesn’t win any more.

If you’re small in size but big in scope, you’re more agile and likely to succeed than ever before. Passion and personality beat any other hand in the game of business.

Niche is more than nice: It’s essential. You have that power at your fingertips. You’re on the cusp of something really spectacular. If you don’t see that, ask your customers to remind you. To them, you’re a leader and visionary.

This week is a vital one for me. I’m planning some incredible things for The Podcast Guy (both my company and alter ego) in 2011 and I know I need the deck to be shuffled and ready to deal by the time that big clock strikes 12.

Unsure where to begin?

1. Review your progress this year. What did you achieve? Write down your five favourite wins of 2010, and understand how you got there, why they were so important, and what opportunities they unlocked that gave you the greatest cheer
2. Set yourself a financial target for 2011. It doesn’t have to be big or small – it just needs to be what you want to earn. Got a new summer house in your sights? Want to upshift your abode? Factor that in. Staff deserve a bonus for being incredible? Make it happen. Put that figure somewhere safe.
3. Examine closely your customer needs. Now is a perfect time to be sending out Christmas cards and a discount voucher to give them a festive treat. Invite them to join your enewsletter list, get them into the shop, drive them wild with excitement. And then seize the opportunity to quiz them about what you’ve done for them this year – and don’t be afraid to ask the toughies, like what you could have done better. Then find out what they need next year. And don’t just deliver; go one better.
4. Understand what your competitors are doing. Get out to the last networking event of the year and forge stronger relationships with your opposite number. Figure ways you can build a greater reputation/brand for your sector. Offer the hand of friendship. Some of the greatest wins in business come from embracing the competition, rather than pushing it away.
5. Use technology. Sales and marketing starts with being front of mind. Generate swathes of new customers using modern marketing techniques such as blogcasting and standalone podcasting. These elements of new media have untold advantages in building rock solid customer relationships, as well as unlocking the gates to a whole new base of customers.
6. Experiment. Shake things up a little. Bend the bough. Try stuff that surprises you. Give your staff congratulation for coming up with innovative ways to be more efficient, shaving valuable pounds off your manufacturing/service costs and as a result, providing both your customers and bank manager with another reason to smile in 2011.

I’ll be back with my hot tips for doing it even better in 2011, soon. Until then, get your house in order, follow this quick guide to being ready for the new year with a newly-freshened business, and make sure you have more fun than ever this festive season.

What tips do you have to ready the ship for 2011? Do you plan to do things a little differently next year?

Dave Thackeray Want to be a radio star? Guest on Dave Thackeray's InspiRadio, a unique business-focused online radio network. Listen live or check out the InspiRadio website for more information.