Labor Day has come and gone already! We celebrated the weekend with one last picnic and a day of fun at the Evergreen State Fair! Now the kids are back in school. Summer vacations are over and there’s a definite hint of fall in the air.
September in the Pacific Northwest means that the mountains and the sailboats will be out most days. Since it’s one of our driest months, September is a great time to take a walk in the Washington Park Arboretum or to enjoy a drive along the Columbia River Gorge where the fall foliage is spectacular! Of course, September is also when we ‘do the Puyallup’. The Puyallup Fair is among the top ten largest fairs in the world!
Autumn is also a good time to renew the commitments we made on January 1st, take another look at business plans, re-establish priorities, and ‘gear it up’ again.
I met with friends for a brainstorming session last week and we came up with some ideas I’d like to share with you.
Tip #1: Prioritize your To Do list. Focus on completing the important things first, specifically, the projects that will help you achieve your goals.
Tip #2: Promise yourself that you will not work in a cluttered mess of an office. It will slow you down and stress you out. Get organized!
Tip #3: Redecorate your office with light and color. Is your office too dark? Maybe this is the time to add another window to the room or buy a new desk lamp. What about color? Does your office feel dull and monotonous? If you have been feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, your surroundings could be partly to blame. Infusing your décor, furnishings, and accessories with colors you are drawn to will lift your spirits and invigorate your mood.
Tip #4: Polish your image. Branding is your identity in the marketplace; is yours saying what it should? Large companies regularly review their brand imaging. Why wouldn’t you?
* Has your target market changed?
* Is your product or service as current and up-to-date as it needs to be?
* Could your website or marketing materials use some rewriting and tweaking?
Tip #5: Analyze the results of your marketing strategy. Take a fresh look at your message, approach, and tactics. If you’re marketing on a shoestring, make the best use of your budget by creating a balanced campaign that combines sales activities along with your marketing methods.
Consider the idea of presenting a webinar as a joint venture with an associate or vendor in a related industry. Think of the opportunities for lead generation and list building. Write a killer press release, position yourself as an expert in your field, and generate tons of free publicity by introducing yourself to the media. Contact your existing customers and let them know that you are looking for referrals. Show your appreciation by offering them a compelling incentive such as a discount on your products or services.
Tip #6: Improve your mindset for success by envisioning success in the production of everything you begin. Develop this habit; it will help you stay motivated and inspired.
Tip #7: Put your ideas in writing! Then determine how you will carry out those plans. Merely writing them down is not enough. You still need to schedule time in your day to take action and follow through.
Bonus tip: Get away for a day or a weekend once in awhile. Go to the mountains or the ocean, breathe some fresh air, look at the stars, and re-connect with your true self. A change of scene is great for thinking clearly and getting re-energized!
How about you? What projects are you focusing on to boost your business through the end of 2011? Leave me a comment and share your ideas here.
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