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The 4 Things Your Business Needs to Make a Bigger Mark in 2013

Marketing, branding, etc. It’s an ever-evolving process. Once you think you have it down, it has already sprouted legs and started walking down the middle of Main Street. Figuratively of course…and sometimes literally.

So how do you know how to plan so you can rank top-of-mind with consumers in 2013? We’ve come up with a list to help you figure it out.

1. Plan that Marketing.

It doesn’t matter what your business does. If you own a business, you need an ever-evolving marketing plan, no questions asked. Statistically, businesses with a marketing plan are 80% more successful than those without one. If you don’t have one that works, all you are doing is wasting time and money.

2. Life is But a Strategy.

The world is full of dreamers, but we guarantee that out of those people, a very small portion actually accomplish what they set out to. It all comes down to strategy. Make sure that you aren’t spending each week asking yourself, “What should I be doing to build my business this week?” If you are doing it right, you’ll already have the basics laid out for the next few years. (Just be sure that you are evolving it as the world changes.)

3. Keep Yourself Accountable.

It doesn’t matter what size your business is. To make sure you succeed, you need to have a group to support you and hold you accountable for not reaching your goals. That group could be a few co-workers, a couple of close professional friends or even a business-savvy advertising agency. Then make a weekly effort to meet and reflect on how your plans are progressing.

4. Cover Your Financials.

If you decide that this year, you want to hire a sky-writer to fly above Angels Stadium and tell everyone about your local restaurant at $15,000 (your entire advertising budget) you probably haven’t created a very good financial plan. Remember, lack of cash flow is one of the biggest problems for small businesses. By creating a financial plan that works for you, you eliminate that obstacle, leaving your budget open to make a bigger impact.