As a new year begins, it’s common for people to reflect on their habits and processes and to consider new ways of approaching old problems. Goal setting is another common practice at the beginning of the new year. Setting business goals can help your company grow and thrive in 2019 and in the years to come. Depending on where your business is financially and where it is regarding its development, there are a few different goals you can set and work towards. Here are a few business goals worth considering in 2019.
1. Focus on Employee Health/Happiness
Whether you work with a small staff of just five or have more than 100 employees, their health and happiness play a critical role in how well your company functions and whether or not it ends up achieving its growth or revenue goals. As 2019 begins, it can be worthwhile to focus on setting goals that will help your employees feel happier on the job or that will help them live more healthful lives.
One way to improve employee health and happiness is to offer wellness programs. Programs can range from offering group workout sessions to team members before or after work or on their lunch breaks to offering nutrition and cooking classes that help employees eat more healthfully. Other programs that can help employee health include offering free flu shots in the office, encouraging people to stay home when they are sick or giving people the option of working remotely in the winter months when colds and the flu are more common.
2. Lower Your Company’s Energy Bills
If you were to ask 10 business owners if they wanted to save money or reduce expenses, you’d most likely get 10 positive responses. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to finding ways to save money. One way to do so is to find ways to lower your company’s energy bills. If you have been spending more than you’d like on electricity each month, start a program that encourages people to turn off lights and power down their computers when they leave for the day. Adjusting the thermostat so that it’s a few degrees warmer in the summer can help to lower your company’s energy bills and can also help employees who constantly feel cold in the office feel more comfortable.
3. Try a New Marketing Tactic
How does your company get its message out to the public? It might be time to try something new when it comes to marketing in 2019. Many B2B companies avoid social media, as they assume that it is designed for consumer-focused brands. But social media marketing can be a useful tool for B2B companies as well. It might also be worth focusing on your company’s website or developing a blog for your business in the new year.
If it’s been a while since you revamped your business’ website, it might be in need of a refresh. A website redesign won’t just give your company a new look. It can also make your site easier for people to find through a search engine.
4. Develop a New Product
One way for your business to grow in 2019 is to launch a new product or offer something new to your existing customers. Since it might take a few months or even an entire year to develop and launch a product or new service offering, this is a goal that’s best to get started on sooner rather than later.
To get started, think about what you offer to customers and ways you could improve your offerings. You might have gotten comments or feedback from your customer base about things they’d like to see improved or features that would benefit them. You can use that information when designing and building your new product.
5. Network More
Not everyone enjoys networking, but it is something worth doing if you want to expand your business circle and develop relationships with potential vendors, clients or mentors. If networking is something you usually avoid, a good goal for 2019 is to do it more.
Set a target that you can achieve, such as attending one networking event each month or every other month. Remember that you don’t always have to network in person. If you’ve neglected social media so far, 2019 could be the year that you focus on building up your network on LinkedIn and on forming lasting connections with other people online.
Setting business goals for the new year is just the first step. The real challenge often lies in working your way towards those goals. Whether you hope to save money, grow your business or build up a stronger network in 2019, New Direction Capital can help. Contact us today to learn more.
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