What are you planning to achieve this summer? 

Each year there seems to be two specific times when you get to review, recharge and revamp your business ideas and strategies. Right now August is one of those times, the other usually being January. What’s in store for you and your business this August?

1. Research your market. See what’s happening in your marketplace – what are your customers looking for? Is there a niche within your product or service that you haven’t unearthed yet?
2. Review and update your website. Running your business month to month doesn’t always give you much opportunity to revisit your website. Think about your words – could they be refreshed, could new words be added, do they capture the attention and interest of your visitors?
3. Gather testimonials. This is one area that many business owners fail to capitalise on. A testimonial about your service and/or your product will encourage confidence in the eyes of potential customers. This is a very powerful tool to drive your sales up. Contact your customers and ask them to review the service you gave them and why they would be happy to recommend you.
4. Get Connected. Never have enough time to sign up to social networking sites? Don’t think they will suit your business? Google sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and My Space and register. It’s easy. Then once you’re done, you can setup automated posts via Ping.fm and watch your following grow…
5. Create new products. Are you brimming with a new idea that you’d like to launch to your customers in early Autumn? Brainstorm your ideas on a large sheet of paper. Then organise these into workable sections. Interview experts in the particular niche you are promoting, record audio and video excerpts. Create a learning package or product. Don’t forget to start telling everyone about it – via your newsletter, social media, or via email.

Written by Gail Gibson of True Expressions
Discovery, Change, Transformation