Happy holidays! We recently had our PPR Strategies holiday party to celebrate all of our hard work this year. The holidays are a great time to acknowledge your team members and the work they put in all year long. Here we are celebrating!
As 2016 comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about how to be successful in the year ahead. Here are three steps to starting 2017 strong.
1. Do a Year-in-Review of 2016
Rarely in life or business do we take the time to look back and acknowledge our progress. Before you start setting your new year’s goals, it’s important to take a look back. Along with celebrating your forward movement, you can also assess the areas that your organization needs to grow in the new year.
Here are some questions to consider:
What really worked this year? Where did you see great results?
Any new OR tried-and-true marketing tactics that led to a great return? For example, maybe you led your first social media challenge and increased your following and engagement. Maybe you also had success at a trade show your organization attends every year.
What would you like to do more of?
Perhaps you’d like to send more consistent newsletters to cultivate the relationships with your email list. Or maybe, you’d like to come up with something new and innovative to bring attention to your community!
What do you want to stop doing? What’s past its prime?
For example, maybe there’s a form of traditional advertising that’s not bringing in results.
2. Set Your Goals for 2017
Once you’ve reviewed 2016, decide how you’d like to progress in 2017.
What do you want to happen this year? How can you make that happen?
Maybe this year, you’d like to take more advantage of social media platforms to expand your reach. How can you do that? Maybe that means adding Instagram or Snapchat in social media mix. Or start doing Facebook Live streaming videos!
Perhaps you want to capitalize on more local opportunities. So in this case, your team can create an events calendar at the beginning of the year, which you plan around and add to throughout the year.
Get clear on the bigger goal, and then brainstorm some of the action steps to make it happen.
3. Create Accountability to Stay on Track
How will you stay accountable for your goals in 2017? Accountability is key to staying focused and taking regular action.
One great way to do this is to get your whole team involved. At an end-of-year meeting, have everyone share their goals. Then, review them weekly in staff meetings to track your progress and set mini goals.
Maybe as you are reading this, you’re not quite sure what to do differently in 2017.
If you’d like some daily motivation and fresh new ideas… you’re in luck!
Starting in early January, I’m kicking of a FREE 30-Day Economic Development Marketing Challenge. Every day for 30 days, I’ll be sending out bite-sized tips, action steps, and motivation that you and your team can take action on right away.
This is a great way for your whole team to get fresh, fun ideas to start 2017 strong.
We’ll kick off on January 17th.
Hope that you and yours have a wonderful holiday season!
‘Til next time,
Sandy
