4 Game-Changing Things To Do With Your Business In January
As we roll into the new year, you have a choice to make - you can either do the same day-in and day-out things you did in 2007, or you can break away and make a game-changing course correction that will make 2008 your best year ever. If you choose to do the latter, here’s some food for thought to get you started.
Tip #1 - Learn That New Skill You’ve Been Putting Off
Whether it’s a technical skill like Photoshop or PHP, or just some good old snarky marketing know-how, you know there’s been something that’s been stuck on the back burner for all 12 months of 2007. You know that this skill will open up opportunities for you, but you still haven’t made the time to learn it. Toss aside that procrastination and schedule a few hours a week to haul ass and make it happen. It’s easier than you think - just start with a lunch hour once a week and see where it goes from there.
Tip #2 - Decide To Raise Your Rates (One Way Or Another)
Make more money without piling on the overtime by raising your rates. Can’t raise your rates, you say? Sure you can. You just need to think harder, be more creative, and come up with the solution. Maybe it’s by ponying up a little dough to make your online appearance look better. Maybe it’s by contributing to a few high profile blogs and building credibility. Maybe it’s by simply getting over some insecurity and raising the damn rates already. Don’t tell yourself it can’t be done - tell yourself it can, and don’t let up until you find the shortest path there.
Tip #3 - Let Somebody Else Do The Selling For You
Christine O’Kelly puts it best on one of my all-time favorite blog posts, “How I made $100,000 by spending 25 minutes and $0 on Marketing.” This isn’t paraphrasing (because you have to read the post), but it hinges on finding people who already have your customers and letting them sell you as a value-add. Suddenly the phone rings and you’ve got some cash on the other line. Not a bad way to live.
Tip #4 - Write Your Own Tip Here, and Grab Good Ideas From Others
You’ll put it best when you leave a comment below about the “game-changing” decision that pushed your business forward, and by reading the wisdom of others. Don’t let 2007 pass you by without taking action - do it now!
Till next time,
Dave
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Dave Navarro is Freelance Folder’s Get-More-Done expert. Learn how to double your productivity in the next seven days by grabbing his free time management guide right here.
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8 Rockin' Comments
December 31st, 2007 at 8:40 am
Every time I’ve raised my rates, I seem to get more business. It really does work!
December 31st, 2007 at 9:58 am
Create some add-ons for existing customers. This is better than raising your rates because it’s easier to sell to a satisfied customer than it is to a new customer. If you create reasonable add-ons, you can upsell, which is better than raising rates. We did this in our business and sold the add-on service to 1/3 of our existing clients within a week.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:37 am
I launched a blog in November and I just launched another blog here at the end of December. My goal this year is to change my game by getting into blogging and writing. This will give me a new niche to target and expand my skillset with writing.
So, for me its all about blogging for the next few months. I’m hoping to eventually make some ad dollars from them. I also want to use them to meet new people and as a marketing platform to get new clients. Here are the two blogs I launched aiburn.com and blogelephant.com. Thanks.
So my tip for January is if you don’t already have a blog launch one.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:49 am
I just read the article over at Self Made Chick referenced in number 4. Good advice and worth the read. I’ll have to think about approching potential businesses to partner up with this year. Thanks.
December 31st, 2007 at 11:00 am
Wow Dave! What an honor to be among your all time favorite blog posts!
This year I’m going to target a whole new set of resellers - a group that I am completely unfamiliar and that is outside of my comfort zone. I will be relying on all three of your tips here to pull this off.
You rock Dave!!
Christine
December 31st, 2007 at 12:14 pm
You rule. Duh.
Man, I’m great with the comments, aren’t I? That’s why they pay me the big bucks.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:00 pm
@Sean -
Best of luck with the blog. Write as much as you can!
@Christine -
Looking forward to to seeing the trail you blaze in 2008 - thanks for all the great advice in your blog.
@Naomi -
“You had me at ‘you rule.’”
January 1st, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Im with Naomi you rule! Its funny because i am actually putting all three into practice this year!
Sean’s tip on launching a blog is just so on point, im working double time to get my ready for the end of Jan as i know the huge benefits this brings to your network and business!
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