Top New Year’s Resolutions for 2010

The confetti's cleaned up and you're back to business. Will this be the year that your company grows to the next level? Or will you be content to grind out another year waiting for the phone to ring? According to small business experts from across the country, the first quarter of a new year offers tremendous potential for small business owners and entrepreneurs willing to make changes.

Resolution #1: Help Your Customers Find You Online
If 56k modem speeds seemed fast the last time you updated your company's web site, it's time for an overhaul. Likewise, if your web design only looks right on a single web browser, consider opening up your online presence to the whole world. Inexpensive Website design services can help you craft an online experience that works just as well on mobile phones as on desktop computers. Using text effectively can improve your ranking on major search engines. Search Engine Marketing campaigns are trackable ads that can bring new customers to you online, and you can use internet marketing or SEM to make sure your advertising money is spent wisely. SEO services can help customers reach you by having your website appear higher in top search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing. Sign up on Tradeseam to receieve qualified sales leads for your business.

Resolution #2: Communicate More Clearly, and More Often
Many business experts caution entrepreneurs to spend less time talking and more time listening. Instead of crowing about your latest ideas, use every tool at your disposal to listen to employees, customers, and partners. Web designers can easily implement customer feedback forms into Web sites that highlight common ideas and themes. E-commerce solutions and point of sale (POS) software tools can integrate customer surveys into receipts. Using online social media, such as Twitter, Facebook, TradeSeam or Get Satisfaction, to respond to sales leads, inquiries and complaints shows that you really care about customer concerns.

Resolution #3: Make It Easier for Customers to Make Payments
Tightening up on receivables can make a big difference to your company. Online credit card processing solutions let customers use their own plastic online as an alternative to having to physically visit your store to make a purchase. Many e-commerce solutions for small businesses now offer invoicing tools in addition to traditional shopping carts. E-mailing customer invoices not only saves stamps, it can also result in faster turnaround time for scheduled payments. Many credit card processing services will even automate regular transactions such as subscriptions or contract payments.

Resolution #4: Organize Your Inventory To Reduce Waste and End of Year Write Offs
For retail stores, spoilage, shrinkage, and shoplifting pose three of the biggest threats to profits. Even online retailers must think about stock levels, sometimes at multiple storage locations. Inexpensive POS and inventory management solutions can help you and your team stay informed about what you can sell. Auto-replenishment modules can alert your vendors when you're low on stock. And sophisticated e-commerce solutions can integrate with in-store registers for seamless customer experiences.

Resolution #5: Hire Great Talent To Grow Your Business
Small business owners are probably more sensitive to recessions than anyone else. However, guiding your company through troubled economic times can give you a greater strength than you might realize. As a successful business, you can use this time to recruit some of the greatest minds from less fortunate companies. Ask your Website designer to integrate a "careers" page into your Web site, so you can more easily catalog prospective applicants. Building a strong team during a weak economy can help you thrive during the next bull market.

Resolution #6: Don't Wait For 2012 For Your Next Resolutions
The very best companies don't wait for the ball to drop in Times Square before thinking about how they can improve. Charting your progress on a quarterly, monthly, or weekly basis can help you make smarter short-term business decisions. Instead of forcing yourself to make sweeping changes at the start of the new year, you can focus on smaller tweaks that keep you focused on your business.