Aug 17, 2016

By: Chelsea Haley, DKI Ventures, LLC

As the kids rush back to school to begin another year for their growing minds, businesses should take this opportunity to grow as well. This is a great time of the year to get back on track with your annual goals and fix any shortcomings. The last quarter (Q4) will be here before we know it!

Here are some back-to-school tips for your business:

Identify your strengths and weaknesses

Just as your kids will be tested on their strengths for the next school year, you should also test those in your business and of your employees. Any outstanding projects recently? Get testimonials, pictures, videos, etc. and promote them! People want satisfaction; if they don’t see or hear of your successes, they may not choose to purchase your products or services.

On the other hand, if something failed or didn’t meet your expectations this year, analyze the results and make a plan to improve it. Maybe it’s worth tossing aside, and starting fresh; or maybe it’s salvageable in some way. This is your chance to fix the situation and increase your ratings before the year is over.

Update your planners

When was the last time you reviewed your business plan for the year? Now that you’ve analyzed your strengths and weaknesses, you may want to review and revise your plan. Once you have your plan set and have communicated it fully with your team, it’s time to update your planners and calendars with deadlines, campaigns, events and appointments. You’ll want to promote your business now, more so than before, to ensure you stay top of mind with your customers and clients, especially as the holidays come around.

Grow your knowledge

Your kids are going back to school; consider taking some classes of your own. Whether you want to develop your certifications or get a better understanding of the ever-changing social media world, attending a conference or signing up for training may help you better serve your customers.

Purchase new supplies

Just as your kids need new school supplies as technology advances and depending on the quality of last year’s, so may your business. Test your equipment, follow up on the latest and greatest gear for your industry and check in with your employees on what they may need. If it will benefit your company’s performance and appearance as well as help bring in more sales, it may be worth updating your current supply.

And, while your kids show off their new school uniforms/outfits and supplies on social media, you should too! Promote your latest new equipment, fancy uniforms, etc. and maybe even run a giveaway for some new company swag for your customers.

Reunite

As our kids go back to school, they may reunite with friends they hadn’t seen over the summer. Naturally, they will catch up – show off their new hobbies and skills and/or new toys they bought. This is your chance to show off your new skills, services, equipment, etc. Reconnect with those potential customers you spoke with before summer started and share any exciting updates about yourself or your company that may help you close a sale.

Celebrate the holidays

Remember, the holidays aren’t just for kids. Take advantage of this time of year to plan holiday specials for your customers. For instance, consider having a Customer Appreciation Week for Thanksgiving, showing thanks to all your customers, new and old, by offering a preferred customer rate on your products or services.