Get your FREE 30-day trial.
Please complete all fields.
Tis the season for Secret Santa, office parties, and giant goodie baskets from clients. The atmosphere is festive, full of yuletide, joy, and peace for mankind. While you’re busy decking the halls, it’s also time to take a step back to make sure we’re ready for 2017 and that our business is geared up to start the new year right.
Every year, I start by asking myself ‘have my conditions of satisfaction been met?’ and ‘what can we do better for next year?’
As we gear up for the holidays, here are five ways the holiday season can help you get your business ready for 2017.
Santa had eight ordinary reindeer before Rudolph and his big, red nose came along; however, in the end it’s what made him save the day. Rudolph was definitely different, to say the least.
Marketers write plenty of content year-round, so it’s understandable if some feel their work has gone stale or they feel they have to write only about what they know. This is when you need to dig a little deeper, and dare to be different.
You’ve probably heard me say this before, and I’m going to say it again – content is king. If your content isn’t fresh, unique, or engaging, you’re not going to have an engaged audience. Hell, you might not even have an audience!
It’s OK to write about topics you’re familiar with, but give them a twist. Staying on top of industry trends is one way to get creative, and staying on top of what’s going on in the world and pop culture helps, too. Your content should be relatable, instructional, and should leave them wanting more. Asking your readers questions such as ‘what’s your best customer service strategy?’ or ‘tell me your most peculiar selling story’ is one way to keep them engaged and who knows? Those ideas can help generate additional content in the near future.
My takeaway: Inspiration is everywhere, get out of your comfort zone and push boundaries. Remember, they used to laugh at Rudolph ‘and called him names.’ Your audience probably won’t laugh at you, but when it comes to content writing, you must be different!
We all know Rudolph guided Santa’s sleigh, so ask yourself, whose sleigh can I guide? Whose pain point can you solve?
If you have a business, you need customers. That much is obvious, but you need to find the type of customer that will be relevant for your business – anything from prospects, paying customers or even ambassadors. In short, you have to find the right target audience.
How does one do that?
By finding your cause and thinking about what kind of clients would be attracted to your specific business traits. Many people make the mistake of saying, ‘my business isn’t sexy.’ Get that out of your head! While your business may not be setting Tinseltown abuzz, you are helping solve someone’s pain point. That is just as important, if not more. Even if the Kardashians aren’t tweeting about your product or service, your customers rely on you to solve their problem. Solve it and remember to treat every customer as a king or queen. Going the extra mile will make you stand out and even become a life-saver. The grass isn’t always greener.
My takeaway: Quality over quantity. What’s more important to you, having a smaller number of brand/business loyalists who will evangelize what you have to offer or a large number of customers who aren’t loyal to your brand/business nor will they sing your praises? Sure, the numbers might look impressive, but do they matter if it doesn’t advance your business goals? Be a hero to the right communities – just like Rudolph was.
In 2014, a Gallup poll showed that less of one-third of Americans were engaged with their job. Those are pretty low numbers, to say the least, so let Hermey (the elf who wanted to be a dentist) teach you about being passionate about your work.
If you remember him working on the assembly line of toys, his goal was to be a dentist. Yet, he toiled away making toys, all the while reading his books of dental terms. His passion laid elsewhere and his productivity declined.
It’s similar for many entrepreneurs. They are entrepreneurs for a reason – most hate the corporate environment and/or working for someone else. They are tired of touting the company line and being a follower instead of a leader. For me, my work is my passion – a way of life. It overtakes how you think and how you operate.
My takeaway: Follow your passion and don’t be afraid of failure. At least, don’t let the fear control you. Ignore the naysayers and it’ll pay off in the end – just like it did for Hermey.
Everyone likes an underdog! But be sure to be the underdog that wins every once in a while, too. We all know how persistent Buddy the Elf was when wanting to meet, and be accepted, by his biological dad. His unstoppable drive and persistence was contagious and he never lost sight of his end goal.
It’s the same in business. Richard Branson isn’t a name you would associate with ‘underdog,’ but that’s how he likes to describes himself as. He has recounted his multiple business failures throughout the years. He could’ve easily quit and gone on to do something that was safe and had a better success record. Instead, he dusted himself up and kept on going. His sheer persistence and will made him one of those business people that clearly enjoys what they do, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.
My takeaway: Don’t be afraid to face setbacks, ask questions, or let your personality shine. People like, and remember, authenticity so give it to them. The naysayers will always be there; all you have to do is win them over. It worked for Buddy
As a business person, sometimes it’s easy to feel like that sorry-looking tree in A Charlie Brown Christmas. It’s easy to feel like you always need more – more employees, more clients, more money. More, more, more. However, more often than not less is more. When things are over the top, it can have a negative impact on your business – online and off.
Your customers don’t want to be hit over the head (or in every direction) with ads, content, or whatever it is you’re putting out there. If your website is inundated with all kinds of information, your customers will feel overwhelmed, confused, and turned off. Not to mention, you just lost sight of your goals and objectives.
My takeaway: When communicating with your audience, make it about them. The message needs to be clear and concise. Make it about them, not about you or your profits. They don’t care about how great your company’s doing. They care about what you can do for them. Remember, less is more.
Enjoy the holiday season!
--
Jeffrey Hayzlett is the primetime television host of C-Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett and Executive Perspectives on C-Suite TV and is the host of the award-winning All Business with Jeffrey Hayzlett on the CBS on-demand podcast network, Play.It. Hayzlett is a global business celebrity, Hall of Fame speaker, best-selling author, and Chairman of C-Suite Network, home of the world’s most trusted network of C-Suite leaders.
