Three Simple Ways to Make a Resolution into a Business Plan

As the old year closed and the new began, I’ve been thinking about making “resolutions” for my business, but haven’t found time because I’ve been busy planning for 2012.

Then it hit me, a plan can be as simple as a resolution, or as marketing pro, Brian Jud, likes to say: “Planning is as simple as P.I.E.” 

Of course he is referring to an acronym that stands for: Plan, Implement, and Evaluate (P.I.E). Notice that Brian uses the word simple...not easy!

I think the key ideas here are to resolve to:

1. Not be overwhelmed with the planning process. One step leads to another, and you have to start somewhere. I start with a piece of paper and write down Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (S.W.O.T.).

2. Identify your target market. I know how hard it is to realize that your product or service is not for "everybody." I think a better way to understand this is to recognize that your marketing budget is not big enough to sell to "everybody." I start by imagining all the details I can about a person who is using my services and where they get their information. These characteristics can lead me to my target market.

3. I think of the word plan as a verb. I keep a one page, edited version, of my plan with my calendar and make notes on it throughout the week. Many times these notes become action items, or I use them to revise my plan latter. In other words, as I evaluate my plan it evolves.

So on further thought, here’s my resolution: I’m going to keep my planning process simple, active and evolving.