How To Welcome The New Year and Smile While Doing It

1. How To Welcome The New Year and Smile While Doing It Supergeeks.net

2. This time of year is my favorite. Our work schedules slow to a nice pace and we surround ourselves in the comfort of family. I especially like how we can look back on the year with a critical eye. And how the new year always seems to bring renewed hope and ambition. It’s safe to say that most people want the same thing. They want to be happy, healthy and to feel challenged. On a professional level, all of us probably want an interesting job, decent compensation and to be appreciated for our hard work and commitment. As a business owner, I am certain you want the same things I do. You want even more success and to make a difference in the world. The neat thing is we can all have what we want. We just have to be smart about it and to be willing as Kipling would say to fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds of distance run. For the upcoming year, I have just three resolutions for my companies. Here’s how I will use technology to get closer to my goals:

3. I want more customers. And I want to keep them. This is really a statement about sales. I want more. We all know it’s infinitely more efficient to sell more products and services to a current client than try to find a new one. I want to do that, of course. But I also want to expand our market share. ● In 2014 I will be more disciplined about collecting emails. I will segment and curate my list. I will study email best practices and I will build a stronger rapport with my followers. Constant Contact (constantcontact.com) or SurveyMonkey (surveymonkey.com) will get the job done. ● I will also dedicate a good chunk of our marketing dollar for online advertising. Facebook’s promoted posts are generating decent returns on B2C sales. A recent article on VentureBeat.com claims 60 percent of social shopping starts on Facebook, 15 percent starts on Pinterest, and 5 percent begins on Twitter. But Polyvore.com (don’t worry, you are not the only one who hasen’t hear of it) is driving a whopping 20% of all social commerce. I need to play with it and test a few campaigns. ● While I’m working ‘on’ my business and not ‘in’ it, I need to establish loyalty programs that add value. I found some good tips here: http://goo.gl/smh3XH

4. I want to work less. I don’t want to have “to show up” for work. Yes, cue the collective chuckle. But it’s true. We all want to earn money while we sleep. A business that essentially comes to a halt when I’m absent is more a labor of love than I well developed asset. Ultimately, subscription type sales are ideal. Recurring revenue is more predictable, easier to support, and potentially more profitable. ● Next year I want to help more clients with ongoing services, like search engine optimization (SEO), network management, and Google Apps administration. ● I also want to explore affiliate marketing. Commission Junction (cj.com) offers a bunch of online tools to help generate leads for vendors and for providers to generate leads for us. Automated lead generation coupled with a recurring revenue business model is a winning combination. ● I will try Chrome extensions like Time Tracker or StayFocusd to keep me pointed in the right direction. The important thing is to schedule my priorities, not to prioritize my schedule. I should hold myself to same level of accountability one would for an employee and use metrics to gauge success.

5. I want to create more value. This is broader statement about legacy. At the end of the day, we are in business to make a buck and to enjoy the freedoms of capitalism. But the bigger draw the thing that keeps us motivated and aligned with what’s right is the strong desire to make the world a better place. In fact, we feel happier and more powerful when we are committed to something larger than we are. ● One of the weekly priorities I will schedule is TED.com. There’s enough scope and depth at that site to keep me busy for the year. By studying other subjects, I should be able to sponge innovation and generate winning ideas. ● Bloggers and industry leaders can also serve as a source of valuable inspiration. James Altucher(jamesaltucher.com) has a refreshing perspective on the meaning of success. And just yesterday I used LinkedIn.com to connect with Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com. By identify and following role models, I will become even more effective about creating change. ● Finally, there are plenty of sites to help us select and support our causes. The New York Times has a good article on how to choose a charity wisely: http://goo.gl/Fhzbqz

6. Happy holidays! Please let me know if I can help with anything. JAMES KERR, Founder and Chief Geek of SuperGeeks. Mr. Kerr's tech tips help businesses improve efficiencies and boost sales. Learn how your company can leverage search engine marketing. Visit supergeeks.net Today!