Happy New Year! Yep, it really is time to say goodbye to 2024, so have you thought about your New Year's resolutions for 2025 yet? Are you going to stop eating meat? Cut down on the wine? (Veganuary or Dry January, anyone?) Or finally take up yoga or pilates?
And what about your small business? As well as any personal goals, it's worth starting the year with some professional targets too, whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing a small team. But we know this can feel like a pretty daunting task, so don't worry - here’s how to set clear, achievable goals for your business that will have you feeling motivated and ready to take on 2025.
1. Start with the BIG picture
Before diving head first into numbers or specific tasks, take a second to think about what you're aiming for. What do you want your business to look like by the end of 2025? Or just in the next six months? Perhaps you're thinking an increase in sales, or an improvement in the quality of your products or services. Maybe you'd like to build your brand, or expand your team?
Either way, having a clear vision in mind will help guide the rest of your goals. And if things get tough (because sometimes they do), your vision will keep you grounded and remind you why you started.
2. Set some SMART goals
Now that you’ve got your vision, it’s time to get specific! Have you heard of the SMART goal framework? If you have, you'll know how it can help, but if you haven't then fear not, we've broken it down for you right here...
SMART goals are: Specific. Be clear about what you want to achieve. Measurable. How will you track progress? Achievable. Set a realistic target that challenges you without overwhelming you. Relevant. Ensure your goal aligns with your business’ vision and purpose. Time-bound. Give yourself a deadline to stay motivated and on track.
For example:
Instead of just saying: ‘I want to grow my online presence', try: ‘I want to increase my website traffic by 25% over the next six months by launching a blog and utilising SEO strategies.' This goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and has a clear deadline. And by having a roadmap, you'll actually be able to track your progress and see all the fab work you're doing.
3. Break it all down
Big goals are exciting, but they can also feel overwhelming when you look at them all at once. To avoid burnout and overwhelming yourself, break each goal down into smaller, more manageable tasks. It’s like eating a pizza, pie, or yummy chocolate or lemon drizzle cake - start with one slice at a time!
For example, do you want to grow your business? If so you could look at expanding your product range. Not sure where to start? Break it down by looking at what sold the most over the last year - popular designs, colours, flavours, that kind of thing! Concentrate on what will make the most significant difference in your business’ success, and what you can actually do now.
Or, if your goal is to grow your social media following by 50%, you could start by researching and defining your target audience, then create a content calendar for regular posts. Engage with followers and respond to comments daily, and collaborate with influencers to reach new audiences.
Each task is small, but they'll all help you build momentum. Remember, big wins are the result of small, consistent actions over time.
4. Track your progress (and celebrate the wins!)
This one’s huge. Goals are only effective if you’re tracking your progress regularly. Set up a system that allows you to monitor how you’re doing - whether it’s using a project management tool like Trello, setting reminders in your calendar, or simply writing a checklist on a whiteboard using some fun colourful marker pens (just not the permanent ones!).
Tracking progress lets you see your successes as well as any areas that may need improvement. Plus, when you hit a milestone, say a certain number of followers on TikTok, you can celebrate! It could be something as simple as treating yourself to a cup of coffee or some cake with your team. Celebrating progress - big or small - keeps you motivated and reinforces that all your hard work really is paying off.
But don't panic if you come across some twists, turns, and unexpected hurdles along the way. The road to success is rarely straightforward, we know this, so if you find that a particular task isn’t quite working out, it’s okay to adjust your strategy (promise!).
5. Find your cheerleaders
Finally, don’t be afraid to lean on your support system. Whether it’s a friend or family member, fellow business owner, or your team, having people who believe in you and hold you accountable can make all the difference.
Share your goals with them and ask for feedback. Fresh eyes can help you refine your objectives or offer ideas you might not have considered. And when times get tough, they can provide the encouragement you need to keep going. To quote Dory from Finding Nemo: Just keep swimming!
Go bold this 2025
Setting goals for the new year is about more than just writing down a list of tasks - it’s about thinking of your business’ future. With the right approach and a clear vision, you’ll be well on your way to achieving great things in 2025.
So go on, grab that notebook, dream big, and set goals that challenge and excite you. You’ve got this!
More blogs from Tiny Box Company:
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Post-Christmas strategy – the importance of maintaining momentum