How to set business goals for the new year
As the calendar flips to a new year, businesses across the globe are gearing up for fresh opportunities and challenges. Setting strategic short-term goals is a pivotal step in steering your business toward success.
In this blog post, we'll explore how businesses, particularly those in the graphic design realm, can establish effective short-term goals for the upcoming year.
Examples of Setting Business Goals
Reflect on the Past Year
Before rushing into the future, take a moment to reflect on the past.
What worked really well?
What didn’t work?
What were your accomplishments, challenges, and areas that need improvement?
Identify what worked well and what could be enhanced. Look through your website’s analytics, were there any spikes or valleys in the timeline? If so, do you know why? Reflection provides a solid foundation for setting realistic and achievable goals.
Define Your Brand Identity
Graphic design is not just about creating visuals; it's a powerful tool for building and communicating brand identity. Before setting goals, ensure that your brand identity is well-defined. Evaluate your logo, colour palette, typography, and overall design aesthetic. Does your branding look too similar to another brand? Are you worried it might be causing some confusion with potential customers? Make sure your brand elements align with your business values and resonate with your target audience.
Remember, 'A logoless company is a faceless man' — David Airey
Align Goals with Brand Strategy
Your business goals should seamlessly align with your brand strategy. Do your goals align with your buyer personas or messaging? We have written 4 blog posts specifically on Brand strategies:
Every goal should contribute to reinforcing your brand image and positioning in the market.
Enhance Online Presence
In the digital age, a strong online presence is non-negotiable (There are about 1.13 billion websites on the internet in 2023). Set goals related to improving your website design (Users form an opinion about a website in 0.05 seconds), website experience, optimizing for search engines (SEO), and expanding your reach on social media. Consistent and visually appealing online branding can significantly impact how potential clients and customers perceive your business. The numbers don’t lie. 88% of online users won’t return to a site after a bad experience.
Client Satisfaction and Retention Goals
Happy clients are the backbone of any successful business. Set goals related to client satisfaction, such as meeting deadlines, maintaining open communication, and exceeding client expectations in terms of quality. Additionally, focus on strategies to retain existing clients, as repeat business is often more valuable than acquiring new clients. Have a happy client/customer? Have them submit a Google Review! According to Trustpilot, 89% of users read online reviews before buying the product.
Examples of Measurable Metrics For Business Goals
Ensure your goals are measurable and trackable. This might include metrics such as website traffic, social media engagement, client retention rates, or revenue growth. Having quantifiable goals allows you to assess progress and make informed decisions to adjust strategies.
As you enter the new business year, keep in mind that setting goals isn't a one-size-fits-all task. Tailor your objectives to meet the specific needs of your business, recognizing the important role design, messaging, values, positioning and personas play in conveying your brand message. With strategic goals in place, you'll be better equipped to tackle challenges and take advantage of the opportunities the upcoming year offers.
Contact the experts at Sunday Roast to get your goals set for 2024! Here's to a year marked by creative growth, innovation, and excellence!
