Having a clear view of your business over each quarter is the key to success.
If you’re still new to running your own business, then this may be largely theoretical at the moment… but trust me, a plan that gets adapted is better than having no plan at all.
Please edit the suggestions below to work for your business but, however, you want each quarter to look – make sure you block out some time in your diary now to review and plan.
Things to review from the last quarter
Ok, here’s some suggestions of what you may want to analyse every three months…
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Total revenue, sales and financial targets
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Where your customers came from, conversion rate, repeat customers
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Your marketing strategy (e.g. engagement + click throughs on email / socials)
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What you enjoyed the most and what you found most challenging
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Anything you want to cut out, do less off or add in going forward…
Things to plan for the next quarter
Here’s a few things to consider when visualising what the next three months will look like…
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Where can your business grow and what would you like it to look like?
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How does that translate into targets for revenue / sales?
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What’s needed to help you get there? E.g. how will your marketing plan support this?
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Using your reflections from the last quarter, what changes are needed going forward?
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Go back to your WHY for your business: what brings you joy? Plan this in!
Ways to reward yourself and invest in future growth
Each quarter offers a new season for personal development…
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As small business owners, we have to make the choice to invest in ourselves
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Looking back at the last quarter: where would you benefit from upskilling yourself?
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Identify a training or class that will help with these (there’s often online / free options)
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Acknowledge the hard work you’ve put in and show yourself some gratitude
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How could you reward yourself this quarter? Plan this, so you have it to look forward to!
