2019 is coming to a quick end. It’s time to start planning those new year’s resolutions, both personal and professional. Out with the old, in with the new! There are businesses and products all over the map that promise they can take your business to the next level with their tools. Before you spend any time or money on their programs, we’ve got something that won’t cost you a single cent but will yield great results.

If you’re ready to jumpstart your business in 2020, we’ve got 12 steps that you surely don’t want to skip! There’s one step for every month of the year, though we suggest applying them much sooner than once a month if you really want to see a change in your business this new year.

Set goals

When you take time to sit down and think about the goals you want to set, the things that are most important to you are revealed. Goal setting is imperative because it helps motivate you to act towards a certain outcome. Maybe you have an idea of where you would like to be as a business by the end of the year, but you’re not quite sure how to get there. Try using the acronym S.M.A.R.T when setting goals. It stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. If your goals meet all of these parameters, they become truly possible, making your goal planning sessions that much more effective. For example: “Acquire three new clients per month by launching a social media marketing campaign.” This goal has a time restraint attached to it (per month), has specific and measurable parameters (three new clients), is relevant by helping to grow the business and is totally achievable (depending on your business). Now that you’ve seen an example, start thinking of some goals for your own business.

Understand your finances

Whether you’re a small business and are heavily involved in your finances, or a larger business that has an entire department committed to handling them, you as a leader should always know what’s going on. Unless you have a working knowledge of the numbers your company is working with, you won’t be able to effectively set goals or make plans for your business. If you can’t answer the basics about your company’s finances right now, this year is the time to change that! Start small; commit to knowing the daily, weekly and monthly numbers for your business. Once you’ve got that down, start looking outward. Figure out the upcoming trends for your business. Knowing this information will make all the difference as you make plans and work on growing your business this year.

Update the software you use

In this age of technology, there is always a newer, better and faster way for you to accomplish a certain task. This year may be the perfect time to try out new software for your business. Having issues with your work order running smoothly? Try a new work order management system to help your workflow run better. Email communication is important for reaching customers and clients but can get convoluted when it comes to communicating between employees. Try a messaging software that is saved specifically for communication within your business. If your remote employees are having a hard time keeping track of their hours, try an online time tracking sheet. If your supply chain activities are getting messy, try a 3PL software. This software will manage outsourced supply chain operations, like transportation and warehousing, and help ease your mind. You can also allow customers to view the system which adds transparency and builds their trust in your business. Here’s another option; check out this online business magazine article about compensation management software and why it may be beneficial for your business.

Focus on sales

This step may be the most obvious of all, and you may think “I’m already focusing everything on sales.” But there are a few steps within this that you may be overlooking. As a leader, you are generally aware of all the projects, tactics and strategies going on to increase the growth of your business and bring in sales. Growth and sales are number one in your mind. But that mindset may not be the case for every member of your company. Ensure that everyone knows that the top priority for the company is growth. Offer incentives for those that take this seriously. Set goals as a company to get everyone involved. Do everything you can to show by your own example of how important sales are for the business. Sales impacts not only the growth of your business but also the loyalty and retention you’ll see from your customers, which circles back around to more sales. Don’t let the importance of sales go under-estimated this year.

Give the exterior of your building a facelift

You’ve heard the phrase, “New Year, New You.” Well, what about, “New Year, New Building”? While you might be kidding yourself by saying the run-down look gives your building a “vintage charm”, you’re not fooling any potential customers or clients. Give the exterior of your business a facelift this year. You could consider replacing siding that is old and grungy, you could try a new paint color, maybe hire someone to change the landscaping and foliage. Even a simple change of a new banner or signage could get people to stop and notice your building. Getting a new look not only makes your building look cleaner and more modern, but it could also help increase the foot traffic that comes into your business as well. Besides cosmetic repairs, check out this online business magazine article for more ideas on how to increase your businesses’ foot traffic.

Establish a good work environment for your employees

After an exterior facelift, you may want to take a look inside. There are many elements that go into providing a good work environment, from making sure that the basics are met (water, sanitation, etc.) to providing comfort (lounge area, game room, etc). Working in an attractive environment can also boost employee’s moods which ultimately affects their productivity. Things like good lighting, comfortable seating and modern decoration can make a huge difference in your employee’s attitudes about being at work. If you’re looking to make a big change with your office layout, read this online business magazine article about the value of switching from cubicles to soundproof booths. With cosmetic needs met, make sure you have answers for the even more important elements of an office building. For example, find a good AC services company that you trust in case of an emergency. Having an AC unit go out creates an unworkable environment and significantly slows down the workforce if not all together shutting it down.

Make a habit of reading a reliable online business magazine

An online business magazine is a truly valuable tool, somewhere you can find recommendations, advice, and stay updated on industry trends. You’ll find everything from entrepreneurial tools, to new technologies and software that can be used to boost your business. Why not get started with this habit now? Check out this online business magazine article about the value of staying updated on industry trends.

Enhance your front office training

Your front office employees and customer service representatives are viewed as the face of your company. It’s important that they are always prepared for any question or request a customer will have for them. Enhancing and focusing on the training they receive this year will make a huge difference both in your productivity and in your relationship with your customers. Assure that your front office and customer service employees are ALWAYS up-to-date on projects, promotions and any issue that a customer may contact them about. If they don’t have all the information for a customer, it won’t only look bad for them, it will reflect poorly on the entire company. Enhancing their training is in the best interest of the entire company. This online business magazine article talks about the value that good customer service will have on your leads and sales.

Work with a consulting firm

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is have a fresh, non-biased pair of eyes take a look at some of your issues and processes. Consulting firms are chock-full of professionals who specialize in a variety of fields. Do some research on process improvement consulting firms this year to add some extra horsepower and clarity to your business. Their specialists can look at all elements of your business (the finances, systems, daily operations, etc.) and identify areas where improvements can be made. They’ll help you streamline your processes and expand your growth as a business. Most importantly, they’ll help resolve some of your most stressful problems and allow you to focus on other areas of work.

Step up your marketing game

It’s no secret that marketing is one of the most important things you’ll do for your business. The more potential customers come across your name, your ads, your product, etc., the more likely they are to recall and choose your business when making a purchase. Good marketing leads to sales, greater customer trust, and overall growth of your business. The first step to up your marketing game is to create a marketing plan. It’s your action plan for what you want to sell, who your audience is, and the tactics you’ll use to make those sales. A marketing plan will ensure that all your employees can see your vision for your business and will be able to help to enact it — just make sure that they’re familiar with it. Get some tips on essential marketing technology with this online business magazine article.

Work with reliable and sustainable distributors

If you do any sort of manufacturing, you know how important plastic is to the process. Ensuring that you have a trustworthy industrial plastic distributor can make a huge difference to the speed and productivity of your product production. While considering your plastic distributor, give this online business magazine article about the importance of product packaging a read. You’ll also want to consider the transportation of your products, especially when using pallets. Wood is an energy-efficient material, being both recyclable and eco-friendly; cement and steel require factories and materials like fossil fuel to produce them. Finding and using the best wood pallets Florida has to offer, will help you lower the carbon footprint your business leaves on this world. If you’re looking for something a little bigger than pallets for the transportation of your products, check out this online business magazine article about new vs. used cargo storage containers.

Make self-care a priority

In 2017, as many as 52% of Americans didn’t use their paid time off. That time to themselves is valuable time used to recuperate, relieve stress, and be prepared to return to the office at 100% percent. Encourage your employees to take advantage of their paid time off; it’s in both theirs and your own best interest. You’d also be wise to provide other self-care opportunities for your employees. One valuable option is to set up a medical massage for headaches for your employees. Headaches caused by stress or tension can wreak havoc on an employee’s ability to focus and work hard. Hiring a massage therapist to apply this special type of care will help employees be at their top performance level. You can also take advantage of this for yourself to relieve some of the stress and tension that comes from being in a leadership role. Another option is to help your employees plan for the future with the use of a life settlement calculator. This will be especially valuable to your more senior employees.

The bottom line

This new year won’t be just “another year” for your business. Applying these 12 steps to your business, though seemingly small and simple, will make a huge impact. It will take some time and a lot of work, but the changes and successes you see this year will be worth it. What are you waiting for?

Who would ever think that an online business magazine could capture so much about the industry without sacrificing the quality or the content that you are accustomed to with print publications? That is entirely the case with many of today’s savvy and loaded business magazines. They connect you with the ideas that will make your business career better, the people who already have enjoyed success here, and the tips that entrepreneurs and business owners have in store for getting you more success than you ever thought possible.

With business magazines, it makes ideal sense to start subscribing because you are already part of the industry and because you want to feel and actually be smart. Use the Internet to discover online business magazines to see what kinds of features are included, and expand your knowledge far beyond what you ever thought was possible. With a business magazine that has a strictly online focus, you win in many ways. This includes both business related advantages and ones that may be of interest to you, like saving paper and the environment.

For one, by reading something like this week magazine, you never have to feel guilty about wasting paper due to subscribing to print publications. Everything is online, and you print out the pages that matter most to you. Or you bookmark them, alleviating the need to ever print out anything that you read online. This helps significantly in cutting down paper production, but it does not sacrifice any of the content or quality that you are used to enjoying as a reader of traditional business magazines. The content and subject matter usually are about the same, the articles are researched just as well, and the people who are profiled are the people you normally would find in print business magazines. You are just receiving everything online, not in print.

For another, in reading business magazines online you are saving yourself the hassle of waiting for your magazine to arrive in your mailbox or at your desk. The waiting game can become a hassle for many business savvy individuals, when everything has to happen right now and when all trends and profiles have to be read first. In reading these magazines online, you get to do this all while never having to leave your home or office. You just boot up, go online and head to your favorite business publication’s website, and the rest is history.

If you are planning an extended stay in Australia, it would be helpful to get a feel for daily life there. This is actually surprisingly easy to do with the help of Australian news websites. Brushing up on celebrity news, what the climate of news is around the country, and also what the news is in your soon-to-be backyard will make it easier to connect to your new coworkers and friends. Here are the three types of websites that you should look for so you can begin acclimating.

Celebrity News Websites

Have you ever noticed how people in America talk about celebrities as if they were their next door neighbors? It is the same in many countries around the world. An Australian news website that focuses on celebrities will ensure that you know what people are talking about when you get over t

Did you know that night-time television news broadcasts boast an average of 7-10 million viewers, and that, according to the Pew Research Center, digital magazine profits will exceed $2.3 billion in 2015? There is a huge misconception that online news and media is taking the place of print magazines and TV broadcasts, and sometimes even rendering them obsolete. Contrary to popular belief, the internet often complements traditional media, and may, in fact, help increase magazine readership and attract more television viewers.

How Are Television News Broadcasts Changing?

TV news is bringing people the best of the old, and the best of the new. People are more than welcome to enjoy television and its news broadcasts in the traditional manner. Journalist David Pierce, in fact, recommends it, st

It is more common than ever to find that your favorite magazines have moved off the shelf and on to the internet. Of course, there are some magazines that are available both online and off, but many magazines met their ends well before bringing magazines online was even an option. For example, This Week magazine had a circulation of 14.6 million subscribers, and was delivered with 42 different newspapers. These days, the variety of magazines online is staggering. If you are looking for a new magazine, starting online may be the best way to find it.

Whether you are a small business owner or a Chief Operating Officer, there are online business magazines to satisfy whatever your business news and knowledge needs might be. For the busy professional, an online business magazine is usually ideal because it is e

Whether someone keeps on top of things because they work in the world of business, or they just find reading online business magazines to be interesting, they will probably come across a large number of stories that will engage them, such as a recent Los Angeles Times piece about how stocks rose after the June jobs report was better than expected. In times like these, even business magazines can give people welcome news about the economy and state of the country.

While this story from the Los Angeles Times did not show evidence that the economy has finally finished its long rebound, it did give hope for the future. While the Dow Jones and the Standards and Poor may not be ticking up at a rapid rate, at least they are ticking up. The last thing people need to see is more of their pensions or 401(k) being l

For small businesses owners, especially those who retailed mostly or exclusively online, it is important to understand the latest trends and changes in the business world so that small companies can continue to turn a profit and react accordingly to alterations in the financial environment. When small businesses need to stay informed, business magazines can be helpful since they are newly updated and present data in an easy to understand format. What are some things that business magazines are covering right now?

First, search engine optimization, or SEO, is growing in terms of how much advertising money is pooled into this online marketing field. Recently, however, the Google algorithm updates have drastically altered the playing field, and many SEO companies have been struggling to keep up. SEOs, before

If you were around before the internet was available to the public, you probably remember seeing people carrying around newspapers and magazines. Today, it is common to see people carrying around smart phones and tablets, which provide a convenient way to read newspapers and magazines. Online business magazines provide people important information. There are several reasons why people subscribe to online business magazines. For example, day traders may want to see what is going on the markets. Furthermore, it is common for day traders and investors to read business magazines to find tips on how to turn a profit. This Week magazine offers up to date information about a variety of topics, including business discussions.

This Week magazine offers top stories about sports as well. Sports fans can subscribe to This Week magazine online to keep up with their favorite teams conveniently. In fact, subscribers receive updates and newsletters in their email automatically. In addition to sports, it is common for people interested in politics to read This week magazine. Over the past few years, there has been a steady increase in the number of people reading political blogs, articles and political news on news sites. If you are interested in politics, you may want to consider subscribing to This week magazine online.

Smart phones and tablets make it even more convenient to stay on top of stories that interest you. You can receive alerts on your smart phone or tablet from anywhere in the world the you have a connection to the internet. You can take advance of the information provided by This Week magazine by signing up for free issues as well. Categories like health, science, arts, technology and business, all are accessible with your smart phone or table PC. As you can see, people use online magazines and news sites to stay on top of today’s popular issues.

In the competitive job market of today, individuals need to find ways to set themselves apart from their competition in order to either start a new career or advance. In order to do so, many will want to make sure that they have an in depth knowledge of the industry that they work in. Reading business magazines often is one of the best ways to do so. By picking up business magazines regularly, individuals will be able to find information that they might not have been taught in college or come across during their daily tasks. As a result, business magazines can be a great resource for anybody looking to give themselves an advantage in the office.

Regardless of the type of job someone has, or what industry they are in, business magazines provide great information for virtually everyone. While some might be interested in the stock market and business trends, others might need to follow marketing, technology, or even entertainment trends. Whatever the case may be, the wide range of stories and topics features in business magazines means that they are able to offer something for virtually everyone. So picking up a This week magazine or another like it is a great way for individuals to boost their knowledge and gain a competitive edge.

One of the more unfortunate realities of the business landscape today is that many workers spend lots of time procrastinating and doing things on the computer that are not necessarily related to their job. When procrastinating, individuals might want to pick up a business magazine in order to at least learn something when they are not necessarily being productive. Instead of checking social media and sports sites, individuals who take a break from work by reading business magazines will be learning information about their industry which could prove valuable in the long run, so is a better alternative.

If someone does not want to leave their desk or computer when looking for some new information to help pass the time, they might try to find online business magazines. They allow individuals to easily and quickly access information and opinions about the business trends that are important to them. And, many online business magazines are optimized for mobile use and can be read on smartphones and tablets. As a result, no matter how busy of a schedule someone might have, news and stories are readily available.

In the competitive job marketplace of today, individuals need to find ways to set themselves apart. While having a solid education and great references is important, many will try to give themselves an edge by knowing as much about the industry that they work in as possible. In order to do so, they might want to read online business magazines regularly. The best online business magazines will feature lots of information and stories that individuals will not likely encounter in their day to day work. As a result, they are a great resource for anyone who wants to set themselves up for increased success at work.

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Perhaps the greatest advantage to reading online business magazines is that individuals are able to do so right from their desk at work or the comfort of their couch. Unfortunately, many have busy schedules that make it difficult for them to sit down and either read the paper or a magazine full of business information regularly. But because they are more convenient than their printed counterparts, online business magazines allow anyone to access the stories and news that they need to thrive at work, no matter how busy their schedule might be.

In addition to being easily accessible from a computer, premium online business magazines will also be optimized for mobile use. While some will simply make sure that the content they post on the internet is formatted to be viewed on smartphones and tables, other online business magazines will develop an application that can be downloaded on mobile devices. Either way, the ability to access lots of great information while on the go can be very useful. The online business magazines that make doing so possible are the perfect option for individuals who need to keep up with the news while maintaining an active lifestyle.