january

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Most businesses have a quiet January. Let’s be fair here; most people have a quiet January. After the overindulgence, exertion and spending of the holiday period, January is unsurprisingly slow. We all need time to relax and recuperate, to tidy up, to detox and to claw back some savings. For big businesses, even those that lose sales, this is usually okay. It’s something that they go through every year and just part of the business world. They bounce back quickly without much of a dent. For smaller businesses, a quiet period at the start of the year can be catastrophic.

The best thing you, as a small business owner, can do is make the most of the time.  Don’t just sit back and wait for things to happen. Use your time productively to build your business and ensure you are ready for a fantastic year.

Analyze Christmas

January is the best time to look back over your Christmas period, while it’s still fresh in your mind. Take a look at your sales. Think about what went well and what could have been done better. Then take a look at how your direct competition and other businesses within your field did.

Now, start looking to Christmas 2018. It’s never too early to find ways to improve and have the best Christmas ever.

Stock Take

No one likes a stock count. But, January is the perfect time to do it. Firstly, because you’ll have run your stock levels over Christmas and won’t need to order up again yet, but also because you’ll have plenty of time on your hands.

Many small businesses neglect stock takes, as they fail to appreciate the importance. An accurate stock take can help you spot theft, discover lost stock, monitor levels, make ordering easier and give you a much clearer idea of how much money you are holding in stock.

Increase Your Online Presence

Whether your business is solely online or based in a brick and mortar store, having a strong digital presence is essential in 2018. Get on social media, make sure all of your information, photographs and branding are up to date and start building both followers and engagement. Social media can be a little overwhelming; now there are so many platforms and so much conflicting advice. It’s a good idea to focus on one at a time. Spend a week or so implementing new strategies for each platform. A quiet month gives you the perfect opportunity to spend more time online.

It’s also a great time to update your website with Small Business SEO Services from WebsiteRocket.com. Social media is great, but you need to perfect your SEO if you want to get to the top of those search engine results.

Streamline

Most businesses are wasting a massive amount of time every week. Meetings are too long, days are unorganized and systems are too fussy. Spend a little time in January finding ways to streamline your days, making your company more productive. Doing this could help you make more money when things start to pick up again.

Sort Out Your Finances

Failure to complete your tax return can lead to a hefty fine. Don’t leave it to the last minute. Sort it out in January to free up more time later on.