The holiday season is a very busy time for businesses. However, it can also be a challenging time for small business owners and managers because there are so many things to take care of at once. A business lawyer Melrose Park Illinois can help make sure you have a solid plan in place to avoid mistakes.
There are some specific steps you can take to avoid common mistakes during this period. Common mistakes are failing to plan ahead, not thinking about the customer experience, cutting your marketing budget, and not thinking long term. If you need support with business strategy, The Law Office of David Hyde is here to support you. Call 312-210-9598 and we will assess your unique business situation so you can take action and take advantage of the holiday season.
Don’t forget to plan ahead
The best-laid business plans can go off track if you don’t keep them up to date. That’s why it’s important to make time for planning ahead of time, and not just when things are going well in your company. Planning ahead helps ensure that you have a clearer picture of what needs to be done and when, as well as how much time each task will take.
It also helps avoid unnecessary stress by allowing room for error or unexpected roadblocks along the way. Plus, having an updated plan means that if anything changes unexpectedly, like new competitors entering into your industry or rising costs due to inflation, you’ll be able to adjust accordingly without losing momentum on other projects or missing deadlines with clients/customers/partnerships.
Before the holiday season is another time to review and possibly revise your business plan. The market may change this time of year and you need to be ready for the shift. Our experienced business lawyer Melrose Park Illinois can help you analyze your strategic plan and determine strategies that will help you have a successful and profitable holiday season.
Avoid cutting your marketing budget
Cutting your marketing budget is a mistake. The holiday season is one of the most important times to run ads for your business, and there are many ways that you can cut costs without hurting your bottom line.
If you are worried about the expenditure you can ask your staff for support. Ask staff members who may have a lighter load if they would be willing to take on some extra responsibilities during this busy time of year. This will free up some money for advertising that might otherwise have been spent on hiring an outside contractor or consultant.
Consider using social media ads instead of traditional print ads. They’re generally cheaper, but still effective at generating brand awareness among potential customers in their target demographic range.
Remember the customer experience
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but don’t forget about your customers. The customer experience is key to keeping them happy and coming back for more. The customer experience is all about how they feel when they interact with you as a brand. It’s not just about your product or service, it’s also about how you treat them during those interactions. And if you have an unhappy customer? Well then they may tell others about their bad experience and they’ll go elsewhere where they feel like they’ll receive better treatment.
So what does this mean for you? Well first off, if there are any negative reviews online already about your company then take action immediately. Responding quickly shows people that not only do you care enough about them as individuals but also gives them confidence in working with you in the future. Second, make sure everyone knows what kind of support team exists behind every sale. Make sure your policies are clear and support is available.
Training is a great investment and enriches the customer experience. It reduces turnover, and improves customer service. Training your employees should be an ongoing process that continues throughout the year. If you have new hires or seasonal workers who will be working during the holidays, it’s important to train them on company policies and procedures so they can meet your customers’ expectations as well as yours. A clear business plan will outline roles and responsibilities of employees and a business lawyer Melrose Park Illinois can make sure your business plan is clear and comprehensive.
Training gives new employees a chance to learn more about your business before they start working with clients or other employees in person. It also gives them time to ask questions about things that aren’t clear from reading manuals or online tutorials alone. In addition, if there are any specific tasks associated with holiday season (like making sure certain products are stocked), this would be the best time for training because everyone knows what needs doing without having had too much time pass since last year’s rush season ended up being busy again this year
Plan for the post-holiday season
Planning for the post-holiday season is important as things may slow down a bit. Make sure you follow up with customers that came in over the holidays to engage them and incentivize them to return to the store. Have a plan for what you can do with the extra cash. It may be important to allocate some funds to small business loans or reward high achieving employees with bonuses. Maybe you want to invest in a retargeting campaign or save it to use at a later date. Utilize the additional profits for whatever is best for your business.
Stay on track with your business goals. Don’t let the extra money drive you to do something that sacrifices the health and viability of your business. It may be beneficial to review your business plan and determine what will continue to move you towards your goals.
Our business lawyer Melrose Park Illinois can help you make sure you’re prepared for the holidays
The holiday season is a time of year that can be both exciting and stressful for many businesses. As you prepare for the rush of customers, it’s important to remember that planning ahead is essential in order to prevent mistakes from occurring.
Review your business plan and make sure you are staying the course to meet your goals. If you need to revise your plan or take other things into consideration, our business lawyer Melrose Park Illinois is here to help. A solid plan can help you avoid many common mistakes that other businesses make during this time of year and ensure that your customers have an excellent experience with your company. Contact us today for a free consultation.