For me, this time of year is more about questions than answers. I lose myself in thought asking a multitude of questions. What about my business worked this year? What didn’t? What in my relationships worked? What didn’t? What lessons am I going to take from this year and bring to the next? What’s my plan for next year? What are my goals? What will make me happy? What do I want to do? Where do I want to go? Who do I want to meet? What do I want to learn? What books do I want to read?
I pull up a calendar in Publisher and I start writing, copying, pasting, thinking. Am I going to do open houses? How many? When? Where? Popbys? Same thing; how many, when, where? Printed advertising? Newsletter? Mailings? Cold calling? Door knocking? Buyer seminars? Networking events? Client dinners/parties?
Do I need to say anything about blogging? I don’t think so. But I will say it is by far, no competition, my favorite thing to do. Whether it leads to business or not, it stays.
This year another favorite thing was to invite clients to dinner and/or a comedy club. It was an opportunity to laugh and introduce clients to each other. They made new friends and I had a great time. I’ll be doing that again, for sure.
I changed from a client appreciation program to a monthly newsletter. This has given me another opportunity to introduce clients to each other, announcing their special events, advertising their businesses and accomplishments.
I send out birthday, wedding anniversary and closing anniversary cards. I love those too.
Popbys are fun. I put goofy, inexpensive little packages together and stop by clients’ homes to say hello, I’m still here, got any friends thinking of making a move?
What’s 2008 bringing to you and you to it? Do you have a plan? What are your expectations? Ideas? Suggestions?
ines
November 26, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Analyzing what worked and what didn’t is one of my favorite parts of this business. Changing my marketing strategy and testing new things is always fun.
This year we made it a point to call our clients on their bday – that personal phone call made a huge difference….I’ll definitely keep doing that one.
Vicki Moore
November 27, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I’m a terrible singer which makes it even funnier when I call to sing happy birthday. I agree – that’s a good one. It’s important to make people feel special.