Are your ready to grow your sales in 2024? Great question, right? And one you should be asking yourself and answering sooner rather than later.
Why? Because the time to think about growing your sales and building your business is now, not once the new year starts.
Sure, I get it, it is a busy time of year, time to celebrate, eat too much, stress out over finding the right gifts, and working too hard trying to get it all done before this year finally closes down. Easily the busiest time of year.
With everything going on, I am guessing the last thing you are thinking about, or trying not to think about, is 2024 and all the opportunities and challenges a new year will hold. That is exactly why I am writing this article, because I want you to take a small break in your crazy schedule to get ready to grow your sales in 2024.
The Power of Planning Early to Ensure Sales Growth in 2024
There is so much opportunity to ensure sales growth when you get ready, create a plan, and prepare for the coming year. You make sure you don’t miss a beat – you maximize your time, retain more customers, position yourself for growth, and, best of all, achieve peace of mind. With your plan solidly in place, you are ensured you can sit back, relax, and actually enjoy the holiday season – while feeling confident you are poised to grow your sales in 2024.
But if you fail to plan, you have missed an amazing opportunity, and wasted precious time that will cost you as the new year kicks off. Think about the holiday season, there is so much lost time from a business perspective.
Somewhere around December 18th, you and most business and sales professionals will start slowing down. Our schedules become more play than work - holiday parties happen during workdays, a few weekend celebrations will have you coming into the office a little later, and your kids' holiday plays will have you leaving early at least once or twice a week.
Then the week of Christmas, whether you celebrate or not, has most of you taking at least a few days off, and then with New Year’s being on Monday, that first week of January is pretty much shot.
So, before you know it, if you fail to plan, it is the second week of January and you have not made a single call or closed one proposal. You’re already behind and the year has just started.
But if you plan, use your time wisely now, you can still take advantage of all the luxury season has to offer - leave a little early, celebrate a little too hard, and take the much-needed time off you deserve, and still start 2024 strong.
6 Strategies to Grow Your Sales in 2024
Mark The Calendar
Want to ensure you grow your sales in 2024? Right now, get out the calendar and mark the days you are taking off and mark the days you have to work. There are not many, so you want to be clear on the time you have so you can make the most of it.
Reflect on 2023
Set aside a few hours to look back over 2023. What did you do that grew the business, what deals did you close? What prospects are left to engage with? To ensure sales growth in 2024, start to make a list of the people and activities that could use a little more coaxing this year, or those you need to thank for doing business with you.
Set Three Goals
That’s right, just three goals. You only have a limited time until the end of the year, so you will want to maximize it. Think about what areas you could focus on or things you could accomplish that would position you best for 2024. Then set three goals around those focus areas. Limiting it to three will ensure you stay on track and prioritize the most important tasks.
Determine The Action
Then with the goals set, you need to think about what you need to do, the specific behaviors you need to do to make those goals happen. Who do you need to call on? What conversations do you need to have? What reviews do you need to do? What employees do you need to retain? Whatever your actions, make a list and be clear they align with your goals.
Set the Milestones
Then set a few mini goals or milestones. How will you know you are making progress, and how will you know you have moved closer to the goal. By the time January 31st rolls around, how will you know you have achieved what you needed to achieve?
Enjoy The Season
And last, but not least, with all in place you are ready. Ready to take some time off, celebrate with family, overindulge, and enjoy what you deserve – a wonderful holiday season.
I am pretty well convinced that next year will be another interesting one when it comes to sales and the economy. Full of opportunity and challenges. And your best chance to ensure sales growth in 2024 is to use your time wisely and create a plan. You do that, you will turn all of this uncertainty into your greatest competitive advantage.
