Why January Is the Best Time to Plan
Most small business owners start the year with good intentions and no plan. By February, the urgency fades and they are back to winging it. The businesses that grow consistently are the ones that plan in January and execute the plan the rest of the year.
Step 1: Review Last Year
Before you plan 2023, audit 2022. What marketing activities drove leads? What was a waste of time and money? Where did your best clients come from? Your past data is your best guide.
Step 2: Set 3 Concrete Goals
Not broad aspirations. Concrete, measurable goals with timelines.
Examples:
- "Post 3x/week on Instagram and Facebook every week through December"
- "Grow Google reviews from 8 to 25 by June"
- "Generate 10 new client inquiries per month through social media by Q3"
Step 3: Choose Your Channels
You cannot do everything well. Pick 1 to 3 marketing channels and commit to them fully. Most small businesses should prioritize: Google Business Profile, one or two social media platforms, and email marketing.
Step 4: Build a Monthly Rhythm
The key to consistent marketing is a repeatable monthly process. Batch content once a month. Post consistently. Review analytics at the end of each month. Adjust as needed.
Step 5: Get Help Where You Need It
If content creation is your bottleneck, get help with content. If strategy is unclear, get a consultation. The cost of professional support is almost always less than the cost of inconsistency.