Ah, the holidays, for me it's a mixed bag. I love my family and hosting get togethers but hate the endless stress. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I probably bring it on myself.
If you’re a business owner, December probably felt like running a marathon while juggling flaming snowballs. Trust me, I feel overwhelmed at times, too. Its' okay. You are only human. Take the time to make memories with your family and get a little rest, because it’s time to step back, breathe, and take a hard look at how your business held up during the holiday hustle.
I know, it can be a slightly terrifying to look at your post-holiday performance metrics. Don’t worry, I’m here to make this a little less painful. Just remember, I only said "a little less". Let’s dig into some ways you can debrief, reflect, and set yourself up for a stronger year ahead.
1. Break Out the Sales Data (and say a prayer that you don't die from boredom)
First things first: how did you actually do? Pull up those numbers—sales reports, website analytics, social media engagement stats—anything that gives you a snapshot of your performance. Look for trends. Did your biggest sales come from that last-minute flash sale? Did people lose their minds over a specific product or service?
Pay attention to what worked and what didn’t. Maybe your email marketing killed it, but your social media ads were less than stellar. Or perhaps your website crashed because, whoops, it wasn’t ready for the traffic surge. The good news? You can fix it. The bad news? You’re going to need more coffee.
2. Inventory the Chaos
What fell through the cracks? Were there shipping delays, missed opportunities, or moments when you found yourself Googling "what are the symptoms of a nervous breakdown?" Make a list of what you can streamline next year (Hint: what do you do over and over again?)
For example, if managing orders was like trying to herd cats, it’s probably time to consider a more robust e-commerce platform or hire additional help (P.S., interns can be gold, but you have to train them. Ask me how I know).
3. Customer Feedback: The Good, the Bad, and the Keyboard Warriors
We all love our customers, right? But sometimes their feedback is just plain mean, or maybe they hate something you thought was a great idea. Don’t shy away from those comments or reviews—they’re gold mines of insight. Maybe you can’t fix everything, but you can find patterns that show where you need to level up. Even the glowing reviews can teach you something. So, look at what you are doing right and lean into it.
4. Revisit Your Marketing Plan (Because We Both Know You Were Flying By the Seat of Your Pants)
Holidays are busy, and sometimes, marketing plans fly out the window, assuming you even have one. Did you have a strategy, or was it more like “post whatever comes to mind and hope for the best”? No judgment—we’ve all been there.
Now’s the perfect time to revisit your approach. Which posts or campaigns generated buzz? Were your hashtags actually working for you (or were they just festive fluff)? And if your content calendar was more like a content guess, let’s fix that before Valentine’s Day sneaks up on you and you lose more sales.
5. Be Proactive, Not Reactive
The holidays may be over, but the grind doesn’t stop. Take a moment to set goals for 2025 and map out key milestones. Put them in writing. Things in your head are easily forgotten or pushed to the back burner. You don’t need to make this list alone. Shameless plug—I’m here to help you strategize, streamline, and slay your marketing goals.
Better yet, sign up for the Small Business 30 Day Digital Challenge workshop and we'll work together for 30 days to improve your digital footprint. Designed specifically for busy business owners, this challenge gives you a simple, actionable task every day to help you level up your digital presence. It's all done through a private Facebook group where I will go live every morning. If your schedule allows, you sign on and can listen and chat in real time. If you are too busy, you can catch the recording anytime that is convenient for you.
Consulting with me isn’t just about tweaking your Instagram captions (though I can do that, too). We’ll look at the big picture—branding, operations, customer engagement—and come up with a plan that makes sense for you.
Let’s Tackle 2025 Together
Look, I get it. I run my own business while juggling a million other things, including homeschooling, speaking engagements, and life in general. I’ve been there—feeling overwhelmed and wondering what to tackle next. But with a clear game plan, you can turn those post-holiday “what ifs” into “heck yeses.”
So, grab a fresh notebook, maybe some leftover holiday cookies, and figure out how to make this your best year yet. And if you need help? You know where to find me. Let’s chat, strategize, and turn that chaos into a powerhouse 2025.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Reach out for a free discovery call and let’s get to work!
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