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If you are self-employed, you probably have a business plan. Or at least you should. This is the time of year to consider revising and updating that plan. It’s also a good time to start exploring new territory for your business.
It’s similar to changing the batteries in your smoke detector each time you reset your clock ahead/back. If you have a specific time to do something, you are more likely to do it. I try to make sure I have my revisions done by Christmas. That way, when the New Year arrives, I am ready.
I plan to clean up a few things
Align things into a more coherent direction for myself and my business. I am considering closing (for good) all the Blogger Blogs. I get very little traffic from them, even though they still get a few hits from Google.
I am also considering closing the PolBlog since that was only started to get Net Neutrality off my chest and to keep it off the Working at Home Blog. It won’t hurt to keep it just to vent my political views once in a while, but it doesn’t generate any income.
Even though Joe’s Freeware Finds doesn’t really generate any viable income, it seems to serve a purpose. For me, it is a way to share free software I have come across in my trek to Working at Home. Besides, there are a few (20-ish) subscribers to the site, so it must be helping someone.
Possible New Projects
I am considering either starting or joining in some kind of Work at Home endeavour with other Bloggers looking to expand their income base. I am not sure of the exact direction yet, but it will have to be something Honorable and Upfront. If you are interested, contact me using my contact form.
I also thought about starting a Blog to do product reviews for tools and home products that can be used by someone who works from their home. It won’t be a paid review site, but hopefully can support itself through related Ads on the site. It would be an advantage if I could get the products from the manufacturer gratis in exchange for an honest opinion. The product would then be donated to Working at Home upstarts or a charity that could benefit from them in some way.
These are only a few updates that I came up with today for my list, I have no doubt that there will be more revisions. That’s why I started early, to give myself time to decide on the best approach. I set my deadline for the final list for December 25th. That way I may be able to relax a little before kicking off the New Year.
Have you started updating your business plan yet? Wanna Share?
Related posts:
New Year Resolutions (last year for the business)
My Business Resolution Results (from last year)
8 Comments
Good thoughts — we self-employed folks need to do so much, and part of it is to get our heads up out of the details and play CEO periodically. My business plan for the new year, or at least publicity plan, is to Get Out There more. I hear about people selling their books and doing really just by talking on any radio show, TV show, talking for the local chamber of commerce, or anyone who will have them.
Hey Sloveig,
Thanks, something that some forget is that Being the Boss means Acting like the Boss. We have to take care fo the mundane things as well as the fun things.
Sounds like you have a plan already. No matter what business, books, consulting etc, you have to “Get Out There”. Having a Blog is a very good way of doing that.
Have you considered affiliates for your product? It couldn’t hurt.
Thanks for stopping by, and don’t be a stranger.
Joe
At least your posts aren’t being blocked by Akismet.
Hey Jesse,
True, I don’t think they have that ability. Thank God for small favors.
I think I finally got the comment problem fixed, keeping fingers and toes crossed. xxxx
It has been a nightmare, but it’s something that I will have to take for the protection they have given me from spam for over 7,830 spams the did block.
Joe
This is a great idea. While I don’t have a business plan or really even a home business, I’m starting to make a few bucks with my web ventures.
The problem is that I’ve got a bunch of ideas that are in various stages of research and implementation. For the new year, I plan on focusing on just two or three main ideas and putting all of my efforts into them. Thanks for the timely post!
Hey Ray,
Thanks, I think the hardest part is actually following my game plan. Sometimes, even the best laid plans don’t always go the way we want. That’s why I review periodically and make adjustments.
Joe
Year-end is a great time to update your business plan. I just wrote an article about how your business plan doesn’t have to be a lengthy or cumbersome project. Whatever works for you is best. My own business plan is really a file folder. There are a few details to include: your competitive advantage, customers, marketing/PR, suppliers, and budgets.
Hey Ken,
I just like to set myself a deadline for things like this. Similar to Tax Time, when you know it’s coming, it seems to be easier to prepare.
It doesn’t really matter the form the plan takes, as long as it is something you know and can deal with to your advantage.
Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget, once you visit (especially if you comment) you are considered a Blogging Friend.
Joe