Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions From Publishers

In early December, I reached out to over 100 business owners and publishers via email and asked them this question: “What is your number one internet resolution for your business in 2011?”

Here are the top 10 most common replies.

1. Figure out what Web 2.0 really means.
2. Grow my website while not hurting my print products.
3. Get business plans figured out for mobile.
4. Get my sales team to sell more web.
5. Figure out a comp plan for my sales team to reward them for web sales
6. Get more traffic to my website.
7. Figure out what to do with digital editions.
8. Add at least one person to my team that can help us grow the web site.
9. Use eNewsletters to better grow revenue and readership.
10. Figure out how to use social media better to grow my business.

All in all, these are very common goals and desires.  Do you see yourself in this list?  So, how do you make these things happen?  For me the biggest issue is focus, guidance and attainability.

FOCUS: Most publishers I work with on a monthly basis have no focus in their life and their business.  In addition, they do not reach out for help.  Most business owners come up with 15 ideas, assign the tasks and then sit back and watch as almost nothing happens.  In the end, only one goal on the list gets done really well.  Then, when the other ideas come up again, your staff will say “we already tried that and it did not work…”  I would advise my clients to find 5 goals that they feel are attainable and then put some effort into those 5. Resist the urge to expand beyond the five.  Further, I would make one of the five a personal goal for yourself and/or your family.  Perhaps it is setting a date night with your spouse, or reading to your kids twice each week.  Whatever it is, commit to it and win the goal.

SEEK GUIDANCE: Next, get some advice.  There are many companies like mine that offer coaching advice and consulting assistance.  Reach out, get bids and get some advice.  Did you know that 8 out 10 Fortune 500 CEO’s surveyed said they “heavily rely” on outside advice when executing new projects?  Seek guidance and you will excel.

ATTAINABILITY: Finally, make the goals attainable for your team. No one likes to see a goal that is so big it seems impossible...no one likes to fail.  Also, consider creating a serious reward for reaching the goals.  Something very nice and very fun.

Final thoughts…I am pleased and blessed to share that I am coaching and consulting with over 40 business owners and publishing companies as we end 2010.  My new  management book, How To Be A Manager Without Being a Jerk,  has been downloaded over 25,00 times and has been used as a manager training guide in 25 companies so far.  We have touched just over 4,000 websites since 1996.  We have eleven great people here at Brain Swell Media that are rich with talent.  I cannot thank them and you enough for being a part of this success.  What can we do to help you in 2011?  Our first call is 100% free of charge together.  Reach out to me personally and lets accomplish some big things in 2011 together.

Cheers.

Ryan