8 tips to taking on The Year of the Dragon

There is no pretending that 2011 was an easy year. Everyone is well aware of how the global recession has effected businesses across every industry from retail to travel, marketing to recruitment. Predictions for 2012 are similarly gloomy.   Even the prospects of the Olympics and the Silver Jubilee aren’t enough to bolster the most optimistic outlook. We thought we would take a positive approach to the anticipated challenges of 2012 and come up with a fight plan that will help us to take on the Year of the Dragon. Then we thought we’d share them.

Marketers of the world unite. Here are our 8 Top Tips to fighting the good fight and making it another year to face The Year of the Snake.

1. Know What’s SWOT

- Make a SWOT analysis of your business. Know where your strengths and weaknesses lie and make sure your strategy makes the best of everything.

2. Keep your chin up. Positive Mental Attitude. Don’t roll over and admit defeat before you have to. It ain’t over until you say so. Don’t go down without a fight.

- A lot of platitudes but they’re all right. There are things you can do. Stay positive. Set objectives. Identify what you can do to achieve them. Seriously review your opportunities and threats and make sure you have a plan to address both.

3. Treasure your friends

- You have a loyal customer base. Know who they are and treat them with respect. Give them the best experience they can expect from your product. Make sure that they have a reason to keep coming back to you. Where possible encourage them to tell their friends about you. The best PR is a happy customer.

4. Build relationships

- Keep up the focus on potential new clients and leads. Don’t lose sight of new business prospects. Even the most loyal customer base will have a natural turnover, make sure you’re continuously building your business.

5. If you can’t change it, live with it

- Remember, there are big forces at work here. Don’t waste your energy fighting everything. Look at how you can limit any damage. Focus your energy on matters you can directly influence.

6. Deal with it

- It’s not what happens, it’s how you choose to react. You can’t change historic events but by staying focused, sharp and most importantly positive you can direct the future of your brand/business. To risk another platitude try to make the best of a bad job.

7. Plan B

- What is your Plan B? Identify a scenario that you can live with. If you lose significant market share or your customers simply stop buying your product what will you do? Is there an alternative?

8. Have Fun

- We should have all identified by now we work to live, not the other way round. Nothing is more important than health, happiness, family and friends. Enjoy your job, make the best of your days. The weekends will arrive before you know it.

Good Luck. May the force be with you.