Another year is almost done and soon 2018 will be upon us. Whether you're the kind of business that slows down over the festive period, or the kind that experiences its busiest time of the year, the end of December and the start of a New Year is always a good time to take stock of what has gone before and what you aim to do in the year ahead.
So if you're still looking to get inspired here are some potential new year resolutions to help you stretch yourself in 2018.
Resolution 1: Get online and make the most of the web
Are you the bricks and mortar business owner who has been putting off building a website because you already have so much on your hands? If so, we sympathise, but also urge you to make 2018 the year you get online.
After all, you don't want your rivals to pull away from you. Research shows that UK households spend an average of £4,611 online each year.
UK households spend an average of £4,611 online each year and you can grab your share
And if you're not online, you can't grab a slice of that pie. That in itself is reason enough to make 2018 the year you launch your business website.
Resolution 2: Update your old, out of date website
If you've been doing business online for a while, then maybe it's time for a new website. After all, what was best practice in web design four years ago is now out of date.
If your website doesn't work well on mobile devices, then you need to update it so it looks good whether your visitors arrive on desktop PCs or smartphones. This guide goes into greater depth on why responsive websites are important.
Or perhaps your business needs have outgrown your current website.
What was best practice in web design four years ago is now out of date.
You might be a restaurant owner who created a simple one-page site just to have an online presence, but now you want to let people book online, or browse that day's menu.
It could be that the main purpose of your original website was simply to direct people to your physical shop, but now you want to start selling products online.
Whatever your reason for needing a new website, GoDaddy has you covered. You can create a responsive website quickly and easily with our Website Builder, or if you want to sell products via your website, there's Online Store.
Alternatively, there's our WordPress website option, which offers the power of WordPress along with pre-built websites to get you up and running quickly.
Or you could even hire an expert to build a site for you. Browse our selection of local web designers to find one who matches your budget and has the skills you need.
Resolution 3: Try a new marketing technique
If you're happy with your website, then why not try a new way to reach potential customers? From search engine optimisation to email marketing, there are a whole host of ways you can increase the number of people who visit your site and do business with you.
Curious to learn more? We put together this guide on marketing techniques small business owners should try in the year ahead. It's perfect if you're relatively new to running a business, or if you haven't tried online marketing in the past.
Online marketing can boost site visits and sales
If you do have some experience in online marketing, then here's a little bonus resolution just for you - commit to working on ways to improve the conversion rate of your website.
Conversion rate is a key metric for any website - it's the number of website visitors who become customers expressed as a percentage of your overall number of visitors. (So if you make five sales for every 200 visits, your conversion rate is 2.5%).
Knowing your conversion rate and working on ways to improve it can provide a huge boost to your business, so read this guide on boosting your conversion rate and start making changes.
Resolution 4: Keep closer tabs on your competitors
Already working across several marketing channels, with one eye on your conversion rate at all times?
That's great, but what if your competitors are doing all that and more? If you're not already monitoring your competitors as part of your overall marketing strategy, then make 2018 the year you start.
From tools like Visual Ping, which notify you of any change made on someone else's website, to full on analysis of a rival's SEO efforts, keeping tabs on your competitors can help you make sure your own marketing is on the right track
Resolution 5: Improve your productivity
Work smarter, not hard may be something of a cliché, but like all the best clichés it has a strong element of truth to it.
So if you never seem to have enough hours in the day, why not make 2018 the year you commit to boosting your productivity?
Why not boost your business by boosting productivity?
You might decide to start using software like Microsoft Office 365 from GoDaddy - it's a great way to stay productive on the move, and can make teamwork even easier than before.
Or you could try embracing a productivity technique like the Pomodoro method. Forbes has a great list of productivity techniques, so you can find one that suits the way you work.
Resolution 6: Launch a new project
The big one. If you're one of those people who has their existing business running just the way they want it, but doesn't like to rest on their laurels, then why not take the plunge and start a new business?
It might seem like a huge undertaking, but so was building your first business, and you already know how rewarding that was.
Whatever you decide to do in 2018, GoDaddy is here to support you.
