With 2019 just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about setting some New Years goals for your dog boarding business. A great way to get the ball rolling is to have one main goal you want to achieve and brainstorm a plan to help you achieve that goal. Doing this will result in a more attainable goal and you’ll be able to visualize the process.
BOOSTING SALES AND REVENUE
This is usually number one on every business’ wish list. It’s so easy to make simple goals such as “I want to make more money” and hope for the best, but in order to actually achieve your goal, you’ll need to dig deeper and set some SMART goals. Using the SMART goal method, you’ll have more success boosting your sales and revenue.
SMART GOAL
What makes a SMART goal different? This method allows you to dig deeper and really break down what you want to achieve. SMART is an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-lined. When goals aren’t SMART, it will result in lack of motivation because you have no outlined, specific goal.
Specific: If your goal isn’t specific, you’ll find some grey areas and you may not be able to reach it. For example: “Increase Sales” is not specific enough to allow you to fully achieve your goal.
Measurable: There’s no point in having a goal if you can’t measure it. If you can’t measure the success of your goal, how will you know it’s working and if you’ve made progress?
Attainable: Attainable and achievable go hand in hand. You want a goal that you’ll be able to achieve. If you want to increase your client base by 500%, unless you’re some sort of wizard, is not attainable.
Realistic: For every goal you set, you’ll want to make sure it’s realistic. There are plenty of variables you’ll need to consider and take into account what’s going on in your industry.
Timeline: It’s easy to put off a task that may seem intimidating, but by setting a timeline and making your goal specific, measurable, attainable and realistic – you’ll be able to put your goal into good hands and really implement a plan.
Now that we’ve talked about SMART goals, let’s create an example. Let’s say your kennel on average has a $200,000 annual revenue, you’ll want a goal to look a little something like this using our SMART goal method:
“TO INCREASE TOTAL SALES BY 5% BY THE END OF THE 2019 FISCAL YEAR.”
To break it down, this means your goal is to make, on average, an extra $833 per month, which is completely reasonable. Now that you have a SMART goal set in place, what are you going to do to boost your sales? If you make a plan, and strategically think of what you can do as a business to achieve this goal – it’ll set you apart from your competition. The worst thing you can do is go in blind and have no plan, because without a plan your goal is no longer achievable. And remember, your plan may change along the way – but your goal shouldn’t.
RECONSIDER YOUR MARKETING PLAN
Every once in a while, every business needs to sit back and take a look at their marketing initiatives and see if they’re still effective. If you want to increase your sales and revenue, make sure to do an analysis of your industry so you can properly implement a marketing plan to help you achieve your SMART goal. Once you’ve done your research, implement a low-cost plan to help market your business. You can also use free tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to check the performance of your website to see if it’s out-of-date. If you aren’t seeing good results, it may be time to consider upgrading. Start tracking your social media through their free analytic tools to see if your efforts are converting.
ADD A NEW REVENUE STREAM
Depending on your current business situation, and your marketing analysis on your competition in your area, try incorporating a new revenue stream. If your competition in your surrounding area is solely grooming, add a handful of grooming services to your roster. By including new services, you’ll be a one stop shop for their pets. Not only will it be good for your clients, but it will add an additional revenue stream that will allow you to grow your business. Adding this new revenue stream will be easier to sell to current clients than it is to find new clients.
IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE
Your customers are what brings your business sales, so they are crucial for any business to actually function. Without customers or clients, you have no business. If a customer isn’t happy with their service, they most likely won’t come back. Try implementing new practices for your employees to go above and beyond. We’re a digital world, and one negative online review about their experience at your facility can lead to a surprising loss of customers. Communicate with your customers in more than one way. There are so many communication avenues that you can use such as text messaging, emails, report cards and sending your customers photos to show them that their fur-baby is having a blast.
MEASURE YOUR EFFORTS
Now that you have a goal and plan set in place, you’ll need to measure and track these initiatives. You’ll be able to measure these goals easily by investing in a kennel software that has a great financial reporting system and integrates with an accounting software, such as QuickBooks Online.
Setting SMART goals is essential for any business that wants to achieve something great. Make your goals visible so you have a constant reminder. Due to lack of focus, vague or general goals are rarely achieved and are often forgotten. Talk about your goals with someone, like a fellow business owner or coach, to help keep you accountable. Sometimes you may feel alone in this industry, so it’s good to keep like-minded and motivated people around you for support and encouragement. Do you have some goals set in place for your pet business?
Recent Comments