A fresh start in 2006

[DarrenC]

2006 will be my fourth year in self employment - the first year I spent most of it designing the site, and learning to get the site ranking in the search engines - the second year I spent trying to get more advertisers and holidaymakers on the site - the third year I feel I have wasted, that was 2005.

I probably put myself under a lot of pressure by trying to successful and recognisable like my competition, instead of focusing on the good points of my business.

In 2006 my aims are;

- to register the business as a limited company
- to become VAT registered (don't earn enough income to charge VAT)
- to raise the profile of the business
- hit 2,000 clients advertising on the site
- increase the number of visitors to the site to 70,000 per month

Two questions.

1. What are your aims for 2006?
2. What would you do to ensure my aims materialise in 2006?

Darren

[Cornish Steve]

2006 will be my fourth year in self employment - the first year I spent most of it designing the site, and learning to get the site ranking in the search engines - the second year I spent trying to get more advertisers and holidaymakers on the site - the third year I feel I have wasted, that was 2005.

I probably put myself under a lot of pressure by trying to successful and recognisable like my competition, instead of focusing on the good points of my business.

In 2006 my aims are;

- to register the business as a limited company
- to become VAT registered (don't earn enough income to charge VAT)
- to raise the profile of the business
- hit 2,000 clients advertising on the site
- increase the number of visitors to the site to 70,000 per month

Two questions.

1. What are your aims for 2006?
2. What would you do to ensure my aims materialise in 2006?

Darren

Darren,

I wish you every success with your goals for 2006. To ensure your "aims materialise in 2006", I suggest that you hold yourself accountable to someone you know well.

In my case, I hold myself accountable to my business partner. I don't know what I'd do without her. I work hard to meet deadlines etc. so as to never let her down. While making allowances for each other's life situations, we work together as a team.

In past ventures, I let hurdles get in my way. Not this time!

[fastfences]

Hi Darren and Steve,

1. What are your aims for 2006?
2. What would you do to ensure my aims materialise in 2006?

Darren

Both worthy aims and advice. Best wishes to you both.

My 2006 aims are to establish my pilot model franchise (in Cheltenham, Glos), and increase my turnover by 20% on last year (2005).

To help Darren's aims materialise, I would seriously consider his business for our holidays.

Cheers, Nigel

[www.sitepal.co.uk]

2006 will be my fourth year in self employment - the first year I spent most of it designing the site, and learning to get the site ranking in the search engines - the second year I spent trying to get more advertisers and holidaymakers on the site - the third year I feel I have wasted, that was 2005.

I probably put myself under a lot of pressure by trying to successful and recognisable like my competition, instead of focusing on the good points of my business.

In 2006 my aims are;

- to register the business as a limited company
- to become VAT registered (don't earn enough income to charge VAT)
- to raise the profile of the business
- hit 2,000 clients advertising on the site
- increase the number of visitors to the site to 70,000 per month

Two questions.

1. What are your aims for 2006?
2. What would you do to ensure my aims materialise in 2006?

Darren

I hope all works out for everyone, we all deserve it!

[Coding Monkey]

- to turnover £8000 a month
- focus more on local businesses to gain a high profile within the surrounding areas
- maintain a 100% recommendation/satisfaction rate
- employ a programmer in the final quarter of the year to replace my job, so I can focus more on consulting and marketing

[creospace]

Is it better or more realistic to set percentage increases on this year when working out increases or just pick a figure and try and get it?

Gary

[MorethanWords]

I've got loads of aims, and spent much of last night writing my forward plan for the next year. Only got a few months in to the plan but I now know what I'm channelling my energy into week on week in terms of my own promotion.

My aims for the year:
To increase my client base
To turn over enough to become VAT registered (at least)
To take on enough work to employ one member of staff within the next year to 18 months
To increase my newsletter subscription to over 200.

I think that will do for now.

[fastfences]

Is it better or more realistic to set percentage increases on this year when working out increases or just pick a figure and try and get it?
Gary

No better, no worse.

Each business may have merits for either method.

I find with my 20% aim that I 'only' need a 2% increase each month to attain my goal. (OK mathemeticians, I know that's 24%, but I allow a buffer in case of a slow month)

One could easily work in pre-determined figures, especially if the business is more cyclical and does not trade evenly over the year. Just make sure the figure you adopt is representative of an acceptable increase.
Cheers, Nigel

[Richard Conyard]

I find with my 20% aim that I 'only' need a 2% increase each month to attain my goal. (OK mathemeticians, I know that's 24%, but I allow a buffer in case of a slow month)


Actually speak up for us Mathmeticians it's an increase of 26.82% (remember increases are compounded month on month) :wink:

[fastfences]

Thanks Richard!
Ample evidence of why I count only posts, holes and nails :wink:
Cheers, Nigel

[Hayles]

I'm really looking forward to 2006! Our turnover has gone up month on month for the last six months and we're really hoping to turnover 1/4 million next year (sounds better than £250k!!). That's a lot of sandwiches and pints, but with a bit more marketing it can be achieved.

Also, our shop will have done it's first two years in April and we're hoping it will start paying off in 06.

I'm using lots of advice and help from this forum to form a plan of action on how to achieve it.

Let's hope it's a good year for all of us!

Amen :D

[bwglaw]

Don't have a business plan - dont believe in them. However, have a forward plan of some kind.

Now that the original company has been split into three I am now looking to see them all prosper individually.

The Group is developing better since we off-loaded other work into other companies. We are planning to buy into other businesses and acquire a few properties to develop a rental portfolio.

I currently have a property in Eastern Europe that I bought last year. Just spent $17k fitting it all out and expect to be finished by end of Jan 06 before returning to the UK. I also plan to buy another property here and build a portfolio. I have just signed off a new logo for my business here selling/letting and investing in properties. Details will go out soon.

On my return to the UK I will hopefully be confirming the appointment of a Director for Hands On Access Ltd. I am also planning to appoint a Director for Hands On Internet Ltd to develop and manage an internet solutions company.

The Group will be developing its own corporate website in 2006 with the services we offer. Still have not been able to get a designer to create the look and feel we want! grr

Thats my plan, one day at a time!