Whooosh. Suddenly, we’re already in Q2 and last Christmas seems a lifetime ago. Before you know it, your company will scatter for summer stuff. Second quarter’s when stuff gets done, yo.
Like all bucket lists, the only thing that stands between you and checking stuff off them is execution. I hope you find them helpful!
1. Ask every employee for one suggestion on how you can make it easier for your customers and prospects to do business with you.
2. Reward those employees whose suggestions we use.
3. Understand what social media is and isn’t. It’s not a megaphone. Have someone read Platform and Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook and report to the rest of your company on them, then develop an action plan from those reports. Learn how to use social media to deepen relationships, become a better listener and find like-minded people and businesses.
4. Include more than senior staff in brainstorming sessions for a fresh, healthy perspective. Include other employees. If you’re slightly more daring, include customers. Here’s how to get the most out of a brainstorming session.
5. Speaking of customers, form a customer advisory board. Regularly invite some of your best customers to dinner to give you unfiltered feedback about what you could be doing better.
6. Implement or refine your customer feedback loop. We recommend this one.
7. Develop a more evocative, generous referral program. Start by asking your newly-formed customer advisory board…
[Tweet “21 Good, Fast, and Cheap Ways To Improve Your Company In Q2”]
8. Audit senior staff to ensure you’re providing shareworthy service to your most important customers.
9. Have a Take 5 contest.
10. Ask your receptionist(s), your customer service people, and your outside salespeople what the 3-5 most often asked questions are from people calling and shopping. Make sure those questions are answered (and easy to find) on our website.
11. Learn more about online video and how to leverage it for your company.
12. Consider a professional website assessment. In the meantime, here’s a list of 21 things you should check every quarter.
13. Encourage my employees to each submit one idea – and plan – for how your company can be more generous to local charities next year. Reward the best plans.
14. Interview five senior citizens and five teenagers to get their views on how the world’s and their media use is changing.
15. Review your company’s goals for the year. Make sure they’re SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Time-Bound), and that everyone on your team knows what they are.
16. Think about your company values. Is there anyone one your team who clearly doesn’t share them? Think hard about whether everyone would benefit from a staffing change.
17. If you’re not sure about 15 and 16, do this exercise immediately.
18. If you haven’t already, ask your employees these 10 questions.
19. If you don’t want to do the Take 5 contest, try this contest to make your company more value-able.
20. Audit your messaging… is it free of clichés?
21. Map your customer experience… then give it a tune-up.
I could continue – but these are all good, fast, and cheap. I hope one or more of them find their way home to you.
What about you? You’re not only good-looking, but smart, too. Do you have any suggestions to add to this list?
It’s not too late to get started. The best day to get started was yesterday. Luckily for all of us, the second-best is…
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