I don’t tend to send out newsletters every single day. That isn’t just because it takes a lot of work to put a newsletter together; it’s mainly because I know that I don’t need to inundate my audience with information.

In my line of work, I can wait to blog every few days and send a newsletter every week or two. Unlike a news outlet, my information doesn’t change hourly. I realize that and so I use social media to stay connected, but not to inundate my readers with STUFF.

Unfortunately, there are many companies that haven’t gotten that message yet. Those places practically spam their customers and prospects with daily “news” that isn’t really news at all.

In order to avoid becoming a pest, you need to use social media to your advantage. And that means you have to keep a few factoids in mind:

1. Social media success happens over time. Be patient. You can’t send out 100 tweets today and expect to be a success by tomorrow.

2. You want to build real relationships with your social media contacts. Don’t just “collect names”. You can have 1,000 fans on Facebook and not one of them may be really reading what you write. Develop true partnerships and make sure you reciprocate.

3. Spam is hated. It really is. So stop spamming. Always ask yourself, “Would I want to receive this information?” If the answer is “no”, you might want to rethink your strategy.

4. Oh, and that brings us to the point that you NEED a social media strategy. If you’re just blogging, sending out newsletters, and doing Facebook updates “when you feel like it”, you’re not taking advantage of these powerful marketing tools.

There’s nothing wrong with hopping on the social media bandwagon. Just make sure you pay your dues or you’ll be seen as a hobo just riding the rails!

So you want to make sure that 2010 is better than 2009 was in terms of your business?  Then you have to start thinking about making some corporate resolutions for 2010. 

These types of resolutions differ from personal resolutions in that they are narrowly focused toward the business world.  Still, the resolutions (business and personal) do share some similarities, most notably that:

• The resolutions have to be measurable.
• The resolutions have to be manageable.
• The resolutions have to be logical.

Let’s take each of these points one at a time…

Measurability

I don’t know of any entrepreneur who wouldn’t agree that he or she wants to make a bigger profit in 2010 than he or she did in 2009.  However, that really isn’t a solidly measurable goal. 

Instead of making a sweeping statement, put a number to your resolution.  By doing so, it will be highly specific.  For example, you could say that you want to increase your business profits by 20%, $20,000, etc.  That way, you can map out strategies to make your resolution a reality.  (I’d be remiss if I didn’t add here that this is where a business coach can be a huge help!)

Manageability

It’s great to say that you want to spend more time on the road visiting your prospects and clients in 2010, but you have to make sure that whatever you say you’re going to do is manageable. 

For instance, if everything else stays the same in your company, can you really manage to be on the road more often?  And if you can’t, are you willing and able to outsource responsibilities to ensure that balls don’t drop?  (If the answer is “no”, you probably can figure out that this is one resolution that cannot be implemented.)

Logic

Maybe you’ve always wanted to move your business to a warmer climate.  (Hey, anyone who has been stopped from fulfilling a client’s order because of a foot of snow can commissurate!) 

But what if your family and clients are all in a cooler locale and want you to be there, too?  Obviously, it’s not going to be logical for you to have “Move the company to a warmer climate” as a business resolution, at least until you are able to convince your relatives and customers that such a move will benefit them, too. 

Does this mean that if your resolutions are measurable, manageable and logical that they will come true?  Unfortunately, no.  You have to be willing to work hard to make changes.  However, you’ll have a much better chance at seeing your resolutions come to fruition (at least partially) if they have these three characteristics. 

So… what are your business resolutions for 2010?  I’d love to hear the direction you intend to take over the next twelve months.

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Join my Marketing Made Easy for Small Businesses Program and add marketing savvy to your resolutions for 2010! 

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As a business coach, I challenge clients to think.  And today, I’m challenging you to do a little soul-searching of your own. 

Now, I know most of us who are entrepreneurs have a strong drive to be “The Best” — but most of us never analyze what that really means.  Instead, we strive for “Best”, but we have no idea how we’ll know when we get there.

As a quick exercise, I’d like to offer some free business coaching to you.  If you really, truly want to be “The Best” in your business, ask yourself these important questions:

If you were the best in your industry:

1. How would you answer the phone?
2. How would you sign your emails?
3. What hours would you work?
4. What kind of first and last impression would you leave on prospects and clients?
5. What would your marketing materials look like?
6. With whom would you associate?
7. What kind of clients would you have?
8. What would your office look like?
9. What would your website look like?
10. What kind of work would you do?
11. How much of your work would you outsource?
12. What credentials would you have?
13. What community organizations would you support?
14. How would your public relations work?
15. What kind of communications would you have with clients?
16. How would you physically feel each day?
17. How would you mentally feel each day?
18. How long would it take you to return a phone call?
19. How long would it take for you to return an email?
20. How many clients would you have?

Good luck on the exercise.  If you do it with sincerity, it will absolutely help you envision what you know can become true.