New Years Resolutions
Each and every
year people around the world mark the first day of the New Year with
resolutions. They resolve to do a wide variety of things, and while few
resolutions are actually kept, the tradition is a hallmark of the
holiday each year.
Experts suggest that people
should make lifestyle changes rather than resolutions. I am a bit more
pragmatic. Tackle a task you know that you can succeed at. Do not bite
off more than you can chew, and you will be one of the few who manages
to keep their resolutions. Here are a few suggested resolutions for
webmasters and small business owners:
Webmasters Resolutions:
1. Prune Those RSS Feeds
Large
feeds are slow to load, its time to prune those RSS feeds and remove
the old contents. Dated feed items can be archived as an HTML web page,
but should be removed from the actual feed, to ensure that it loads
quickly.
2. Update Copyright Notices
Make
an effort to update the copyright notice on your website. A current
date will reassure customers that your online storefront is active.
3. Update Meta Tags
Each
and every web page on a website should contain a unique title and
description. Update and optimize meta tags to avoid excessive use of
keywords. Meta tags should be accurate and concise without redundancy
and recurring words.
4. House Cleaning
Update
old links and remove any links that are no longer valid. HTML is a
markup language and without constant maintenance it is easy to have a
page with an unclosed tag. While some web browsers make allowances for
poorly formed HTML, it is important to realize that not all do.
Therefore, it is crucial that you take a look at the HTML behind the
web page and make sure that it is properly formed.
5. Try Something New
Pick
a technology, be it podcasting, RSS, or social bookmarking. Resolve to
try or resolve to learn something new. Businesses stagnate without
innovation. Be creative and willing to experiment a little.
Small Business Resolutions:
1. Have a Plan
Small
businesses often rely on just a handful of individuals and few small
businesses have contingency plans if key individuals are unavailable
for any length of time. Cross train employees and document procedures
so that your business will survive regardless of the circumstances.
2. Prepare a Budget for 2007 and Stick to It.
Determine
where and how you intend to spend your business' hard earned cash in
the coming year. Too many small businesses fail to follow a business
plan. Build a budget and stick to it.
3. Define Yourself
As
a small business it is important to know your strengths and weaknesses.
Identify your strengths and reinforce those strengths in your
communication with your customers or potential customers. Be aware of
any weaknesses or deficiencies in your small business, and do not over
commit. Use this knowledge to stay competitive with other businesses.
4. Use Metrics
It
is difficult to know what works and what does not if you are not
tracking metrics. Measure the results of advertising campaigns, track
website visitors and use metrics to determine what works for your
business.
5. Communicate
Communicate
with your customers more. Few small businesses understand the value of
communication, or realize what they can learn from past, current and
potential customers. Communicate and you might learn important
information about your business. The unique perspective an outsider can
provide about how they are using or product, or what interested them
about your business is invaluable.
Resolutions are easier made than kept. In 2007, consider paring down your list and focusing on resolutions that are attainable and will help your bottom line.