Your 2025 Small Business Success Checklist
How to crush your new year business goals
As 2024 winds down, it's time to set your sights on the new year. With some thoughtful planning and strategic action, you can enter 2025 with confidence, focus, and clear goals. Whether you're looking to grow your brand, connect with new customers, or refine your operations, this checklist will help you lay a solid foundation for success.
✔ Create a 90-Day PR/Marketing Strategy for Q1
The first three months of the year are critical for building momentum. Start strong with a clear, actionable plan for your PR and marketing efforts. Here’s how to create an actionable timeline to help keep your business on track:
Define your goals. For example:
A restaurant might aim to boost weekday dinner traffic by 20%.
A wellness studio could focus on signing 50 new members for its “New Year, New You” January campaign.
Plan your outreach. Develop campaigns aligned with your goals, as well as seasonal opportunities. For example:
A boutique could run a Valentine’s Day gift guide pitch to local media, promoting unique items for “last-minute shoppers.”
A tech startup might target PR efforts on Q1 industry conferences like CES or SXSW to showcase their latest innovation.
Create a content calendar. Map out topics for blogs, social media posts, and email campaigns. For example:
A hotel might schedule posts on winter travel deals in January, romantic getaways in February, and spring break prep in March.
A restaurant could have its chef share information on seasonal produce and a few easy recipes.
Measure success. Use tools like Google Analytics, email open rates, and social media engagement metrics to track performance and refine your strategy. Remember these measurements, or KPIs, should tie back to those goals you defined earlier. Use them to both measure success and adjust strategy as necessary for Q2.
Pro tip: Dedicate time at the end of each month to review what’s working and adjust for the next.
✔ Map Out the Year
A well-structured annual plan keeps you proactive and prepared. By highlighting key dates and milestones early, you can stay ahead of the curve and create content, specials, etc. that capitalize on these moments.
Build a marketing calendar. Include:
National holidays like Memorial Day or Black Friday.
Industry-specific events such as National Small Business Week (May) or Restaurant Week(s) in your city.
Local events where your business can shine, like farmer’s markets, festivals, or holiday parades.
Prepare for product launches or seasonal campaigns. For example:
A skincare brand might align a new sunscreen launch with Memorial Day to coincide with summer marketing.
A boutique gym could promote a back-to-school special in August to attract parents adjusting to new schedules.
Plan for collaboration. Look for cross-promotional opportunities:
A coffee shop could team up with a local bakery for a co-branded “Winter Warm-Up” promotion.
A tech startup might partner with a coworking space to host educational workshops.
Think about downtime. For example, use slower months like August (if your industry is quiet) to revamp your website or train your team.
Pro tip: Leave room for flexibility—unexpected trends or opportunities can arise at any time!
✔ Get Specific With Business Goals
Vague goals can lead to scattered efforts. Break your ambitions into measurable steps to make them actionable.
Break down goals into achievable steps. For example:
A boutique looking to increase sales by 15% might set a goal of hosting three in-store events per quarter, such as a local market or trunk sale.
A tech company aiming to grow its user base by 30% could commit to launching a referral program in Q1.
Focus on customer retention as well as acquisition. This applies to any industry. For example:
A restaurant could implement a loyalty program to increase repeat visits.
A local spa might offer an exclusive discount to clients who book their next appointment before leaving.
Involve your team. Share clear objectives and assign responsibilities:
A bakery team could focus on achieving a specific daily upsell goal, like adding a drink to 10% of pastry orders.
A sales team might have monthly check-ins to review and adjust their pipeline strategy.
Pro tip: Set milestones throughout the year to track progress and celebrate successes along the way.
✔ Identify Where, When, and What to Outsource
Small business owners wear many hats, but some tasks are better left to the experts. Outsourcing can save time and improve outcomes. Here are some common areas business owners have found success outsourcing:
Marketing and PR: Bet you knew we were going to say that, huh? But it’s true. Partnering with an agency like Point Blank PR can take a lot of the pressure off of business owners when it comes to figuring out, crafting and executing PR and marketing initiatives. From social media management to securing top-tier media placements around a product launch or restaurant opening, working with an agency partner can have some serious ROI while taking a big chunk off of business owners’ plates.
Accounting and admin tasks: We live in a tech-filled world, so there are likely platforms or software for you to use that will streamline things like payroll, taxes, and financial reporting. Take some time to explore what options you have at your disposal, take advantage of free trials, and be prepared for a learning curve. Hot tip that we recently learned - don’t get roped into an annual contract. The couple of bucks you save is not worth being stuck with a software or platform that doesn’t work for your business.
Creative services: For specific projects that require specific skills, it’s best to leave it to the experts. If you’re thinking you want to capture professional photos for social media or your website, then look to hiring a local photographer. If you want a branding refresh, instead of doing it yourself, look to partnering with a graphic designer for that project. While you may think you can do it yourself, the end product will be exponentially better if you outsource it to an expert in that field.
Website updates: If your website is outdated, consider working with a web developer to improve its design and functionality, like adding an online store or booking system. While sites like Squarespace and Wordpress make it easier for business owners to manage their own websites, for a specific project or updates, it can be more productive to work with an expert.
Pro tip: Prioritize outsourcing for tasks that drain your time or fall outside your expertise—it’s an investment in growth and peace of mind.
Ready to Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet?
With strategic planning and a clear approach, you’re setting your business up for a year of growth, success, and opportunities. By tackling these steps, you’ll be well-positioned to seize new opportunities and navigate challenges with confidence.
Of course, if you’re considering outside help for your PR or marketing efforts, we’d love to connect and discuss how we can support your goals. Here’s to a successful and rewarding 2025!
