thread Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔 in Community Corner

How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

ElisabethB — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:04:03 GMT

Hello, Seller Community! Let's talk about goal-setting: how do you set your business goals and track your progress? We'd love to hear what methods have worked for you and your business. Share your thoughts with us below! 😊

Thank you to @Doran for suggesting this question ✨

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

jaxxxy — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:35:50 GMT

To track your business goals and stay on top of them, you can use the following steps:

Define your goals: Clearly define what you want to achieve and make sure your goals are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound).
Create a plan: Break your goals down into smaller, actionable steps and create a plan of how you're going to achieve them.
Set up tracking systems: Choose the tools and systems you'll use to track your progress towards your goals, such as spreadsheets, project management software, or performance dashboards.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

Siamesecat — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 07:18:36 GMT

What reader will fit an I pro computer I have the iMac pro 13 inch

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

SacredGrove330 — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 14:31:07 GMT

I love spreadsheets! I create a workbook with yearly tabs, use Quickbook and Square reports to fill in P/L categories, and track where we did good and where we need improvements. It's also nice to color code trouble areas, and input goals vs progress.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

ElisabethB — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:40:50 GMT

@SacredGrove330 I love a good spreadsheet with color coding, too! 😍 Do you use a template or build it out from scratch?

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

ChapterII — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:33:10 GMT

It's never to late to write a business plan. There are free templates online to guide you through the process. Measure against the business plan every 6 months.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

JUYBoutique20 — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 19:39:17 GMT

I always look at what I did the year before. I typically have two goals, to beat last LY and whatever I goal for the current one. To track my goals, I use my reports through Square and I also have a planner where I break those numbers down even more. I love all the digitals things but I'm definitely a pen and paper girl.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

GNixStudio — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:44:28 GMT

Great question!

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

lawnbrook — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 14:15:38 GMT

So many options, there are tangible and 'less; tangible things we like to track..

In terms of tangibles - Turnover and profit Y/Y is the big one, quickbooks gives me easy access to this.

In terms of our business 'pillars' there are areas that are high profit, medium profit, and necessity.

We have a small distillery/winery/restaurant. We want to see larger % of profit coming from spirits, then wine, and lastly the restaurant just needs to scrape by as it facilitates the others.

For the less tangible stuff we monitor our presence and influence on social media in comparison to surrounding similar businesses as for our demographic this does convert to sales.

In terms of goals - I'm good at setting them, not so good at doing them.. But this might be the year!!!

On the list for this year is: 4 new spirit product, better online presence, build a loyalty following to drive sales, engage a rep/distributor... lets see how I go 😄

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

TCSlaguna — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 20:37:19 GMT

I love the three steps you set out @jaxxxy!

I try not to have goals that are a year out right now. Given the uncertain business climate right now, I try to look at things either monthly or quarterly. If I can work hard in the present to meet the short-term goals (that around aligned with the long-term goals), the long-term goals should be met.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

ReginaRMT — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 02:56:05 GMT

I use a paper planner still, write all thoughts down. I will keep a running notes column to work off of. It may include sales ideas or marketing pitches, Including names or businesses to contact.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

Fpghome — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 14:58:29 GMT

We look at sales from the same time previous year. Since we participate in vendor shows also we try to look at the show from the previous year to plan for the current year. There have been patterns in buying items which we have paid attention to. This have been helpful with know what inventory to bring to shows and what to produce more of. We also have an artisan shop. Since this has just started planning for this have been challenging however we have paid attention to customer shopping patterns, what they are looking for and what they are willing to spend on an item.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

FamilyCreation1 — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 02:01:48 GMT

I have another 9 to 5 currently and doing a side gig of laser engraving. My goal is to have fun with my father and try to make a little money without overdoing myself.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

DinaLRosenberg — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 13:15:08 GMT

We find that Square's report function helps us keep track of goals quite nicely. We have our monthly sales goal, a daily target in mind which takes into account the day of the week, and an amount per individual customer spend that we shoot for as well.

When it comes to retail items- we do attempt to know length of time items sell down. Obviously the quicker the better.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

lawnbrook — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 00:05:16 GMT

@FamilyCreation1 ,

Very cool - I bought a small hobby laser last year as I was paying someone .30c to etch our logo onto every spirit bottle top. It's probably payed for itself already but it's also be great for little signage and merch projects around the business.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

Michael_L — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 19:18:02 GMT

I recently started using a "kanban" style of to-do app (Todoist) which lets me put my projects and contracts into different columns based on the stage they are at. I've developed a template which I copy for each new client, fill in their details and the basic answers, and then I have all the things I was forgetting ready at my fingertips.

It's nice for me because it's a visual way to show my progress rather than just a to-do list with deadlines.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

Abigails_stl — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 20:37:11 GMT

For our stores we have a yearly goal that I set at the end of the year for the following year. Our goal is increase our sales every year way above and beyond over the predicted retail forecast is. So once I set this lofty sales goal, I break it down into action plans that will help us hit that sales goal. We break down our yearly into monthly and then even daily goals to keep us on track. I work with my management team to come up with ideas on how to attain these goals. This year we have decided that we are going to try to launch an app for our stores. So we have come up with a plan and laid out all of the why's and how's and who is in charge of what. I also like to use the SMART Goal Acronym for setting and achieving goals. We have monthly followups to ensure that we are hitting our goals. We will also adjust both goals and actions throughout the year depending on sales trends and staff.

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

Lucksinger — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 06:47:42 GMT

Well my business is brand new so I’m still figuring out how everything works and right now focusing on completeing my account set up and listing my merch and advertising my new business

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

PJ67 — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 00:30:14 GMT

Good question ?

Re: How do you track your business goals and keep on top of them? 🤔

Bahi2 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 08:23:40 GMT

I am currently working a 9 to 5 job as well as doing laser engraving on the side as a side gig. Basically, I just want to have some fun with my father while trying to make a little money without going overboard.