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It is hard for many small business owners to take a step away from working AT their business to work ON their business. This streamlined strategic planning process was presented by Ellen Didier of Red Sage Communications, the SBA's 2013 Small Business Person of the Year for Alabama. From SWOT analysis, market analysis, listening to your customers and employees, and naming your top strategies to take your business to the next level, this process can take as little as an afternoon but give your business the fuel it needs to grow.
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The down and dirty 10-‐Step
Strategic Planning Process for small businesses who want to succeed
STEP 1: Gather your team
Off-site? On-site?
Full day? Half day?
Take turns leading
Get ready to brainstorm
STEP 2: Do SWOT Analysis 2 hours
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Refine your SWOT notes as you go through the next
steps
STEP 3: Look at Competitors
Do your research
Websites Print materials Advertising Ask friends, customers about
perceptions
How can you differentiate?
Do you need to add services or products?
STEP 4: Look at your markets
STEP 4: Look at your markets
Are they changing? Where can you sell deeper? What are customers asking for? Is there a better way to communicate? Any market specific opportunities or
threats?
STEP 5: Ask your employees
STEP 5: Ask your employees
What would make your job easier? What would make you happier? What are the top issues you keep running
into? What do you think we need to do to get to
the next level?
STEP 6: Ask your customers
How would you rate our:
Quality Efficiency Customer Service Reliability Communication Integrity
Open ended questions:
What could we do better? What do you wish we offered in a product
or service?
And the bottom line questions:
Would you recommend us to others? How likely are you to do business with us
again?
STEP 7: Identify your Big Rocks
What are the top 3-5 things you can do that would take your business to the next level?
The Big Rocks Example
STEP 8: List tasks for each Big Rock identified
Big rock 1
Task 1 People responsible Due date
Task 2 People responsible Due date
Task 3 People responsible Due date
Big rock 2
Task 1 People responsible Due date
Task 2 People responsible Due date
Task 3 People responsible Due date
STEP 9: Meet regularly to work on and report progress
STEP 10: Repeat Every Year!
Download this presentation at www.slideshare.net/ellendid4
Please connect with me! www.RedSageOnline.com
twitter.com/ellendidier twitter.com/RedSageAL
facebook.com/redsage linkedin.com/in/ellendidier
