Behind the Scenes: Wrapping up the Year & Prepping for a New Year in Business

As the end of the year approaches, business owners everywhere are wrapping up projects, reflecting on successes, and setting goals for the new year. Let’s go behind the scenes of the annual planning process, exploring how to finish the year strong and strategically prepare for what’s next. Whether you’re a financial professional or in another industry, this guide offers actionable insights on prioritizing tasks, evaluating business performance, and streamlining marketing strategies to start the new year with clarity and purpose.

Why We Pause Onboarding for the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, we enter our busiest period of the year. The leads start pouring in, but I do something many might consider risky: I pause all new client onboarding from two days before Thanksgiving through January 2. Here’s why:

• Prioritizing Family and Planning: I use this time to recharge, travel, and strategize for the year ahead.
• Ensuring Quality Onboarding: Onboarding a client is an intensive process involving strategy sessions, forms, and content reviews, which can be overwhelming for everyone during the holiday rush.

During this period, we focus our marketing on encouraging clients to start with us before the end of the year, especially since tax season can be overwhelming for financial professionals. This year-end pause helps both clients and my team to work more effectively.

The Power of Video Marketing: A 2025 Essential

As we look toward 2025, video is increasingly essential, especially for social media. Recently, I helped a client step into video for the first time, and the results were incredible. Her video received fantastic engagement, and her friends and family were raving about it! This success exemplifies our agency’s mission to simplify marketing—just hit record, and we’ll handle the rest.

Our 2025 Strategy Process

Currently, we’re in the middle of two significant planning phases:

1. December Strategy: We meet with each client before the 5th of every month to discuss the following month’s strategy.
2. Annual Strategy for 2025: We send a detailed email two months before the year ends to schedule strategy calls and gather client feedback on their marketing. Here’s what’s included:

To show appreciation for our loyal clients, we never raise prices on current contracts—only if they add new services. For clients, this stability is invaluable for budgeting, and it’s our way of saying thanks for their continued partnership.

My Personal Year-End Review

Just as we plan for our clients, I also take time each year to evaluate my business. Here’s a glimpse into my year-end prep for 2025:

1. Assessing Business Performance

• Client Retention and Growth: Review retention rates, revenue, and profit margins.
• Lead Sources and ROI: Identify which channels (LinkedIn, referrals, etc.) brought in the most leads.

2. Industry Trends and Competitor Analysis

• I’ll be reviewing industry developments and competitor strategies to ensure we stay ahead, just as we do for our clients.

3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Evaluate progress across various platforms, including this podcast, newsletter, and social channels, and set new goals for the year ahead.

4. Service Refinement and Price Adjustments

• We’re simplifying our service offerings and increasing prices to reflect the time and effort video marketing demands.

5. Financial Review and Savings Opportunities

• Reviewing subscriptions, expenses, and potential tax season prep to identify areas for savings and investment.

6. SWOT Analysis and Marketing Refresh

• I’ll conduct a SWOT analysis, review content performance, and update social media bios and links.

This is just a small glimpse of the year-end activities that keep my business running smoothly.

Wrapping Up: Simplifying Your Marketing for 2025

Running a business doesn’t mean you have to do everything. At Simplified Marketing Services, we believe in focusing on what matters most to you and doing business your way. This approach allows you to find that “sweet spot” where work becomes enjoyable.

If you’re ready to simplify your marketing for 2025, book a call with us today. By locking in your strategy now, you can secure our 2024 rates—even if you’re not ready to start until January.

For more details, visit our contact page, and let’s kick off the new year with clarity and confidence.