It’s the time of year when most of us are beginning to wind down and take a break with our friends and family.
That’s great and it’s important to “regroup” a little before the New Year starts.
I believe January is the most important month of the year. It sets the pace for what follows and therefore it’s crucial to have things planned out for a speedy getaway out of the gates on January 1st!
Here are 4 things to get the results you want and deserve in 2013…
1. Define Your Goals
What exactly do you want to achieve?
Get fit, lose weight, make $XXX or £XXX by March, double your business, grow your list from zero to your first 500 subscribers?
Write your goals down.
They need to be realistic and achievable. Also, set the target for the end of March. Long term goals for the end of the year rarely work. Don’t be like the new people I see in my gym every January 90% of whom disappear after a few weeks!
2. Move Up The Food Chain
Stop looking at the world like a consumer.
Should I buy this? Is this the opportunity I’ve been looking for all these years? I’m annoyed by these upsells. I don’t think this “system” is right for me but this new way might be worth a try.
Those are not things that you want as your first thoughts when you see something (usually an email) for the first time.
Instead, look at what is going on.
What was it in the subject line that caused you to open the email? What is the sales funnel that is in place with these upsells and downsells? What’s the main hook in this video or sales page?
Find people who have achieved the goals you want to achieve and look at what they are doing. It’s crucial because unfortunately, not all of them will reveal what they are doing and instead tell (and sell) you want they think you want to know (and buy).
3. Create A “Stop List”
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein
Look back over the last 12 months and identify what things haven’t worked for you have done more than once.
Maybe it’s jumping from system to system. Maybe it’s using SEO for traffic which hasn’t delivered.
Whatever it is add it to your stop list.
And obviously, stop doing it (that’s important!).
Achieving your goals is a lot easier when you eradicate bad habits and repeated mistakes.
4. Hit the Ground Running
It’s the title of this post!
Whatever, it is you want to achieve, get started in early January and stick at it.
If it’s building a web-business then every single thing that you do should be focused on building your list (remember there are only 2 ways to do this).
Plans change and goals get redefined and that’s fine and natural as you move forward and gain more experience.
But to start with just put the blinkers on and target that first step.
BRING IT ON!
What do you want for 2013? Please help me to spread the word with LIKE/TWEET and drop your thoughts below. I’d love to hear from you… Cheers, Rob. 🙂
Hi Rob,
Good advice there. Good luck with the Christmas shopping 🙁
My New Year plan is to stop trying to please Google. (Hamster on a wheel springs to mind) I have to think more for the people and not the search engines. Give them what they want and they’ll most likely come back.
Best wishes for the season Rob, and to all your readers. Here’s to a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2013.
John.
Thanks John, I’m leaving shortly for my “ordeal”!
Absolutely spot on with pleasing people not the search engines. It’s a lot easier and more effective to deal with the former than the latter!
Best wishes too for the period!
Cheers – Rob.
I like the stop list idea. My problem in 2012 has been to chase every little shiny object that has crossed my path. For 2013 my plan is to stay focused on my key projects and not stray away from the path.
Good stuff Adarsh and thank you for sharing!
Great to see you here on the blog too 🙂
cheers – Rob.
Hey,
I think you right when you say most people leave their goals alone by the end of january 🙂 So it’s a good idea to set goals for march, this is more realistic.
For my part I will try to build my list in 2013 and -most important- stick with one thing and stop this darn “shiny object syndrom” and Jump from one business model to the next.
Obviously this does not work because I bring none of them to an end 😉
Have a merry christmas& good luck for 2013
Phil
Hi Phil,
Sounds perfect to me. Jan to March, just purely focus on list building. You’ll be so glad you did by the time Spring comes 🙂
Cheers – Rob.
STOP STOP STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t Go
I assume, like Bluewater, it is open until 10.00 p.m when it will, from my BW experience be blissfully quiet, no king problems no travelling problems
You could add No 5 Use your time better and shop at night !!
Apart from that, I just love “3” above
Have a good Christmas, Rob
Colin
Haha, too late Colin.
But appreciate the advice, I shall remember it for future trips.
Merry Christmas too and have a great break.
Cheers, Rob
I really like the idea of a “Stop list”. It’s surprising how the bad habits can build up and lead to overwhelm and procrastination. By putting them to paper, it is like throwing them in the bin. I also plan on using a “to do” list with the priorities nearest the top and ticking the steps off as I work through.
List building is definitely top priority for me and shiny object syndrome is on the “stop list”
Have a merry christmas and all the best for 2013
Lisa
Well said Lisa and merry Christmas to you too!
Cheers, Rob.
I liked the stop list idea too. Like others here I’ve chased after far too many bright shiny objects in 2012. I’ve already made a start by unsubscribing from about 75% of the lists I was on which really weren’t delivering for me (obviously Rob’s wasn’t one of them! 🙂
All the best
Tim
Hey Tim,
It’s proving popular this stop list and great to hear I wasn’t on it!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
Cheers, Rob.
‘Stop trying to please Google’ Ha Ha … love it
2 years ago I was in No.1 / No.2 spot on the 1st page of Google for a particular brand I sell online – today I’m not even on page 2 anymore.
Yesterday I had a meeting with the brand manager who said I was their second biggest online retailer only behind John Lewis! (those bloody snowmen ads of theirs must work 🙂 )
Those companies that have replaced me on Google’s 1st page aren’t even doing half the business that I’m doing with them apparently.
Concentrate on getting your customers on your list, NOT getting your name onto Search Engines – the 2 aren’t exclusively linked.
Channel your efforts into the Sales Funnel explained recently by Rob.
Plastering your name everywhere is no guarantee they ‘come to you’.
It’s only when you engage in a meaningful way with your prospects that you’ll take the first steps to monetising them.
Best Wishes for Xmas everyone.
Ian
Fantastic points Ian – as always 🙂
We should chat sometime and see if we can help each other!
Have a great Christmas/New Year too.
Cheers, Rob.
Thanks Rob … I’m sure we’ll catch up in the New Year
Take care
Ian
A valuable insight Ian. Thank you
no problem Colin … all the businesses I’m currently involved in are not in the ‘Information Marketing’ sector but there are still so many ideas & strategies that are common to both.
have a great Xmas and NY
Ian
Hi rob
You always talk sense and reading your posts has inspired me to do a very important thing ie FOCUS ON ONE OPERATION AT A TIME.
My next step is to tidy up my squeeze and sales pages for a particular package I am attempting to sell….NO!…will sell.
I’ve just completed my sales download pages and having managed at last to understand how to use aweber and have written my follow up auto responder emails.
Within a week I will pay the fee in order to get my package listed on clickbank.
At least now I think I’m getting somewhere. NOT BEFORE TIME!
Have a good one Rob
Ken
Hi Ken,
Excellent action plan, that looks very solid and determined to me 🙂
Have a great Christmas/NY if we don’t converse on blog comments before then!
Cheers, Rob.
Hi Rob
Yep No:3 Excellent idea. Gonna get out the dust pan and brush
and have a digital tidy up for 2013.
Good luck with the shopping and crowds, rather you than me.
Christmas and New Year Cheer to you.
All the best
Jerry
Hi Jerry,
Thanks, glad you liked that one. I do all of this myself too and it really works. A regular clean out is good for the heart and soul!
All the best 🙂
Rob
Good advice Rob.
My stop list should include spending less time on emails and their distractions and focus more.
BTW can you tell me please how you add your green text to your posts? It looks very nice. I use WordPress for my blog but the standard toolbar doesn’t seem to show up a different colour choice such as would be found on Word.
Thanks for your excellent posts throughout the year and I wish you a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2013 and may you hit the ground running!
ATB
Laurie.
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for your comment 🙂
The green headings are done inside my theme, Thesis where you can select whichever color you like. If you don’t want to use Thesis or a premium theme like this then install the free plugin Ultimate TinyMCE which allows you to format your WordPress content in virtually any style you like 🙂
Cheers, Rob.
This is my guide to making 2013 more productive and profitable
Lewis
Hey Lewis,
Well done and have a great Christmas/NY 🙂
Cheers, Rob.
Good advice Rob, and thanks reading your post just made me realize a few things I’ve been doing wrong in my business…and it’s time to focus on building my list/lists, something I always shied away from! But not anymore! I’ve been doing stuff online since 2008 and have so much knowledge as most of us do! So my focus in 2013 is to Build My List and pass on the knowledge in the best way I know! See You All At the TOP…
Hey Tony,
That’s great, you’ll be well rewarded if you action that!
Great to see you here on the blog – talk again soon I’m sure 🙂
Cheers,
Rob.
Hi Rob
Thanks for the info on the plugin which will help with the appearance of my blog site.
I’ll do that 🙂
I wish you continued success with all of your ventures in 2013 and also a very happy Christmas.
ATB
Laurie.
Hi Rob,
(Let’s try from my mobile) Great list if tips, my tasks include finish my second main product. This time though I will be split testing my methods more. I am looking forward to 2013 from an online perspective. 2012 saw the birth of my second wonderful daughter which in turn lead to less work on my online projects but wouldn’t change it for anything. I agree with your comments on list building, I will be over to join the GHG members area once I am ready!
All the very best to you and your subscribers.
John
Hi John,
Looks like your mobile works!
All sounds good and well done on the progress – keep going and enjoying it 🙂
Cheers,
Rob.
As always… you have provided some insightful thoughts and clear goals and direction. Thank you Rob. I had not put my goals down on paper yet… and some of them were still just ideas. So I will implement this.
I appreciate what you do for all of us!
Blessings.
Deb
Hi Deb,
You are very welcome.
It’s easy to think, “oh, I don’t need to write them down” but it does really help so I commend you on that 🙂
See you soon again here on the blog I hope!
Cheers, Rob.
Hi Rob
Great list if tips, at 58 need to get started my job is not for me now, 2013
a new start I hope
cheers,Gavin
Hi Gavin,
Thanks for commenting. Now’s the ideal time to get started and make it happen! Best wishes for 2013 and hope to chat again soon here on the blog 🙂
Cheers!
Rob.
Very cool post Rob.
Just found your site after searching about e-mail opt-in percentages. I think i shall be looking round a bit more 🙂
All the best.
Hi Andy,
Welcome along, great to see you here and please enjoy the site 🙂
Cheers,
Rob