Things to Think About Going into the New Year
Let’s face it: 2020 kind of sucked. A lot of us had to let go of goals, reorganize how we work and live, reschedule big plans — our content writer Cody Eastlick had to reschedule his wedding — and it just sucks. Thankfully, 2021 is just around the corner. While we know that a new year won’t wipe the slate clean, it does give us all another chance to define how we want our year to go. We’re armed with new knowledge, new awareness of the world around us that we couldn’t have had last year, and a fresh start so let’s make the most of it. Whether you’re into making New Year's Resolutions (either for yourself or your business), or not, there are a few things everyone should be thinking about as the clock hits midnight on January 1, 2021.
Keep Moving Forward and Finding New Solutions
No matter how bad this year was, we made it through. We’ve all felt loss and have gone through turmoil. We’ve all struggled in our own ways. But we’re stronger and more knowledgeable because of it. We can keep moving forward and find new solutions to help us through these crazy times. At Helix House, we’ve developed new systems and triggers to protect our mental, emotional, physical, and financial health as much as possible. We’ve found ways to work with each other, even when we’re not with each other. It’s been hard, but these solutions have both brought us closer as a Helix Family, and reinforced that what we do really matters. Every move we make affects us three months down the road. We don’t work for tomorrow — we work for our future and for the future of our clients. We had to predict the market and grow into spaces we never thought of before. Because when you’re living in 2020, everyone needs to think on their feet to keep themselves afloat. We were no exception. So approach 2021 with the same creative mindset and treat every move with caution and care to find new solutions for new problems. We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know that we’re prepared to face it.
Redefine What Success Means
It’s always good to have a set goal in mind, but if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that it’s not always possible to hit every target. During years like this, we have to redefine what success means. In December 2019, Helix House set a financial goal that quickly came crashing down. That's okay. We looked at ourselves and realized that it wasn’t our fault. In fact, it wasn’t anyone’s fault. It just wasn’t realistic to hit our desired threshold this year. It’s tough, but it’s important to realize that some things just aren’t in our control, no matter how hard we work at it. As the year went on, we learned that success means a lot of different things. It can mean minimizing your losses, adding new systems and responsibilities to better use your team members’ unique skills, and staying healthy and safe. So when you enter into 2021, remember that success comes in many different forms. It might be smart to sit down with your team and redefine what success means to all of you, given this past year.
Don’t Be Afraid of Growth
It sounds silly to say, but growth can be scary in unprecedented times. There is even more uncertainty about spending more to grow more, because you just don’t know how those campaigns or projects are going to go. Despite your fears, do not limit yourself. You know your challenges going into 2021. You know your biggest competition will be COVID-19. So plan around it instead of letting it limit you and what your business is able to do. Use what 2020 gave you to your advantage and run with it.
Advertising is Still Reliable
Despite the changes in the market and the internal changes you’ve had to make, advertising is still the most reliable way to get word out about your business. It is the only way to accurately measure who is interacting with your ads, how they are interacting with them (are they calling you, looking for more information, or clicking away), and how people are responding. When we can’t predict the market, data is everything. Being able to track results takes all of the guesswork out of success. Digital advertising allows you to do all of that and more. That’s why it’s still a reliable way to grow your business, because you know you’re investing in something that works and working with professionals who fix things that don’t. When you look to 2021, we recommend not cutting digital advertising out of your budget just yet. Instead, look for new solutions that fit your newly defined goals. A solution can be switching your focus or finding a new company to run your ads. The choice is completely up to you. But if you are in the market for a new digital advertising company, we may know someone who is ready to work for you. Give us a call and let’s face the unknowns in 2021 together.
