Plan Now for Q4

It’s no secret that Q4 is rapidly approaching. What that means to you and to your business will vary depending on what industry you’re in, but regardless of how important Q4 is to you, there’s no point in letting an entire quarter of the year go to waste. Even if it’s not normally a time for huge sales and a major marketing push, it doesn’t mean you have to go into your shell. Here are some things you should be doing before Q4 lands in your lap.

Evaluate. Toward the end of the year you’ll have several months’ worth of data to analyze. You’ll know how your year has shaped up and where you stand relative to the goals you set in the beginning. What went well? Did a marketing campaign exceed expectations? What went poorly? Did a new product fail to live up to its hype? Evaluate where you’ve been. What’s working and what needs to be changed? Use the data you’ve accumulated to create a winning strategy.

Build. As you take stock of your year you can also begin to look at ways you can improve. As part of your Q4 plan, peer into your crystal ball to see what factors will drive your company’s growth next year. How are you looking? How about your industry and the overall economy? What will you need to be successful? Is it an investment in new technology or more cross-training for your sales staff? Q4 is a perfect time to begin setting yourself up for future success so you can hit the ground running in January. It’s sort of like training camp for your team.

Finish. Q4 comes at a great time of the year, and not just because of all the holiday festivities. What makes it perfect it that you already have a strong set of data to work with plus you still have time to do something with it before the clock runs out. Are you blowing away the sales and growth figures you predicted at the beginning of the year? Awesome! Now what can you do to continue to dominate the game? On the other hand, if the first parts of the year haven’t gone your way there’s still time for a great fourth quarter comeback.

With all the fun and excitement that comes with the holiday, Q4 is hectic enough. Don’t let it take you by surprise. Create a great plan and make Q4 your best quarter yet!