5 Back to School Tips to Finish 2023 Strong

If your region isn’t yet in back to school season, it’s not far away. We’re full-go here in the Southeastern US where I’m located. While the first day jitters have worn off, there’s still a lot of excitement and hope for the 2023-24 school year. 

So, just like yellow buses are driving our nation’s youth to their education destinations, here are 5 Back to School tips to help drive  your business into the rest of 2023. 

1. Get Back into the Swing of Things

   As much as we all hate to admit it, summer vacations are (mostly) over and society is settling back into the school year/holiday cycle. Now’s the time to set up a team meeting around new or updated goals to get hyper-focused for the last 4-ish months of the year.

   Once the goals are laid out, work with your team to get back into a productive and efficient routine to achieve said goals. Have the team assess current workflows and optimize processes that will help each individual start the new season – and finish the year – strong. 

2. Upgrade Your Tools for Success 

   If you’re not staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and tools, you could be at risk of falling behind. There are a lot of different ways this could go, but we’d recommend exploring technologies and tools to improve productivity and market competitiveness.

   Consider the benefits of adopting new software, upgrading equipment, or implementing automation solutions to streamline operations. If you need support,Our SowLabs division stays on the cutting edge of technology and would be happy to help advise your team and implement updates to your tech stack. Book a call here and get set-up for Q4 and beyond.

3. Learn Something New (Or a Bunch of New Things!)

This is a great time of year to invest in continuing education for yourself or your team. 

From webinars to workshops to online courses, there are numerous resources businesses can explore to help acquire new skills and stay updated on the latest industry trends.   

If you’re running your company or manage a team of people, I’d recommend exploring some form of leadership education. Whether it’s as simple as picking up a new book about leadership philosophies, or enrolling in a focused 6-week course, enhancing your people skills will only benefit your business. 

Beyond personal growth, consider a group or individual training for your team. Expanding your team’s collective knowledge base will almost certainly bring about new ideas or solutions and it will show your team members that you’re invested in them – a true win-win. 

4. Refresh Your Marketing Strategy 

Plenty of “big” businesses and brands plan a marketing push in the last five  months of the year when consumers start spending with post-summer focus. Why not review what’s been working (and what hasn’t), and align your marketing collateral and strategies to hit your EOY targets? 

First, start by  analyzing your customer or client trends. What products and services have been most profitable for your business? Which can be tweaked in minor ways to be more successful? Which should be retooled more thoroughly and tabled for 2024? 

Then, update your marketing collateral and align offers with your focused offers and implement targeted campaigns to attract new customers around these finely tuned products or services. 

5. Network and Collaborate

You’re not alone in the journey to grow your business. There are plenty of peer groups and organizations designed specifically for cultivating meaningful business relationships. 

In 2023, there’s two primary paths here: Local and Non-Local.  Whether you sell services online or have an in-person business with a designated sales territory, both options are valuable and  growing your network is never a bad thing!

A great place to start meeting other business owners is in person at your local Chamber of Commerce or similar organization. There are likely people you already know in your community who would be more than willing to send you referrals or may even benefit from your products or services.

For non-local connections, all you need to do is join one of the thousands of online communities for business owners and entrepreneurs. Some are free to join, and others may have paid memberships. Some are general business groups, while likely dozens exist for your specific industry. Take your time to consider which one is the best fit for you and carve out some time to stay active within the group to get the most out of it. 

At the end of the day, networking will give you the opportunity to expand your network, exchange knowledge with others, and explore potential partnerships that could change everything for your business.