Do you have a marketing calendar? Why not? Below is a list of 7 things that will help you make it big next year. Why is it not about tomorrow? Because its all about planning!

It’s 60 days before the end of the year. There’s still time to take steps to close out the year strong. The following ideas work around any time of year, but help when they are tied to significant dates or celebrations. Your results may vary, but most of these are fairly easy to do. If you pick 1 or 2 of these, and do them well, it could change how your business finishes the year.

Take sales action and measure success

1. Plan a year-end video how to series. Record the video and convert it to flash, or just use YouTube, and sell both the live event and the replays. Or consider using it as a lead capture tool to bring people into your marketing funnel in exchange for free access to the webinar replay.
2. Gather and share a compelling customer case study. This can be shared with new prospects, or those who just haven’t made a decision yet. BUT DON’T LIE – This should be a case study, not a work of fiction!
3. Issue a press release highlighting the case study. Or issue a press release on anything that would be classified as newsworthy of your company for your market. There are both paid and free online press release services. Consider PRWeb.com or OpenPR.com.
4. Set a goal to contact your top 25 customers over the next 30 days. Show your appreciation. Ask them what they’d like to see from your company in the coming year — and see if there are any needs you can meet in their business by end of year. Take this opportunity to also connect with them on any social networks they may be on (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.). Lastly, ask for a referral.
5. Consider a marketing campaign themed off of the 12 Days of Christmas. Perhaps build a tip list of the 12 essential tools necessary to get the job done. Some of these tools can be ones you sell, but don’t make it all about buying from you (yet). Offer value.
6. Tell your marketplace of your most successful product, or business activity so far this year. Then offer a special sale to commemorate the accomplishment. Use email marketing or social media — or both — to communicate this event.
7 MUST DO: Set goals and objectives for whatever marketing activities you engage in for the next 60 days. This not only helps understand the results, but often yields better results. It will also serve as a guide to future marketing activities, as you learn what your market responds to.

Finally, make sure you and all your staff ALWAYS ask why your customer is buying from you. You need to know what is working. If your customers are willing to spend their hard earned cash with you, you are obviously doing something right – make sure you know what it is!