The end of the year is swiftly creeping up on us. We’re wrapping up open enrollment season and stressing about all of the remaining things on our to-do lists. At AgentLink, we understand how stressful the end of any year can be, and especially this year with all the changes we’ve seen.
We’re here to help you in any way we can. Whether you need all hands on deck or are just looking for some tips to get you through the next month, we have you covered. Keep reading for some of our best advice for wrapping up your business year.
Make sure your CRM or client management system is up to date
Software changes happen throughout the year and you want to make sure you’re running the latest version of your CRM and similar programs before starting the new year.
While you’re at it, review notes in your CRM from past appointments to ensure you’re not forgetting anything you’re supposed to be doing for a client.
This may also be a good opportunity to update your email flows to make sure you are still nurturing leads who maybe weren’t ready to commit this year. Nurturing your current and prospective clients is an essential aspect of your business and you need a CRM and other automation tools that work well for you.
Organize lingering files and paperwork
If you have a stack of files on your desk a mile high, now is your opportunity to whittle that down. Make sure to prioritize anything that needs to get done between now and the end of the year. These should be the things that have deadlines or will contribute the most to your success. This is also a great time to purge your email and organize electronic files, too.
Review your budget and spending from the past year
Look over your spending for the year and pinpoint anything that didn’t directly relate to your bottom line. All your expenses should hopefully tie back to making your business succeed. If you spent unnecessarily on something that didn’t help you, try to refocus that spending next year. Compare your financials from this year to last year and look for trends. Investigate the reasons behind any major rises or falls. If you find yourself with a surplus in your budget, consider what equipment in your office needs replacing or what programs or tools could help you do better, more efficient business.
Take a look at your business metrics
The metrics of your business from the past year can help you make educated decisions for the year ahead. Key metrics to review include your client retention rate as well as marketing metrics such as your website and social media analytics. Identify places where you can improve and look for patterns that will provide you with more opportunities for growth in the future. Try to find areas that, with a little extra effort or reworking, can lead to even more success.
Celebrate your accomplishments
Don’t forget to take breaks to destress during this busy time and celebrate everything you accomplished this year. This goes for any of your staff and coworkers, too. Celebrating your wins builds excitement for the year to come.
Set goals for the next year
Once you review everything from this year — budget, CRM, business metrics — you can use that information to set goals to start off next year strong, too. These can be a combination of short-term and long-term goals for you to focus on at different points in the year.
Your goals will likely evolve as the year progresses, but having a direction to work in will help you in the long run.
You should also make sure these goals are action items that you can work on and not just ambiguous ideas that may not ever be accomplished. Every goal should have a path to success. Take note, too, of goals that you didn’t accomplish this year. Why weren’t you able to check them off your list? Before tossing them out, see if there is a way to change them into something you can cross off next year.
We can’t wait to see how next year goes for you, but for now, we just wish you the best of luck as you tackle the end of this crazy year.
If you’re looking for more support in the upcoming year, our team is here to help. We can handle your Life, Senior, and Benefits business seamlessly – and be as involved with your clients as you want us to be.
Want to make AgentLink a part of your plans for 2021? Reach out to learn how we can support your business success in the year to come.
