2024 is winding down and we’ve all got 2025 on the brain. Maybe every year feels like this, but I’m feeling extra ambitious about 2025! Yes it’s tempting to make a long list of goals and projects, but I’ve learned the hard way that simplicity and focus are the keys to real progress.
So, I’m sharing my approach to setting achievable goals while keeping things simple.
4 Simple Steps Toward Business Success in 2025
Step 1: Start with Your North Star Vision
Goal-setting starts with your North Star Vision—the big-picture purpose your business is striving toward. This vision acts as your guide, ensuring your goals align with your mission.
Here’s my company’s vision: I provide Seattle’s small businesses and non-profits with the web presence and marketing support they need to become what they aspire to be, fueling a thriving local economy. It’s big and bold, but it’s deeply meaningful to me. And of course, I also need to run a profitable business while maintaining a healthy work/life balance.
Your vision might look very different from mine, but whatever it is, make sure it reflects your values and long-term aspirations.
Clarify your vision, and you will make better decisions about everything: people, processes, finances, strategies, and clients.
Step 2: Develop One Primary Goal
With your vision in mind, identify one primary goal for the year that will bring you closer to achieving it.
My primary goal for 2025 is this: To create a newsletter about small business marketing that reaches hundreds of businesses and non-profits in Seattle each month.
Why a newsletter? Because email is one of the best ways to connect with my audience. A newsletter gives me a chance to meet them where they are: in their inbox. If I can entice them to subscribe, I can offer valuable insights, keep them informed about marketing opportunities in Seattle, and help them make progress without adding to their stress. It’s a simple way to educate and support local businesses while staying aligned with my vision.
Focusing on one clear goal will help you stay focused, avoid overwhelm, and create something truly impactful.
In the past I set goals like hitting a profit target or completing a set number of projects, but that led to a laundry list of strategies that felt scattered. Now, I’m flipping the script. By focusing on helping as many people as possible with a free, valuable resource, I’m confident projects and profits will follow.
Need some inspiration? Here are a few ideas to spark your imagination:
- Develop an Email Marketing Campaign – Reaching out to clients with valuable content can help generate new leads and strengthen your brand. (More here on how to create an email marketing strategy.)
- Strengthen Your Referral Network – Past clients and other local businesses can be a fantastic source of new clients. Consider creating an incentive for referrals. (More here on building a strong referral network.)
- Increase Your Online Presence with One Strategic Channel – Maybe it’s LinkedIn, or perhaps it’s Google Business to attract local clients. Choose one and commit to it.
Step 3: Define Your North Star Metric
Once you’ve set your goal, it’s time to decide how you’ll measure success. This is your North Star Metric—a single, clear metric that tracks your progress.
For my newsletter goal, my North Star Metric is simple: subscriber count. I’ll track how many small businesses and non-profits are subscribed, and set smaller milestones along the way to stay motivated.
Your metric might be revenue, new clients, social media engagement, or something else entirely.
The key is to choose a measurement that directly reflects your goal and motivates you to stay on track.
Step 4: Create a Simple Action Plan to Reach Your Goal
A goal without a plan is just a wish! Break your goal into actionable steps, and focus on one thing at a time.
For example, here’s my plan for the newsletter:
- Brainstorm and outline valuable content topics.
- Set up an email marketing platform and template.
- Create an editorial calendar.
- Design a landing page to capture sign-ups.
- Promote the newsletter through my website, social media, and local networks.
- Measure progress monthly and adjust as needed.
The key is to keep it simple. A focused action plan ensures steady progress without overwhelm.
Aligning Your Goals with Your Vision
Setting goals is about more than just checking things off a list. It’s about making progress toward the bigger vision that you’re passionate about. So, before you commit to any goal, ask yourself:
- Will this goal help me get closer to my vision?
- Does it reflect the kind of clients I want or the impact I want to achieve?
Feeling stuck? Check out these resources:
- Need help with your vision? Check out this post on writing an authentic mission and vision statement.
- If you’re looking for actionable ideas, we recently had a Seattle Digital Freelancers meeting to discuss how to get more clients in 2025. I posted a recap here.
- If you find yourself needing a bit more clarity, you might consider my DIG Process for creating a strong foundation that reflects your vision.
- Join my email list!
Remember: one focused goal at a time is all it takes to transform your business. Let’s make it happen!