How to Integrate Your Goals at Every Step of Your Business Plan

Dixie Somers

October 03, 2014

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If you are a spirited entrepreneur in the beginning stages of launching your business, you’ve likely created a detailed business plan that you’ll execute step-by-step in hopes of success. In addition to a thorough business plan, you probably have a few goals for your company, and a vision of how you’d like to conduct business. After creating a killer business plan, and setting up your future goals, have you ever thought to combine the two?

Whether you realize it or not, your business goals and business plan go hand in hand—how else will your goals get accomplished without a plan? If you’ve set values and created a mission statement for the company, these standards should be worked into the business plan as well. If you have a detailed business plan and hefty goals for the company, keep reading to get a few ideas on how to combine the two for real success as you launch your business.

Clearly Defined Goals
First, you must have clearly defined goals. "Making a lot of money" is not clearly defined. Yes, you should have goals regarding profits, but you also need to have a clear vision of how you want to conduct business, and the values you want the company to have. You will never have a clearly defined plan if you do not have clearly defined goals. The easiest way to integrate your goals into the business plan is to tailor specific goals to each sector of the business plan—marketing, product development, customer service, logistics, etc.

Goal Integration into Marketing
Your marketing goals must be aligned with your main goals in order to get a message across. Whether your marketing efforts are for a specific product, for your company in general, or for a new promotion, make sure that your messages are helping achieve the main goal. Your company standards, values, specialties, and personality should come across in your marketing and branding, so ensure that any message sent out to customers is representing your end goals for the business. Every slogan, commercial, or social media post should strategically parallel with one of your business goals.

Goal Integration into Product Development
In the research and development area, you will have short term and long term goals. While your goal in the beginning might be to develop a quality product to fulfill your customer’s needs, the end goal should apply to your main business goals like, “become an industry leader,” or “develop strong relationships with our community/customers.” Always think about how your current objectives within product development will achieve your future goals for the company. Don’t become so focused on current research and development that you neglect the bigger picture—every goal you achieve today should also lead to a future victory.

Goal Integration into Logistics
While you might think that logistics are just a simple part of the business plan, your logistic plans and services can speak volumes about your business. If your goals include keeping customers happy, or providing quick service, your logistics will play a huge role in fulfilling these objectives. Some business owners think that logistics are behind the scenes work, but they can often make or break your reputation with customers and other businesses. According to the professionals at Meyers Transport Ltd, a Montreal shipping company, the best way to achieve your goals through logistics is to align yourself with suppliers, vendors, and partners that share your same values and goals for the business. If everyone is on board with the end goal, you are more likely to keep the business at a high caliber, and be satisfied with your logistics results. Remember—the end goal isn’t just to get things delivered on time, it is to maintain a positive relationship with your customers and the public through excellent logistical planning.

Goal Integration into Customer Service
Most of your business goals will relate to your customers in some way, shape, or form. Customers keep your business running, therefore, you should integrate goals into every part of the business plan that will ensure customer satisfaction. While many of your goals will relate to keeping customers happy, you also want to focus on building relationships with customers, maintain a positive reputation within the community, expand to reach new customers, and maintain successful customer retention. You might not realize it, but your goals in areas like marketing, research and product development, and even logistics will always relate back to the customer. If your main goal is to make money rather than to keep the customer happy, you’ll soon find you need to adjust your mindset. If you focus on taking care of your customers, the profits will eventually come.

Goal inclusion into planning is not easy. You have to consider every element of the business in order to create tailored objectives that will help you achieve your overall goals. Goals are a must in any business plan because they allow you to monitor the health of your venture. If revisited often, the owner has everything needed to successfully get their business off the ground. The goals included in the business plan should be something that could be measured and communicated to the entire team. From the secretary who answers the phone to those that make major decisions, all associates of your company must always keep the goals at the forefront.