A new year brings new opportunities, and we as marketers have to be smart enough to embrace the new, discard what didn’t work last year and look at our business with a pair of fresh eyes. Here’s a five resolutions you should be making to improve your marketing plan for 2009.

• Embrace new technology. With the world communicating in new ways, learning in new ways and sharing information in new ways, I put the implementation of and embracing of new technology at the top of the list. Last year, social networks taught us that we could put humanity back into our storefronts. This year, there will be something even better to help us reach new customers, expand our market and let the world in on your products and services.
• Look beyond the market. Things are tough out there. There’s big change coming in the world, both politically and socially. No matter who you voted for in November, you have to keep your mind open and your eyes peeled. New opportunities will present themselves if you look past the doom and gloom of the recession.
• Get back to basics. Everyone loves a bargain. Everyone loves making a connection with their supplier. Everyone needs certain things and wants certain things. Get to the basics of what your customer base is looking for and work every angle to give it to them. Customers appreciate good service and quality products and they will come back if you consistently provide both.
• Remember the little people. As managers and owners and presidents, we often forget that we were once file clerks, new sales people, dreamers and starry-eyed novices. Always remember that if your company contains more than one person, no matter what their position, they are an asset and should be treated as such. Even a reminder of what a good job they do or how they represent your company can make a big difference in their attitude, and thus how they continue to represent you.
• Use every interaction as an opportunity to upsell. No matter what you sell, there’s most likely something else that goes with it or compliments the product or service. Even if there isn’t, ask questions and offer suggestions. Suggestive selling may fill a gap that the customer never knew they had. Making those extra connections can be the most valuable time you spend with customers.

Now that we’re in a new year, resolve to do better than the last. This economy will separate the winners from everyone else, and it will level a lot of the playing field. Today is the first day of 2009 and the first day of the rest of your life. Go out there and be vicious.