How to Set SMART Goals for Your Business Goal-setting is one of the most challenging yet most critical things that small business owners have to do. It is an important process because it can help you gauge how well your marketing and overall operations are doing, while also keeping your teams focused. However, goals are only as good as their feasibility—which means they should always be grounded in reality. Setting random, unrealistic goals won’t work. What you need are SMART goals—Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Below, we explain what SMART goals are all about and how to set them for your own business:

Specific – Goals should be detailed and unambiguous. Instead of saying you want more customers, set real numbers and real deadlines, such as “150 more unique customers in 30 days.”

Measurable – Set goals that can be tracked and therefore measured. Only when you have quantifiable goals can you assess the effectiveness of a particular campaign.

Attainable – Also importantly, the goals you set should be manageable without necessarily limiting yourself to a small scale. While you shouldn't try to take over the world overnight, you also shouldn't underestimate your potential as a growing business. Work toward goals that are challenging but achievable.

Realistic – it is important to be honest with what you and your team are capable of. When setting SMART goals, remember to be reasonable every step of the way and don't forget to consider the hurdles that you may face and have to overcome.

Time-bound – Lastly, push towards goals that have specific deadlines and avoid those that you might hit or achieve "some day."

Following these guidelines will make your goal-setting more effective and help your business be more successful overall!