This page features a curated list of business goals. I created it as a source of inspiration for my 100 life goals project and wanted to share it with others in hopes of inspiring them to create their own goal list.
There is an overabundance of bucket list ideas circulating online that lack the necessary specificity, measurability, and time-bound nature to make them actionable goals. Therefore, I curated a list of SMART goals that are more specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Whether you're young or old, there's something on this list for everyone. So, read on to discover some of the best business goals that can help you transform your life and achieve your dreams.
An important note before scrolling down:
The list below includes 100+ business goal ideas, but if you're looking for a bigger list then download my book, The SMART Bucket List.
It includes a list of 1000+ SMART goal ideas from various categories, such as fitness, travel, personal growth, and more. Each goal is crafted to meet the SMART criteria, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to create a truly actionable goal list.
Click here to download it for FREE. Additionally, you’ll get my Design Your Dream Year workbook, containing a proven step-by-step action plan to check off those big goals on your list.
* One more thing, if you decide to take part in any of the goals listed below, you do so entirely at your own risk. Some of the goal ideas listed here can be risky, so seek out guidance if you decide to try them out, especially the challenging ones.
With this in mind, let's rock and roll!!
100+ Business Goals
SMART Affiliate & Referral Marketing Goals
As you may know, affiliate marketing is a type of marketing in which businesses partner with affiliates who promote their products or services and earn a commission for each sale made through their unique referral link. Referral marketing, on the other hand, involves incentivizing existing customers to refer their friends and family to the business. By leveraging the networks of affiliates and customers, you can reach new audiences, build trust, and drive more purchases.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Launch a referral program by Q3 2023, resulting in at least 10 new customers per month.
- Develop and launch a successful referral program within the next 3 months, generating new business and increasing customer loyalty
- Develop and launch a successful affiliate marketing program by Q2 2023, resulting in increased sales and brand exposure.
- Develop and launch a successful referral program within the next 6 months, generating new business through word-of-mouth marketing
- Increase referral rates by 10% in the next 6 months through targeted referral marketing strategies
- Develop and launch a successful customer loyalty program within the next year, improving retention and generating new business
SMART Branding Goals
As you probably already know, branding is the process of creating a unique image or identity for your business that sets it apart from competitors and creates a lasting impression on customers. By investing in branding, you can establish a strong presence in the market and build trust and loyalty among your customers. A strong brand can help you stand out in a crowded market and make it easier for customers to find, trust and remember your business.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Increase brand awareness by 20% in the next 6 months through targeted digital advertising and social media campaigns
- Increase brand loyalty by 20% in the next 6 months through brand storytelling and emotional branding techniques
- Increase brand recognition by 20% in the next 6 months through targeted advertising campaigns and brand ambassador programs
- Develop a strong brand identity and messaging strategy by Q1 2024, resulting in a recognizable and consistent brand across all channels.
- Increase brand visibility by securing at least five media features by the end of the year.
SMART SEO & Content Marketing Goals
Content marketing is the process of creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience and ultimately drive profitable customer action. By creating useful and informative content that resonates with your target audience, you can establish your brand as a thought leader in your industry, build relationships with customers, and ultimately drive business results.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Develop and implement a content marketing strategy by Q1 2024, resulting in increased brand exposure and customer engagement.
- Create and launch a successful content marketing strategy within the next 3 months, generating high-quality leads and increasing engagement
- Increase the number of organic leads by 25% in the next 6 months through content marketing
- Increase website traffic by 50% within the next six months through implementing SEO best practices and content marketing.
- Develop and launch a successful user-generated content campaign within the next 3 months, increasing brand awareness and driving sales
- Increase website engagement by 15% in the next 6 months through interactive content and website personalization
SMART Social Marketing Goals
Social media marketing is a form of digital marketing that involves promoting a brand, product, or service through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others. By leveraging social media to connect with and engage customers, you can build brand loyalty, drive sales, and achieve long-term success in today's digital landscape.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Increase social media engagement by 20% in the next 6 months through interactive content and community management strategies
- Increase the number of social media followers by 20% in the next 6 months through engaging content and influencer partnerships
- Develop a social media strategy to increase brand awareness, resulting in a 20% increase in social media followers by the end of the year.
- Increase social media engagement by 30% within the next six months through implementing a content calendar and social media advertising.
- Increase the number of social media followers by 25% in the next 6 months through engaging content and targeted advertising
- Develop and implement a video marketing strategy by Q2 2024, resulting in increased brand awareness and customer engagement.
- Create and implement a social media marketing plan that increases engagement by 50% in the next 3 months
SMART Advertising & Email Marketing Goals
Advertising is a way to promote your product or service through paid media channels. By leveraging advertising, you can reach a wider audience, increase brand awareness and drive sales. On the other hand, email marketing is a type of direct marketing that involves sending promotional messages to a targeted audience via email. This tactic can help you build relationships with customers and drive sales through personalized messaging and targeted promotions.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Create and launch a successful pay-per-click advertising campaign within the next 3 months, generating high-quality leads and increasing conversions
- Launch a successful paid advertising campaign by Q2 2023, resulting in increased website traffic and sales.
- Develop and launch a successful webinar series within the next 3 months, generating high-quality leads and increasing engagement
- Increase email newsletter open rate from 15% to 20% by Q2 2023 by optimizing subject lines and email content.
- Launch a successful email marketing campaign by Q3 2023, resulting in increased sales and customer engagement.
- Increase sales revenue by 20% in the next quarter by implementing a targeted email marketing campaign
SMART Website Conversion Goals
Having a website, of course, is not enough - you need to ensure that your website is converting visitors into customers to achieve success in the digital marketplace. Website conversion is the process of turning website visitors into paying customers, and it is essential to the success of any business. By optimizing your website for conversion, you can create a seamless and intuitive user experience that drives visitors to take action and make a purchase. Additionally, you can track user behavior and analyze website performance data to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions that drive business results.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Increase website conversion rates by 10% in the next 3 months through website optimization and user experience improvements
- Improve website conversion rate from 2% to 5% by Q4 2023 through website optimization and A/B testing.
- Increase website loading speed by 50% within the next six months through implementing website optimization best practices.
- Create and implement a mobile-responsive website within the next 3 months, improving user experience and increasing conversions
SMART Product Development & Sales Goals
By investing in product development, you can create new products and services that meet the evolving needs and expectations of your target audience, while improving your sales strategies can help you effectively promote and sell these products to drive revenue and growth for your business.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Develop and launch a new product line within the next 12 months, generating $500,000 in revenue in the first year
- Launch a new e-commerce website by Q2 2023, generating at least $50,000 in sales within the first three months.
- Launch a successful mobile app within the next 6 months, increasing customer engagement and driving sales
- Launch a new product by Q3 2023, generating at least $100,000 in sales within the first six months.
- Expand the product line within the next year, introducing complementary products that meet customer needs and generate new revenue
- Increase the average order value by 10% in the next 6 months through cross-selling and upselling techniques
- Develop and implement a sales training program by Q4 2023, resulting in increased sales and employee performance.
SMART Podcasting & Influencer marketing Goals
Podcasting can be an effective way to reach a new audience and establish thought leadership within your industry. Influencer marketing, on the other hand, involves partnering with influential individuals in your industry or niche to promote your products or services. Influencers can help you reach a wider audience, build trust and credibility with potential customers, and increase sales and revenue.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Develop and launch a successful podcast series within the next 3 months, positioning the business as an industry thought leader and increasing brand awareness
- Develop and launch a successful influencer affiliate program within the next 3 months, increasing brand loyalty and driving sales
- Launch a successful influencer marketing campaign by Q3 2023, resulting in increased brand exposure and sales.
- Create and launch a successful influencer marketing campaign within the next 6 months, reaching a new target audience
SMART Employee & Human Resources Goals
Setting employee and human resources goals can provide numerous benefits to a business, including increased employee engagement, improved productivity, and enhanced organizational effectiveness.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Increase employee engagement by 15% in the next 6 months through team-building and professional development initiatives
- Increase employee productivity by 15% in the next 6 months by implementing performance incentives and training programs
- Develop and launch a successful referral program for employees by Q2 2024, resulting in increased employee engagement and retention.
- Develop and implement a talent acquisition strategy within the next year to attract top talent and support business growth
- Reduce employee turnover rate by 20% in the next year through enhanced benefits and employee engagement initiatives
- Increase employee satisfaction by 20% within the next year through implementing employee wellness programs and improving workplace culture.
- Develop and implement a training program for employees to improve their skills and productivity within the next 6 months
- Implement a health and wellness program within the next year to improve employee well-being and reduce healthcare costs
- Hire two new employees by Q3 2023 to expand the team and increase productivity.
- Increase the number of employees by 25% in the next year, hiring qualified and motivated candidates
- Implement a performance management system within the next year to enhance employee performance and accountability
- Implement a remote work policy within the next year to improve employee flexibility and productivity
SMART Customer Service Goals
By establishing clear and measurable goals for customer service, you can improve customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention rates. Goals can also help. Additionally, setting customer service goals can lead to more engaged and motivated employees who are committed to delivering high-quality customer service.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Create and launch a successful customer advocacy program within the next 6 months, leveraging satisfied customers to drive new business
- Develop and implement a customer feedback system by Q3 2023, resulting in improved product offerings and customer satisfaction.
- Increase customer lifetime value by 25% within the next year through implementing loyalty programs and upselling techniques.
- Develop and implement a customer loyalty program by Q4 2023, resulting in increased customer retention and brand loyalty.
- Increase customer retention rate from 50% to 75% by Q4 2023 through improving customer experience and implementing loyalty programs.
- Increase the number of repeat customers by 25% in the next 6 months through loyalty programs and personalized marketing efforts
- Increase customer satisfaction rating from 4.0 to 4.5 on a 5-point scale by Q4 2023 through improving customer service and support.
- Reduce the number of customer complaints by 20% in the next year through improved product quality and customer service
- Develop and implement a customer service improvement plan within the next 3 months to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty
- Develop and launch a successful chatbot program within the next 6 months, improving customer service response times and reducing costs
SMART Business Financials Goals
By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) financial goals, you can create a roadmap to achieve your objectives and align your financial resources and efforts with your broader business strategy. With clear financial goals, you can make informed decisions, track your progress, and adjust your strategies accordingly, ultimately driving growth and success.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Reduce expenses by 15% within the next six months by implementing cost-cutting measures.
- Obtain a loan of $50,000 by Q2 2023 to finance the opening of a new location for the business.
- Launch a successful crowdfunding campaign within the next 3 months, raising $100,000 in funding
- Increase profit margin from 15% to 20% by Q4 2023 through implementing cost-cutting measures and increasing revenue.
- Increase revenue by 20% in the next 12 months through improved sales and marketing strategies
- Reduce overhead costs by 10% in the next 6 months through streamlining operations and negotiating better vendor contracts
Other Business Goals
Overall, setting SMART goals is an essential part of running a successful operation. By setting clear, measurable, and achievable goals, you can provide direction and focus for your business, ensure that everyone is working towards the same objectives, and track progress and success along the way.
Here are a few more SMART goals you can set:
- Improve workplace diversity and inclusion by implementing initiatives that increase representation and inclusivity within the next year
- Increase paid customers by 25% within the next 12 months through implementing new marketing strategies.
- Develop and implement a flexible work policy within the next 3 months to improve employee satisfaction and work-life balance
- Implement a competitive analysis program within the next year to stay ahead of industry trends and emerging competitors
- Develop and implement a competitive pricing strategy within the next year to stay competitive in the market
- Develop and implement a crisis communication plan within the next year to prepare for unforeseen events
- Develop and implement a corporate social responsibility program that benefits the community and improves brand image within the next year
- Expand business operations to a new geographic location by Q1 2024, generating at least $500,000 in revenue within the first year.
- Create and launch a successful lead nurturing program within the next 3 months, increasing conversions and revenue
- Implement a learning and development program within the next year to improve employee skills and knowledge
- Expand the business into a new geographic location within the next 2 years, generating $500,000 in new revenue annually
- Increase market share by 10% in the next year through strategic partnerships and acquisitions
- Attend three industry conferences and networking events by the end of the year to expand professional network and potential business opportunities.
- Increase the number of online reviews and ratings by 50% in the next 6 months through enhanced customer service and reputation management
- Increase online reviews from 50 to 100 by Q4 2023 through implementing a review management strategy and encouraging customer feedback.
- Develop and implement a mentorship program within the next year to enhance employee development and retention
- Obtain a business mentor by Q2 2023, resulting in valuable guidance and advice for the business.
- Develop and implement a succession plan within the next year to ensure smooth leadership transitions and business continuity
- Improve supply chain efficiency by 15% in the next year through improved logistics and inventory management
- Implement a supply chain optimization strategy within the next year to reduce costs and improve efficiency
- Implement a sustainability program within the next year to reduce waste and improve environmental impact
More Goal Ideas?
Click here to get 'The SMART Bucket List' for FREE — It includes a list of 1000+ SMART goal ideas from various categories, such as fitness, travel, personal growth, and more. Additionally, you’ll get my Design Your Dream Year workbook, containing a proven step-by-step action plan to check off those big goals on your list.
Enter your email below and my guides will be sent to you instantly for free