Entrepreneurial businesses, the backbone of our economy, can beat the odds of failure by overcoming the sales and marketing challenges of 2015.

Sales growth: Manage your activities, not your results

First, set monthly, quarterly and annual sales targets. Then, the next step is to plan how you are going to get there. To be successful, manage daily activities and not your results.  If you are a small business owner who wears many hats in the business, spend at least 50 percent of your time every day on selling.

"As entrepreneurs, we tend to get caught up in doing everything, especially things that we are not the best at."

Focus: Sell your strengths and buy your weaknesses

What do you do best?  What part of the business do you love?  As entrepreneurs, we tend to get caught up in doing everything, especially things that we are not the best at.  We spend an obscene amount of time on things that are not our strengths.  Focus on what you do best in your business and bring in great people.

Be an industry expert: Become a story teller online

Engage your audience and future customers with valuable content on your social media and blog and become THE expert in your industry. Join online groups and discussions, ask questions, comment on posts and respond to questions.  Give expert advice and DON’T SELL your services.  It takes time and effort but it’s worth it.