Joey, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

A: I hadn't thought about this much yet, but you are right Joey, now is the time to take stock and shift direction as needed. Here then are five resolutions that might benefit any franchisee:

1. Revise Your Web Presence. At my website (shameless plug - www.MrAllBiz.com) visitors can get plenty of free information - everything from a free e-newsletter entitled Small Business Success Secrets! to old columns and more. But even so, we have never fully utilized the possibilities of the site. Until this upcoming year that is!

The fact is, there really has never been a better time to expand your online presence. The fallout from the crash of 2000 is over and the Web is humming with activity again. So whether yours is but a simple site telling people who you are and what you do or if it is fully e-commerce compatible, a smart resolution is to rethink the Net and expand your offerings. A world - literally - of new markets is out there, waiting.

2. Go Wireless: Wireless networks are springing up all over, making it ever easier to work outside the office. Not only are more and more coffee houses and bookstores offering free wireless connections, but whole cities are on the verge of creating city-wide wireless "clouds" (see Atlanta, Austin, and Portland.) Sales for wireless gadgets have increased dramatically, and prices have correspondingly dropped.

Not only does a wireless laptop or handheld allow you to work and connect almost anywhere, but a wireless office and home allow you to work in the spare bedroom, deck, or conference room. Sure beats being chained to a desk from 9 to 5.

3. Get Publicity: Your brand is your promise to your customers. Sure, your franchisor created one, but to set your individual franchise apart from the crowd, consider building some buzz around your business. Either hire a PR agency or do it yourself, but either way, make 2006 the year that the press writes about your franchise.

4. Know Your Customers Better: The more you know about your customers, the better you can service them and the easier it will be to find more customers just like them. Things to discover:

• Their average age, income, and location
• Why they buy from you and not someone else
• What they want from you
• What they like and dislike about your business

Where do you learn this? The usual suspects: Focus groups, questionnaires, surveys, and don't forget - chatting with them.

5. Grow! There are so many ways to do this: Figure out who your ideal customer is, buy a list with those demographics, and market to them. Attend a trade show. Form strategic alliances with like-minded companies. Open another location. Advertise more.

About Steve Strauss

Steven D. Strauss is one of the world's leading experts on entrepreneurship. A lawyer, author, and public speaker, his latest book is The Big Idea: How Business Innovators Get Great Ideas to Market. Steve's columns regularly appear on USA Today.com, Workz.com, Bizland.com, and Staples.com, among others. You can sign up today for his free newsletter, "Small Business Success Secrets!" at his business web site - www.MrAllBiz.com.