Running a small business is no small feat. It takes vision, grit, and a solid strategy—especially when you’re aiming to grow. In today’s fast-moving marketplace, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) need more than ambition; they need a clear, actionable plan. That’s where the SMART framework comes in.
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—five principles that can help you set goals that actually move the needle. Here’s how to apply them to your business growth strategy.
1. Be Specific
Vague goals like “increase sales” don’t offer much direction. Instead, define exactly what you want to achieve. For example: “Grow monthly sales by 20%.” The more precise your goal, the easier it is to build a plan around it.
2. Make It Measurable
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Identify metrics that will help you track progress—whether it’s revenue, customer acquisition, website traffic, or conversion rates. These indicators give you a clear picture of what’s working and what’s not.
3. Keep It Achievable
Ambition is great, but goals should be grounded in reality. Consider your resources, market conditions, and competition. Stretch yourself, but don’t set targets so high they become discouraging.
4. Stay Relevant
Every goal should tie back to your broader mission. Ask yourself: Does this move us closer to our long-term vision? If not, it might be a distraction. Relevance keeps your team focused and aligned.
5. Set Deadlines
Timeframes create urgency and accountability. Break big goals into smaller milestones with clear deadlines. For instance, if you’re launching a new e-commerce platform, set a six-month timeline with checkpoints for development, testing, and marketing.
Putting SMART to Work: A Real-World Example
Let’s say you want to boost online sales. Here’s how SMART can guide you:
- Specific: Launch a new e-commerce site.
- Measurable: Track traffic, conversions, and revenue.
- Achievable: Allocate budget for development, marketing, and support.
- Relevant: Aligns with your goal to expand digital reach.
- Time-bound: Complete the launch within six months.
Start SMART with PrintSmith Vision + Payably
For print shops, cash flow is everything. Tight margins, labor shortages, and fast turnaround demands make it critical to get paid quickly and efficiently. That’s why integrating Payably’s PrintSmith Vision plugin is a smart first step toward better business decisions.
With Payably, every invoice generated in PrintSmith Vision is automatically enhanced with a secure “Pay Now” button. Customers are directed to a branded payment page that supports credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, and more—making it easier for them to pay, and faster for you to get paid.
Here’s how it helps you make SMART decisions:
- Specific: Automate payments directly from invoices—no manual exports or third-party workarounds.
- Measurable: Track payment speed, overdue invoices, and customer engagement.
- Achievable: Reduce processing time and eliminate double entry with auto-posting to PrintSmith Vision.
- Relevant: Improve cash flow and operational efficiency—core goals for any print business.
- Time-bound: Set targets for reducing payment delays and improving turnaround times.
Whether you’re trying to cut down on late payments or streamline your operations, Payably’s integration with PrintSmith Vision gives you the tools to act on your goals with precision and speed. It’s not just about getting paid—it’s about growing smarter.
