A new year means new sales goals. Already many larger organizations are booking their sales conferences for the first quarter where they will invite their sales teams, vendors, resellers/partners to hear plans to make 2016 the "best year ever."

Promotional Consultant Today shares these tips for planning a sales kick-off event.

1. Develop a theme for the New Year. This should be a positive statement of your major objectives and something that can be reinforced throughout the year.

2. Include time for sales training on sales skills, and hand out a sales training book that will be your first-quarter "must read." You can use the book for extended sales training during your meetings. Hint: Roll out your first quarter sales training plans now.

3. Announce a 2016 yearly sales contest that includes a big prize for exceeding the salesperson's quota. Remember, these kinds of incentive programs are not expenses but are paid out of incremental revenues/profits. If the prize is a trip, your announcement should include pictures of the location, etc.

4. Describe and show your marketing plans for the first six months. This will illustrate to salespeople how your organization is planning to support the sales team.

5. Schedule a short presentation from the president of your company to share a message on his/her philosophy on sales and the culture of your organization.

6. You may or may not want to announce your new compensation plan at this event; it all depends upon the degree of change you are making. With minor changes, it's a great time to present it now; with major changes schedule a separate meeting. Hint: Do not roll out the new compensation plan as the last topic of the meeting; schedule early in the afternoon if your event is a full-day meeting.

7. Make sure the meeting is fun. Include activities that create the right culture and teamwork.

This is your time to bring a coordinated program that sets the tone for the New Year. Make sure you take the time to do it right.

Source: Ken Thoreson "operationalizes" sales management systems and processes that pull revenue out of the doldrums into the fresh zone. During the past 17 years, his consulting, advisory and platform services have illuminated, motivated and rejuvenated the sales efforts for organizations throughout the world. He was recently ranked for the third consecutive year by Top Sales World magazine as one of the Top 50 Sales & Marketing Influencers for 2015.