Solopreneurs Should Resolve to Focus on Growth and Efficiency to Prosper in 2015Start the New Year with a fresh marketing initiative or an investment in technology that saves you time and you'll reap returns for years.

2015 is here and that means resolutions need to be made, even for you professionals out there. Service industries are getting competitive, so resolve for 2015 to focus on getting your business ahead of the pack.

Resolutions are not meant to be fun – they are achangein how we typically operate meant to improve results. So here are some core resolutions that service professionals should make focused around helping your business grow, improve efficiencies and save money.

1. Go mobile.

More and more businesses are going mobile today, including small businesses. More thanone in five small business ownersnow use mobile apps to help run their business. Mobile tools enable you to run your business from anywhere, at any time. Mobility empowers you to respond and stay close to your clients, no matter where you are. At the same time, business appssavemoney by cutting down the need for physical office space, a secretary, clunky business software or even a desktop computer. We built thePocketSuiteapp for this very reason, and there are otherspecialized business appsout there as well to explore.

Related:9 Things Small Businesses Should Know About Amazon's New Mobile Payments Reader

2. Adopt a new technology.

New business technology can be intimidating. The term "business technology" just sounds complicated, and new systems change up the way we are used to doing things, and – let's be honest – not everyone embraces change. But the truth is an improved technology can save both youandyour clients time and effort.

Start off with something simple for 2015. Take payments, for example. Find a technology that lets you accept Apple Pay and use Apple'ssecure and easytechnology to delight your clients. Find scheduling software that makes the back-and-forth process of setting appointments quick and easy, freeing more of your time to focus on growth. You may not expect it, but improvements like these bring a world of enjoyment for you and your customers. Don't be afraid to adopt something new!

Related:4 Ways Adopting Apple Pay Can Benefit Small Business

3. Identify one cost to cut.

Not all money is earned from sales. Money can also be made on the expense side. You probably spend most of your time focused on your clients and trying to grow your business. As we start 2015, identify one area in your cost structure that could be improved. On the payments side, if you're paying 3-4 percent per transaction on credit cards or PayPal, try to bring that percentage down. Or if you're paying monthly fees on multiple software services, try to cut out the one monthly service you use the least (you probably know which one as you're reading this). Even if it's just a few hundred dollars a year, you can use those dollars to attractmoreclients in new ways.

4. Leverage online ad tools to grow.

说到吸引更多的客户,还有另外一些er ways to attract new customers than the standard client referral or "word of mouth". You don't have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a single platform in one fell swoop. But spend $50 here and there and see what the results are. Be patient – different strategies work for different businesses. Maybe buyingGoogle Adwordsworks for you; or purchasing potential leads onThumbtack; or paying for ads onYelporAngie's List. Spend the first couple months of the year measuring the best ROI (Return-On-Investment), and spend the rest of 2015 acquiring customers at cost-effective rates.

Related:The Ultimate Email Marketing Strategy for a Small Business in 7 Steps