The New Year always brings hopeful resolutions for millions of Americans. We often focus on those personal resolutions that inadvertently get shelved after three weeks – healthful eating, vigilant workout regimes. Good intentions always seem to become just that – intentions.

While personal resolutions are great, entrepreneurs and managers must rethink what the new year means with regard to business resolutions. You may think of these as annual goals, but having resolve at dedication might be a better way to focus on those areas that really need devotion and extra nurturing for the year.

So what are your business resolutions this year? Will you finally upgrade your internal communications systems, or purchase that new software for which your sales team has been pleading? Or perhaps you’ve been neglecting that thing called the Internet. Oh, that dreaded Internet – just doesn’t seem to be going away does it?

Your resolution to embark on an online marketing campaign doesn’t have to be as drastic as Pepsi – incase you missed it, they have decided to forego Super Bowl advertising in 2010 in favor of a social media campaign (yep, all $20 million). However, missing the opportunity to build one-on-one relationships is really going to become a major disadvantage (if it hasn’t already) when your competitors edge you out as a result of their online initiatives.

In 2010, think about what you can do to build your brand – whether that be locally, regionally or internationally. The opportunities continue to grow, and the market continues to become more and more segmented. Strategic online marketing is a great way to reach out and begin building fanatical support for your products or services.

As for me, my resolution in 2010 is to blog more. Here’s to the first step forward!