10 Ways to Pick Up Business in a Down Economy

Remember the bumper stickers back in the nineties that said "Kill Your Television"?

Well, based on all the over simplified economic news coming from the major networks, the financial networks and radio too-it's something to consider again. No doubt, when the challenges of the current economy are studied in history, a major factor driving the psychology of the event will be the media.

There's one problem with "mass media", sweeping generalizations. The broad brush-the it's everywhere approach-lacks specifics for each of our own backyards.

The result is that a lot of business owners experiencing a slowdown just say it's the economy. Newsflash, there are companies that make millions of dollars in bad times. So, it can be done. Here's how:

1. Focus on Your World

The news is a sweeping generalization and has no problem letting us think this is the way of the world. Take a hard look at the reality of your situation:

Are you still in business?

Are you in foreclosure or in danger of getting there?

Do you work in a failed bank or investment firm?

Is your industry of field lined up for a bailout?
If not, pay attention to what's affecting you--not what the media says is affecting us. Do you work. Reposition your produces and services to meet your customers changing needs. Don't sit on your hands and blame the economy.

2. Protect Existing Customers/Clients

When was the last time you communicated with them without trying to sell them something? Bad idea if it's been longer than a few weeks. Get a newsletter or ezine going now and a minimum of monthly. Figure our ways you can start right now to show them how you appreciate them. Show them you solve their problems and don't be a source of their worries or fears. Even better, start making them some great offers the boosts value so they continue to spend money with your business.

3. Install or Crank Up Referral Programs

New marketing is expensive and referrals are far easier and cheaper to get. Your customers are like seeds in an apple. You can focus on how many seeds are in the apple. Getting referrals is focusing on how many apples are in a seed. If your clients like you, then you're good for the people they like. Make that point clear and get referrals--now!

4. Know Who Buys What

Not all of your customers or clients buy everything you have to offer. Start breaking down your list to who buys what. Now you can sell what they want easier, identify and right buyer for new business. Then create campaigns to cross sell to your client base. No time? List companies can do it for you. Does it work? Well, there has to be a reason Head & Shoulders has 9 different shampoos.

5. Fix Your Customer Service

When business was for the taking, customer service wasn't very important. Now, a lax customer service is the room where your competitors will drive a wedge between you and your profits (or survival). Conduct a top to bottom review of all the points anyone in your company comes in contact with a customer. Are complaints resolved quickly? Do people show up on time for appointment? Are things ready with a client wants them? Better be 100% sure. .

6. Multiple Marketing Campaigns

I've kicked up the sales volume for many a client who they thought what they were doing was enough. After looking at the numbers and facts, they actually had a capacity to do a lot more marketing. Dan Kennedy says, "The most dangerous number is 1." So if you only have one way to market; what happens when you business slows down? Right, blame the economy because MSNBC says so. Same goes for referral programs--having and executing only one does not cut in today's business environment.

7. Joint Ventures

Have you ever considered a JV with any business that has customers who fit the same profile as your ideal customers? If you're a professional I'll wager there are other businesses in your building that would make excellent JV partners. JVs are like making a sale; you have to ask to get one. Look, after referrals this should be the next avenue you use for new business in 2009.

8. Use Off line Marketing

It's ironic to recommend that strategy in an ezine article. Online marketing is big and getting bigger. The total RSS feeds, ezines, blogs and landing pages will double in 2008 and do so again in 2009. The number is even larger for emails. That makes older media more attractive because there's less competition. Direct mail, display ads, inserts, post cards and printed newsletters--when done right produce very profitable results. Don't give up on an older media just because a new one comes along. Think of ways to go "Old School"

9. Tie In Promotions

Just tying your promotions to the national holidays gives you eleven additional campaigns in 2009. Use any or all of the manufactured events like Mother's Day, Father's Day, the vernal equinox or summer solstice and you got more than any competitor can think of in a year. Get thee a marketing calendar and start making plans. Of course, you can make up your own reasons for a promotion. If the economy seems crazy, they go crazy yourself.

10. Give More Away

Put the Law of Reciprocity to work for you. Send gifts in the mail, free samples, sweeten offers with bonuses and free stuff. Too expensive you say? Information costs you nothing to give away. Bonus reports and "how to" information goes a long way. Want a great lesson on how to do this? Donate to a charity with a lot of marketing savvy. I recommend the DAV and Covenant House. You'll help a good cause and get a graduate level education on how to use free stuff. Remember donate to charities you believe in and support.

Any turn down in the economy does not last forever. The trick is to make sure your business can outlast the cycle. Turn off the TV and get to work. Give your competition something more to worry about than a bad economy-you.

Tim Hayes is principal of Timothy Hayes Copywriting/Consulting. His practice provides marketing communications, direct response programs and consulting for B2B and B2C organizations. With over 23 years face to face selling and marketing experience you get an unfair advantage in all your marketing communications. Tim offers marketing consulting through his Half and Full Day with Tim program. To get full details on the complete services for Timothy Hayes Copywriting/Consulting visit http://www.thayescopywring.com Tim can be reached by phone at (978) 269-4861, email at tim@thayescopywriting.com or fax (978) 453-1873.

7 How-to Basic Tips to Search For an Online Business

"In life and business, there are 2 cardinal sins. The first is to act precipitously without thought and the second is to not act at all." Carl Icahn, American Billionaire Financier.

If you are reading this, you are without the first sin. Because choosing a business that fits is so vital to your success, researching and thinking it through is a necessary first step. I will touch on the basics which are:

1. What area or niche is right for you

2. Starting the search

3. Examining businesses

4. Looking at products

5. Looking at the competition and future customers

6. Finding a business model

7. Time to act

1. What are you passionate about? What would you rather be doing instead of anything else? This will be the niche that you look at. Type "online business" into a search engine (SE), you'll find Yahoo lists 920,000,000 sites and Google lists 9,600,000 sites. Yes, that's millions. Don't worry! That's why you must put thought and research into building a business. This will help you to stand out from the crowd. Take notes of all that you notice, both what you like and dislike.

2. After choosing your niche, think about all the words and phrases describing your niche. Type them into a search bar. Notice key words used on these sites. Notice the different pages as you click on the titles that grab your attention. Are the sites attractive or cluttered (too many ads or no call to action) or neither? Write down the company name. These names will give you ideas when you are choosing a website name.

3. As you examine these companies, find the owner. Type their "name" inside parentheses into a search bar to find out about them and their businesses.

Look at the guarantees and reviews listed. Use some sense, here, either common sense, horse sense, or hunches. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be a cynic when looking at reviews. See what they focus on and think what if the opposite is true. You will never know for sure until you try it. But, is it reasonable? More importantly, is it something you can achieve, maybe even a fourth or half of it? Some have achieved large incomes, it's true.

4. You have to look at and evaluate the products to see if they fit you or you would feel comfortable and enthusiastic in selling them. This is important, but network marketing isn't about selling products. It is about selling you. You must come across as trustworthy, true to yourself, and true to the ideals that you live by.

Areas to explore are: being an affiliate, selling someone's product (info ebooks, services like site building, or consumables) or selling your ebooks (info of some kind). Being an affiliate means that you can earn while you learn. WARNING! It all takes time. How much? You are the only one that can answer that.

5. You have already looked at your competitors sites. Study your notes, keywords, and phrases. Try to find any gaps (unique products or areas not covered) that you can fill. This will be a way for you to stand out in your niche. But, if you become an affiliate first, you will focus on your products. But spend some time each day learning all you can about your niche, the people who would be interested in your niche, and the unique products that would solve a problem or give someone pleasure. You must know everything possible about your future customers.

6. Once you have found the business for you, make sure you find a successful model that you can follow. If you have chosen the right business, this would be someone within this niche. Do all the things they are doing. Improve on their methods if you can. This will insure your success, too.

One way to follow a mentor, is to buy their books. Or, research at the library, used book stores, and the net, to find a guide. For instance, Amazon has 16,767 books about online businesses. What I like about Amazon, you can take a peek inside most of their books while online.

7. Time is the only thing we can't buy or produce. You can save time by out sourcing some of the writing involved. Writing you say! SSH. Don't scare them away! Why, after all, we are talking about something that is their passion. If they can talk about it, they can write about it.

It not only takes time to find the right business, it takes time to set up an awesome website or business. There is a lot of information about domains (buying a name for your business from godaddy or hostgator), designing your website, and driving traffic to your website, so I won't go into that here. Your notes and keywords will help you in this area.

I am almost finished, but you are just starting. Continue learning all you can about your niche and the business that you want, no, MUST have. Remember the quote that began this article?

Now it is up to you to escape the second sin. YOU must ACT!

Thank you. I wish you the best of success in your new business.

Written by Jerry Collins whose business is found at: http://www.koincheap.com