"There is always a heavy demand for fresh mediocrity. In every generation the least cultivated taste has the largest appetite."Paul Gauguin
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How To Evaluate A Product Opportunity
Day after day my in box, and I'm sure yours as well, fills with opportunity propaganda on how to make money. Do this, and poof, you're rich. Become an affiliate and sell my ebook, and poof, you're making lots of money. I don't know about you, but I can't ...
How to Work From Home and Enjoy Life
How would you like to have at least an extra hour in your day just for yourself so that you can have more fun? When you work from home there can be a tendency to work longer hours due to the flexibility that you have. If you work from home, these ideas ...
To Have Your Own Product or Not To Have Your Own Product? That is the Question!
If you've been working online very long you've probably noticed different people will give you different advice for earning money and building your business. Some will say you have to have your own product to sell. Others will claim you absolutely ...
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In running any kind of business, it's inevitable that sometimes business will slow down. This might occur due to an upcoming holiday, seasonal variations, or uncontrollable circumstances. As a small-business owner, you have a choice in terms of how you view the slowdown - it can either be a time of increased stress, frustration, worry - or you can view it as an opportunity to upgrade your business processes or improve the quality of your life.
Here are ten strategies you can use to work through a business slowdown:
1) Market more concertedly. Statistics suggest that new businesses spend (or should spend) about 40-60% of time in marketing and related activities. If you are experiencing a business slowdown, it's always a good time to create and launch another marketing initiative. It is important to continue to promote your business creatively and cost-effectively. What better way to spend a slow period than in taking actions to attract new business? (Plus, taking action will keep worry or stress from overwhelming you.)
2) Relax. This strategy works if you are feeling good about your business and your accomplishments. Use this time to catch up on some sleep, read a few good books, in short, take some time off for rest and relaxation. Sometimes, time away can help spark creative ideas or profitable insights.
3) Get ahead. Use slow time to get ahead on weekly or monthly projects. Look ahead to future months and see if there are any steps you can take, today, that would position you more solidly in the future. This can help you feel more in control as the pace picks up again.
4) Invest in additional training/learning. A business slowdown is a great time to upgrade your knowledge and skills, you have the time and the incentive. Take classes, learn more about your industry, become even more valuable to your customers by adding new products or services based on your new knowledge.
5) Follow up with old/existing customers. Most small businesses focus more on getting new customers rather than retaining old ones. A business slow down is a great time to get back in touch with your customer base to find out what needs they have, to remind them of your service, or to offer them special discounts for reactivating their accounts. It's always easier to sell to someone who has bought from you before - so make the extra
effort to stay in touch.
6) Offer free samples or giveaways. If your business needs to attract new prospects, use the "slow time" to offer free samples, hold contests, or offer giveaways to bring new energy and potential customers to your door.
7) Plan. Take time to review your progress so far, checking it against your goals, and making any necessary adjustments. Use "slow time" to plan for how you'll tackle new projects, or expand your business or offerings. This can be really fun.
8) Relate. Use this time to add a little extra to the "bank account" of your important relationships. Spend more time with your spouse, significant other, child, or friends. Put some extra kindnesses into your close relationships - you'll have more to "withdraw" when you need it.
9) Network/socialize. Use "slow time" to get out and meet more people to talk about what you offer, learn what they need, help them connect with appropriate resources. Take this time to increase your contact base, and to attend meetings or events you might not usually have time for. An added bonus to this tip is that you might perceive new trends in your industry which can help you guide your business.
10) Upgrade equipment or processes. During a business "slow down", it's a great time to find easier, more efficient, and better ways of running your business. You might upgrade equipment so you can serve customers more effectively. You might automate parts of your sales process, or invest in additional training for your staff. You might use this time to make sure you are in compliance with all the relevant state laws, or to paint your office space.
While occasional business slowdowns might be inevitable, these strategies ensure that you're making the best use of the downtime - allowing you to attract and keep your ideal customers.
(c) 2003. Dr. Rachna D. Jain. All Rights in All Media Reserved
Dr. Rachna D. Jain is a sales and marketing coach and Director of Operations for SalesCoachTraining.com. Sign up for her free email newsletter, "Sales & Marketing Secrets" To learn more or to contact Dr. Jain directly, please visit http://www.SalesandMarketingCoach.com
coach@salesandmarketingcoach.com
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 Bookshelf: Integrated Enterprise Excellence, Vol. 1: The Basics - Industry Week
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Davey Kincanon, 9, a student at Acres Green Elementary school in Douglas County, works Wednesday on a novel in his third-grade class for National Novel Writing Month. His story, "The Find of The Vampiretion," is about a ghost who wants to be a ...
Prostitute to wife of former NY gov.: `I'm sorry' - WTOP Radio
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Matthiessen wins National Book Award fiction prize - Arlington Heights Daily Herald
NEW YORK _ Judges for the National Book Award honored a comeback, giving the fiction award to Peter Matthiessen's "Shadow Country," a thorough revision of a trilogy of novels from the 1990s. The 81-year-old author last won a National Book Award ...
Headlines: Veteran Theater and Dance Critic Clive Barnes Dies at 81 - Broadway.com
Clive Barnes, the British-born theater and dance critic who enjoyed a long career at The New York Times and more recently at the New York Post , died on November 19 in New York, reportedly of cancer. He was 81. Born in London on May 13, 1927, and ...
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