Thursday, November 18, 2010

Times Are Hard But Keep Your Business Popping!


The other morning while driving in a nearby neighborhood I was stunned to see a local 7-11 was out of business. I knew times were hard, but people are now debating on whether to even by a Slurpee. "This is scary" I said to my daughter sitting next to me. Then, today while I was out I noticed a Chevron gas station near the 7-11 is being torn down. It is amazing how something can be in a location one day, actively doing business and then the bulldozers come in, get to work, and make them disappear in a day. You cannot even tell a business was once there. Seeing this activity caused me to start thinking more about upcoming business changes for the new year. Though times are rough, you can still keep things progressing in the business arena with a few simple implementations.

Handle Money Situations

If you have had money issues, take a clear look at what is going on with the situation. Need help? Get a respected professional that comes highly recommended. Do a thorough check before making a final selection. You want to ensure you are selecting someone interested in you. They must improve your situation not the other way around.

Maintain Integrity

The fear of failure causes many of us to do things we wouldn't normally do. Create a business plan today, so that when you are under pressure you do not have to compromise your morals.

Diversify

Never place all your bets in one area, because things change. I believe the current economic situation has clearly represented this. If you have nothing to fall back on, you can end up in a bad place. Look today and see what changes can be made within your business to create new profit. Find that small untapped area (niche,) and turn it in to a money maker for your business.

Be Seen by Potential Customers

Many businesses fail because there isn't enough publicity generated around them. What can you do to make your business stand out more from today? Devise new tactics to bring customers to the products and services you are offering. Once you have done this, remember to keep things fresh. No one likes anything that is stagnant.

Pay Attention to Detail

Though some customers may have not purchased anything from your business for a while, pay attention to them. Send a small card thanking them for their previous business, offer a discount on upcoming items, remember their birthday...Do what needs to be done to keep your business name in the game and respected.

Work Efficiently

Now is the time to look at how the speed for product delivery and services can be increased without compromising customer satisfaction. Is there a new piece of software that can help organize your files more easily? how about simplification of packaging? Review all aspects of your business, and see where you can improve. The smallest changes can provide the largest impact. Just ensure whatever you do is necessary and effective.

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