1. During the Great Deppression, while most businesses perished, many actually rose to become great powers after the storm was over. Those who did, did so while getting better, by going out and trying to sell their better services to the public, by being proactive. They did not ask, what can customers do for us in these tough times? Rather, they thought “how can we make it better for our customers so that in these tough times they prefer us over everyone else?”

    Think & brainstorm how you can provide an even better product or service than what you have been providing so far.  If you own a Cleaning Service, think of ways how you can clean better, faster, greener. Don’t cut corners, clean them! Your customers will recognize you are worth the money you charge and will happily recommend you to their friends and family.

  2. Do more than what you are expected to do. I am not a fan of discounts, what discounts do is educate your customers that first, your business can take charging less; and second, it’s okay to wait until the next discount comes around.  Instead, charge a fair price and do more than what’s expected of you in the deal. Throw in a bonus for good measure. For you, this bonus might represent a negligible cost, but the value you add is much greater, and your customers will appreciate it. If you sell vitamins, give the customer a mini/travel-size vitamins jar for free.  If you charge by the hour, work 65 or 70 minutes in your project or case and bill 1 hour, and make sure to let your client know the extra time devoted to her.
  3. If you have a website, leave links to your site at every place you can do so for free. Post useful comments in blogs or forums with a small blurb about you in the bottom if possible. Don’t make it a promotional pitch, people will tune that out and possibly even blacklist you if you come out too strong. You want to be known for the good opinions, recommendations or suggestions you share and eventually become an authority in your field not a nuisance.
  4. List your business and website in the new local portals that have sprung around by the numbers. Most of them are free. Be sure to include relevant keywords in the title of your listing, for example: “Miami Roofing Distinguished Contracting Group”. Some of the most popular local portals are the following:
    • 411 DA
    • ALK -CoPilot
    • AOL
    • Ask
    • AssistGuide
    • CitySearch
    • Collarity
    • DENSO Auto Nav.
    • Dex
    • Disney
    • GetFave
    • Go2
    • IBegin
    • Idearc
    • InfoSpace
    • InsiderPages
    • JVC GPS
    • kgb_USA/infonxx
    • Kudzu
    • LiveDeal
    • Localeze
    • Lowrance/Navico
    • LSSI - Volt
    • Menu Network
    • Merchant Circle
    • Mojo Pages
    • Onstar
    • Open List
    • Wuebecor/Canoe.ca
    • Search Bug
    • Spock
    • Super Pages
    • TeleAtlas
    • TeleMap
    • Tellme
    • Topix
    • True Local
    • V-Enable
    • viaMichelin
    • Vindigo/Zingy
    • Windows Live
    • Yahoo Local
    • Google Local
    • Yellow Book
    • Yellow Pages
    • Yellow Bot
    • Yellow Page City
    • YellowPagesInc
    • Yelp
    • YP
    • Zenrin
  5. Attend networking events. Check out your local chamber of commerce, business association, alumni association, any place where there may be professionals that gather together in an effort to grow and promote their businesses. This may take some time and commitment on your part, but eventually, it will pay big dividends. One particularly fruitful networking organization for us has been BNI, Business Network International. BNI’s format is very structured and aimed specifically at increasing members’ businesses by referrals and word-of-mouth marketing.  Go to www.bni.com, find a local chapter and go for a visit.
  6. Business cards & flyers.  Don’t underestimate their power. They are inexpensive and easy to carry around.  Always have a bundle of them with you. Leave them at the supermarket, at your dentist’s office, the pizza parlor, the Chinese take-out, in bulletin boards … anywhere where there is pedestrian traffic or where people might have to sit and wait.  When you’re stuck waiting you will read what’s around you, and often more than once each piece of literature. Make it a habit to never leave your home or office without them, and to always leave a stack of them in a public place. Think of how many more places people might get the chance to learn about you and your business if you do this every time you go out.
  7. Nothing lasts forever, and tough times are not the exception. Brighter times will come and if you have done your very best for each and everyone of your customers, you will come out ahead.  History has shown us that recessions and tough times always come about in cycles.  Don’t think about how bad things are, think about how good and how much better you are getting, how you are finding new & better ways to do your business.  Get a vision of you succeeding and don’t let go off that vision. One of the best business tips for tough times I once read is this: “Remember, you will succeed in the same proportion of the things that you do for others that you are not expected to do”.  It makes sense. If you do only what’s already expected in the transaction how can you stand out?

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