What are you going to do about it?

How to help your business turn lemons into lemonade to survive & thrive through the bad economy:

I can’t help it; I have to say it. Plug your ears if you don’t want to hear: recession. *Sigh* the “R” word. Sure, this has always been one of those words that we’ve tried to dance around, fiddle and twist, but now there’s no denying it; we are in a recession. So what are you going to do about it? Try this tried and true optimistic mantra: “I refuse to participate in the recession.” Okay, well just saying it isn’t going to make it happen, but here’s some advice to move past the “R” word and back into the black.

1. Network. It’s not enough anymore to simply be passionate about your business. You need to make sure other people are excited about your business too! Networking is a natural way to grow your business. I have seen amazing things come from something as simple as a business breakfast. Utilize your Myspace, Friendster, Facebook, and Twitter accounts (don’t be afraid!). Whether it is making a reservation at a local restaurant, logging into the social networking sites, or participating in trade shows, you need to make personal connections with potential clients and you need to get your name out there.
2. Differentiate. If you look like every other business then the recession is going to hit you the same way it hits them (and that’s a hard hit). Know how and why your business is better than your competitors and be able to offer substantial and compelling proof. Don’t fall into the swing of the “best price” battle that happens with similarly operating companies—stand out and entice the customer by offering new stakes.
3. Broaden. Develop new channels of opportunities. Eventually, every stream of prospects is going to trickle down and run dry. If you are not developing new channels to obtain opportunities then you are setting yourself up for a rather disappointing surprise. Increase your business and protect yourself from any future financial blows by turning on more clientele-flowing faucets.
4. Walk. Shoe Leather Marketing becomes (for whatever reason) a very efficient way to promote your business during a recession. Whether this is due to summer break-ridden college students willing to work hard for commission or because you are reaching a great number of people with little effort, it doesn’t matter. The fact is that in the recession, door-to-door businesses thrive. So set up your summer sales program!

• Scott Abbott
• Five Star Painting CEO

Feel free to check out Five Star's website.