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Marketing in Tough Economic Times
Marketing And PR Are Often The First To Go When Times Get Tough; Does This Make Sense?

Targeting – The Most Critical Tool for Growth during Tough Economic Times

Targeting is the process of selecting high potential customer accounts to receive intense sales focus. Goal setting translates that high potential into achievable numeric objectives, i.e. revenue and margin growth. Each Territory Manager should select a predetermined number of Target Growth Accounts (TGAs). Creating focus on this group of selected accounts doesn't mean a Territory Manager should ignore other accounts; he/she is always expected to service their entire territory. When making decisions regarding their time, however, they should always consider these selected Target Growth Accounts a priority.

STARTING A HOME BUSINESS IN DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES.

In difficult economic times more home businesses are started than any other time. I found that very interesting. It is during these difficult economic times that most people are driven to find ways to make extra money to supplement their incomes and provide for their families. Some people seek to find part time employment to supplement their income while the entrepreneurial minded seek to make things happen instead of waiting for things to happen. They are the minority who seek to start a home business in the most difficult of economics times. Robert Kiyosaki suggests that whenever you are thinking of seeking a second job you should instead seek to start a part-time business. A home business is a great move because of the opportunity to make extra money on a part time business.

Is Your Business Storm Proof? Part 1
What can you do to keep your business healthy and in the black especially during difficult economic times?

Power of Positivity Online
The tough economic times can effect companies not only from a profit perspective, but the negativity in the air can also make business owners lose their sense of focus. The idea is to follow some of the simple steps to maintain a positive mindset because it will give your business the boost to succeed.

Crisis Creates Leaders

What a profund statement. Crisis creates leaders. Crisis is certainly more prevalent and dramatic during tough economic times. It is no wonder that we are all being tested during these tough economic times. We must recognize and understand crisis and change management during these times to become more effective leaders to reposition our companies to thrive during recovery. This requires specific recovery and repositioning strategies.

Leadership Development during a Recession

Listen, times are tough. Some of you may even be facing economic crisis. Keep in mind that as a leader you don’t create crisis. But, a crisis can create leaders. Now is the time to leverage the current economic crisis to enhance leadership development within your company. Ask yourself these questions: • What kind of example are you setting during these tough economic times? The majority of your employees have probably never experienced a recession. • What kind of knowledge or experience are you passing down? • Are you living up to your responsibility to have a personal impact on leadership development within the organization? • What kind of mentor have you been? • Are you allowing your employees to stretch – to fail – to grow? • Are you empowering and demonstrating faith and trust in your employees?

Purchasing Management ---- The Driving Force to Maximizing Success during Tough Economic Times

Purchasing managers, purchasing agents and buyers are the life support system of your supply chain. This has become much more apparent during these tough economic times. I often use the phrase in leadership training; "You're only as good as the people you surround yourself with." That phrase also applies to one of the most critical functions in distribution, the Purchasing Manager. So what does being the life support systems to supply chain management mean? It means purchasing is the center of the universe, the equator, the fulcrum when it comes to meeting customer demands. This is a common fact. We all know it. Most of us say it and yet few of us really understand it.

Training and the Cost Cutting Dilema during Tough Times

Most company executives decide to spend money on training because it's popular, especially when economic times are good. There is a view that it's “good," and it's also something that responsible leaders are “supposed to do” to prepare for the future. Unfortunately, training becomes the first activity to be cut when times get tough. There is also no objective measure that calculates the business case of return on investment for training. Actually, training, education and coaching should be the absolute last consideration when investigating cost reductions during difficult economic times. However, continued spending of money on training isn’t the only answer. Training alone will not produce the kind of results that training combined with coaching and education can produce.

Striving for Greatness with Good Employees

Being an effective leader, striving for excellence and being inspirational is essential to creating a great company. There is no doubt that during these tough economic times that average is not good enough. Look around, if you have average performing employees that can't seem to reach the level of performance that is in alignment with your vision, "Now is the time" to do something about that. However, don't let great be the enemy of good. Good employees are not easy to find or replace. Yes, great employees are what we all would like to have but everyone can not be great. Sometimes good is good enough. Remember that when evaluating individual performance in your organization. Good employees can make your company great.

Foster Enhanced Health Through Optimistic Thinking

Troubling economic times are tough on everyone and they call for leaders of others to be wise, stay cool and retain a spirit of optimism about the future. This is just another tough economic cycle that, in my opinion, was unnecessarily brought about by greed, crookedness and incompetence on the part of a some of our governmental and business leaders and unqualified home buyers. Read on and you’ll find some tips regarding the importance of being optimistic yourself and helping those you lead to be optimistic for their own best interests.

Striving for Greatness

Decision-making vs. Decision-getting

“If you can’t get people committed to what you are trying to do, you can’t get it done.” Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO, October 12, 2009 More than ever before, these difficult economic times require efficient management and effective leadership. We believe that efficient management is all about “decision-making” while effective leadership requires the skill of “decision-getting”. Many expect our economy to turn around in the short term but what if it doesn’t? What if it gets worse over the next three + years. Do you and your organization have the skills to “get it done” in a worsening economy?

Window of Opportunity

In a practical sense, what this means is that you view tough economic times as providing you a unique window of opportunity to cut the non-profitable elements of your sales and marketing system away, to pare down to a dedicated and competent core, to sharpen the focus of every element of your system, and then to expand your market share so that you can weather the hard times and be stronger when the economy inevitably turns.

Ten Tips on Motivation

Tough times weigh heavy on employees. They know when a company is not performing without seeing the profit and loss statement. The good ones start to abandon ship and seek employment elsewhere. Add restructuring and employee terminations to the formula and keeping your good employees becomes the most life threatening issue you are likely to face during tough economic times. Losing good employees has a high cost associated with it.

WHERE NEW FRANCHISORS CAN FIND CAPITAL
During current economic times, it’s often difficult for start-up franchisors to obtain investment capital. This article describes three potential sources of investment capital that can meet the capital needs of new franchisors.

Lesson #3: Go Big or Go Home

“If you’re not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business,” Kroc once said. He didn’t build a franchise empire with over 3,000 stores in just ten years by sitting back and repeating the same formula that had worked once over and over again. Instead, Kroc strove to constantly improve his company and retain his place at the forefront of the industry by taking advantage of new opportunities. Even when there was big risk involved, Kroc stared the gamble in the face and rolled the dice.

Venture Capital & Recessions
Lots of talk in the venture business, as everywhere else, about the impact of recessions on the business. In general, recession vintage venture funds have been among the better-performing funds. Here are some related points:

Never Sell Alone
Sales can be a lonely game. During an economic downturn, sometimes it can be downright depressing. One of the best ways to keep morale high is being able to look around and know that you're dealing with the tough times as a team. You don't have to weather the storm alone.

The Magic Formula to Better Results: It's Your Response that Counts
In today's economic times, when everywhere you look there’s a rumbling of great uncertainty, I think we should all take a pause (and a deep breath) to think about our lives.

Business Lesson from a Farmer
200 years ago 95% of the population were farmers, today only 2% are farmers. There were some very practical wisdoms learned on a farm about life and about how to handle hard times. Every entrepreneur and business person should read this lesson from what farmers knew about the practical wisdom of surviving hard times.

10 Warning Signs That Prospective Client Is Not Right For You
In difficult economic times it is easy to let go of standards and take on a client who does not fit your vision of your ideal client. When few clients are in the pipeline it often looks attractive to take the ones that show up. When you do this you run the risk of having an angry client or worse one who is out a real energy drainer. Here are ten warning signs that tell you to avoid the client.

Executive Coaching Secrets for Socially Intelligent Sales - 9 Sales Tips for Tough Economic Times

It's no new news that we are in a difficult business climate that requires making connections and building relationships more important than ever. We buy from people we know, like and trust. Right know and for the foreseeable future, we are experiencing a business climate where people and organizations are holding on to their wallets. There is a psychological and behavioral contracting effect due to uncertainty about the future.

Know where to cut costs
The most obvious strategy for staying in the black during tough economic times is to control costs. But how do you know where to cut down without compromising on the quality of your products and the efficiency of your business?

#1 Killer of Small and Medium Business
In these challenging economic times it is easy to take your eye off the ball. Many times we fail to stay focused on something that is taken for granted when times are good but crucial to stay on top of when times are challenging.

The Stars Among Us-How to Find Them!
In recent economic times, many have been asked to get better results with fewer resources. Here is a quick and easy way to do so. Find the superior performers among the average!

Create a work environment that supports being on top of your game
I’ve often thought our organizations could do better collectively if we modelled our corporate culture on a golf game. There’s a respectful ambience, a book of rules, a score card, and most importantly the expectation that everyone is there to play their best ...

136 Effective Presentation Tips by Tony Jeary and David Cottrell

In these tough economic times we should all be on the lookout for ways to make ourselves stand out in business - in a good way. Being able to step up on the job and to create and do an effective presentation is a great way to make ourselves stand out. Are you an entrepreneur who does presentations for your business? Are you a sales person who does presentations for clients? Are you a speaker who speaks in front of crowds on a regular basis and you want to stay at the top of your game? Are you in a business and you want to advance and impress your boss? All of these people can use the information in this book.

How to Speak With a Business Underwriter?

When speaking to an underwriter do yourself a favor and make sure you are prepared. You should know your business better than anyone else. Be positive; believe in your own cause. If you do not believe in your business why then would an underwriter extend your business credit? Help the underwriter to see the “big picture” and why you are successful. Do not ramble on and on with no purpose. We are all busy. Keep it short and to the point.

Improving Customer Experiences - Is It Still Important Or Is Price The Only Thing That Matters?
Many have questioned the importance of the overarching customer experience... Has the economic downturn minimized its importance?

Don't Let A Credit Score Define Who You Are!
You're much more than a number, I'm sure, but today more than ever people are caught up in credit scores and what they mean. My job is to help people with credit reports and to help them raise credit scores, but lately I'm doing the Dear Abby thing on my office sofa. Here's a reminder of who you are and that a credit score doesn't define you!

Building an Effective Talent Management System
Your organization probably manages its cash flow very carefully. After all, if you run out of cash you are in real trouble. But how about running out of talent? Does your organization manage its talent as carefully as its cash reserves? For most organizations the answer is “NO!” In these tough economic times attracting and retaining talented employees can be your key to competitive advantage.

Internet Home Based Business--What You Need to Know Before Starting
Do you have a plan in place on what to do if you should lose your job? When your unemployment insurance and extensions expire, what would you do? If you have a computer and broadband Internet connectivity, get busy and search for an Internet home based business opportunity.

Factoring Can Provide Funds for Businesses in a Cash Flow Crunch
The process of factoring, or selling off accounts receivables, can be a valuable lifeline when companies hit a cash flow crunch. Find the right partner by seeking out a funding firm that deals with exactly your specifications. How does factoring work and what should you ask before getting involved?

Job Changes And Health Insurance
With the tough economic times, many people are struggling to choose the best option for them when it comes to getting a new job and health insurance.

How To Make Money In A Recession With The Help Of Public Relations
Studies have shown that companies that stop all marketing during a recession are those that fair the poorest not only during the recession, but in the long run. Tough economic times are precisely the times that you want to reach out to and stay in front of your target market. They are also challenging times marketing-wise because you also need to be frugal and savvy with your marketing budget.

Marketing in a Recession
In uncertain economic times, you can choose to retreat or you can choose to prepare for what's ahead

Managing In The New Economy
Business leaders and managers should be developing a strategy about how they will lead and retain employees who are impacted by the economic changes of the past year. Following are tips for managing in this "new economy".

The Groovy Mermaid Finds Treasure In Legitimate Work From Home Opportunity
While more and more people find themselves with time on their hands, they are taking a more innovative approach to the unemployment problem, and are deciding to work from home. This can be quite a nerve-racking endeavor, and along with all the other unknowns in the entrepreneur arena, there is also the added anxiety over finding a legitimate work from home opportunity.

Marketing Towards Your Strengths

Market to your strengths. Don’t simply follow someone else’s lead. He might know business, but not necessarily know your business, or more importantly, truly know you. When it comes to marketing, you can’t separate yourself from your business. If you personalize your marketing program, you’re life will be simpler, your approach will be streamlined and, you’ll find, your personalized marketing machine will work much more effectively.

When Managing Change - Understand The Grief Cycle
In 1969, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote a book, called ‘On Death and Dying’ in which she described a cycle of emotional states experience by people who lose a loved one. She called this the “Grief Cycle”. The Grief Cycle is now recognized as a process that is experienced more generally by people working their way through bad news.

Study: Workplace flexibility growing in US
Workplace flexibility programs have maintained popularity in the face of the harsh economic situation in the U.S., and in some cases are even being used by employers to avoid layoffs, according to a recent study by the Families and Work Institute (FWI).

The Add On Professional

Sales pros work hard to establish a close personal relationship with their clients. When the sales person and their company perform as the product or service was promised, a bond is created and mutual trust is established. This trust assists the representative in maintaining the business and obtaining contract renewals. Selling is not a one-time activity. New sales are the lifeblood of every successful thriving business.

What Seagulls Can Teach You About Top Sales Leadership
Ever work for a " Seagull Sales Manager"? You probably have. A "Seagull Sales Manager" is a sales manager who seldom interacts with his people but occasionally swoops down, dumps on everybody, and then quickly flies away. If you haven't guessed already, this is not exactly the kind of leadership we advocate at Sales Management Mastery...

Your Franchise Choice and Risk

If you were to ask a franchise candidate, "Why do you want to start a business?" You are first going to hear such things as... I want more control More flexibility More time with the family, Better work/life balance ...and I want to keep more of what I work so hard to generate Or, put another way, many people enter franchising because they believe the effort they expend to create riches for others would be best spent in generating wealth for themselves...or, at least MORE wealth than they are currently accumulating from their efforts in their chosen and current career.

Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life by Dr Judith Orloff

There are many people who are facing a wide variety of stresses, discouragements, disappointments and other events and situations that take an emotional toll on their lives. Sadly, many people feel there isn’t much they can do to help themselves, their loved ones or their business associates who are having a tough time. Or, they feel that medication is the only answer. I’m the sort of person who avoids medication as much as possible, so I’m always on the lookout for other alternatives. I’m also a person who is very concerned about friends and associates who are emotionally fragile or who find themselves in difficult and trying situations. We all know people who have more than the usual problems in their lives. So – what can we do to he

Profitable Online Business Ideas and the Recession; Your Lifestyle
There is no doubt that we are in hard economic times. Some say we are in a recession, some say we are not. Whichever you choose to believe, the fact remains, hard economic times are here. Job and business closures and weekly unemployment rates show us that. But does that mean we have to accept that?

Who’s in charge of your sales recruitment?

1. How much is a good sales person worth to you? 2. How much is a good hiring manager worth to you? Speaking about recruitment in these current economic times may seem foolish, however in the area of selling, this is where you could make great strides by picking up highly effective sales people who have found themselves on the job market or are looking for a better business to work in. I know of a few highly competent sales people and sales managers who have been let go along with other staff as part of large staff reduction strategies. In my opinion, the last people I would let go in this market would be highly competent and high producing sales people. Which leads me to the contentious issue about who makes the decisions to hire and fire sales people. In particular, who hires sales people.

SO, you want to be Wealth, do you?

Just as the old blues song goes, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die!" So goes wealth. It seems today everyone wants to be rich but few want to work for it. Today the best way to control your destiny and to build equity for yourself is to work for yourself. In today's uncertain economic times, jobs are precious and the "protected" job is something of a dinosaur. You simply must get yourself into a situation where you control your destiny. It's getting scary when companies cut staff hours to 39 hours a week so they don't have to pay benefits. Or, loyal employees are laid off weeks before retirement benefits kick in. Or in some highly publicized cases where long term employees lose everythin

Marketing In A Poor Economy
Don't stop spending on advertising and marketing; this is a death sentence as sales are tied directly to advertising. Be creative - use Twitter, initiate special campaigns, revamp your website, make a You Tube video. Talk to your customers and find out what you can do for them that they need right now. Be able to adjust to market trends but stick to what you know.

The Magic of Authenticity
Loving who you are, expressing who you are, showing up naturally wherever you are - in other words, simply being yourself - feels good. This place comes from an inner confidence.

Are good sales people born or made?
This age old question is being pondered by many business owners and managers as they strive to increase their turnover and profitability.

Managers - Put That Stick Away!
Truly acknowledge how important and valuable your people are to you. Treat them well and they will help you ride out this recession and be ready, with you, when the upturn arrives, as it surely will!

2009 SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition Recap
It was rainy and damp, filled with good times and great learning experiences. The SHRM 2009 Annual Conference and Exposition drew over 6,000 Human Resource professionals from across the country to New Orleans, LA for 4 days of learning and fun.

Drive Higher Profit With Three Proven Pricing Tactics

As has been noted by leading analyst firms, such as McKinsey and Co. and A.T. Kearney, pricing is the quickest and the most efficient way to improve your bottom line. It has more leverage than cost cutting, traditional business process improvement and any effort to increase your sales volume. It is also an area that relatively few companies focus on. Thus, excellence in pricing gives you a strong competitive advantage.

Recession Proofing Your Sales Force
As the leader of your organization, the next 6 months will prove to be more pressure-filled then you may have experienced in years. With decreasing prospects and the cost of doing business increasing, a squeeze on profits is inevitable.

Leadership Tips to Maintain and Cultivate Innovation and Creativity
During challenging economic times, it is easy for business owners and managers to get themselves into a funk. Business isn't as fun when sales are soft and layoffs occur. When times are good there is a tendency to get complacent, play it safe and rake in the profits. Tough times present a tremendous opportunity to innovate and be creative. Here are some ideas to maintain your innovation mojo.

How to Create High-Value Presentations That Attract New Business Effortlessly and Authentically
Buyers look for value...When you add value to your presentations, you pull business in...The more you provide, the more likely you are to become the provider of choice.

Succession Leadership Today's & Tomorrow's Sales Management Challenge
Succession leadership with the forthcoming retirement of the Baby Boomers (representing the largest percentage of the workforce) is becoming a critical success factor for businesses from small to large. No where is this more apparent than in sales management.

Profitable Online Business Ideas and the Recession Part 2
Many people feel that during economic downturns, they need to pull back or "tighten their belts." But could these economic times be just the time to create a profitable online business?

Bad Business Profits Are Not the Way To Increase Sales
Did you ever think some business profits could be bad? Profit is supposed to be a good thing. However, during down economic times or when businesses choose not to innovate, the proliferation of bad profits is everywhere.

Taxes The Good News and the Bad News For Increasing Business Productivity
Cost to do business extends far beyond the standard fix costs of rent, utilities, insurance, etc. How you address these costs has a direct bearing on your sales to profits to employee retention.

Selling in Tough times
If you speak to enough small to medium business owners you will find most if not all are seeking to grow their businesses by reaching and engaging with more customers.

Eight Ways to Engage Employees and Power-Up Performance During a Recession
Imagine a workplace in which employees feel important and listened to…Now stop imagining it and CREATE it!

Why Managers and Supervisors ARE NOT the Best Communicators During Times of Change
Most of the programs fail to manage change within organizations...Here’s why managers & supervisors are not the best face to face communicators during times of change.

How to Manage Change
There is a frequently-quoted statistic, which may not be strictly numerically accurate but certainly has the feel of truth. 75% of all change initiatives adopted by organisations fail.

Marketing Has Left the Building
Since when did Marketing become a corporate headquarters role that never leaves the building? Even in tough economic times - we have phones and web conferencing and a video camera in every laptop and the network bandwidth to drive it. Come on - We have Skype!

Change Nothing...Expect the Same or Less
Can you change nothing given the present economic climate, and still expect revenue gains? Tough economic times have always opened new doors for the open minded and enabled business owners/leaders to not only survive, but also end up thriving as a result of new economic forces. Read about a new and innovative approach to remaining successful inside this new world economy.

Marketing When You're Down
In uncertain economic times, you can choose to retreat or you can choose to prepare for what's ahead.

Self-Leadership Disciplines of Success Regardless of Economic Trends

Spring is in the air and so are new beginnings. We begin to awaken from the slumber energy of winter. Gardeners have begun to plant seeds for new blossoms. Annual foliage is stirring new birth of its own unique flavors and essence. Longer hours of sunlight give you the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and fresh air, participating in sports, taking walks, enjoying outdoor cafes, building new relationships, wearing clothing that doesn’t require layers to keep warm, and perhaps being a little more adventurous.

Leadership in Turbulent Times

Business is no longer what is used to be. Particularly in the Finance Department of organisations. The past few years have seen unprecedented change in the top levels of management within companies. Expectations are higher. And the rules of engagement have changed. In addition to protecting and developing revenue streams, the CEO, the board and the shareholders increasingly expect Financial Managers and CFO's to evolve the business in line with current trends. It has become evident that the finance professionals role within any organisation is more complex than is currently understood and leadership skills will be challenged more so than ever before.

Apple should NOT cut Mac prices
There’s a constant cry from some quarters for Apple to slice prices on the Macs to: a) compete with the bargain bin PeeCees, b) accommodate consumers in these tough economic times, and/or c) prove those Microsoft ads wrong. To which I say: don’t do it

Recession-Proof Your Mind (Part 2)
What is a recession? Does it really mean that times will be tough for the entrepreneur? Learn the secrets to profiting during economic tough times when you recession proof your mind.

Social Media Add Power to Recruiting

Although an increasing number of companies is creating a presence on social media Web sites as a way to attract new talent, if you want to recruit Millennials, a social media presence is mandatory. Today's high school graduates have been exposed to the Internet since early childhood. Their plugged-in world is creating a level of connection and interactivity that is changing how we communicate-and do business.

Can’t Find A Job? Buy A Business Or Franchise!
Learn how buying a small business or starting a franchise opportunity can represent a viable alternative for employment if you can’t find a job during these tough economic times.

Trade Declining Sales for a Competitive Advantage
Utilizing your suppliers declining sales to leverage your own sales.

Planning past the crisis
We need to give people a reason to get back on board. This article talks about using our current negative economic experience as a means to greater clarity and then developing strategies to move toward the results we desire in a careful, measured way. Success doesn't usually happen in giant leaps. Success is a process of small, intentional steps. The first step is gaining clarity.

Apple won't: a) buy EA, b) buy Twitter, c) launch its own game console
Tough economic times or not, Apple is rolling in dough. It has an US$29 billion cash balance, so this has led to some crazy speculation on what Apple will do with the moolah. There's been talk -- crazy talk in my opinion -- that Apple will buy Twitter and/or Electronic Arts.

Disciplines of Success Regardless of Economic Trends
Self-leadership combined with leadership is critical in combining work and pleasure. These are skills that can be learned. Champions keep on learning. They see the opportunities through transitions. Effective leaders are self-aware of the principles and characteristics of influential leadership. They know how to be fully engaged in their surroundings and are proactive in their goals and success.

Starting a Business During a Recession

When entrepreneurs start a new business they often have a nasty habit of paying little attention to whether or not the timing it right for that business idea. Some will start their business either way, no matter what the data (or the bozos) say. And some of those entrepreneurs are going to be successful in spite of the worst of odds. But today’s economic uncertainties actually puts the question of timing front and center in the entrepreneur’s minds eye.

Web Analytics: Making Sure Your Online Offerings Are Working for You

With online analytics, you can track virtually everything—where your traffic is coming from, who your customers are, where your customers are, what sort of systems your customers use, how your customers behave while on your site—the possibilities are endless. And these are just the analytics you can collect for free. For a fee, companies like Gomez can give you even more data, including highly technical data both inside and outside your company’s firewall.

How To Build Credibility With Your Prospects
How small businesses can quickly build trust and credibility with brand new prospective clients.

The Entrepreneurial Author: Surviving Tough Economic Times By Jay Conrad Levinson and David L Hancock Foreward by Rick Frishman

When I started doing promotional work, I was always given a limited budget. This meant that I had to get creative and that was one of the things that really appealed to me about promotional work. So, for a long time I was doing â€œguerillaâ€ marketing â€“ without knowing it. When I was asked to do a review for the new Jay Conrad Levinson book I was very pleased. Since David Hancock is a co-author, that made me even more interested in this book because Iâ€™ve enjoyed his entrepreneur author blog. David and I share many thoughts about how authors, especially business book authors, should approach their promotion. Many of these thoughts are included in the pages of The Entrepreneurial Author. Let me say in the beginning that this book is good for many entrepreneurs â€“ not just authors.

Oracle launches sourcing software on demand: As life imitates art, so too does business imitate politics (Part 1)
If you were to take these statements at face value, one might conclude that Oracle is simply responding to changing market demands based solely on an empathetic response to the challenges CPOs face in these troubling economic times. However . . .

Home Based Business Flourishes During Recession

Home based business flourishes during hard economic times. Entrepreneurs are ahead of the recession and its crushing effect on big corporations. In Canada, small and medium sized business is the hope of the future. More emphasis is being placed on entrepreneurial endeavors to stimulate a sagging economy. Governments are offering tax benefits and incentives to develop work at home initiatives. There has never been a better time to look at alternative income choices. Average working men and women, in the spirit of the entrepreneur, are stepping up to the plate to beat the odds and start their own home based business.

Smart Women, Barbie and Madonna
This article is about women making changes in their lives. Letting go of what’s not working and making room for new direction. It’ essential that we take an inventory of our lives and embrace what’s working and get out of your comfort zone for what’s not working using the Barbie doll and Madonna as real examples of women who embrace change.

Newspaper problems doesn't limit value of public relations

While the closing, altering and economic struggles of newspapers is an ominous sign for the media, it puts public relations in a difficult situation. To whom do we pitch? In this article, veteran PR professional Michael Kleiner opines that this doesn't have to be the case and there is still value in and need for public relations. We must harness skills to pitch in the Internet and technological age. In fact public relations may be in a better situation than advertising to do this.

A Few Crucial Strategies to Beat the Recession

While economic turmoil continues to intensify, savvy business owners find ways to sustain and grow their revenues. Even tough economic times present opportunities for the ones who use creative strategies to promote themselves. After all, it is possible to turn challenges into opportunities and take your enterprise to the next level, despite gloomy economic forecasts. The article below will inspire you to take action, overcome the odds and achieve the success you deserve.

Engaging Your Employees During Difficult Economic Times
Tips for keeping your employees engaged when times are tough.

It's Really Not Just About Winning, It Is About How You Play
What can baseball teach us about today's business climate? Watching how a hitter responds to different pitchers can help you to understand how to respond to challenging economic times.

Three ways to build your own stimulus package

Since his first menswear store opened its doors in 1954, legendary entrepreneur Harry Rosen has seen his share of difficult economic times. These experiences, said Rosen, speaking at a small business roundtable recently hosted by Microsoft Canada, taught him a valuable lesson: when the economy sours, it’s best to “focus on what’s important for your business and make good, solid investments that will not only keep you going through the tough times, but carry you into more prosperous times.”

President Obama, Small Businesses & Growing the American Dream during Tough Times
Just as lending institutions need to free more credit to allow small businesses to grow, small business owners in turn are going to have to get much savvier about marketing and promoting their businesses in order to reach their target market and have their businesses grow.

Surviving an Economic Downturn: How to Handle Layoffs Effectively
Sometimes layoffs are the only alternative to ensure your company remains competitive during an economic downturn. When that is the case, it is critical that the layoffs be done in a sensitive and respectful way that also minimizes the impact on your employer brand. In this article, we look at some of the key areas necessary to conduct layoffs effectively.

The Importance of Branding Your Product in a Depressed Economy

The adage “what’s in a name” has often been debated. When it comes to products, a good, catchy name that sums up what your product is and what it offers is critical. Afterall, the name will be the first things consumers see on a shelf, a web-site or marketing materials. A well thought out name may even make it easier for search engines to find your product and bring it up in the first few pages of google or yahoo.

Great New Franchises In The Health And Fitness Industry
Health and fitness is an ever-expanding industry and there are plenty of great franchise opportunities that can get you into this growing industry in several different types of businesses

Warning: Are You Being Hit With The Outrageous Askers?
Right now, I'd bet that within the past 90 days you've been asked to do some pretty outrageous things. It really could be anything -as in these tough economic times people have to get creative. Some of the requests are an immediate NO (and I don't blame you) however some of them may be worth thinking twice about.

Sales Training for the Entrepreneur Struggling to Succeed
Sales training is an entrepreneurial necessity. If your business is struggling to succeed, sales training can provide you with the skills you need to sell. And sales are what makes your business an economic success.

Different times call for different action
Strategic partnerships based on marketing and sales collaboration.

User interface, brand, content top considerations when choosing a new mobile phone
Though there are rumors that the iPhone will be coming to Verizon soon (something I'd love to see), I'm dubious it will happen (at least until 2011). I'd also love to see the pricey AT&T/iPhone data plan reduced, especially with these tough economic times. In lieu of either of these happening, it will be the sheer user friendliness of the iPhone that keeps it selling.

5 Small Business Success Strategies for Beating the Recession Blues
These are volatile times, but learn to view these economic challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities. The following are five strategies for shifting your perspective and changing your set-in-stone way of doing business.

How to Hire a Motivational Speaker to Increase Employee Performance and Productivity

One of the best things any company can do to impact their bottom line, especially during tough economic times, is to bring in a professional speaker or coach to work with your staff. Offering a seminar to your employees can go a long way toward increasing productivity, sales and overall performance. In the past, companies invested in new and better equipment in order to be competitive and gain an edge in the marketplace. Today, your people are your most valuable asset, so an investment in upgrading their performance is a prudent move, one that will pay for itself many times over.

Analyst says we shouldn’t expect revamped Mac desktops anytime soon—but I beg to differ

Trip Chowdhry, a Global Equities Research analyst, says you shouldn’t expect revamped Mac desktops anytime soon—at least ones with big changes. Tough economic times, a shrinking desktop market and strong notebook sales make this an unwise move for Apple, he told Wired. However, not releasing new desktops is a terrible idea—and totally against Apple’s “DNA,” according to the Sellers Research group.

A TIME FOR LEADERSHIP, A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE 21st CENTURY
Unfortunately, most businesses leaders are preparing for the years ahead in the same way they prepared for the eighties and nineties, and these formerly successful strategies are destined to fail. In these difficult economic times, new approaches are required to succeed and prosper. Now more than ever, what it is going to take to survive is leadership.

Loyal Customers Build Sales

Having satisfied customers is no guarantee of improved business results. Satisfaction is a passive state: a willingness to stay until something better comes along. Loyalty is a long-term commitment to the brand or organization and is linked to share-of-wallet and retention. Identifying and measuring what’s important to the customer and improving your company’s performance on those critical issues is a proven way to build revenue and retain customers.

Obama Leadership: 8 Ways to Lead in the 21st Century
Leadership perspective piece on President Obama's leadership style and leadership lessons learned for leading effectively in the 21st Century. Includes 8 Obama leadership development tips.

Are You Crisis-Minded or Opportunity-Minded
Today, the economic boom has gone. What’s your attitude? Are you thinking “doom and gloom”? Or are you thinking “hidden opportunity”? I believe our attitude and thoughts are a bigger problem than the external economy. An African proverb states it well: “It’s hard to fight an enemy who has outposts in your mind.”

What to Do When Customers Are Few

The measure of a salesperson is whether they flourish in bad economic times not in good. Peak performing salespeople are always producing. “They do what the average salespeople are unwilling to do.” Average salespeople blame the economy, or the boss for not advertising enough or the pricing for the lack of sales. Are you a typical salesperson, feet up on the desk, eating lunch, reading a book or a newspaper, or chit chatting with the salesperson next to you?

Six Sigma Relevancy Question and Kotter's Theory of Transformation
One such exchange that was of particular interest centered on Dr. John P. Kotter’s 8 steps for organizational transformation. Rather than paraphrase my dialogue with a forum member from the Superfactory Group on LinkedIn, I thought that it would be more interesting and beneficial to provide an actual account. That said I am pleased to share the following with you.

Leveraging Usability to Profit in a Down Economy
In a down economy, good usability isn't a nice to have, it's a must have. By understanding how your users interact with your applications up front, and designing with the end user in mind, you can save money by getting it right--first.

I Want To Hold Your Hand

I talk with many sales people who have expressed frustration about their prospect’s current state of mind. We have all agreed that there are buyers out there, although fewer than in the past. They also aren’t acting like “buyers”. Prospects are faced with a degree of fear, either real or perceived, about the state of the economy. Although they have a real need, have the resources, and the job security to commit to a purchase, their interest quickly wanes.

Leave the Island of Ain’t It Awful to Increase Sales
Are you stranded on the Island of Ain’t It Awful and do not know it? Read how by leaving this island you can quickly increase sales

Going Beyond Random Acts of Greenness
Developing an Enterprise-Wide Sustainability Strategy through Internal and External Alignment of Corporate Goals is Essential to the Long-Term Performance and Success of Your “Going Green” Efforts

Using Total Rewards to Motivate Sales Professionals During Uncertain Economic Times
Confused on what to do in an unsure economy with your sales professionals? Need new ideas to help motivate and retain the best performers? This article will help spark some fresh thoughts for your compensation packages.

Franchise Business Tips For The Work From Home Mom
For many stay at home moms, it may be hard to imagine a way to stay at home and make a good income with no previous experience required. Here's a look at some tips and a few work from home franchises specifically designed with stay at home moms in mind.

What Does the Current Economic Crisis Mean to Your Future
Executive Director of American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI), Katie Yeakle, talks about how the recession may be good for you.

Leading In A Down Economy - Crisis Or Opportunity
Yes, most often the buck does stop with you the leader when it comes down to the big or final decisions; however, using your best organizational talent can “turn your crisis into their opportunity.” What keeps you up at night can keep them up at night and this can be a good thing.

Work At Home As A Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant is anyone who provides assistance to a company or individual from his or her home or alternate location via the internet. Virtual assistants is a growing trend in these tough economic times, even though the cost of fuel is falling the recent economic problems have alerted companies that they need to cut costs and become more efficient.

Undiscovered Diamonds for 2008: Finding the Acres of Diamonds in an Evolving Market (Certify Profile)
“For every acre of that old farm, yes, every shovelful, afterward revealed gems which since have decorated the crowns of monarchs.” From Acres of Diamonds by Russell H. Conwell

How to be a Sales Superstar: Break All the Rules and Succeed While Doing It by Mark Tewart

Every aspect of our daily lives are affected by sales, even though we may not think in those terms. When you buy any product or service, various sales people are involved in the background. Even your utilities are affected by the sales process. Sales people have gotten a bad “rep” for years, but that isn’t necessary. We all know people in the sales industry that are superstars. The question is – how do you become a sales superstar? Mark Tewart is a definite expert who has the answer to this question and he is sharing his thoughts and tips in his new book “How to be a Sales Superstar”.

Motivation
There are employee engagement and motivation programs from ABC Analysis to Zero Defects, and many work well at least for a time. But employee motivation is pretty complex. This article outlines classic ideas to motivate employees, and insights into 2008.

Sell the Problem, Not the Solution
How do you get your message out to the right customers? What does it take to brand your company effectively? How can you speak the customer's language if every customer's problem is just a little bit different? If you can answer these questions, you will improve sales performance, manage sales productivity, and even control the cost of sales. Here's how: Sell the Problem and NOT the Solution!

Sales Training – How Top Salespeople Can Stuff Their Sales Funnel
Stuffing a turkey is optional; you can always cook stuffing on the side. Stuffing a sales professional’s sales pipeline is mandatory. Let’s look at the sales pipeline process.

It Takes G.R.I.T. to Win More Sales
Remember the movie, True Grit? John Wayne played an over the hill U.S. Marshal who in spite of some character flaws displayed “grit.” Many professional sales people sometimes feel over the hill especially during difficult economic times. What would happen if you had some of that grit of U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn?

Holiday Parties 101: Risks and Returns
With lavish holiday parties not only raising questions but eyebrows too, companies are debating the appropriateness of costly year-end celebrations during these faltering economic times from both a financial and public relations perspective.

Recession - What Recession??
According to the media and the government we are heading into the worst recession for nearly 20 years. But the business people I talk to are not experiencing anything like the gloom and doom that the media dish up every morning on the news. Even if we were, would it really mean much to the average business??

Keeping Your Employees Focused in an Uncertain Economy
In these tough times it's becoming more and more difficult to keep employees focused and motivated. This article gives business owners a few tips on how to keep employees motivated and focused in these tough economic times.

What's Behine Your Walls?

This weekend I drove to my son's house and we decided to "remodel" my grandson's room for his upcoming "tween" birthday. He'll be 12. We worked for 15 hours straight pulling up carpet, tearing down paneling, plaster, lathe, and putting up insulation and sheetrock. We didn't finish but Jorden was excited to see the room will be quite a bit different. Thank goodness he has patience and vision. Do you? As I was driving home I thought about how many businesses need to do the same thing. They're working in a "stinky" environment that needs to be changed from the foundation up. Have you looked at your organizations' foundation lately? Are there people there that you've been thinking for years, needs to be removed from the building? Have you tolerated them because of their esthetic value? If so - in these tough economic times - maybe it's tim

Making Money in an Economic Downturn
If you're a savvy business person, you understand that an economic downturn is precisely the time you can have a greater impact and get a bigger bang for your marketing buck.

Fear and the Success Mindset.
If fear is your sole motivator, you've already lost, because by definition, even if you become a billionaire, you can't be a success. Who defines success as leading a wealthy, opulent, fearful life?

Email Marketing: 5 Reasons You Must Start Doing It Today
Email marketing is one of the most powerful marketing tools available to your small business. You can achieve outstanding results, while investing only fractions of a penny per email message to your customers and prospects. Combine that with the potential to target messages more precisely than direct mailings, email marketing is a real win for the small business owner.

Bounce! by Barry Moltz

We all love to share our success stories in business. But, there is so much to learn from our failures. One key to learning from our failures is to be prepared for failure, develop the humility to deal with problems and develop the keys that we need in order to be resilient. Barry Moltz explains how to do these things in his book - Bounce! Failure, Resiliency and Confidence to Achieve Your Next Great Success.

Free Website Promotion for the Beginning Entrepreneur
The Internet provides the level playing field of which the small business owner dreams, and that goes for offline as well as online businesses. Free advertising opportunities abound in the virtual world, you just need to know where to find them.

Office Politics: Survival of the Savvy
Tales of political sabotage, power plays and turf wars are part of any organization’s history. Nonetheless, political competence is the one skill everyone wishes to have more of — but no one talks about it.

THE DUMBBELLS CUT BACK THE SMART PEOPLE DONT THE UPSIDE OF RECESSION

By Robert Croston and Patrick Cahill The market drops 370 points in a single day, corporate earnings disappoint and housing prices continue to sink. We are in uncertain economic times. We may be in a recession right now, or could slip into one next week... or next month. As optimists, we don't like forecasting difficult economic times. But, even optimists have to come to grips with the realities of our uncertain marketplace. With economic anxiety looming, many of our clients are asking: how should I position and market my firm in the year to come? Assuming yours is a healthy company, here are our general recommendations.

Money Worries? Here's Help.

We're all paying more for gas and food. Some of us have lost our jobs to corporate belt tightening or lost our homes to foreclosures. Consumer confidence--the degree of optimism we express through spending and saving--is at its lowest level in 16 years. Times are tough and may get tougher. Now more than ever, we must develop a high prosperity consciousness to keep our spirits up and maintain a positive attitude. One of the best ways to do this is through using universal principles.

Perceiving Victory
"Perceiving a victory when it is perceived by all is not the highest excellence." Sun Tzu Anyone can see victory when it’s obvious. In business, it’s not always obvious! When you can see victory where everyone else sees defeat, that’s a big win!

Recession-proof PR
Hard economic times are, ironically, the best times to aggressively launch a PR campaign.

Business Killer Mistakes You Cannot Afford
One advantage to thousands of years of history to look at, is there are things that work in business, and things that don't. This is not a history lesson though, it really a look business killer mistakes you don't want to make, and solid principles that will guide you to success in any economy. With the serious threat of recession looming, this is even more important.

Does Economic Recession mean Career Vision Recession?
In my conversations with individuals over the last several months a common theme has occurred. Many have said, “In light of the economic times, I need to put my own Career Vision on hold.” Does Economic Recession mean a Career Vision Recession?

Taking Your Business' Marketing In Your Own Hands – and Winning

At a time when Washington and Wall Street seem to have little or no connection with Main Street Wall Street seems to do fine no matter how much of the rest of the country is suffering, but it’s the rest of the country that matters when it comes to growing the economy. It’s more important than ever for you to reach your target market and build a bridge between you and your customers. While those around you are trying to figure out what to do, or are looking at Washington or Wall Street for answers, you can take your business’s marketing matters in your own hands – and soar!

Promotional Marketing With Samples
Developing a successful marketing strategy for your business can boost your profit margin, while giving your customers the bargains they are shopping for. Many proven sales strategies are available for your choosing, but two continue to prove successful, even through hard economic times.

Reap Rewards with the Right Reputation

We’ve all heard the old cliche, “Under-Promise and Over-Deliver”. It’s easier said than done, isn’t it? Today, in these challenging economic times, many people tend to promise prospective customers more so they perceive the value as better than what a competitor can offer. Those same people also enjoy over-promising to make themselves feel more valued. Do they not think these actions will come back to haunt them? The overall point I’d like to make today is that we cannot build a reputation for ourselves or our company by what we say we can do. We build good reputations by delivering what our customers need.

How to Bullet-proof Your Salon or Spa during Downturns
When economic times are tough salon and spa owners need to use strategies to not only reduce costs and save money but also to learn ways to improve business operations. This article will help all salon and spa owners to streamline their business.

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