Tuesday, December 30, 2008

How Business owners profit during challenging times

By Jay NaPier

Focusing on the positive is very important during challenging times. Today's ever changing economy makes it tough on business owners, but the smart business owner focuses on the positive and asked great questions. One of those being what can I do to increase the revenue in my business.

Take a close look at what you sell the services and products and see what you can do to make those services and products more profitable. It might have been years since you've increased your price, so now's a good time to do so.

Look for the hidden assets in your business. It's easier to keep a customer than it is to find a new one, so ask yourself "what am I doing to make my customers and clients feel special?" Do you send out birthday cards? Anniversary cards? Christmas cards? What about, may be Thanksgiving cards?

There are two key ways to increase your profits and your revenue in business. Get the customers you have too purchased more or more often. One of the easiest ways to increase your revenue is to offer a package deal. Let's say you own a lawn care company and your average customer gets their lawn mowed 20 times per year. if you're charging $40 per cut, that customer is worth $800. Now, let's look at a package option. At the beginning of the year, offer to cut your customers lawn for $700 for the entire year. This is not only a good value for the customer, but it also locks that customer into your services for the entire year.

We've all seen those punch cards that give you free items on your fifth 10th or 20th purchase. It's easy to offer great discount programs we have a reason for your customers to continue to do business with you. a lawn care company might offer free leaf cleanup when the customer does business with you all season long.

Take a look at your advertising budget. The Yellow Pages has become one of the easiest ways for you to eliminate costs in your advertising. many business owners are spending hundreds of dollars each month to advertise in the Yellow Pages, when most people looking for a business are going online. Today it's easier to Google a company or service that is to pick up the Yellow Pages. People like to key in what they're looking for, press the search button, and have many options to choose from without the hassle of thumbing through the Yellow Pages. a well run each commerce campaign will get much better results for less money.

In today's economy it's important that you have a list of your customers. The easiest way to build that list is online. building a list is important because you can quickly and easily increase your revenue by simply reminding your customers that you are there. If you've had a bad week, you can simply come back on Monday and all for a silent promotion to your regular customers.

A buy local campaign is one of the best options to bring attention to your business and the many others in your area. The objective is to simply remind local residents of your business and the many great businesses that make up your community. Start with your own business and family first, commit to buying everything you can from a local business owner versus a big box retailer. While many chambers of commerce promote the idea of buying local, if you invest in the marketing that would support such a great idea. Build a group of 50 to 100+ business owners who'll commit to help promote a local portal designed for your community. Each business owner will put a sign in their window that notes the website and the buy local logo that associates you as a part of the local community campaign. "A recent study found that for every $100 spent in a chain store, $14 went back into the local economy. For a locally owned business, it was $45," , says Stacy Mitchell author of"Big-Box Swindle.

Today's business owner is much more savvy and is putting more effort into the marketing of their business. Too many business owners spend way too much time working in their business than they do working on their business.

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