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.

Start out by taking a close look at what you sell. How profitable is it? Could it be more profitable? Are there additional products or services that you could sell to make more profit? When was the last time you increased your price? These are just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself to increase the profits in your business?

staying connected with your customers and clients is important to every business. It easier to keep a customer than it is to find new ones. What are you doing to thank your customers for their business? Are you sending out Christmas cards? Anniversary discounts? what about wishing your customers a happy new year and letting them know that you're not increasing your prices for the new year?

It's easier to keep the customers you have that is to get new ones. Smart business owners know that there are only two ways to increase your business, get the customers you have now to purchase more product or purchase more often. Packaging your products or services together makes it easy to increase your bottom line. A dry cleaner might price their shirt services at $1.25 per shirt or $10 for 10 shirts. They could also offer to clean customers close by the pound, which is cheaper and simply charge a monthly membership fee.

It's a great idea to offer bonuses with a purchase. Our company gives away free Flip Mino HD video camcorders with purchase of our monthly video marketing program. a dry cleaner might give away a free lint roller with every $50 in cleaning.

Where you advertise is just as important as how you advertise. Many business owners are still using the Yellow Pages to advertise their business, but I ask you one key question: "When was the last time you picked up the Yellow Pages?" These days most customers go online to find listings for businesses it's much simpler to Google a business and find what you're looking for than it is to go out and find the heavy phone book and flip through all the pages. a well-run e-commerce campaign can get you better results for less money than the Yellow Pages.

Build a list. This might be one of the most obvious answers to the financial challenges of today for business owners. When you have a list of your customers you can very easily send them an e-mail with specials that you're having, so if you have a bad week you simply send a promotion out to your list. This process is easily done and can make you thousands of dollars over a 12 month period.

Another great way to build your business and continue profitability is by running a buy local campaign. Start with your family and your own business, buy everything you can from a local business owner Instead of a big-box retailer. Chambers of commerce have been a popular way to focus on local business, but few have put any effort into promoting it by local campaign. start by putting together 50 to 100 business owners who will each commit to putting a sign in their door or at their counter promoting the Buy local website And their membership. "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, $45,", says Stacy Mitchell author of "Big-Box Swindle.

When you consider your options are sink or swim, I've always found that swimming is a lot more fun. - 15433

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