Cold hard truth- reality check: Small business owners, coaches, trainers, speakers and entrepreneurs: I hope you have not spent the past few months anxiously running to the mailbox waiting for your bailout check. Santa Claus ain’t coming to you. Or me. The only stimulus we will get will be self-imposed.
What to do? ”You do what you have to do.”
Here are 7 tips to stimulating your own economy, business and attitude.
1. Stick with what you know. Placing limited funds into new projects or areas may bring frustration and little return on investment. Focus on your expertise.
2. Dig deep. Think about a vertical niche market and drill down. Look at the tip of the funnel and not the wide open part at the top. Then market, market, market.
3. Go back to basics with human networking. Attend networking events, trade expo’s and conferences to not only reconnect with other human beings but to learn as well. Don’t hide behind technology–especially if you are frustrated or business is slow.
4. Connect with your contacts and database with electronic marketing. If you have an e-zine that’s stale or hasn’t been updated in a while, give the format a new life. Maybe it’s time to actually start an electronic newsletter, or “Tip of the Week” that can reach lots of people with little or no expense. Use Social Media to share links and Tweets. Spread the word.
5. Reach out to people in allied fields. Be creative and consider strategic partnerships with others who do similar work but don’t compete with you. Brainstorming is important in business development. Don’t go it alone.
6. Speak and write. Share your expertise by being a guest speaker at a professional association meeting, contributing an article to an industry newsletter or website, or being a guest blogger. Widen your circles with traditonal media/PR and social media.
7. Stay positive. I am guessing that if you’re an entrepreneur you have some fire inside that sparked your business. I’ve owned my public relations and communications training company for nine years. It certainly is not for the faint hearted. At times it can feel like you’re on a roller coaster. Don’t lose sight of why you started your business. Go back and look at testimonials, reference letters and awards that will remind you of your past successes. Stay focused on your vision.
You do what you have to do. Be your own Santa Claus.
(Photo Credit: Kevin Dooley)
