Nailed It!

How Do They Know? What Are They Trying to Tell Us?

 After a cold, long winter not to mention a cruel, torrid economic environment, the birds are back making conversation in the wee morning hours after a long, self imposed exile.  I can’t say for sure what they were squawking about, but I think it was change is coming; spring, rebirth – time for rebuilding. Longer days, people taking to the streets, attitudes changing; activity, it’s all good for business.

 So here we all are, having survived our impending demise as reported in the news; time to get on the horse and proactive towards increasing sales and making some profits.

 Think Spring - what is the mindset of your customers this time of year? How can we direct attention to the benefit of our widgets to current and potential customers?  Let’s tailor our marketing efforts to what our customers are looking for now. Continue Reading »

Good News! It’s a miracle! Got up this morning, looked into the mirror and realized most of us are still alive, though slightly bruised from fighting our way though most of the winter months. It’s like working out and using those muscles or marketing and operation tools we haven’t used in a long time – in some cases years. Sore yes, but after reading about how terrible it is from every form of media, you might think it was a foregone conclusion that our businesses were in the grave.

Spring is in sight. Days are longer, people are starting to go outdoors, and the phones are actually starting to ring a few times – certainly more than a few weeks ago. Can’t wait for the government or TARP to jumpstart our businesses or sales – of course we all know that, but had to be said.

Time to wick some of that Spring activity into February. We need to remind our current and prospective customers that it’s a good time to buy for future needs. Most manufacturers have capacity to fill before the spring activity starts to trickle in which means deals! Continue Reading »

A Historic Time.

History is in the wind – the inauguration, no matter what your political compass and the economy. Many of us will remember this moment in time for the uncertainty in the market, reduced sales activity, hard choices in our own businesses in the midst of industry icons falling by the wayside.

The good news for smaller businesses is that decisions can be made today that can positively affect sales activities tomorrow or this week. Make your list and prioritize with the top choice having the most immediate impact on increasing revenues. There is business activity out there and you need to secure your share, even at the expense of competition.

• Stay visible – network, email, direct mail, special offerings, whatever you can fit into your budget. Banners espousing sales, new inventories, limited offerings or decals on invoices and statements reinforcing your marketing campaign have high impact for few dollars. The subliminal impressions that you create keeps you in front of your customers. The benefits range from them actually responding to your offering to keeping you close at hand when they have a need for your widget. Vehicle graphics and lettering – your company logo or graphics or magnetic signs on your company rigs running around town or just parked in front of your business are like a moving billboard. Don’t forget your office window or door graphics and lettering – this is who you are and what you do, is it communicating properly?
• Keep an eye on your expenses – check your backlog plus projected sales vs your projected expenses. See if you need to adjust your operating costs until activity improves – profit might even be in the results and should be an objective, not just survival!
• Persevere – your company and employees are worth it, the alternatives aren’t plentiful these days.

Every day you make an effort that benefits your company you are one day closer to not only surviving but becoming more efficient and profitable. You’ve made it through November, December and almost January. Spring is just around the corner ushering in brighter days and improved business activity.

Good Selling!