SmallBusinessNewz

Whenever times are tough, and we’re forced to make change, it’s easy to want to play ostrich.You know, stick your head in the sand and hope things will be back to normal the next time you look up.

But the world is changing so fast these days. And the small businesses that survive are going to be the ones willing to change with it. That means you’re probably going to need to do a few things differently.Whether that means changing what you offer or how you offer it, or changing how you do your marketing and advertising.

Below are five tips to help your business grow regardless of what happens with the economy.

#1 Stop turning the crank long enough to step back and assess the state of your business AND your marketing. The best way to do that is to schedule a chunk or two of uninterrupted time with no cell phone or email. Get out of your office, or even out of town, if you have to.

#2 Figure out what’s working and what’s not, then either change or ditch what’s not. If you haven’t been tracking results from your marketing and advertising, there’s no time like the present to start. Set up Google Analytics on your Website. Use coupon codes. Or simply ask people where they heard about you when they email or call.

#3 Don’t operate in a vacuum. Consumer behaviors are changing radically, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t buying. It just means they are thinking longer and harder before making a purchase instead of just throwing cash around like it grows on trees.

You need to understand what your customers want now and find a way to deliver it. So talk to clients to learn what’s most important to them right now; whether you call ‘em on the phone, do an email survey, or troll online message boards.

#4 Make plans for the future, then take action. Don’t wait for the changing economy and business landscape to impact you. Decide where you want your business to go and make plans to get there right now.

I know this can seem really hard to do when you don’t know what the future holds. But you just have to do your best with what you know, then bite the bullet and go.

When I started training as a whitewater raft guide many, many years ago, one of the first rules I learned was hesitation kills (sometimes quite literally). You must make a decision, any decision, and take action-even if you don’t know what’s around the bend. Because the river’s current is going to take you somewhere whether you choose the direction and destination or not, so you might as well be in charge. Plus, if you’re going to run into trouble, it’s always better to have momentum on your side.

#5 Accept that change is going to be uncomfortable. There’s no way around it. I don’t care whether you’re trying something completely new and different or just trying to adjust what you already do, in the beginning it’s bound to feel awkward and wrong.

So keep your eye on the end goal and commit to pushing through for a period of time. Before you know it you’ll likely realize the new way is better, more comfortable, and more profitable than the old.

Here’s to your future success!

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