Surviving When Clients Arent Rolling In

As the holiday season starts to settle in, the workload for many Micro-Businesses can slow down.

Service-based businesses in particular consider this a slow time of the year. But, in reality, it's a great time for us to step back and reconsider the direction of our businesses.

Here is our top 10 list of "to do" items to get your business ready for next year:

1. Catch up on Correspondence
Respond to or file any and all business correspondence. This includes snail mail, voice mail, and e-mail. This would also include invoices, bills, and business leads. Make sure that you are organized and ready for after the holiday season.

2. Make Major Business Purchases
Research those business purchases you've been considering for awhile. Now, you can divert some of your attention away from clients to concentrate on these items. Invest in yourself and your business with computer software upgrades, training, workshops or Web site updates and improvements. You might be able to get some good deals and deduct the purchases off this year's taxes.

3. Review Your Strategic Plan
Business plans and marketing plans are dynamic documents. They can change depending on your needs or your target market's needs. Now, you can reflect on where you've been. Start planning where you'd like to be with an eye toward challenging yourself to achieve bigger and better goals for next year.

4. Read the Latest News and Books
Now is a good time to keep up with trends in your industry as well as local business news. You can familiarize yourself with topics that affect your business and your clients. Also, there are probably a ton of business books you've been wanting to read. Set a goal to read 2 of them by the beginning of next year.

5. Plan Advertising Spots
Set up next season's advertising opportunities. Consider including a mixture of traditional print, radio, Internet, upcoming tradeshows or events. This time of year, many are focused on the holiday season and wait until it's too late to plan their advertising campaign. Also, if you commit now, you might be lucky enough to get a holiday discount off the usual rates.

6. Re-evaluate Memberships in Business Associations and Organizations
Do they provide support? Camaraderie? Education? Referrals? Customers? If they aren't helping you meet one of your goals, the cost of membership may not be worth it.

7. Look at Your Customer Mix
Make a list of the types of customers you've been marketing to. Then, make a list of your actual customers. Do you see some key differences? If so, it might be worth tweaking your marketing plan or even some of your products and services.

8. Commit to Expanding Your Marketing into 1 New Area
Do you want to start marketing online? Holding workshops? Sending mailings? Writing articles? Pick 1 new area and add that to your marketing mix for next year.

9. Consider Alliances with Other Businesses
It's difficult to do everything when you are a Micro-Business owner. Building alliances can save time and money for everyone involved. They allow you to work with businesses that: 1) have products/services that complement yours or 2) have a similar target market.

10. Take a Mental Break From Business
Most of all, enjoy this time to yourself. Take in a sunset. Go to holiday parties. Spend time with family and friends. And, be thankful for all the wonderful events from the past year!

Some Micro-Businesses look at slow business periods in a negative light. Instead, do the opposite. Take this time to reflect on the past year's highs and lows and begin to change the direction of your company to better position itself for the coming new year.

Brett and Leila Johnson own Data-Scribe(tm), a New Mexico-based firm empowering Micro-Businesses through technology, the written word & training. To get more tips like this, visit their Micro-Business E-Library or sign up for their Micro-Business Gazette at http://www.datascribe.biz.

---

I WANT IT NOW - 10 Tips for Freight & Drayage at Trade Shows

Gas prices continue to go through the roof and increased... Read More

7 Tips for Home Business Start-up Success

1) Prepare a realistic business plan.Think of this as your... Read More

How to Hold An Extremely Successful Event - 10 Tips

Every event you hold can be extremely successful. Apply these... Read More

10 Steps for Business Owners to Take if They Are a Victim of Identity Theft

Be aware that 40 million crooks obtained credit card numbers... Read More

7 Secrets to Writing Inventory Procedures

What would You do with $1,000,000With $1 Million would you:?... Read More

The Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Coach

1. You have a big goal and you want someone... Read More

10 E-mail Organization Tips

Who doesn't have issues with organizing their inbox!? I receive... Read More

Top 7 Reasons You Should Back Up Your Data Online!

How much is your data worth to you? In this... Read More

Wealth Building Scams

I have some good news and I have some bad... Read More

7 Reasons Why Training Doesn?t Produce the Desired Results and What You Can Do To

Seven Reasons Why Training Doesn't Produce the Desired Results and... Read More

Top 10 Ways to Turn Clients Into Raving Fans

Do you find great joy in being a coach? If... Read More

Top Ten Tips for Participating in Online Business Expos

Are you ready for a BASH? Have you ever been... Read More

Brainstorming! The Key To Wealth

Advertising executive Alex F. Osborne first coined the word "brainstorming"... Read More

The Top Ten Qualities that Allow Business Operations to Grow Easily

My husband and I were enjoying our dinner meal one... Read More

No More Lists To Remember

Are the endless lists of Top-7's and Top-10's taxing your... Read More

How To Make $20.00 For Every $1.00 Invested

It has been said you can lift the Rock... Read More

My 7 Most Important Business Lessons

Millions of people start new small businesses in the United... Read More

10 Ways to Develop A Free Agent Attitude

Whether you are self employed or you work for someone... Read More

Top 7 Business Tips For Small Business Starters For Online Business

1.) Brainstorming for an idea - You must select what... Read More

Business Profitability - 10 Ways To Boost

10 Ways to Boost your ProfitabilitySo many business owners work... Read More

How to Become an Expert in Your Niche Business

What is a niche business? A niche business is one... Read More

Management, Balance & Time - 10 Tips for Managing Overwhelm in your Business

How many of us have been in a position where... Read More

How To Make Money With Your Junk Mail

The term "junk mail" is a well-known term. To... Read More

Managing Your Major Sales - 7 Steps That Could Change The Way You Pursue Business

Ever lost a sale you thought was in the bag?... Read More

The Seven Secrets of Top Performers

Let's put to rest the fallacy that success, in sales... Read More

Why Dont They Just Get It Done: 7 Performance Tactics for CEOs

Buckling under the weight of chronic corporate restructuring, and frustrated... Read More

7 Ways To Make A GREAT First Impression!

1. Focus on the other Being known as a... Read More

Ten Tips on Delegating Work

One way to manage your time more effectively is to... Read More

Your Leadership Shopping List

'Tis the season to give. And finding the right gift... Read More

Top 10 Ways Websites Makes Me Suffer

I believe some people create and publish websites for the... Read More

How To Use The Power Of Focus To Build Massive Momentum In Your Business

Getting focused on what you want to achieve and creating... Read More

Top 7 Ways to Profit from Foreign Trade

Here are seven excellent ways to earn income from international... Read More

Ten Tips for Working at Home

1. Maintain regular working hours and stick to them.2. Get... Read More