The Biz Wiz

How can I keep my business on track during an economic downturn?

Inc. Magazine. has a great article on things you can do to keep your business on track during this downturn:

1. Bring back the fun!
2. If you have to cut staff, cut deep. (If you end up cutting twice then your talent will run for the hills.)
3. Think like a tech start up and re-evaluate your IT costs.
4. Think young - ask your young employees for feedback.
5. Take a risk. Now is the right time to try a new product. You have nothing to lose.
6. Get your sales people selling! Tighten communication between sales and marketing. Get your salespeople on the phone with existing customers and have them ask for leads. Get creative! Your salespeople are the lifeblood of your business.
7. Pay employees to quit.
8. Find new ways to praise employees.
9. Make everyone sell.
10. Listen. Really listen.
11. Rally the troops.
12. Be brutally honest.
13. Piggyback on someone else’s efforts.
14. Expand employee’s minds.
15. Market more, not less.
16. Get back to your roots.
17. Pay employees for leads that turn into sales.
18. Get crazy! Urge your people to think big!
19. Plan for the upturn.
20. Get serious about service.

The Chamber offers nineteen college-caliber online courses in Money, Management and Marketing to help you succeed in your business. For more information visit our Web site at www.gainesvillechamber.com and click on “Chamber Services,” "SmallBizU" or call Tim Ledvina at 334-7105 x 323.