But how would you like for a change if your business could put you ahead of the curve, to forget about the grips of the financial crisis and just be happy in your money spending?

Do you know how to do this? I will tell you how, by increasing your money making and explode your business, here are a few tips for increasing your revenue and not having to worry about the economic worries in the world:

1. Increase what is working

If something is working in your business right now, then focus more of your efforts on duplicating that in the future, there is no shortage of marketing options even in these bad times but what you have to do is put the effort in at the right time in the right areas of your business. Marketing in the places where spending is happening will always allow you to prosper.

2. Get targeted and stay targeted

Having a target market assigned to your business is very important, and plenty of marketers think that simply advertising your business will move you forward, when this simply is not true. What you need to do for your business is get into the hearts and minds of those in your target market, knowing exactly what they want and how to get it with your help.

3. Stop wasting time

There are marketers out there who come to me for advice and tell me they have been working 8 hours a day on their business and how it is not working for them, but when we break the time down into actual income producing activity and other sections, we soon start to see that the amount of time spent on moving business forward is very little.

If you know you have been making sales or progress in a certain area then focus more on it and do not waste any time on the forums, or browsing other sites. Your work time is your work time and if you are prepared to do now the things that most people struggle with then you can be sure that 12 months down the line you will have free time and income to do the things that most people can’t afford to do.

If you have been internet marketing as a source of income and are tired of not being able to make the kind of money you know can be made and like I am doing on a daily basis, then be sure to grab a copy of my guide Affiliate Xtreme, You can find it for free at: http://www.reviewtime.info

TRUE!

History has proven companies that maintain or increase their advertising investments during economic downturns actually increase their sales.

And promotional products are the best advertising investment you can make. Compared to print, TV and other advertising methods, promotional products lead to higher advertiser recall, increased ROI and better overall impression among consumers. In fact, a recent survey by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) found that using promotional products in your advertising mix can increase brand interest up to 69% and creates a good impression of the brand 84% of the time.

Promotional products can also lead to more frequent or repeated exposure of your marketing message, resulting in a lower cost per impression. More than half of those surveyed said they generally keep promotional products for more than a year, giving the marketing message repeated exposure over a long period of time. Try these long-lasting items to get a great value for your next event or promotion:

* Calendars – viewed countless times every day, calendars help you extend your brand reach 24/7
* Post-it Notes -custom notepads let your customers keep track of their notes while keeping your brand visible
* Key Chains – for the car, house or work, branded key chains help unlock your brand’s marketing potential
* Magnets – employees and customers alike will be attracted to your brand with logoed promotional magnets

With these great deals on promotional products, your advertising dollar will go even further to help your company stand above the rest during these hard economic times.

Staples Promotional Products is your online resource for custom promotional products. We have some of the lowest prices in the industry, giving you great value for your marketing dollar. Visit http://www.StaplesPromotionalProducts.com to view our wide selection of items available for customization online.

We all like to think of ourselves as pretty adaptable. Adaptability is important in any job. But, we are looking for a deeper level of adaptability and using a broader brush stroke for this exercise. You will need to take stock of your transferable skills and their value in the current market. If you are, or have been, entrenched in a position that has a very limited market base, then you will need to step out of your comfort zone and look at other options. For instance, if you are a manager of a company that only has a limited market and there are only three other companies creating the same product, you are boxed into a niche. You will need to expand your skills to meet the needs of a broader audience.

This can also be true of markets that are very large. You may be a clerk in a department store that is eliminating positions. As you have read in the paper or seen on the news, many department stores are eliminating positions. You will need to expand on your skill base to adapt to a larger market than department stores.

It seems that the longer a person does the same type of job, the harder it is to assess adaptability. I have counseled individuals who felt they were very adaptable and could transfer their skills to many different markets. But, after a long discussion about what they would need to learn or change to go to another market, we found that their adaptability level was very low.

If you think that you will be able to maintain the skills you have and transfer those skills to another market without preparation, then you have a low adaptability level.

Rating Your Adaptability Level

Stepping out of our comfort zone is very difficult. But, it is necessary to do so if you wish to succeed in a business environment that requires very fast movement and decision. It is always best, whether you feel secure in your position or not, to continually revisit and enhance your adaptability to change styles, know your markets, and know where your markets are headed. The easiest way to begin is with a grid.

List your talents, skills and expertise on a piece of paper. On the right side have a rating scale of one to five. Some people like one to ten, it is totally up to you. Include in your list, not only the skills you have, but things like customer service, ability to communicate, sales ability, hobbies, interests, things you like to do. If you are on track with a career that is suited to you, you will find that your interests, hobbies, etc., will fall in line pretty well with the rest of your list. However, many people are doing jobs that do not have anything related to what they like to do, or are interested in. After rating yourself, and be honest with yourself when you do this, remember this is something for you, by you, and you aren’t going to share it with anyone. Some lists are pages long, others very short. Let’s look at an example of a list which shows a very low level of adaptability:

Typing-5; Writing-5,Customer Service-5, golfing-5, sales-1,reading-5,research-1,commitment-5,loyalty-5, everything else-5

This person is entrenched in their current profession. They have not researched other markets because they are in their comfort zone. This person will have a very difficult time adapting to any business environment beyond what they are currently in. In other words, this person is going to have a very difficult time adjusting if their company does a downsizing to compete with other companies in the same field that are also downsizing.

If the same list as above contained mostly 1′s and 2′s, there would be an indication of low self esteem, which would also indicate a low adaptability level. So, what is a healthy adaptability level?

There are some skills you will be very good at, and they should be fives. These skills are normally transferable and can be utilized in any business market. The two most important indicators on your list are “sales” and “research.” These two indicators are really what determines your ability to adapt.

We all sell ourselves at some time or other. Even if you don’t think you do, you had to sell yourself to get the position you are currently in, or have just lost. Sales involves research, good communication skills, a general liking of people, and an ability to empathize with the needs of those around you. If you took out the word sales from this sentence you would probably recognize yourself in your list. Most people think that they do not sell, but in reality you do so every day. It is not a bad thing. You are either buying something, or selling something every day in every way. If you are a parent, you have probably told your children, “If you do your homework I will get you an ice cream or other treat.” You are selling a treat, while your child is selling completion of a task. When you think about negotiation with co-workers, your boss, your family, you are selling an idea, concept or request every time you say, “If you do this, I’ll give you that,” or “If I do this, I want that.” Sales is an effective tool and if you acknowledge your ability at this skill you will open many doors to success in areas you never thought of.

Research

It is important that you research not only your market, but other markets. Look at companies with staying power and you will see endless resumes being sent to them by individuals who are attempting to become part of their team. But, when you look at your list after researching a company you will want to see if it fits you. This is where your interests, hobbies, etc., become very important. If you are doing something that you like to do, it is very easy to read about it, be up to date on the latest information and evolve with the product. But, if you are sending resumes to companies based on the skills you currently have and you really didn’t like what you did, or you didn’t feel fulfilled, then you are not going to find the kind of motivation to excel that you will need to succeed.

In many cases, you may be tempted to take the same type of job because the money will be close to what you make, or made at your previous job. Remember, that is what the average person thinks, and 97% of America is average. To open your opportunities for expansion you may need to take less money to start and cut corners in other areas in your private life until you succeed.

I heard an economist recently say that in order to survive the current economic upheaval we should have three months of pay in our savings. If you are like most of us, you just don’t have that. So you will need to figure out a stop-gap that does not include borrowing or credit cards to tie you over through this crisis. But, remember, it is a lot easier to eat macaroni every night and work a job you love, than it is to eat caviar and 1) hate what you’re doing, and 2) know that it could be gone at a moments notice.

Security and Research

In the last few years many companies have added a pre-employment form that when signed allows either party to end the employment at any time. Most of us do not think about this, especially if we have been at our jobs for several years. But, it is there for a reason. How much better for you to be prepared for change that to be hit by it. There is no such thing a job security anymore. Every position, at every level of industry is at risk. This is not bad news, just an opportunity for you to be proactive and create your own security. Which leads us to research.

It is important that you research those markets that fit your skill level and interests. This may mean that you must personally downsize to accomplish greater long-term results. But, it will be worth it to broaden your employment base. When you research markets, you will want to find out what they have to offer and change the way you apply and interview companies. In essence you are interviewing the company. A few red flags are those companies that offer only in-house training and support. These companies are not diversifying their portfolio. They are not encouraging staff to grow and be competitive. When they fold, you will fold. Another red flag is the limitations on the position they are discussing. If you are an innovative thinker and have worked in a cubicle for nine years and are interviewing for a job where you will be working in a cubicle, you are not going to be given an opportunity to excel at the skills you have listed on your grid, or utilize innovation in the position.

I had a friend who recently took a position such as the one above quite by accident. This person was told that the company was innovative, customer service oriented, all of the things that fit with the growth grid. However, after accepting and starting the position they found that there was no opportunity for innovative thought, for contribution or for partnership to grow the business. This was a terrible fit, and because the individual had been counseled and knew the company was not meeting any of the needs of the individual, they took advantage of the “either party can leave at any time” clause. I am sure that creating this form was not intended to allow employees to take advantage of the opportunity, but it is there and companies can be fired, just as employees can. A bad fit does not mean that you must give up parts of your opportunities for adaptability. It is important that you not see a bad fit as a personal failure. Many times a bad fit is just that, a bad fit. With this knowledge, and the knowledge that there is no such thing as job security anymore, it allows you the freedom to explore your options and find the fit that is best for you.

Building Adaptability

It is important that you take every opportunity to build your adaptability level. In this way you will be prepared for either promotion or voluntary movement. If your company is downsizing, or you see that they are tanking, don’t be naive enough to believe that you will be one of the few who stay through the bad times. Look at the dynamic of the leadership in your company. Are they all related? Are they all friends? Do they promote from within? (and I don’t mean the grandson who worked his way up from the mail room). Where does your companies loyalty lie. If you do not fall into the “protected” category in an obvious way, then don’t assume that you will be protected. Begin expanding your skills to meet the needs of other markets and customers. Perhaps you are in a position to begin your own company based upon your interests and hobbies. If so, now is the time to take courses to support that move. Training is of the utmost importance, growth is important, and the need to expand your sales skills is important.

Final Thoughts

Many people are at the edge at this time. Either they will take flight and soar like eagles, or they will fall and crash like lemmings. It is really a matter of choice. Changing careers or jobs, whether by choice or not, is very scary. It can be traumatic when we have others depending on us. But, remember, you can be part of the 3% that soar or the 97% that fall, that is your choice. If you need career counseling, training, or research data it is available. It is my belief that, given the correct tools, anyone can soar and I believe that by looking deep within yourself you will find the eagle just waiting to take off.

For more information on the subject you have just read or if you would like Spencer, Weldon and Associates Business Services Department to provide leadership,management training,team building of transition counseling email spencerweldon@comcast.net or visit our website at http://www.spencerweldon.vpweb.com

Copyright © Ellen Jackson and Spencer, Weldon and Associates.
You have permission to use this article freely in any publication as long as you do not alter or change the content and the byline is included as-is.

Promote your ad agency through the recession by expanding your agency’s “online footprint.”

In 2008, four things have taken place that particularly impacts small and midsize agency new business:

1. In a 2008 CMO survey, 80% of decision makers say they found the vendor, not the other way around.
2. CMO Council’s Marketing Outlook study states that Marketing 2.0 is by no means a brand new idea, but this year it becomes mainstream with the general public.
3. Tim Williams, founder of Ignition Consulting Group , and author of the book, Take a Stand for Your Brand, declares in 2008 that it’s “The End of Cold Calling.”
4. The current economic crisis that is impacting advertising budgets and will greatly accelerate Web 2.0. Following this recession, there will not be a return to business as usual.

How does this impact ad agency new business? According to current research and trends, traditional media and methods will no longer generate sustainable leads for your agency’s new business. The new business paradigm that we are witnessing is positioning small and midsize advertising agencies online to be found their best target audiences. Agencies should develop an appealing point of differentiation and use Web 2.0 tools to greatly expand their agency’s “online footprint” to be easily found by their best prospective clients.

As a first step, I would suggest subscribing your agency to the following online services. It doesn’t matter if you don’t use them all immediately, but it is important to get a general understanding of them. Sign up for:

* Facebook/Myspace
* LinkedIn
* Twitter
* Digg
* Technorati
* Feedburner
* GoogleAnalytics
* YouTube
* Flickr
* Wikipedia entry

Secondly, agency principals and staff subscribe to relevant online professional networks and professional online forums. You and your staff should immediately link to one another, then to clients, friends and prospective clients. Everyone becomes an agency ambassador. Experience the new media tools for yourself and build your staff’s capabilities and utilize the cost effectiveness of new media to promote your agency. For success, you’ll need to understand that motive matters, these tools need to be used correctly. Also they wont be effective unless they are used consistently.

Thirdly, create an agency blog, specific to a particular target audience. Provide useful information and resources. Build relationships and trust along with being positioned as an expert among your target group.

Fourth, continue expanding your agency’s online footprint using other new media tools such as eNewsletters, online surveys/polls, PR, presentations (SlideShare), downloadable whitepapers, PPC (AdWords), Ebooks and article marketing (EzineArticles). When other agencies are cutting back, there is no better opportunity to pick up new clients, increase your agency’s profile and market share. You can do more online with a fraction of the cost.

Michael Gass is an agency new business consultant, primarily to small and mid-size advertising agencies. Michael works with marketing communications firms to create a more clearly defined focus and differentiating business strategy that will give them a competitive advantage for new business, a higher-profile reputation, and an improved ability to attract and win the clients they really want.

For additional information please visit Michael’s website at http://www.michaelgass.com – his blog site at http://www.fuelingnewbusiness.com – or call toll free 877.695.6466

When Regan got elected president in 1980, he immediately did three things that planted the seeds of destruction that has finally come home to haunt us. It was only a matter of time, because in all the years since, no administration has done anything to change the infrastructure of the banking system and how real estate financing and ownership is done in this country

First, he hired Arthur Lafter as chief economist, a proponent of supply side economics. A school of economic thought that theorizes that by designing the financial infrastructure to give favorable treatment to corporations and businesses, their increased profits would “trickle” down to the middle and lower income classes, thereby raising their status and prosperity in life. He was laughed at by most major economists around the world; some calling it “voodoo economics. And they were right. Instead of business with a conscience, what the corporations did with their new found wealth was buy up other companies, not redistribute the wealth down to employees and/or citizens that needed it most, the working poor.

Two. For trickle down economics to work, Regan insisted that government needed to be massively deregulated, so he lifted most of the checks and balances on the financial institutions, thereby granting banks and savings and & loan companies almost unlimited power to create creative mortgages to allow marginally qualified people ro buy homes, including adjustable rate mortgages, reverse mortgages, and interest only loans, etc. But, wasn’t that a good thing, you might ask? It would be if it wasn’t for two factors. One, adjustable rate mortgages and their cousins are the biggest ripoff of the America home buyer that has ever existed. And two, what they perpetuated was run away home values and fantasy appreciation.

But the camel that broke the straws back was (Three) In 1987 he passed the Real Estate Reform act, thereby eliminating provisions that made it easy for homeowners to buy property through assumable mortgages. Reasoning that by making home ownership freely accessible to middle and lower income people, it would destroy the value base of property ownership in this country. A base that’s carefully preserved by certain government agencies, developers, financial institutions and the real estate industry. Now all financing had to go through a financial institution, at least in theory. But the real estate gurus got more creative. They found ways around the new laws but at the cost of the mortgage industry loosening their criteria of credit and income to prospective buyers. That, coupled with speculators and agents/brokers raising prices of every property they turned over, soon had property appreciation rates soaring to new heights of fantasy. We have been going on trickle down economics ever since, more or less and it’s been the biggest disaster ever, ranking right along side communism as a failed economic and social experiment.

Property ownership is the foundation of our country, but the foundation starts crumbling when home ownership becomes a financial liability instead of an asset. By the use of unfavorable tax laws, high finance costs and odious property taxes, home ownership today is not the American dream. It’s the American nightmare. The bursting of the real estate bubble and the credit crunch are only two domino’s on a tabletop of problems. They are only symptoms of a much bigger disease. Our banking system.

The Federal Reserve is a story all its own. To some, a comedy, to others, a horror story, and to others still a book of witchcraft. Its true, some buyers should not have been given mortgages to buy the homes they did in the last 5 or 6 years, because the agents, brokers and lenders knew they couldn’t actually afford them, but I believe they did so, not so much out of greed but because they too had bought into the fantasy that real estate would continue to appreciate. As a consequence, home prices far outstripped the wage/price ratio that normally determines home values. The bailout is not going to work until or unless we correct the underlying root causes, and that is the way real estate estate is valued, bought and owned in this country. What we need is not a huge band-aid, but a change in the economic philosophy that our entire free enterprise system is based upon. Particularly the banking system and the runaway derivatives market. So here are my ideas for what we should do.

One-we need something like a national rent control board to determine home prices and values. If we truly want to make home ownership a possibility for middle/low income people, (the only way to rebuild a strong middle class) we need strict regulations that prevent unscrupulous agents from taking advantage of unknowledgeable buyers. Repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act (which allowed banks to package and resell their mortgages/loans to third party investors), which has been called the single biggest cause of the great depression of 1933. Creative programs that would allow lower income people to buy, and much more favorable tax credits for people desiring home ownership and willing to be stable and hard working to get it.

Two- An overhaul of the credit card companies and the outrageous interests rates they charge; along with the credit reporting agencies. They have far too much power over the American consumer. We have an economy based on consumer spending, and that means readily available credit to almost anyone with a job. When credit is denied to individuals or businesses, the economy comes to a halt-like exactly what is now happening. If we want to keep going on a consumer spending based economy, the rules will have to be changed. Not loosened or tightened-changed.

Three- a flat tax, or a luxury tax would effectively change the infrastructure of our economy. Number one, the values of homes would immediately go down to their true market value. Two, people would be encouraged to save, not spend. The way the system is now, we are penalized for savings, not rewarded. Three, to rebuild a strong middle class, if its not going to be based on readily available affordable credit, there must be readily available work at decent wages-something we have been exporting for 30 years now, and that must immediately change.

Gerald A Boltz

hotbunstrader.com

Plus rather than being a passing problem this crisis could linger 3, 5, even ten years. When a similar economic downturn hit Japan it took the country 14 years to recover. Do you have the cash reserves to wait this out for 14 years? Who does?

At a time like this you don’t want to stick your head in the sand and just hope it will all go away. That’s the worst thing you could do. Ignoring the problem virtually guarantees you and your family will be numbered among the casualties that fall out of this crisis.

But you’re not a victim you’re a victor. So you have to do whatever it takes to make sure you have the one thing that will get you through this economic crisis. MONEY.

Yep, no surprise money is the one thing that will insulate you. The challenge is figuring out how to get that money when no one wants to stick their neck out and buy anything. That’s where you have a huge advantage over your big competitors.

You have the ability to prepare to succeed where others will fail. You know it’s tough out there and it isn’t going to get better any time soon. So you have to make what you have to offer indispensable to your prospects.

Right now people don’t want to spend money on anything they don’t perceive as an absolute necessity. The key to your success the key to getting the money that will get you through this is creating the perception of absolute need. This is easier than you may think no matter what you’re selling.

Did you know lipstick sales flourished during the World Wars? Yep, millions of tubes of lipstick were sold during a time of stress and duress. Now who can’t live without something like lipstick?

How could you sell lipstick when people barely had money to eat? When you had to collect coupons to buy staples, how could you sell lipstick? Lipstick marketers created the perception that a woman just couldn’t exist without lipstick, and it was that perception that drove their sales at a time when people simply didn’t have money to throw around.

Would you like to learn more about how to increase your sales? Get your free download here… http://increasesalescoach.com/sales-marketing-strategy.html

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