Most small businesses are fighting to survive in this recession.
They've cut cost, cut employees, and they've lowered prices.
Today, they are working harder than ever waiting for the recession to come to an end.
Just like in any recession, they've also cut their marketing, PR, promotion, and advertising; they are in survival mode.
Still, as this recession wraps up, just like all those that have come before us, it's time for small business people to think about ramping up their sales and promotions.
Not long ago, a new entrepreneur asked for advice to help her business, and she said; "I am going to keep taking baby steps to figure out how to market myself.
" This is all well and good, but still, one must remember that as we emerge from this recession there will be a need to ramp up the business, and take advantage of the "good times" or expanding business cycle ahead.
So, I told her; "You should get ready to ramp up right now, besides cutting your teeth during hard times, makes you a good competitor during the good times, as money flows more freely.
" Her business is successful, well as well as one could expect right now, and it is her baby, her love, and her mission, so when she asked; "Which path is better for my business?" referring to putting more of her personality into it or concentrating on just giving customers what they want.
Well for her, I'd say she has a hobby that she has turned into a business and if she ditches her creativity, she won't like it anymore and she'll lose interest, and thus, she will either quit, fail or succeed but feel miserable, so she is going to have to take both paths and merge them into one.
Still, she must realize that this recession is ending and it's time to get going on the marketing.
Please consider all this.