The U.S. Economy is in volatile and uncertain times. The stock market fluctuates widely, and the ripples are felt far and deep. As consumers wait for these fluctuations to even out and stabilize, small businesses suffer because consumers spend less. It is much harder for small businesses to succeed through these tough times as they have smaller cash reserves, compared to larger businesses. Small businesses need to develop new strategies to weather the economic storms. Here are five tips for small businesses to cope with this uncertain economic climate. 1. Renegotiate Trade Credit Payment Terms Trade credit is an agreement to buy goods or services on account, without making an immediate cash payment. Ask for longer payment terms such as 60, 90 or 120 or more, and this can turn your receivables into operating capital. This is a quick way to gain some breathing room. 2. Customer Service Customer service is an area where while it's tempting to skimp, it could be hurtful to your business, in the long run. Good customer service is a cornerstone to repeat customers. It is cheaper to keep existing customers. Cultivate that with excellent customer service. Many companies are now cutting back on customer service, so good customer service will get your company noticed, as you stand out from the rest of the pack. 3. Social Networking Using Facebook and Twitter Facebook and Twitter are powerful and free small business tools for marketing. Since your customers are probably already there, it's important for your business to tap that social media market. You can target your ads to very specific demographics for more success. Develop a business page where your customers can "like" your page. You can then send out information and offers to these customers over and over. Keep it fresh and updated. Offer rewards. Use social media to target your audience directly and inexpensively. Social media can also be used as a customer service tool that is easily accessible and simple. 4. Personal Credit vs. Business Credit Stop using personal credit for business reasons and begin building a business credit history. By doing so, your business can qualify for better interest or payment terms, credit lines, and loans. Apply for a credit card under the name of your business. Building a credit history in the business name increase chances that lenders will approve your requests for capital. Using business credit instead of personal credit also protects you from having to give personal guarantees. 5. Online Business Directories Use online web directories that are free or where registration is inexpensive, to list your business. Popular online directories are Google Places, Yahoo, Bing, CityGrid, YellowPages and CitySearch. There are other business directories that can increase your exposure to potential customers, and some are specialized to certain types of businesses. There are many on the web, and the more you list your business in, the wider the exposure.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
