7 Time-tested Ways to Dig Out from a Recession – from Duct Tape Marketing.

Take this medicine in case of “economic downturn”….. if you just need some extra mojo to get you revved up and going again.

The author says these seven strategies, applied effectively, can help you make your business recession proof and unswayed by the various and inevitable cycles in the economy. ( And Advancing Women agrees they sound like solid advice to get you moving and re-energized again.)

1) Partner with other businesses – Proactively creating strategic partnerships is a great way to generate new leads and build long-term momentum.

2) Reactivate past customers – Reach out to lapsed customers and make them an apology, promise to never ignore them again, and make them a smoking hot deal to come back.

3) Get out from behind the computer – Building personal relationships is always in style.  Make it a point to go to several industry conferences every year. . Go visit your customers and ask for referrals.

4) Speak at events, hold workshops – Marketing is essentially a trust building game. Few things build trust more efficiently than getting in front of a group of potential customers and sharing your expertise in an educational setting.

5) Fix your follow-up – lead generation and conversion is not a one shot deal. By automating your multiple follow-up messages, scheduling routine marketing touches and sending the occasional thank you, hand written note, you can stay top of mind when the buying and referral decisions are made. The longer the sales cycle for your industry or service the better your follow-up needs to be. There is so much that technology can do for you here, let it!

6) Repackage your products and services with offers to act – This goes along with differentiating really, but sometimes you’ve got to give that tired old dog a new look. Find simple ways to relaunch yourself, your people, your products, your services, your packaging, to give yourself a new start in your market. Make them an offer they can’t refuse, make it so bold they must rehear you.

7) Fix the marketing gaps – In every way, shape, and form that your business comes into contact with your prospects and customers it is performing a marketing function – good or bad. Make sure that every single contact is a performing a killer marketing function for your business.

Good times or bad, these 7 tips should always be the bedrock foundation of your business practices.  For the entire post, go to 7 Time-tested Ways to Dig Out from a Recession