Take Me for a Ride Big Daddy

We have taken two calls this week from businesses that are struggling. Both said they had no money for advertising, but both were desperate for new business.

Running a business takes a tremendous amount of focused energy. While you are getting the work done, you are probably neglecting the marketing and sales part. This results in severe up and down cycles for your cash flow and stress level.

One of the smartest things any business can do is continue advertising during both the busy and slow times. Keep a steady and consistent presence in front of the potential new customers. Focus your energy and resources with a plan.

For example: If you have a charcoal briquette BBQ, you know that scattering a few briquettes around and dousing with lighter fluid can create a big exciting fire. Leave it to go do something else, and when you come back all the fire and heat is gone. It is too spread out and dies from lack of fuel and heat.

But if you make a pile with the briquettes, they will all catch on and hold the fire and build long lasting heat. You will be cooking on nice, even heat before you know it. Focus your energies. Stack your briquettes. Keep your business going by focusing your energy.

When times are good, you should advertise. When times are bad you must advertise.

Focus on what you do best and yell it from the mountaintops!

Roosevelt Elk

Originally uploaded by alumroot

It is October in Colorado. Many seemingly normal people from your neighborhoods and communities will head to the high country to attempt to harvest an elk. Perhaps no one told them they can buy red meat at the store.

There are a couple of techniques I have observed after spending several fall seasons in the Colorado Mountains in search of elk.

Camp A: A bunch of guys with a lot of liquor. They are in it for the fun. They make a fire pit you can see from outer space, hoot and holler most of the night. Get up around 10:00 am, try to make a plan on a pounding hang over, hunt an hour or so near evening, and (big surprise) do not bring any elk home.

Camp B: The quiet elk camp. These hunters know where the elk live, drink, and probably even where they sleep. These folks rise early in the morning while it is still dark to get into position before the elk even begin to move. They have a plan and work the plan. They prepare their gear and are ready for changes in the weather and movement of the herd. If bad weather or hard times move in, they are ready.

Finding new customers is like the elk hunt. Figuring out where they hang out, what they do, where they live and work is useful research. Planning your marketing and advertising, working the plan, and sticking with it is key to being prepared to find the perfect new customers you seek.

New customers mean increased income, smother cash flow and less stress.

Good hunting to you.