Recently, after a yummy dinner on our back patio, Mr. Brown (my hubby) and I realized that our days enjoying a meal outside are numbered. Sadly, this means that summer is winding down. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know where summer went.
One of the things that small business owners find challenging during the summer is staying focused when a sunny day is calling you out for a break, or an ice-cold swimming pool is beckoning you to jump in for a quick dip.
I’ve encouraged my coaching clients to stay focused over the summer so that they can head into 4th quarter with a full calendar and more importantly, a positive cash flow.
Regrettably, there are many entrepreneurs that have enjoyed themselves a bit too much over the summer. They have fallen off track and are dreading trying to get back up and running again.
Here is something I’ve learned about the sales process. You can always tie the business you have and amount of cash in your bank account, right now, to what you did or didn’t do three months ago. If your bank account and calendar is a little leaner than you want, here are five tips to help you get your engines revving back up and add more cashola to your pocket:
1. Tap Back Into Your Existing Client Base
You’ve built what I call your KLaT factor. You’ve already got them to Know You, Like You, and Trust You. Use this to your advantage and connect to your previous clients. Find a reason to re-engage them, like sending them an article or update them on a new product or service you offer. Reach out to inquire if they might need to replace or replenish a product or service that they originally purchased from you. Consider giving them a bonus or discount.
2. Repurpose, Repackage and Re-launch
Choose an existing product or service and create a new offering. Review your database to see if you can connect this to a service that your clients have previously used.
3. Launch a Client Survey
Find out what your clients really need … just ask them. Set-up a client survey using a tool like Survey Monkey to inquire about what they want and need. You can create the best solutions and the ideal way to present those solutions to them. Armed with this information, you’ll be able to create products or services that meet their needs.
4. Go For The Low
Low hanging fruit that is! Make a list of people you met or talked to before the start of summer and follow-up with them on potential sales you might be able to seal the deal on.
5. Celebrate Innovative Holidays
Run a special offer by creating a reason to have a sale or to get some media attention. If September happens to be your anniversary or birthday month, use that an excuse to run a special offer for the month. Find a holiday that you can piggy-back off of like Labor Day or fun holidays like “Felt Hat Day” on September 15th. Check out http://www.holidayscalendar.com for more ideas.
You do not need to be a rocket scientist to get your business back on track. These five tips do not require that you spend countless hours to get them up and running, nor do they need a lot of cash outlay.
All that is required is for you to roll up your sleeves, pick the ones that you believe could be your fastest path to cash and get back to work now.