As a business owner, no doubt things may be looking tough these days when it comes to bringing in new clients. But you don’t have to throw your hands up in despair. Below I’ve listed 10 quick recession-proof steps you can take to sell more  and start seeing results RIGHT NOW!

1. Reactivate Dormant Accounts – Contact previous clients and suggest ideas for areas you talked about with them, but didn’t get around to doing, last time you worked with them. Don’t spend too much time, but it could muster up memories of more work the want to do.

2. Reactivate Old Leads – Although they may not have ordered in the past, don’t give up, get back in touch and see if there’s anything they’d like or need today.

3. Give superior Service – With the clients you do have, spend the time to give them exceptional service and attention. Go over the top. Send a special thank you gift, handwritten note, etc.

4. Create Packages – Group items or services together to create a package ‘deal’. A window treatment, coordinating pillows and a matching headboard for a bedroom.

5. Break Things Down – Offer to do larger projects in manageable phases. This creates smaller budgets and more phases for your client. Sometimes doing projects in smaller increments helps clients make the commitment to move forward. Think of it as a payment plan. Sometimes it comes down to the fact that people will buy if there’s a payment plan, and they won’t if there’s not.

6. Use Low Cost Add-Ons to Increase Sales – Suggest coordinating pillows, a table skirt or seat cushions, trim on draperies, a remote control for window treatments, an upgraded finish on cabinets, etc.

7. No Prima Donna’s – It’s tempting to get a swelled head when things are busy and you’re in demand. But when things are slow, your clients have choices as to who they want to work with. And you may not be their first choice.

8. Don’t Raise Your Fees – Clients that might not usually be price conscious are much more so now. So keep your fees at a minimum and you’re more likely to keep the money coming in.

9. Get More Aggressive with Your Marketing – When things are slow, take advantage of the lull and increase the amount of time you spend on marketing. Update your website, negotiate better rates with newspaper or magazine advertising, spend more time networking and establishing relationships.

10. Start Moving Your Offline Marketing to Online – Online marketing is nearly free. A printed newsletter costs a bundle to send every month, but an online newsletter can cost $15 – $30 per month, depending on the size of your list.  Here’s a link to the company I use and recommend.

If you’d like help with your marketing, maybe you know your website is in need of a ‘facelift’ or you’d like to learn the most effective way to reach prospects, then get in touch and let’s talk about your business!