Three Keys to Selling in a Down Economy

I recently spoke to a retired businesswoman whose sons still run her company and wondered aloud about how they're doing in the wake of the ailing economy.

She proceeded to describe that they had launched several new ideas this summer to attract new business, and it seemed to pay off. It was a wonderful reminder that we don't have to accept the status quo. 

We may still be mired in a terrible economic climate, but that doesn't mean we have to sit by and doing nothing. Here are three quick ideas:

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1. Offer customers the opportunity to win something big if they make a purchase. In other words, the thrill of winning the prize is enough to make some people spend a bit more money.

2. Create a new product by slightly varying what you already offer. If you sell hotdogs, create a new chili dog. If you sell widgets, package them in bulk at a discount. Create desire by offering something new.

3. Expand office hours, improve your website or offer free shipping to make it more convenient to do business with you. It's the small things that impress people.

This is the kind of exercise that almost anyone can do at almost any business to come up with at least three new ideas that just might spark sales or at least attract a few more customers. 

Could you use a more proactive focus?