DISQUS

Javier G Longo · 11 months ago

Reading today and yesterday's advices made me ask myself "why" is so hard for the small business owner to stay focused on what's important for the business. Any hint?

Al Hanzal · 11 months ago

Thanks John for commenting opportunity. Mitch Meyerson has a good formula for marketing in tough times. Do 60% of your marketing efforts with existing customers; 30% with existing prospects; and 10% to the universe. Sounds like a winning formula to me.

John Jantsch · 11 months ago

@Al - I agree, now is the time to narrow your focus and get better not broader

John Jantsch · 11 months ago

@Javier - I guess a part of it is just human nature - the important stuff gets old and boring before we ever really get to it, so we chase the next new thing. I love social media, but it's a great example. So many folks want to jump into twitter or Facebook when they should be spending more time making sure they have a content rich web or blog site.

Jeffrey Summers · 11 months ago

The answer to Javier's question is "fear".

Fear of the unknown, fear of not knowing if the economy will return, if customers will return, if profits will return, etc...If SBO's would simply stop a second, look in the mirror and rededicate themselves to what made them great in the first place (adding as much value as possible to every single customer experience) then they will do more than just survive - they will thrive.

JudyAnn Lorenz · 11 months ago

John, THANK YOU for the 'follow fodder'! Yesterday, I was roaring about the networking/connection learning opportunity I sought with follows. Today I have been snacking till Guy Kawasaki's size 14 won't work very well. Back to some more exercise! ;)

luv the captha I got this time: At Prayer -- You Betcha!

Kelly Wissink · 11 months ago

I agree with Rich Sloan.

Home businesses will increase dramatically in 2009 do to all the downsizing. These new entrepreneurs will be passionate and creative.The world will get even flatter. 2009 will be the year of the home business.

Kelly Wissink

Zach Heller · 11 months ago

...show the big businesses who's leading the revolution and controlling the new economy

Business blog · 11 months ago

2009 will be a test for all businesses and I compare business survival in a way to the animal kingdom in that it will be "survival of the fittest" Those that have put cash aside for a "rainy day" as it were and have made their business more efficient will hopefully survive the day - good luck to all and a Happy New Year from www.in-business.org.uk

Barry Moltz · 11 months ago

Show their resiliency as the force in the economy that keeps us going. Sor small business, it only takes a few more customers to have a great year!

Alex Chriss · 11 months ago

Unleash their data and boost productivity and customer service with integrated SaaS apps

Janine Libbey · 11 months ago

Bob Burg makes a great point about adding value to relationships and being "more authentic". This is an area where small businesses can have a real advantage vs. larger competitors. Small companies can also be more flexible to test new initiatives because there aren't multiple layers of bureaucracy that limit change.

gtamega · 11 months ago

Keep on believing that your achievements in the pat year will skyrocket your results in the followion year, and so on. Havent we done our best? Havent we dedicated time and love to whats ours? I have!

John Jantsch · 11 months ago

@Janine - yes small businesses have so many advantages - not the least of which is as Barry mentions, they only need a few more customers to make it a great year.

@Alex - Tell me more about unleashing data

Ricky Paredes · 11 months ago

Small Businesses in 2009 will focus on bootstrapping, keeping funds tight and coming up with creative ways of profibility.

Vanessa, Phantom CTO · 11 months ago

these tweet size nuggets are great inspiration for small business owners to see that they really can prosper right now in this economy regardless of what bigger fish are doing.

Margeaux Mann · 11 months ago

businesses to...trim fat, be flexible, service existing customers and watch for opportunities. This is my third recession in business. I watched my father survived the ups and downs as well. If you didn't anticipate this downturn, you may be in for a rough ride. This feels a bit like the eye of the storm. Simple economics is always nice to visit. Buy low, sell high, a mentor of mine said, " I always buy straw hats in the winter." Now is the time to get your name out there and nurture your relationships. Listen to what your customers are saying. Stay current with the times.
There are opportunities in all of the cycles of the market place--that is unless we fall into a deep depression. Than all bets are off haven't been through one of those.

Tom Pettit · 11 months ago

There are numerous opportunities for many small businesses in this coming year while larger businesses either fold or cut way back on marketing and internet spending.

Small business have the potential to be much more agile and target the best opportunities quickly while the employees at the larger companies are sitting around waiting to be laid off.

However, cash flow will continue to be extremely tough for small businesses since having a few customers pay late or not at all can break a small business quickly.

Business blog · 11 months ago

Just another thought following on from what Tom Pettit says - small businesses will have to survive on their own because the governments will not be bailing them out like the big companies and banks!

Javier G Longo · 11 months ago

@Tom Pettit & @Business blog - I live in Argentina and we own a small bss. In 2002 we had to survive an economic catastrophe thanks to our Government bad policies. There were really hard times. Our recipe? work hard, keep the company alive, be creative, be positive, support employees, customers and suppliers. We survived and now we are stronger than ever.
Small bss owners have to look at this recession as n oportunity to show how good they are.

Megan Tsai | Red Wagon Writing · 11 months ago

Good point, Rich. Not only will small and home-based businesses start up, they will thrive. Unlike larger businesses, small businesses (such as my freelance writing business) only need to keep a few clients happy to make a great living. And, lower overhead means they can pass along the savings to increasingly budget-conscious corporations and agencies.

John Jantsch · 11 months ago

@Vanessa - glad you like the short bursts and find inspiration here

John Jantsch · 11 months ago

One of the things that I keep saying and perhaps it's showing true from many of comments here is that the recession we all read about isn't and won't impact small business in the traditional sense.

Suzanne Lamar · 11 months ago

Transparency is becoming even more important. This is an easier ideal for small businesses than it is for large companies. The actual business idea itself is not as important as the implementation so we don't need to be secretive to be successful. Zappos is one of my favorite examples of a company with a less than glamorous business idea coupled with flawless implementation.

Chris Kluis · 11 months ago

Small businesses will find ways to challenge their bloated competitors and offer better products for cheaper. Many large companies will lose focus.

Tom Click · 11 months ago

Great comments above...here's one to consider. Now's the chance for small businesses to stop trying to act like the "big boys", ie, telling your customers what they need...and instead they will start focusing on what their customers need and want as products and services. The big companies have the resources...and the overhead...the small companies can get into the granular detail needed to truly innovate and lock-in business for 2009.

Ken Partain · 11 months ago

Discipline is the key...in planning, management, marketing and spending. The good years make us soft and undisciplined. It's times like this that force us back to the fundamentals.

James · 11 months ago

Small bussinesses won't be affected like the big ones and the reason is that they have bigger Roi than any big company. Big companies live every day on the edge.

Javier G Longo · 11 months ago

@Ken - I totally agree with you. Discipline is the key...

Geno Prussakov · 11 months ago

...seriously look into diversifying their marketing (especially, online). Affiliate marketing, for example, is remaining to be one of the most cost-effective, yet altogether a frequently overlooked channel.

Allen L. Kelly · 11 months ago

2009 will be the year for small businesses to unite with a COMMON GOAL to advance humanity on a stable, self-sustaining path.

I hope.

amplady · 11 months ago

I believe the coming year will prompt more business owners to learn (and use) 4 Words more often: "Can I quote you?" -- to get TESTIMONIALS from satisfied customers. Also, I think they'll be humming my "Disorganized" tune (at my blog, bizbrandstory.com) to motivate them to get organized and stay that way!

Michelle (The AMPlady)

Kris Bovay · 11 months ago

2009 will be the year that strong small businesses outperform what used-to-be strong big businesses; because they are more nimble, have less internal process (and less politics) to slow down decision making; and are more capable of adapting quickly to the market.

Fabio Platero · 11 months ago

2009 will be the year of the home business.

Audrey Burton · 11 months ago

For small businesses in 2009, I see even greater specialization in the service sector, and fewer employees. As it becomes more cost prohibitive to have employees, more micro-businesses will hire more contractors - bookkeepers, webmasters, various virtual assistants, etc.

I also see more 'feminization' in business - more relationship building, more sensitivity, etc. However, also more logic and less 'the secret' as the thinning of the herd clears out those less willing to put in the work required for the power of attraction to kick in!

Web Suunnittelu · 11 months ago

2009 is yet to be the best year for business so far, this time of recession will be restored!

ps
Happy New Year to all reading this :)

Jacob Angel · 11 months ago

No question at all that Guy Kawasaki hit the nail on the head! Some other good advice, but he's the one that stood out for me.

SEO Software · 11 months ago

Enjoying the Snackfest via Twitter. At LotusJump, we're hoping 2009 will be the year we help small businesses take control of their own SEO efforts.

Ivana Taylor · 11 months ago

Stop complaining and start cashing in on clear opportunities!

Small Business Marketing · 11 months ago

Small businesses are nimble and can quickly react to changes in the economy in 2009.

Jessie | Led · 11 months ago

Authenticity is, I think, one of the areas where many large businesses have trouble, and where small businesses have an opportunity to shine. But for the small businesses to do so, they need to possess and leverage as much as possible, their online presence.

Bay Area Lawyer · 11 months ago

I would have to agree with rich sloan. With the brick and mortar economy the way it is, more and more people are going to look to the internet to solve their problems. I believe this will create an increase in entreprenuers on the internet. This influx of new people to the net will create huge opportunities.

Surviving A Recession · 11 months ago

2009 will definitely test many small business owners. I think those that are creative and open minded to new avenues and possibilities will flourish in 2009. business owners that want to stay the course and not recognize the fundamental shifts that are occurring will really struggle.

Beth · 11 months ago

2009 is a year for SMB's to cease the technology! Inbound marketing is the wave of the future.