What to do when business is slow
Apr 24th, 2008 by Sophie
Most people get really sloppy when business is slow. It defeats logic, but this is what humans do: instead of doing the best they can to be the best they can be: they respond to some calling of the mind: It is hopeless… or something similar to that.
I am no exception, and probably you recognize yourself if you look at yourself honestly.
What happens in the world, when business is slow?
If you look, some segment of the population isn’t acting as typical: they either don’t have money (suddenly) or are afraid that something bad will happen to them.
When their “group” behavior is like that, there is nothing that you can do to influence them to act otherwise. Right now.
If at any point the restriction imposed by a perceived threat lifts, they will be back in the game and they will remember the provider they picked when they could not act freely. But… as the traffic numbers show, the number of visitors doesn’t drop on my site when business is slow, they just aren’t buying.
There are some people that don’t belong to that group: they have the money, and the perceived threat doesn’t scare them… and they are buying.
So, if you knew that there is a group of buyers out there, smaller than normal, but buyers, nevertheless, would you become sloppy so that if the happen to see your ad, they would be scared off?
Many of you do just that. I wanted to speak a provider today. Her voice mail was full. Her emails also went unanswered.
I emailed another one: no answer.
I have news for you: this slow-down isn’t temporary, probably the rest of the year and at least half of next year will be like this (if we are lucky and it won’t turn into a lond drawn out recession).
You need to set yourself up for excellence. You need to set yourself up to answer your email promptly, to make your voice inviting, your voice messages promptly returned.
When the “crowd” gets sloppy, you can stand out by being professional, upbeat, and friendly.
Adjust your tone to the type of prospects that are available. The haughty tone isn’t going to work for a while. Friendliness, down to earth behavior will gain the business of the few brave callers.
Examine your advertising. On my site, a paid ad cost $40 a month. If it doesn’t bring calls, you are doing something wrong in your ad. If it brings calls but no appointments: you are doing something wrong in your communication.
That $40 a month ad should bring at least one paid appointment. I know it is not much, but without it you wouldn’t have that appointment… so it is money you wouldn’t have made. Think about it.
