_____ FEATURED ARTICLE _____________________
What to Do With the Next Three Weeks?
Every year you'll find article after article focusing on how
to survive the holidays with your small business...how
business comes to a halt during this time.
They will tell you to use the time to organize your office
files or some other non-marketing activity.
Do you know what I say to that?
Humbug!
While there's nothing wrong with doing a little office
organization (plan to do some myself), your business will lose
some valuable momentum as well as opportunity if you view the
holidays and coming weeks as a time to check out and shy away
from promoting your business and making sales.
I have a better idea for your business, and it's proven too.
But first, let's talk about what happens to people from now
through the beginning of the year.
Yes, generally, people's minds are diverted during the
holidays. They seem to mentally check out. The check-out
begins the week before Christmas and ends two weeks after.
The week before Christmas, many people are shopping, making
travel plans or getting ready for house guests. All of this
reflects in their work habits. For example, how many of you
have had trouble getting your phone calls returned lately?
People's personal delays are interfering with business.
This year's "slow-down" is especially hard-hitting with the
second half of September being basically written off due to
the 9/11 events. And, there wasn't much time to recover after
that with America's November Thanksgiving just around the
corner.
Boom, boom, boom, now Christmas is upon us.
If you have found your business slowing down, you are not
alone. But, don't despair. There are some pros for you and
your small business which we'll discuss later in this article.
Let's skip ahead to the week after Christmas.
The week after, business is often surprisingly active. People
use that week to search for gizmos to match their Christmas
gadgets. They look for ways to expand their hobbies. They
will also look for ways to make additional income to pay off
credit cards and to help during slow times.
The second week after Christmas (first week of January), not
much happens again. It usually takes people a week to get
back into the swing of things, to get their business affairs
in order after their winter holiday fling.
After that, it is business as usual.
Now, what does all this have to do with opportunities for you?
Well, first of all, you need to realize that we're all in the
same boat. Things have slowed down this week for most
everyone. This means that the "clutter" factor is down -
fewer emails, fewer ads, fewer everything. Your chance of
being seen or heard is far greater.
You have a greater opportunity to use this week and the two
weeks that follow for two things:
1) Purchasing Advertising
Ad buying is slow, very slow right now. This presents a
wonderful opportunity for you to purchase ads for much cheaper
than you would normally pay. Website and ezine owners are
willing to put together ad packages at greatly reduced prices.
If you can't find something within your budget, approach them
to help you create one. Most will be very open right now.
2) Approaching Business Prospects and Joint Venture Partners
With things as uncertain as they currently are, most
businesses, large and small, are keeping things open. You
will rarely get a "No" for an answer. You'll find that most
will keep prospects open and ask to talk again in January.
Approach them now...plant your leads seeds now...then follow
up the second week of January.
Are we following our own advice?
Absolutely!
Dave and I have actually approached several joint venture
partners already this week. We also purchased an ad package
today that has done well in the past. The ad package commits
us for advertising beginning this weekend through the next
three weeks. Judging by past years, we are certain it will do
well for us.
Traffic at our site will customarily slow down December 24th
and 25th. But, as in the past, traffic will pick up and may
be even higher than usual after the 25th.
We will use the next few weeks to gather leads and to plant
seeds. Then, we will reap the rewards of the harvest
beginning the second week of January.
We suggest you do the same!
------
Note: You have permission to reprint this article in its
entirety with the author's credits below.
About the Authors:
Heidi and Dave Perry are successful entrepreneurs and founders
of HomeBusinessOnline.com and PrettyGreat.com. Get free
issues of their popular HomeBizBytes newsletter at
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/nsl.htm?hbb
_____CLASSIFIEDS____________________________
We appreciate our advertisers. Why not give them a click!
.....
YOU PERSONALLY NEED TO LIKE what you supply your clients and
customers 1st! Special, Exclusive Offer @ 911 Forum.
http://www.homebusinessonline.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=5&forum=3&0
.....
* ADVERTISE IN OUR POPULAR CLASSIFIEDS at our website,
just $12 for a full six months. Many have received
well over 4,000 click-thrus. 80% of our advertisers
come back for more. It works... ask our advertisers!
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/links/add.cgi
_____KIND THINGS YOU HAVE SAID______________
Your appreciation makes the long hours worthwhile!...
"Great issue! Loved the well-reasoned comments on
Viral systems."
Best Regards,
Neil Shearing
http://www.InternetSuccessPortal.com/
_____CONTACT AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION_____
* Please tell us how we're doing! Send any comments
or feedback about this ezine to
mailto:HBB_feedback@HomeBusinessOnline.com
* If you wish to contribute an article or resource to
the newsletter or site please email
mailto:Editor@HomeBusinessOnline.com
* Permission to reprint or forward this ezine in its
entirety is granted, as long as all copyright info
and credits are included. If you would like to
reprint a portion of this ezine, please
mailto:Editor@HomeBusinessOnline.com .
We'd love to provide something useful for you and
your readers!
A heart-felt thank you for subscribing,
Heidi and Dave Perry, Editors
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com
Editor@HomeBusinessOnline.com
_____SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION_________________
This newsletter is published weekly and only sent to
actual opt-in subscribers or as a result of someone
forwarding a copy to you.
* If you wish to join, send a blank email to
mailto:nsl_sub@HomeBusinessOnline.com
or you may subscribe at
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/nsl.htm?hbb
* If you have changed your email address, please send
us your updated address information to
mailto:HBB_sub_modify@HomeBusinessOnline.com
[Email address info]
* To unsubscribe, please click on this link:
[unsubscribe email link]
____________________________________________
© Copyright 2001 HomeBusinessOnline.com
- All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: All advertisements in this Ezine are by
Independent Advertisers, and the views expressed within
are not necessarily the opinions or views of the
publisher of HomeBizBytes.