I have a friend in Florida who owns six Subway franchises. It rolls on, whole wheat and greenbacks. He loves the recession. It is remodeling his house (stimulating the South Florida contractor to keep swinging a hammer). Dollar stores are also a company of Gang-buster. The health sector is growing, too, but in a world of their own (as long as there is no cure for the disease and aging.) The supermarkets are full. People are cooking, not dining out. In fact, anyone who sells a staple of life, or to offer a product or service to low ticket are just as happy as a pig in ... you know what. For the rest of us ... The economy sucks
But only if, in good times long gone, his company had been on cruise control and got complacent, fat and lazy, and saw to their customers as dollar signs and not people. Without naming names, some vendors clearly suffer less than others, because they cared to look deep into the eyes of your customers and not just plumb the depths of their portfolios. Strengthening call relationships, they draw attention to your customers, or just call it stay in business, make a great income, take vacations, and buying new cars (Japanese or German) even a recession. Although I can not offer, for obvious reasons, a strategy 5 specific points for this type of insurance from the recession for your particular company ... I can give you the general plan.
Top 5 ways to keep their perspectives and faithful open portfolios
First, a note of caution: the price reduction can help, of course, and may even be careful. But this is a short-term solution, which of service consumption. In fact, by reducing their prices, what you do is training, forcing even their customers shop prices. Remember, price is what you pay to your customer, value is what the customer gets. Emphasize the value and the customer will pay the price. And you do it like this ...
1. allay fears of their customers:
Now your customers are looking more and more like deer in the headlights. They look too pessimistic news programs. They hear about was once the giants of the industry bankruptcy, closing the doors and put thousands of people out of work. May even know some. And frankly, it may be next fear. So they cling to their money; fears that the good times will never return. Frugal and conservative set. Food and shelter are of most concern to the near exclusion of all others. Your job, then, looking up, open your eyes and sing, "The sun will rise tomorrow." Help them understand that change is the only constant, it will pass life, and this economic melt. Show them the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer, give them hope and put his arm around her shoulders. And instill some good old time religion, cheer and do the dance in the excitement and happiness back into their lives, planned corridors.
2. Confirm your suspicions:
Plots, real and imaginary, abound in times of economic crisis. Your customers see danger everywhere they look, and they wonder who is really there to monitor and protect their interests, and that is to swindle their shrinking incomes. Not deny the reality of their customers perceive. Do not argue with or ignore their fears. Standing next to her. Put yourself in their shoes. Recognize that the fastest way to unite and, especially, how they become a lawyer on behalf of their clients is to first accept and confirm (within reason) their views. Then once you have proven that you understand and agree with them, you find it much easier to persuade his point of view. Change Your loyalty of fear and suspicion that fearlessness and confidence, and immediately become your champion and protector. After all, it is much easier to close a deal, make a sale, even a scary and suspicious client when they trust you and you see a spirit of tribe of like-minded.
3. Justify your failures:
Do not make your customers feel like losers. If I do not achieve their goals, pats on the back, and then show why. There is a difference between criticism and critique. Being a coach, mentor, help them see why they stumbled and fell, and how they can collect and still achieve the goal. Never blame solely on his shoulders. Show them that many factors, often beyond their control, have contributed to its failure, and other factors beyond its control also determine the shape of your ultimate success. And yet, with his expert help, show them how to reduce the number of failures that will face, and how you will increase your chances of success, however defined.
4. throw stones at your enemies:
It's too easy, and a cousin of number 4 above. Indentify the immediate threat or obstacle facing his client's well-being, happiness and success. Join them a legitimate hatred of the festival. Stack contempt, ridicule and bad intentions in perceived control position. And then move quickly. Do not wallow in the shallow pool, but splashing enough to attract the attention of their customers and all confidence. Then, once you have made common cause with the client to share the same enemy and maintaining common goals and work together to achieve them you will be accepted on your computer, and confidant inner sanctum.
5. Encourage your dreams:
Is not that what it's all about? Dreams and respect. Without dreams, what are we? Our dreams define us. Our dreams are the work of our lives. Some dreams are big, some are small, but all need more than just an illusion. They need the mechanism to achieve this. What marketing and sales are not made of metal, wood, plastic, gigabytes or an intangible service that is the dream of making. They are magical and are real. And your customers, your products or services are your best chance to reach the stars. Do not deceive your customers into believing they can achieve the impossible, or that the impossible is possible. But if your product or service can actually achieve customers' dreams, to hide the truth, but to proclaim, test and deliver. And when you do the above, with style and grace, truth and honesty ... Your business will thrive in any economy.