So how do you ensure your business survives the recession and thrives when its all over?

1. Know your market
   Make a note of your USPs (Unique Selling Points) to clarify your businesses position and think about what you do best and what you can improve on. Failure to do so could confuse customers and even mean them overlooking you for business.
2. Don't be too quick to discount
   Lowering your prices in the short term can have a negative long term effect. Instead consider loyalty discounts to regular customers to keep them coming back, rather than gaining a quick hit from attracting people who are only looking for a bargin and move on to a new deal when they arise. Never turn down business or an order because you think it is too small. Use it as an foot hold to work with the customer in the future or for them to recommend you to others.
3. Money Matters
   Look after your cash! That means getting paid on time and paying on time. Re think your terms and set new ones wherever possible to keep cash flowing. In terms of your own debt shop around for better deals.
4. Don't over tax yourself
   Give your tax and VAT proper consideration can pay dividends. File your returns online, it saves time and gives an extra seven days to pay VAT. If you regularly receive a VAT repayment, switch to monthly returns as it will help to improve your cashflow. If you have the cash its a good time to buy any new equipment now, such as computer hardware or office furniture. Until the end of the tax year (08-09) there is 100% tax relief up to an annual investment of £50,000, it was previously only 50% in year one.
5. Opt for the complete package
   If you are looking for technology solutions, shop around for deals that give you as much functionality as possible in one go. Here at Juice we offer good value for corporate Identities, sale literature, brochures and websites. Giving you everything you need to get a business up and running, promoting a product or developing a new strategy within the company. You should check out what we can do to help you, take a look over the website as it progresses or give us a call.
6. Web or dead
   It is shown that nearly half of small businesses that use the internet to advertise their firm increase turnover by one fifth and 43% improve sales after linking to suppliers and using their websites to advertise their firms. If you've yet to establish a web presence these statistics make it well worth the investment. Juice offer competitive packages for websites and hosting.
7. Free marketing
   Each time you invoice include some advertising and promotional material or details of new offers for existing customers. It'll help save on the stamps and increase your reach. And you don't need to post your invoices, consider emailing them instead.
8. Have a plan b
   Can you diversify? Team up with people who have complimentary skills to create a stronger proposition – plumbers, carpenters and electricians could join forces to become a one stop shop. You should also look at 'recession proof' business ideas, what people want and not what they would like which can be see to be a luxury. Think about how you can cater for those with less cash bust still need or would like to use your services.
9. Inter-networking
   Use the internet to promote yourself and make sure you network yourself on business networking sites like LinkedIn to find new customers and suppliers. Publicising your experiences is a great way to profiling yourself online. Any website related to your target market will have a community of users waiting to be harnessed and building up a database of potential clients will help with any e-marketing you decide to send out.
10. Health Check
    Finally if you don't know where you are going wrong visit the business link website www.businesslink.gov.uk/healthcheck and answer their simple questionnaire. It looks at the state of every aspect of your firm and provides action point covering themes such as overheads, tax, staffing, banking and creditors.

got any advice you'd like to share?

Whether its advice on cutting costs, tips for attracting customers or ways technology or specific marketing has helped you save, let us know and we will share it with you through the website or via one of our e-blasts.
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