Tips to Ensure Business Success by Kristie Galvani

This guest blog was written by Kristie Galvani, Senior Vice President at HJMT COMMUNICATIONS, the full service public relations, social media, event planning and graphic design agency located in Manhattan, Long Island and Rochester.

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I recently conducted a seminar on Strategies For Increasing The Success Of Your Business In These Challenging Times. Every day, we hear the news of another company that needs a bail out or is shutting its doors. However, if you can stay focused and positive, companies have a great potential to seize market share from competitors and achieve tremendous growth.

Here are the six tips I gave to help ensure business success:

Tip #1: Reflect & Reposition
Most companies move quickly through each day going through the motions. However, now with a little more down-time it is a great opportunity to reflect on your company. Look at your business and how it is being run. Make sure it is following your value and mission statements. If not, reconnect with your passion and reposition if needed.

Tip #2: Collaborate
More than ever, we need to work together and help each other out. Take this time to build and strengthen your relationships and make sure you have partners that will help bring your business to the next level.

Tip #3: Reconnect
CONNECT WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS, and EMPLOYEES! This is always important, but in a down economy it is crucial. Make sure your relationships with your customers are stronger than ever and that they know they are getting value from you. Make sure your suppliers are doing everything they can to help you and your customers succeed. Make sure your employees are happy and let them know they are appreciated.

Tip #4: Hold Your Brand
When Sam Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart was asked what he was planning to do about the recession, he replied “We don’t plan to participate.” A down economy is one of the most important and rewarding times to continue promoting your brand through public relations and advertising. A Dow Jones study showed that companies that continue to market will see a 275% sales growth over the next 5 years compared to companies that cut back who will only see a 19% growth.

Tip #5: Be Creative
When it comes to marketing, be creative. Make sure you have a strategy before diving into a bunch of random tactics. You need to be consistent and strategic. Have a plan. Use cost effective ways to market including social media, publicity, newsletters, events, speaking engagements, and networking.

Tip #6: Become Inspired
This is the most important. Make sure to continue to feed your passion. This will help you keep a positive outlook. Try reading motivational business books or read positive case studies about what others are doing. Do things to remind you of the possibilities….