small business

No one's going to pretend that things aren't challenging, but that might not be a bad thing.  The following are five strategies for shifting your perspective and changing your set-in-stone way of doing business.

1)      Shift your perspective.  These are volatile times, but learn to view these economic challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities.  When the media goes on and on about the doom and gloom of the bad economy, remember this is a ship that is slowing down to change direction, not a ship that is sinking.  Market corrections are being made.  As some doors close, others open.  So get excited about the shifts.  Try other doors.  A setback can stop you in your tracks or set you on a new path towards success. 

2)      Review how you're currently running your business and see what internal shifts can be made to implement new systems, streamline your process, and build your team.

3)      Look for new target markets and new ways to present your product or service.  Brainstorm.  Don't censor yourself.  Throw out any ideas, no matter how silly they may sound.  View your business from your customer's point of view; view your business from different perspectives and you'll be surprised at what you'll learn.

4)      Move forward on the marketing, promotional and public relations fronts.  The worst thing a business can do in hard economic times is to pull the marketing plug.  That is like pulling your customer lifeline.  This is the exact time that you want to reach out to your customers. 

• 5) Develop creative PR and media relations story ideas. Advertising can be expensive and you might need to be more conservative on that front, but that is all the more reason to be more creative on the public relations front. Remember the media is looking for stories. Look at your business from the perspective of an editor or producer; write out a list of five different compelling story ideas. Turn those ideas into press releases and start pitching them.

Copyright © Anthony Mora 2009

About the Author:

Anthony Mora began his media career as a freelance journalist for such publications as Us, Rolling Stone and other local and national publications. He served as editor-in-chief of two Los Angeles-based entertainment and lifestyle-oriented publications, and co-founded Phillips & Mora Entertainment, a public relations and personal management company, which ventured into video and film production. In 1990, Anthony formed Anthony Mora Communications, Inc. a Los Angeles-based media relations company that specializes in media placement, image development, and media training. AMC Inc. has placed clients in: Time, Newsweek, 60 Minutes, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and other local, national, and international media outlets. Anthony has been featured in: USA Today, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The BBC, CNN, Entrepreneur, Fox News, MSNBC, and other media. He has written three books. The most recent, "Spin to Win," is a step-by-step guide on how to define goals and utilize the power of the media to achieve success in any field. Practical and user-friendly, "Spin to Win" can be utilized by heads of major corporations, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.