Tips Archives - Page 4 of 8

5 Great Tips to Effective Letter Writing

Many people might wonder the need for letter writing in a world dominated by emails. If you wish to streamline your communication, never ignore the power of a well constructed letter. An email cannot achieve the impact that a well written letter can generate. Whether it is business, sales, cover or personal letter, you can master it by learning some simple tips.

1. The content of a letter should be planned well. To streamline your communication, make a draft of your letter. This will help in communicating effectively. Make sure that all the points have been detailed and check your letter for readability. Rephrase those sentences that can be misunderstood. Check the spelling, especially, the name of the receiver. Another key aspect is the consistency in the spelling of names. To be on the safer side, it is always wise to prepare a draft of business, sales and cover letters.

2. Use of language. For business letters, always use formal language. Sales letters need to attract potential customers. So they can be informal with catchy headlines. But when the sales letter talks about guarantee, delivery and other core issues, use a formal tone. Cover letters should always be written in formal language. Maximum flexibility with language can be shown in a personal letter. Depending upon your relationship, you can choose a formal or informal language. To streamline your communication, you should learn the art of selecting the appropriate tone for your letter.

3. Your letter might be intended for several people. This does not mean that it should not have a personal touch. Always write a business or sales letter like writing to a single person. A personal touch in your sales letter or newsletter will make the reader feel more comfortable. The reader should never feel like reading a brochure. The letter should have the effect of a personal conversation.

4. One of the best methods to streamline your communication is to make effective use of all modern day writing techniques. Use headlines to indicate the subject matter. Make use of bullets to detail important points. Use simple language. If a scientific term is used explain it in parentheses. You can make use of italics, bolding and underling in the letter. You can also create a template for your letter.

5. Brevity. Today, people do not have time to spend on reading long letters. Make your point in least number of words. Never deviate from the core subject. Unnecessary deviations from the subject can do more harm than good. Sometimes the reader might totally ignore the letter.

Letters are an important tool of communication. Remember, they can also become documental evidences. Your success in the modern day world depends on how effectively you are able to streamline your communication.

Important Tips in Business Writing

Letter writing is a form of communication. Thoughts, feelings, opinions and intentions are written clearly so that the reader will fully understand what exactly you wish to say. Personal letters are more common and informal. But a business letter is more formal and must adhere to certain rules, format and restrictions.

If you are a businessman or a business owner, it is important to create an effective business letter in dealing with clients or to other employees. A good business letter will have a great impact on the success of your business dealings and build a good impression to your clients.

The most basic step in formal writing is creating an effective letter to elicit a sense of professionalism. In order to achieve this you must use proper and respectful words. As much as possible do not write in a slang manner and avoid using abbreviations. Always maintain an excellent grammar construction and do not use extended sentences.

Be concise and straightforward with your letter as much as possible. It is also important to have enough knowledge on the matter you are trying to write in order to be effective and clear in delivering your message. Remember that first impression is important and there is no second chance so make the most of it when writing your business letter.

It is also important for a business letter to look neat. If possible use a computer or typewriter in creating letters. However if you don’t have access to any of these tools, you can have it hand written but make sure to write neatly. As a reminder, do not use colored or paper with designs with your business letters since it would look informal and unnecessary. Use plain white paper to keep your letter neat and simple anyway what is important is the content of the letter.

Another key factor in creating a good business letter is to know the exact name of the person you are going to address the letter. This suggestion is very important especially when you are going to address it to an executive or a high official in a company. If you don’t know the name, you must exert effort in finding out by calling the company and ask anyone who can provide you what you need to know. Writing the exact name of the person in your letter will have a positive impact with your reader. Addressing a letter with “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Sir/Ma’am” and other way should be avoided.

Finally, the most important thing to consider before sending out your business letter or any correspondence is to make it a habit to do some spelling and grammatical check. Afterwards, read the whole letter thoroughly and look for homonyms and do necessary editing. In most cases, when reading through your letter helps a lot because you will most likely see any errors which need some editing. You must also ensure to rephrase any improper sentences or anything that sounds awkward when read.

In terms of style in writing, it all depends on your personal preference. There is no rule in terms of the style. What is important is that you must do your best to integrate these tips in your writing whether it is for personal or business use. By doing so, you will surely improve your writing skills and will see better results.

It is also a good habit to read and observe some samples of letters so you will have an idea which you can later apply with your letter writing. You can see many of the good letter samples in the internet.

How to Write a Business Letter – Super Tips to Create a Stunning Business Letter

If you are planning to start a business, you cannot afford to neglect knowing how to write a business letter.

Even if your business may be just a small entrepreneurial startup, knowing how to write a business letter is a key skill that you, or at least one of your assistants, should know.

Before we go on with the technicalities of an effective business letter, let’s lay down the reasons why a business owner should have excellent writing skills.

Business letters are the primary means by which your company would communicate to investors. They should give a great impression of you and your company. They could actually prove crucial to your business taking off or to its survival.

Business letters should be understandable, be able to communicate exactly what needs to be done, or state communication in a very clear manner. Without clarity, miscommunication may lead to misunderstandings, or worse, botched jobs.

Want to write a business letter that rocks? Then it has to possess these characteristics:

1. The standard format of letter writing applies. Ideally, a business letter should contain the following information, in order:

– Letterhead (the sender’s address)

– Current date

– Recipient name and address

– Subject (optional)

– Salutation/Greeting

– Message (body of the letter)

– Closing salutation

– Signature (including the corporate designation/position of the sender)

2. The business letter should be written in block style.

3. Use double space; and as much as possible, keep the letter in the center of the paper you use.

4. Do not shorten your words and verb forms. “Do not” should not be written as “don’t,” and so on. Otherwise, the letter gives an impression of informality.

5. Keep the letter brief and concise, but be sure to include all the information you need to communicate.

In knowing how to write a business letter, make sure that it elicits the desired results. Keep the following in mind:

– Include a reference to an event, matter, or information that is pertinent to your letter, or is the reason for your writing the letter even.

– Obviously, you would need to include the reasons for your writing. Whether the letter is a request, agreeing to a request, delivering bad news, etc., don’t be so busy as to actually forget what you need to communicate.

– Remember to enclose the important documents that the letter should come with.

– Provide a reference to where the recipient could contact you after reading the letter.

– Always keep a copy of the letter with you.

As you can see, knowing how to write a business letter is rather simple. Just bear in mind that this letter aims to communicate and that the main objective is to communicate what you need to in the clearest and most concise manner possible.

What Are the Best Tips to Get Certified on "CCT Routing and Switching?"

The “CCT Routing and Switching” qualification is a way of confirming your skills with Cisco networking equipment. This type of equipment is widely used in industry and business. Cisco Certified Technicians have the basic skills to diagnose, repair, restore, and replace Cisco networking and system devices at customer sites. Technicians work with the Cisco Technical Assistance Centre (TAC) to resolve support incidents. Cisco authorized training is available online and can be completed in multiple short sessions, enabling Technicians to stay productive whilst working in the field. Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) certification is available in several technology tracks, so that Cisco Support Technicians can expand their area of expertise across various technologies, such as Data Centres and TelePresence. The first certification to start with is Cisco Certified Technician Routing and Switching (CCT-RS).

The CCT-RS certification (through the 640-692 RSTECH exam) focuses on the skills required for onsite support and maintenance of Cisco routers, switches, and operating environments. Technicians in this area must be able to: identify Cisco router and switch models, accessories, cabling, and interfaces; understand the Cisco IOS software operating modes and identify commonly found software; and be able to use the Cisco Command Line Interface (CLI) to connect and service products. Achieving CCT Routing and Switching certification is considered the best foundation for supporting other Cisco devices and systems, and for going on to qualify for other advanced Cisco certifications.

The first tip is to buy this book:

“CCT Routing and Switching (CCT-RS) Secrets To Acing The Exam and Successful (sic) Finding And Landing Your Next CCT Routing and Switching (CCT-RS) Certified Job” (ISBN 148615980X 9781486159802).

This book costs US$33.82 on Amazon. To prepare for the exam, this book tells you:

• What you need to know about the CCT Routing and Switching (CCT-RS) Certification and exam

• Preparation tips for passing the CCT-RS certification exam, and exams in general

• Taking tests

The book contains several suggestions on how to prepare for an interview. It covers non-technical aspects – how to find a job, write a resume, behaviour in job interviews, etc.

To land the job, it gives you insights on:

• Typical CCT-RS careers

• Finding opportunities – the best places to find them

• Writing unbeatable resumes and cover letters

• Acing the interview

• What to expect from recruiters

Secondly, you should absorb self-study materials available on the Cisco Learning Network:

Cisco has officially available self-study on-line courses that you study in your own time. The CCT-RS one is called “Cisco Certified Technician Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices (RSTECH)”. It costs US$299. This buys you a year’s subscription and during the year you can review the six-hour course as often as you want.

These are some Cisco-recommended study supplements. They are not designed to serve as a complete self-study program. You can find “640-692 RSTECH Exam Topics” on the Cisco website: http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/exams/list/rstech.html#~Topics

Look for these in particular:

• Identify Cisco Equipment and Related Hardware

• Describe Cisco IOS Software Operation

• General Networking Knowledge

• Service-related Knowledge

4 Important Tips on How to Create Wealth

Everyone wants to live and enjoy an abundant and fulfilling life. Well, there is no better time to build wealth than now. It is not for certain individuals but everyone can share in the wealth of the world. Wealth is not an event but it is created and accumulated over a period of time. This comprises of an abundant life, one that has got what you want in life. It includes health, peace, money, properties, joy, and all that you need in life.

The purpose of this article is to outline some tips that can help you start creating wealth for yourself and your loved ones.

1. Now is the time to create wealth.

Some people think when they are young or old they cannot accumulate some wealth. Those who are young say it is for the adults. Those who are old say it is now late to start accumulating wealth. The starting point is to start saving whatever amount of money you can. It does not have to be a big sum of money that you save. For example, $10.00 in 12 months gives $120.00. That is good money for someone who has less disposable income. You may calculate what you can save according to your affordability. So you do not have to wait.

2. Start your own business

Whether you have a full time job or not, you can start your own business. It can be an offline or online business. Off line, you can start retail, construction, consulting, and other many opportunities. When it comes to online businesses, there are also many ideas and opportunities. One of the opportunities online is affiliate marketing programs whereby you do not have to own your own products. Instead, you promote other people’s products or programs and earn huge commissions. You can create wealth from the commissions. It is advisable to have your own website to promote affiliate programs. After you have mastered affiliate products, you can go an extra mile and start developing your own products.

3. Choose an appropriate investment plan

After you have saved and accumulated some money from any source, you can choose other types of investments. You can invest lump sums or join monthly subscription plans, which will result in big money after a certain period of time. Avoid rushing for debts when you are in need of money. The money you pay to service debts on monthly basis should be money you are saving or investing. Wealth is yours, you deserve it, just tap into your inner being for ideas or just visit the internet to check for ideas that can suit your situation.

4. Enjoy your wealth

Remember that wealth is for enjoyment and helping those who are in need. As you create wealth, you should not struggle or suppress yourself. After you have accumulated it, enjoy it. Do not suffer having money. Live the life you want. Learn to balance up life. This includes the physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual aspects.

Follow the four outlined tips for creating wealth and you will have your share. Wealth is not for certain individuals, but for everyone. You have to start from somewhere, and you can have it. It is your right to have it. Start today and avoid postponing.

15 Email Marketing Tips to Bring Success to Your Newsletter

Introduction

As you may know, most people now spend more time reading their emails than they do surfing the web. Email is one of the most powerful mediums that you can use to talk to visitors, customers and prospects.

In this article I will discuss 15 best practices that you can use everyday in your email marketing activities. Used wisely and consistently, there’s no doubt you’ll see an increased response from your subscribers — whether it be for more feedback, more product/seminar registrations, or even more orders.

1. Avoiding the Spam Filters

The majority of large Internet service providers now use rigorous spam protection mechanisms to trap unsolicited email before it gets into their customers inboxes. Spam filters generally “rank” each email by a number of different criteria, and, if that email rates above a certain level (such as 10 spam points), then it is flagged as spam and deleted.

To make sure your emails don’t get flagged as spam — and deleted before they even get to your subscribers — avoid using words such as ‘Free’, ‘$$$’, ‘Save’, ‘Discount’, etc in both the subject line and the content of your email.

2. Maximizing Click-Thru Rates

Both web pages and emails can contain a lot of text and graphics, and this sometimes makes it harder to get your subscribers to perform a certain task, such as clicking on a link to see your special offers.

Numerous research papers tell us that the majority of Internet users respond better to a plain, bold, blue text link — such as this — as opposed to a banner or button. So, if you’re going to include links in your emails, make sure they are bold, blue and underlined. This will mean that more subscribers click through, meaning more conversions/sales for you.

3. The Power of Personalization

If you were standing in a crowded mall, which of these would get your attention: “HEY, YOU!” or “HEY JOHN” (assuming your name is John). The power of personalization can and should be used in your emails. In-fact, by simply starting your email with “Hi [subscriber_name]” instead of the boring “Hi there”, you can increase both your reading and click-through rates by up to 650%. Why? Put simply, it’s because your subscribers feel like they already have a relationship with you as you’ve addressed them by their first name.

4. One-Click Unsubscription

If you want to grow your mailing list, then there are 2 things that you absolutely must have: a double opt-in process, and a quick way to unsubscribe. In some countries, it’s actually mandatory by law that every email has an unsubscribe link in it. The unsubscribe link should take the recipient directly to a page where they are then removed — courteously — from your mailing list.

5. Signup Confirmation

Don’t get accused of spamming — always, and I mean always use a double opt-in confirmation process. Double opt-in means that after your visitor initially enters their email address to subscribe to your list, you should then send them a “confirmation” email. This email should contain a special link back to your email-marketing program, which will then verify that this visitor did indeed sign up to your mailing list.

6. Tuesday / Wednesday = Increased Response

Studies conducted by online research analysts have shown that the best days to perform a mail-out to your list are Tuesday and Wednesday, as this is when people are more receptive to communication. This means that they are more likely to read your content and click on links, meaning more sales.

On Mondays, everyone is still recovering from a hectic weekend. On Thursday and Friday, people are already too busy looking forward to the weekend. We’ve actually experimented with this, and received the best results by sending out emails at around 2-3pm (American Pacific Time) on a Wednesday.

7. Repeat Email Communication

An auto responder is an email that is scheduled to be sent at a certain time interval after someone subscribes to your mailing list. Auto responders are a great way to automatically follow up with your subscribers or provide them with more information on your products/services.

For example, if you provide a free newsletter, you could setup 3 auto responders for new subscribers: the first is sent 1 hour after they subscribe. It contains a thank you message and a link to get 10% off your newly released eBook.

The second is sent 24 hours after they subscribe, telling them about your community message boards, and the third is sent 72 hours after they subscribe, in which you can offer them a special deal on becoming a paid member of your site.

Auto responders help your subscribers build trust in both your company and your brand, and this can help make it easier when trying to close sales in the future.

8. Consistency is the Key

If you’re running a newsletter or frequent email publication, make sure you keep the look and feel consistent from issue to issue. By keeping the look and feel consistent, you help to maintain and strengthen your brand and your image to your subscribers, which again will make it easier to close sales when you need to.

Create a template for your newsletter and whenever you need to create a new issue, use that template as the basis for each issue.

9. On Time, Every Time

When sending a regular email to your subscribers, always make sure that it’s sent on the same day, at the same time. For example, every Wednesday at 3pm. Your subscribers will come to “expect” your email to arrive in their inbox on the same day at the same time every week, meaning that they want to read your content and are generally more receptive to any special offers or promotions you may include.

10. The Half-a-Second Subject Line

When your email arrives in your subscriber’s inbox, you generally have about half a second to catch their attention with the subject line of your email. After this, they will either delete your email or ignore it. In your subject line, try and specify a benefit that the subscriber can expect by reading your email. For example, instead of using ‘OurSite Newsletter Issue #1’, use ‘OurSite Newsletter: 10 Tips for Financial Freedom’.

11. The Free Bonus Hook-In

Free is overused these days, especially on the Internet. However, if you’re looking to grow your subscriber list, then create or source a product of value to your visitors (such as an eBook or discount coupon) and offer it to them for free when they signup for your newsletter.

To make sure they don’t simply type any email address into your subscription form, setup an auto responder to send them the free bonus 1 hour after they subscribe to your newsletter.

12. The Preview Pane

Popular email clients such as MS Outlook show a preview of an email when it’s selected in your inbox. Always have some interesting content at the very top of your email, as this is the part that will show in the preview window of your subscribers email program. If it’s interesting enough, then your subscriber will open your email and continue on reading.

13. Link-Click Testing

When creating marketing emails, try using different text for both content and links. Also try re-positioning images such as logos and buttons. After sending about 3 different emails, compare the click-through stats and see which one worked best. Now, when you need to send marketing emails in the future, you know that you will be sending the right mix of content and images that will attract the most click-thrus, and ultimately the most sales.

14. Email-Based Learning

Add value to your website, build trust in your visitors, establish your credibility and collect more subscriptions to your mailing list by setting up an email-based learning course. To do this, simply create a series of auto responders (for example, 5) containing unique content. Then, schedule the first one to be sent after 24 hours, the second after 48 hours, etc.

15. Always Sign on the Dotted Line

Always include a signature at the bottom of your emails, as it’s one of the easiest ways to attract more traffic to your website. This signature should include your personal details, your company details, and an unsubscribe link. You can use your signature to link back to your website, and even to other products. Here’s a sample signature:

Regards,
John Doe.
President – Company XYZ.
Visit our website at http://www.companyxyz.com
Unsubscribe from this newsletter at [http://www.companyxyz.com/unsubscribe..].

Conclusion

By implementing the 15 best practices described in this article, you can take your email marketing to a whole new level — attracting more subscribers, and building both your brand equity and credibility at the same time.

News Media Interviews – 7 Tips on How to Prepare For Mainstream News and Feature Media Interviews

Today, many business people are focused on social media, new media and on-line media. While these efforts are important and necessary for marketing, traditional media outlets are still important and can play a major role in your business success.

So, the question is, “Will you be ready when Oprah or Donny Duetsch from The Big Idea calls?”

You will be if you prepare now. Following are 7 tips for conducting successful media interviews:

Define your agenda: decide what you want the audience to do. Buy your services? Attend your event? Support your cause?
Know your story: to effectively assert your agenda, you must deliver your message confidently, calmly and concisely. You are the expert on your topic. Stay focused on your agenda during the interview.
Develop key talking points with supporting proof points: prepare three key points you wish to make during the interview. Then support each talking point with three points that offer tangible proof including stories, case studies, and other examples.
Know the interviewer and the media outlet: before agreeing to an interview, do your due diligence. Research the media outlet and the interviewer. A quick Google search will give you an idea of what to expect and how to best prepare for the interview.
Prepare the interviewer: reporters are very busy and anything you can do to help them is greatly appreciated. To this end, provide background information as well as sample questions on your topic. You will often find that they will use these exact questions.
Anticipate questions and controversy: Your preparation is not complete without anticipating questions and controversies that could arise in the interview. Create a list of all anticipated questions. Then answer each question. Be sure to include the ones that could be asked – remember; “if you dread it, you’ll probably get it.”
Practice, practice, practice: nothing takes the place of practice. It alleviates pre-interview panic and post-interview remorse. To hone message points and to prepare for actual interview questions, even the most polished spokespeople find there is simply no substitute for practicing out loud. Better still, role play with a buddy or coach. Are your answers coming across? Are they concise? Are they believable or do they need more support?

Follow these tips and you will master mainstream media opportunities. And, who would not want to be interviewed on the Today Show?

Tips to Finding the Best Spa Resort Hotel to Meet Your Particular Vacation Needs

Spending a few days or a week at a luxury spa resort hotel is the dream of thousands of people who are looking for that perfect place to relax and rejuvenate after weeks of hard work at the office. Choosing a hotel isn’t always an easy task, but there are some simple steps you can follow to find that perfect match that meets your vacation needs to perfection, ensuring you get the luxurious and relaxing stay that you expect and deserve.

The very first step you are going to want to take when it comes to selecting a spa resort hotel is to set yourself a budget. Having a budget in mind can help you narrow down your search and eliminates the risk of you wasting time on establishments that are simply too expensive or those that are cheap and don’t meet your needs exactly. With a set budget in mind you can start searching online to find your dream vacation paradise, a chance to unwind, rejuvenate and relax, giving you that skip in your step you need when returning to the office.

Consider the type of spa vacation you are looking for. Do you want to spend time in a beautiful desert oasis? What about near the beach? Maybe you’re already heading to a busy city and are looking for the perfect spa resort hotel on the outskirts of town which you can take advantage of for a few days. Knowing the type of vacation you want can help you narrow down your search considerably and ensure that you focus your attention on locations that can provide you with the spa vacation you want and deserve.

The next step of the process, before you even start searching the internet is to decide where you want to visit. You may have an area in mind, maybe another country. Knowing where you want to visit will enable you to search for that particular area, ensuring that you eliminate locations which are not going to tick the boxes for you and will provide you with the spa vacation you need to give your body the rest it so desperately deserves.

You will also want to pay some consideration to who you will be travelling with. Are you travelling as a group of friends, business associates or family. Are you traveling with your loved one? This will enable you to choose a spa resort hotel that matches your vacation ideals, but also those of your companions, ensuring that you all have an enjoyable and memorable vacation experience that you will remember for years to come.

With all of this in mind, you are going to want to start doing an online search, matching all your specific criteria with the spa resort hotels available. Focus your attention on the spa treatments offered, to ensure that you are going to have the relaxing experience you need and that when you return home after your stay you will feel relaxed, rejuvenated and refreshed, ready to tackle the world.

You will want to compare the spa resort hotels, learn as much as you can about them and the packages they provide. Ensure you read through the guest reviews to get a good feel of what they offer and the service they provide. Once you feel confidence you have found your perfect match book and pay your deposit.

Remember to book early. There is a demand for spa resort hotels and some hotels also offer special discounts for early bookings, giving you more for your money and making your travel budget go that little bit further.

Travel Tips for Russia

Russia is becoming increasingly popular with tourists due to its rich cultural heritage and its popular cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. If you are planning or are going on a trip to Russia, then we suggest you consider some of the following travel tips.

Familiarise yourself with Russia

Do some reading around Russia before you visit it to find out a bit about the country. To give you some insight, Russia spans nine time zones and is the world’s largest country, with landscapes ranging from frozen tundras in Siberia and the endless wheat fields and pine forests of central Russia to the mountains and palm trees of the Caucasus in the South. The population was approximately around 140 million according to the last census with Central Russia, which includes Moscow, being the most densely populated area.

Health

Be sure to check what to eat and what not to eat before you head to Russia. The country does not pose any serious health threats, with cases of food poisoning the most common problem. Most guidelines suggest avoiding buying kebabs at stands, especially at train stations, while tourists are also advised to be wary of dairy products. Tap water is safe to drink in Moscow after boiling, but tourists are advised to drink bottled water everywhere else; avoiding ice cubes and using bottled water to brush teeth is also recommended.

Money

Russia is a spectacular country and so are its prices. The large cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg are, like most famous European cities, very expensive. On the outskirts of the larger cities you will find cheaper restaurants and accommodation. Holidaymakers are advised to get their Russian Rubles before travelling, but there are ATMs from local banks like Sberbank and international ones such as HSBC and Citibank all over Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. When paying for something, retailers in Russia prefer to be paid in cash, but credit cards are generally accepted and travellers can still pay with traveller’s cheques.

Manners

Before jetting off to Russia you should be aware of some Russian etiquette. If you are on a business trip and are running late, there is no need to panic as this is considered normal, often due to the awful traffic in Moscow. If you are offered a drink, it is considered rude not to accept it, especially for men. Some travel guides also say that Russian men often only shake hands with a fellow male upon meeting, so women travelling with their husbands should be prepared to see that their husband’s hand is shaken and not theirs. Russians also like to dress up almost everywhere they go, so it might be worth packing some smart clothes for your trip.

Survive the Recession – Business Ideas and Recession-Proof Tips For the Small Business Owner

You can thrive in a slow economy! Ask leaders and consultants about recession-proof businesses and you get examples that go far beyond the inevitable death and taxes-related occupations.

But most are also quick to point out that any business can be vulnerable to an economic downturn and any business can take steps to protect itself from a financial roller-coaster ride. “To protect against a recession, a business needs an inventive, flexible team that learns together, practices competitive intelligence together and collaborates together.” said industry consultant and analyst Steve Koss, who specializes in the business of large stadiums and other sports and entertainment venues.

But what do you do to protect your bottom line if you don’t have a naturally recession-resistant business? Besides focusing on your current marketing niche, you may follow the trend of many small business owners by diversifying where your income is coming from. Use your downtime to build a ‘business within the business’. Offering a new service that can be handled online, such as Internet Marketing, can make the best use of your time and build an income that has proved more stable during a recession.

Tom Mulhall, who was an accountant in Chicago for 15 years before opening a small luxury guest resort nine years ago in Palm Springs, says some of the same tricks that inoculate a business like his from economic downturns can help any business. When asked how to recession-proof a Chicago-area business, Mulhall said: “If you are in retail, diversify. If you’re in the suburbs, promote ways to encourage Chicago business, and vice versa. If you are a brick and mortar business, develop an on-line business.” Denise O’Berry gives four general guidelines to help any business keep going and growing even in hard times. “Focus on customer loyalty and retention, minimize debt, involve employees and be visible to your customers, your employees and your community,” said O’Berry, president of The Small Business Edge Corp. in Tampa, Fla. “Success in business is a lot about who knows you and what your company does. Make sure your marketing and public relations is done consistently; don’t just market when business is slow.”