My new business was booming, then bam, dead slow, any suggestions?

Question

We own a sign, graphics and custom apparel company in south georgia....

Answer 1

find out why it was booming. have you made ANY changes from that time until now? i also have a business and some months are just better than others. i am unable to tell if there is any other factor than randomness, but i have looked at pricing, timing, availability, and advertising types of changes. you should too.

Answer 2

Have you thought about pay per click programs? The two biggest, I think, are Yahoo! and Google

A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:

1) Create a blog pertaining to your field

2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!

3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.

4) Advertise on Craiglist

Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.

I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker
* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz
* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

Your business is a bell weather of consumer confidence. When people are optimistic about their financial prospects they tend to reinvest in their own business, the most effective investment being marketing.

Here is a thought. The amount of money available never changes, there are simply currents and eddies as the direction of commerce changes. Where are the people in your community spending their money? Look for lines at restaurants or movies, or specific retail outlets. Are there a lot of new cars on the street? To spot trends you must form alliances with young people who can tell you in an instant what is in and what is not.

Now, in your business you simply must be a trend-setter. Why would I give you my hard-earned dollar to promote my biz unless you know from your own success how to apply it? If you incorporate the hottest trends into your signs and graphics, and get them out on the street where they can be seen, the line you are looking for will be at your front door. Something tells me there is going to be a big change in your financial fortune in the near future. Good luck and God bless you!

Answer 4

Create an affiliate program and then contact your satified customers to join it for free. Decide how much commission per order they should receive.

Continue to promote to your customers. Create regular promotions to bring your customers back. Maybe monthly promotions: free shipping or $5.00 off particular products or whatever.

You have a customer base and you want to build that relationship so they will buy constantly and spread the word.

Hope you have found value in what I've shared with you. Wish you well.

Peace,
C.F. Jackson

Answer 5

contact old customers, coupons etc.
Get some ideas together and visit a local (BIG) real estate office. Do a presentation.

Answer 6

we all go through this .Go out sell. deliver . Your geography is
saturated....Boom is a time when sales come through the door.
Slow: is a time when you go out and pull sales in that you must do ...

Answer 7

Try working with schools!

Answer 8

well yes i have some useful articles on it hope it helps

Answer 9

are you sure you made your customers happy ???