3. Let your imagination run wild! Hot ideas sell. You might partner with promoters of an event in your area to create a special offer, announce a new use for an “old” product, introduce an “upgrade” program, provide free seminars or training on a new product/service or repackage/reposition an existing offer.

When you provide solutions that meet client goals without costing them a lot of money, you will often find that sales close more quickly and word-of-mouth advertising increases, too.

4. Provide proof of results/benefits. When wallets get tight, people in general will demand firm proof of results they’ll get or benefits of their purchase. The “try it and see” attitude largely goes to wayside during financially difficult periods.

Consider creating a page of testimonials from satisfied clients. You’ll want to include client’s name, company and contact information in order for it to be verifiable. Also, look for testimonials that are specific about benefits and performance. Knowing others have succeeded while using your product/service will help alleviate some of concern that occurs during decision-making process.

The sales environment changes during a recession. You’ll have to think fast and consider impact on your client more carefully. But with some creativity and imagination, you can provide innovative solutions for your clients while increasing sales at same time.

For additional information about training in the areas of communication, sales, goal setting, team performance, job placement and conflict resolution, contact Kathi Graham-Leviss of XB Coaching, Inc. at http://www.xbcoaching.com today. Also ask about specific workshops and assessments that would be of value to you and your team.

Each of these 'key strategies' is vital to any business if it is to succeed and thrive. But, assuming you have followed each and every one of them faithfully, you still have to get new punters through your door every day. And word of mouth - no matter how powerful it is - is only one way of getting new customers.

The true value in story about Chiropractor is in powerful concept of doing new things all time.

Most businesses, if they bother to promote themselves at all, follow a very narrow path. They do same things over and over, and wonder why they keep getting same results.

"If you do same things today as you did yesterday, don't be surprised if tomorrow never comes."

Every business should set aside some time each week to find a new promotional idea. Many of them won't work, but when they do ... boy, listen to till going ka- ching!

There is a bookstore in my local town. The owner has a truly awful position, tucked away off main street. Most bookstores rely on bestsellers to drive traffic into store, and passing trade. This guy doesn't get much passing trade. Yet his business is thriving.

How does he do it? He has a deal with local cinema and offers cheap movie tickets if customers buy novel. He takes time to visit local schools and does book readings - and he gives schools a cut of profits. He gets every customer's name who comes into store (wherever possible) and sends out a monthly newsletter with great special offers. He does dozens of other things too, but most importantly, he multiplies himself.

Knowing he has a small store in a side street, one thing he lacks is a highly visible shop window. Most people would be put off by that fact alone and give up - or never open in that position in first place. Not this guy. He looks for ways to joint-venture with as many shops in High Street as he can. He offers other shop keepers free ads in newsletter in exchange for a small window display. He puts flyers in books he sells for other stores in exchange for window space. He creates special displays for other stores with books relevant to what they sell (travel books for travel agent, for example). The result is that this tiny little back-street bookshop has more High Street shop windows driving traffic his way than almost any other business in town. And in doesn't cost him a penny.

This is real secret to getting new customers: thinking outside box. And it applies to just about any business you can think of.

"Do what you always do, and you'll get what you always got."