When companies begin tightening reigns on spending due to a recession, you really have to put your sales skills to test. That one simple transaction becomes a tennis match of offer and counter offer that can lead to a failed closing if you aren’t careful. However, with a little creativity, you can still make your goals even during slow economic times.

1. Think outside box. You may have sold your product or service to same target market for years, but now is time to stretch your limits. Find ways to develop new relationships and partnerships with existing clients. Also, take a look at your product/service with fresh eyes. Are you missing a market? Is there someone else you could be selling to that you haven’t approached?

I know of a company who provides computer networking solutions. In past, they only offered installation. Now they are considering bringing in a subcontractor to offer training clients have requested.

They also previously sold directly to end-users. However, they are now offering their installation services for resale through electricians, video surveillance companies, etc. in order to reach new markets.

There is a famous true story about a Chiropractor who built a million dollar practice, sold it, then went right ahead and built another million dollar practice. He generated more new clients each month than most Chiropractors manage to generate in a year.

When asked what his secret was he answered: "I don't know how to get 100 new clients in one go, but I do know 100 ways to get one new client. I just use them all."

What can we all do to build our businesses in this way?

There are a five 'key strategies' every business should be making maximum use of:

1. Product excellence: if you sell poor quality goods and services, you will probably find it hard to get new customers. The power of negative word of mouth is mighty indeed.

2. Customer service: bend over backwards to please your customers and they will bend over backwards to recommend you to their friends. Get it wrong and prepare to incur their vindictive wrath.

3. Persuasive offer: people like to be sold to. The more you can dress your product or service up in fine silk and satin garments more they will want to buy from you. Even if what you are selling is exactly same as Joe Schmo down road, if your is better dressed, yours will impress. What is this finery I am talking about? Benefits. Wrap up what you sell in its Sunday-best benefits suit and it will take on an aura of quality that is irresistible.

4. Customer contact: relationship marketing is buzz-word at moment, and that pretty much sums it up. I can never understand why so many businesses think they are exempt from this astonishingly powerful marketing technique. Rule number one for every business, whether it is a local baker, a mom and pop grocery store, an Internet marketing company or a multinational corporation is to collect names of people who buy from you. If you don't do it, every customer (or even browser) who walks away from you is a lost opportunity. You are literally throwing money away.