Recession Archives - GUJRAT INDIA

How Can I Make Money During This Recession?

How can I make money? That is a common question during this recession. But people like to make extra money or better money in the best of times. But during a recession, it is a serious matter indeed. I was born in 1932 which was the worst year of the depression. As I remember so was the next year and the next. It really didn’t end until the economy of WWII started to kick in. Nobody knows when this one will end even though it is “officially” over. With the deficits maybe never.

To answer the question, “How can I make money?” I have tried to break it down in to a few general categories as follow:

Find a Job

The immediate way to gain or increase income is to get a job, or a better job, or an extra job. I notice on sad stories on TV that many have two or three jobs. These are usually low-paying jobs that don’t quite bring in the bacon. Usually the person lost a good high-paying job and then had to take what he or she could find to support the family and to pay off all those bills created when times were “good.”

If you need a job learn this: Most all jobs are obtained through contacts. So to answer your question, “How can I make money?” then renew your contacts and make new contacts. For example you might call an old friend and tell him that you are out of work. Ask if he knows where you might find a job. Ask if he can help you. Then till him to let others know you are out of work and would appreciate any help he might give you. Ask if he knows a person who might be able to help you.

I am not going into the details of obtaining a job but I will list some thoughts on the matter:

1.You need an appointment for a job interview. Say you write a note to a manager you know in a local company. Ask for an interview. In your letter give some details of your educational details and employment background but mainly say how you think you could help the company if you were employed. Always give a phone number where you can be reached. Ask in your letter for the person to call you at the number for further discussion and to set up an appointment.

2.Have a resume. That is were the nitty-gritty goes. But be careful what you write. Don’t put things in there that would not be discussed in a business-like interview. Keep your religion and political activities out of the resume. Also, your hobbies are not that interesting. The purpose of a resume is to focus on the job you are trying to obtain. If you are looking for work in more than one area, then you need more than one resume. Give your vita (birth date, etc.) and contact information, the job you are applying for, the experience you have in that area, your education, any publications and activities in organizations that support your request.

3.Even if you go to an interview for a construction worker, dress like you are going to church right after the interview. Make sure you are shaved if you are a man, have your shoes polished, and that your tie is straight, not gaudy, and that you shake hands with a firm but not too-strong grip, and that you have a big smile on your face.

4.During the interview, listen carefully to what is being said. Pickup on things you can elaborate on. Avoid areas that are not of interest to the interviewer. Be enthusiastic but not overly so.

5.Ask for the job. Don’t start off asking about the salary before you get the job. Even then wait for the offer before you respond.

There are many resources to help you improve your chances of obtaining a better-paying job. Go to your library and search the net. Resume formats are readily available. Also don’t neglect employment services in your areas including resources your church or club might have available. Spread your wings!

Start a Local Business

Many new businesses are started during recessions. People are desperate to get something going. The self-reliant rely on there own skills or expertise.

There are many resources to help you get started in a new business. First start by talking to your banker. Ask him if he knows of business start-up opportunities in your area. Are there business that you might be able to take over?

Go to your local colleges and university and talk to people who are assigned to help small businesses. Talk to your Chamber of Commerce and local business clubs. Most important, talk to other business owners. Tell them that you are thinking of starting a business and ask for pit-falls to watch for, how to get financing, how to choose a location, what local business cost are, how he got started, what help he received on start-up, and let him do most of the talking. Who does he know that could help you?

Once you have decided which business you would like to start, write a business plan. Your local resources will help you prepare it. Some colleges and organizations offer classes to help you get going. These are usually taught by retired business people who know what they are talking about. One you have your plan, have your banker look it over. Ask your banker for help with financing. The Small Business Administration may insure your loan. To get such a loan, start with your banker.

In your business plan, state the objectives of your business in regard to your suppliers, your customers, and the community. Describe what you plan to provide to your customers including good service. Your business plan should not only discuss products, manufacturing, and financing but also how you are going to promote your business. After all is said and done, you must get customers in your door. After you get things going, you may want to offer products and services on the Internet but don’t get the cart before the horse.

Work at Home Using Online Sources

The question, “How can I make money?” is loved by Internet gurus. They make millions every year by providing get-rich-quick schemes that don’t work. Most all Internet marketers I know have been scammed in this way. But scams are rampant in all kinds of businesses so you must be vigilant. You can always check out a program on the Internet if you think it is scam. Just remember that if you put “Is the Joe Blow plan a scam,” Joe Blow himself will be in there still, trying to sway you. Look for an independent review who link does not lead to Joe Blow’s landing page because the writer is an affiliate of Joe Blow.

Remember that if you are going to be an Internet marketer that Joe Blow is your competition, not your friend. He will bleed you dry. He first give you a gift. That puts you on his mailing list. Then he sells you his scheme. You find the scheme does not work. He sells you additional products that are sure to work but don’t. Then he offers to mentor you on a personal until he has your last penny.

Although many folks go into Internet marketing, most fail. The reason is that it takes training to become an Internet or affiliate marketer. The process is free for the most part. You need a web page and an affiliate link. Free methods of marketing are available but most marketers use article writing. You can get your affiliate links by the dozens at no charge at Click-Bank, Commission Junction and other such sites. It’s all about traffic and pre-selling. Here is the process in a nutshell:

1.You decide what areas or markets to enter based on your knowledge and experience.

2.You make sure the markets you select are producing income to Internet marketers. To do this, you find keywords that people are searching for by using a keyword tool of which there are several good ones on the Internet. You see how much advertising is paid out for each keyword, how many visitors there are, and how much competition there is.

3.You choose products to promote. You make up an information page on the keyword subject. You do not try to sell on this page. You just try to warm the reader up so he will click on your affiliate link. If the keyword is “fishing for trout,” then you must give relevant information on fly fishing. You put your link at the end of the article. It might say, “Click Here for information on great fishing lures that I use myself.”

4.You write an article about fishing and in your resource box you link to your web page. You promote your article on your blog and on social sites and in emails.

5.You give something away on your web page. To get the free item the reader leaves his or her first name and email address. You use a code from Aweber or such that provides the free product, and then sends scheduled emails to the reader about fishing. You suggest your products in your emails.

It takes more training then I have given you here, but you have the idea.

Conclusion

This article is too short to give definitive answers to the question, “How can I earn money,” but I hope I have given you an idea of things you can pursue.

Good Hunting!

Fly Old Glory!

How to Recession Proof Your Packaging

The news says everyone is worried about the economy and consumers are spending less. Is this causing your product sales to decline? Typically consumers cut back spending during hard economic times. So how can you counteract product doldrums when the economy is in a recession or a slowdown?

The first thing to understand is that consumer still “buy” things. For example 70% of all packaging is food related and people still have to eat. They just buy in different ways. They may cut out fast food or restaurant purchases in favor of home prepared meals. But they still want to purchase the same conditions. In the case of fast food easy to prepare, reheat or ready to eat. Wal-Mart’s fresh take home pizza is a good example of fulfilling a need. In my case in place of a restaurant trip its rotisserie chicken that is ready to go with dozens of applications for meal prep. But I still want convenience too and limited meal prep.

To understand how to recession proof your packaging you need to learn to recognize what buying signals will motivate your customer to purchase your products. They still want to spend money they just want to do it cost effectively and to reap some value for their purchases. Or they just may want to treat themselves to something special as a way of feeling better.

Here are a few ways you can influence the consumer purchasing decision though product packaging.

Even though overall purchasing might be down people are still willing to experiment. As a good example they might cancel a planned vacation. Can you products be used to simulate a “vacation” at home? Products could be oriented toward having a lifestyle experience without ever leaving home. You could package that experience as an alternative to a vacation. Words like have a luxurious spa experience in your own home or vacation at home with our X. It’s all in how you connect the experience with the desired outcome on your product packaging.

Despite the economy luxury product sales are increasing too. People are willing to spend money to treat themselves or to make a personal statement. What do you package that can be considered

luxurious and a special treat for someone? Is your product packaging glitzy and unique? A good example is the number of companies incorporating Swavorksi crystals into their product packaging or using ultra sophisticated, elegant glass bottles instead of plastic. Other products include people purchasing something unique, different and expensive to make their own branding statement. In this case price is not an object its the “feeling good” outcome that counts.

On the other side of the coin is the switch from branded products to private label usually with considerable cost savings. Almost every retailer now has its own private label line of products.

Can you private label your product for an untapped market opportunity? Literally anything can be private labeled. It’s one of the fastest growing market sectors. As consumers look for ways of saving money they are willing to experiment with new brands. private label packaging is now as sophisticated an branded goods.The interesting fact is once they switch and are satisfied they are generally never go back to the branded counterpart. So what can you private label with your packaging?

Another way to capture the consumer is to provide more value. Numerous articles have recently been written about the “shrinking package” on products yet selling at the same price. As I have said when asked, smart marketers would figure out how to offer more value not less. So in McDonald’s lingo supersize me. Give me more for my money not less. Call this out on your packaging 10% more for the same price, value pack or even our packaging is NOT smaller. Your customer will be watching what you do and might be buying from someone who is.

I’d like to got back to rotisserie chicken again. This week I bought a chicken at Publix. I was shocked how much smaller it was as a usually much larger chicken but still selling at the same

price ( just like the packaging shrink). I was an unhappy customer for two reasons. I like the chicken from Kroger much better (the store is equally close). Krogers’ chicken comes in a resealable ziplock bag that makes it incredibly easy to store while Publics chicken comes in a paper bag which tears easily and isn’t airtight making me take an extra step to repackage. Even better Kroger runs the member special with rotisserie chicken at a lower price frequently. That’s what I mean about connecting with your core customer: On the same packaged product Kroger is offering value and convenience Publix is not.

Lastly think about repurposing your packaging. This is somewhat similar to “value” in packaging but in this case people will retain your packaging, refill it or use it for something else. Think about how you can give double the reasons for purchasing something by letting your consumer know. You get twice the bang for your buck as you can capture the environmental movement too. Words like our product is reusable, refillable or collectible, or even don’t throw it away.

To recession proof your product packaging its all about listening to the consumer. They WILL buy, if you package the right message at the right price with the right value, recession or not.

Is Network Marketing Recession Proof?

If we want to be realistic, we know that people from all over the world are being affected by this tough economy. Jobs and businesses that were once secure are now disappearing all over the place, and too many folks are losing their retirement funds and savings.

Which is making a lot of people start thinking about and looking for a way to make more money to add to their diminished income, or to replace the paycheck they no longer get. But how does someone figure out what is recession proof?

With all the media about the bad economy, it makes you wonder if there is an industry that isn’t being affected by the recession. Network marketing is not only unaffected, but has its greatest growth during rough economic times.

We’ve seen in history that network marketing is one of the best recession proof businesses you can be in when times are tough. Home based businesses and the internet marketing industry are growing during this recession, and are predicted to produce many new millionaires over the next several years because of the opportunities available.

Fortune magazine has called network marketing “the best kept secret in the business world”. This industry has experienced nearly a 100% growth in the last ten years, and business experts and economists have already predicted that the next 10 years will be a continuous growth boom for the direct sales/network marketing and internet marketing industries. Even Warren Buffet has purchased network marketing companies, and Donald Trump has started his online Trump University.

Two of the wealthiest men in the U.S. are investing in or creating internet/home businesses, and that’s because they see that the network marketing and internet marketing areas of the economy are booming and will continue to boom. Robert Kiyosaki (of Rich Dad/Poor Dad) and Donald Trump have both recommended MLM (multi level marketing) as a way for an average person to build wealth.

The best part about MLM is that you’re paid not just for your own work, but for the work others do as well. By building a downline, you’re also building a passive, residual income that goes on indefinitely. Sponsor just one or two successful business builders, and you can all secure your long term financial security. And there are thousands and thousands of people out there right now who are looking for an opportunity, so that they can create the income they need and want.

There couldn’t be a better time to get started in a network marketing opportunity and put your financial future in your own hands. This recession will eventually end, but in the meantime, it’s an incredible time to start building your empire. And when the economy does get better, what you’ve started now can only get even better!

Recession Means Market Share So Increase Your Budget For Marketing And Branding

Recessionary times weed out the weak and the strong prosper. In business terms that means they can gain market share. Another perk about these poor economic times is that you can negotiate a better deal for your company and the various forms of advertising since you know that everyone else is cutting or that they are completely stopping to advertise.

Our economy and the global economy is in a pickle. There is waning consumer confidence. Everyone seems broke. Spending has tightened. The mortgage crisis is still taking victims. Just look at the mammoth of a company that it has brought down, Bear Stearns. Who and what company is next?

This Recession is no kitten. It’s a lion that’s ready to go in for the kill. You need to prepare your company for battle and come out kicking.

There are two trains of thought when it comes to branding and a Recession. One is to continue to spend money in spreading word about your brand. The other is to cut off or cut down the spending to branding, advertising and marketing.

It has been found in numerous case studies that the first is the way to go and the latter is only a quick fix that can ultimately actually kill your business. It’s a knee jerk reaction to want to cut all “unnecessary” expenses and of course expenses that are not directly linked to rent, utilies, inventory etc… seem like the likely ones to go.

“That’s where the mistake comes in. Branding gives you an edge over your competitors. It makes your customers remember you and feel more comfortable, familiar with your brand when its time too choose” says Entrepreneur and Author Ben Peterson of the book “$500 Startup” and the fully guided work from home course that anyone can do at [http://www.500DollarStartup.com].

Hard times is actually the best time to take over market share as the weak die off. What a Recession should do to your company is make you smarter with your dollars. I mean you really should always be lean and mean but we all know that when times are fat, its easy to get sidetracked. Anyway, look to maximize your ROI in your branding efforts but definitely keep spending on it.

I suggest you look at more Internet marketing as the whole trend for viewership in the online world is up while traditional medica is down. That’s why you hear all those stories about newspapers, magazines, broadcast tv, and cable tv losing money and viewers.

There is a direct link between Internet companies making more and more money while traditional media and store fronts are hurting. The Internet is enjoying more people every day who are now turning to it as their primary source for entertainment, information and shopping.

You as a branding professional need to be keenly aware of this fact and use it to your advantage.