Credit Crunchies - With milk on...
Credit Crunchies is just now getting it's snap and crackle to pop into place. Once that is done we will be taking a fresh look at living on less and doing well in a degrading economy. What that should mean to you is - we are on your side.
Getting our stuff together. I know I'm not the only one to feel the sting of the credit crunch, the pull of the beach and the lack of anything very positive to say about living on less. It's a malady that seems to be grabbing us all in one way or another.
Bail Out Fail
I remain unconvinced about the value of the big bail out the banks and other lending institutions have been enjoying. Take for example a letter from one of my credit card providers telling me the APR will now be slightly more the 31%.
But don't worry, they say, it's only 28.15% p.a. for balance transfers.
Given the price of loans and the cost of overdrafts I think that I would be better off using other forms of credit if I need it.
I think we all know where the credit card company can stick their offer.
Online Job Hunting
There was a time when a person who wanted to find work had to buy newspaper and look through the classified ads section. The advent of the internet has changed that by creating opportunities for people to work either in a different state or in another country.
It has made the world a smaller place rendering it accessible for anyone with a computer to search for a job and apply to it.
There are many sites that offer such services. All the person has to do is open an account, fill up the necessary fields then submit your resume.
» Continue Reading: Online Job Hunting
Sound Advice for Times of Hardship
Some sound advice when times are hard - be there.
Lean on me when you're not strong and I'll be your friend - I'll help you carry on. For, it won't be long until I'll need someone to lean on.
Wishing you peace.
The cartoonists tip: Keep calm and carry on...
Royston Robertson the reasonably famouse cartoonist from Kent recently shared his view of the credit crunch which harks back to the British way of doing things in the last world war. Keep calm and keep going.
But, as a cartoonist friend said to me recently, "Your whole life's a credit crunch when you're a cartoonist!" Like many self-employed people, cartoonists do find it tough-going sometimes, recession or no recession. You may not be selling enough gags, maybe not getting enough commissioned work ... it can get tough.
All you can do is keep calm and carry on, as the poster says, and hope that something turns up. It usually does. So in that spirit, I created my own version of that poster for all you cartoonists out there.
All you can do is keep calm and carry on, as the poster says, and hope that something turns up. It usually does. So in that spirit, I created my own version of that poster for all you cartoonists out there.
You tell us: Low and no cost dates "Recession complicates dating" says upi.com so let's turn the tables on you guys and ask - what recommendations for low and no cost dating can you offer each other?
A Perspective.
Hi there. My name is Tom and I am a partner and founder of a small creative technology company in New York, called POKE. I've been meaning to get a post up here sooner, but these are busy days trying to keep the pipeline full and the business creative. I have been doing a lot of thinking - with my partners about 2009. About where we'd like to take the business, if we'll be able to take it there, and, in this economy what exactly is success, anyway.
Success in 2009? For me its...Focus. Focus on doing the right things. For our clients - For our staff - With our partners. I truely believe if we Focus, the rest will come.
The following is a note I sent to my team staff week that I thought I'd share...
A perspective:
I’ve worked at gigantic ad agencies and tiny ad agencies. I've owned an interactive startup. And now I'm changing the game with you lot.
I don’t claim to know everything, but I do have some perspective.
If I could offer one piece of advice to for all of us in our current lousy economy, it’s this: It's time to Focus.
As we move in to 2009 I ask all of us to take a hard look at ourselves, as individuals and as a team. This year you will need to Relentlessly Focus on the ONE thing you’re truly exceptional at. The ONE thing that your current clients value you most for. The ONE thing that gets you f-ing excited. The ONE thing that you do better than anyone else.
Don’t guess about what the ONE thing is. Choose it. If you don't know, ask the guy or gal next to you. Forget the hype about what’s hot, or what’s next. It is now time to Focus. All of us.
You may hate this advice, because as creative people we always want to connect with what's new. But try it and watch what happens, POKE.
Pay attention to the little guy in photo. He’s 1000% focused. The big guy isn’t.
Guess who wins?
Five links (count 'em) on our topic.
Recess is on says brainsonfire.com as it looks at how a positive spin does wonders.
One person once told me that they did not want to be part of Credit Crunchies because they did not want to build "on the poor side of town" little did they realise that it is our positive attitude and improved efficiency that make us the richest portion of town. You can be part of this too - you are most welcome to join us. You can join us here or on facebook.
complex.com has a short list of top tips to beat the credit crunch. Number one is "trim the fat" which is exactly what we have been saying.
New blog rajbirdhaliwal.com recently took a look at what financial freedom really means.
Images for the site
Once more I have been playing with graphics. This time for advert images for the site.
What do you think?
Credit Crunchies - Bringing you Hope in 2009
For some it might seem that the reason for creating this blog was as a "knee jerk" type reaction to the sudden economic atmosphere of fear. However my aims and probably the aims of many other writers here was not to "cash in on poverty" but to sign post personal prosperity.
Thing about the classic basic maths of money management, for example:
income - (bills + food + other spending) = amount left to save
Let's put some overly simplistic numbers into this.
£26,000 - (£24,000) = £2,000
This guy is probably doing okay for themselves and in the excessively blind and optimistic years that preceded the current economic crash and the years of the same that will come again this is a successful person.
Often it is not until the situation becomes:
£12,400 - £24,000 = HELP!!!
That people turn to blogs such as this for advice.
But I want to tell you something - the person in our illustration was being foolish as are we all. If companies, even during good years, we're run like we run our lives and homes they'd need to go running cap in hand looking for cash when there is a short fall. Oh wait...
» Continue Reading: Credit Crunchies - Bringing you Hope in 2009
Drafting a new logo
I have been thinking that while the design of this site is good it lacks a little character. Hoping to bring that to you with as little effort as possible I have given the logo a good looking at.
This is the current one.
This is a red version without the by-line. It's brighter in that it gives contrast.
This one is a lot more complex. This could be bad. It could be good. It has a technical limitation to it that I have to go back and fix or set the background of the header area to white.
Finally here is an idea that is very similar to the current idea. This is a jpg file but the final image would be a transparent background gif file.
Do any of these logos do it for you? I'm no logo design expert, they don't have flashy web 2.0 reflective thingies nor special badges saying beta. Tell me what you think even if what you think is "try again".
6 'Quick Fire' Strategies For Growing Your Business During an Economic Downturn
During a recession or economic downturn it can be a testing time for many businesses and entrepreneurs. However, by changing your mindset and applying a few simple strategies your business can grow significantly during difficult economic times:
1. It is imperative that you implement a 'multi step' follow up communication strand of between 7-30 contacts (email, mail, telephone etc) with everybody who comes into contact with your business as a potential customer. The majority of business owners will give up after just one or two contacts with a potential customer. If only they knew how much income they were missing out on!
2. Powerful guarantees are essential during an economic downturn. If the customer trusts you, they will buy from you.
3. Learn how to test the market - especially the internet, and become very good at Pay Per Click Advertising (PPC). PPC is very easy to test, yet most Search Engine advertising can't be bothered to test it, and will lose a fortune through wasted adverts.
4. The media are generally very good at scaring people - They only have to print the Headline 'RECESSION LOOMS' in their newspaper and the readers attitude to everything will change dramatically. Limit the amount of media coverage you intake. It is important that you keep away from all negative media publishing as you need to be at your best during an economic downturn. If you are feeling negative, then this will come through in your business.
5. Implement an immediate upsell and cross sell programme into your business. It's one of the easiest ways to give yourself an immediate profit boost - at no cost.
6. Double the amount of communications you send to your existing customers. They are 16 times easier to sell to than new customers.
Don't forget, it is those entrepreneurs who develop a 'must win' attitude who will not only survive during an economic downturn, but will see their business grow significantly. You must try to see a recession as an opportunity for growth. Your products or service must be something that the customer really wants, or better still, needs. Try to think outside of the box and go out of your way to communicate effectively with each and every customer or potential customer. Testing the market is also key as this will allow you to reduce costs that are not helping your business grow. If you are going to advertise then remember that now is a great time to get heavily discounted advertising rates - up to 90% in some cases.
Richard McMunn, Firefighter for 17 years and a HSBC Award winning Entrepreneur develops a free online course that will show you how to succeed in any business. Want to learn more about how to start a highly successful and sustainable business? Get Richard's popular free course now, available at: => http://www.how-to-start-a-business.co.uk
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