Don't Settle for a Slowdown
Keeping your ALLIANCE center busy to attract new business opportunities

When business takes a slump, it does not mean that your team should sit idle. A busy center attracts activity and new business opportunities. Keep your team busy and show them how to own their time and their impressions on the clients. Here are a few Academy-recommended suggestions to keep your center busy with activity.

Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning puts a shine on the center and creates pride in the workplace. Have team members put some elbow grease into sprucing up the center from ceiling tile to cove base.

Cleaning out applies to your paperwork and files, too. Organize client and vendor files. Make it easy to locate information when you need it.

Reaching Out

Find an organization to help. In tough times, it is even more important to give back to the less fortunate. Involve the team and clients in a community project or organize a clothing donation drive for a local shelter.

Have the team write handwritten thank you notes to every client and show how much they appreciate their loyalty. Let your clients know you are grateful for their business.

Treat your clients to a special service. Businesses are always looking for ways to reach new clients. Have the team call local restaurants, catering companies, pampering services, etc. to provide a service or presentation to your clients in one of your meeting rooms.

Keep Marketing

Make time to market. Does every company in your surrounding area know about you? Get the cards and brochures out and canvas the market to spread the word about your center! Now is a critical time to market and let people know about the great opportunities at your center. Clean up and organize your marketing strategy; use this time to implement the free and marketing strategies featured in last month's Training Focus.

The Bottom Line

Never settle for a slowdown. Use this precious time wisely, because it will not last for long! While some businesses may be suffering, as an office business center you offer excellent solutions for companies that have downsized as well as newly self-employed entrepreneurs. It is your responsibility to let it be known!

The ALLIANCE Academy's Top Ten Tips for Spring Cleaning

1. Clean your computer and office equipment surfaces with a damp cloth to remove dust.
2. Clean everything you touch, including your mouse, phone, drawer handles and desk surface. Use an air duster for electronics to get rid of all the crumbs and debris that have accumulated.
3. To clean your work surfaces, remove everything and dust or wash your desk or workspace. As you put things back, clean them, too. Fill the stapler and paper clip holder. Get rid of old and dried up pens.
4. Clean out old files, magazines, and extra or old calendars. Go through stacks of paper and file what you want to keep, or shred then recycle what's obsolete. Recycle your old newspapers and industry publications.
5. File the business cards you’ve collected from contacts. To really declutter, scan the cards and create a virtual business card file, then add the business cards to your recycling bin.
6. Remove the post-it notes or other out-of-date reminders you have stuck to your monitor or bulletin board.
7. Dust your bookshelves and books. Remove any books you no longer need and sell or donate them.
8. Collect all your office supplies into one area, whether it's a closet or just a drawer. See what things that are running out and replenish your supplies.
9. Clean out your email inbox. Set up subfolders for messages you need to keep or respond to so that your inbox can stay empty.
10. Back up your computer and schedule regular backups in your calendar. Choose a day once a month and run a backup every month on that date.

For a full discussion on how you can keep your center busy and thriving in this economy, contact Susan Smith, Executive Director of The ALLIANCE Academy, at ssmith@theallianceacademy.com or by phone at +1 (678) 641.4467.