How 25 LinkedIn Professionals Are Creating Success In A Recession

We asked LinkedIn professionals what they're doing to determine their own future and beat the recession. Out of numerous replies we collected 25 testimonials from companies that were taking specific steps to go against the grain of the current economic downturn. There's great insight, inspiration and practical advice in these "how-to's". Even though we see rolling stock markets and sprawling unemployment it's good to be reminded there are ways to take control of the future: these businesses have.

Would you like to share your story about succeeding in a tough economy?

If you have a story about how you're beating the recession by thinking out of the box or just simply improving what your company does we're interested in sharing it. We could circulate your story to over One Million LinkedIn professionals and syndicate it through our blog system.

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How Professionals Are Staying Ahead Of An Economic Downturn

Story 1 - “No Excuses! No Fear!” - This start up energy company is on target to break Google's 6 year record of $1 billion annual sales in our 5TH YEAR and we're only in 2 markets. The difference in our company and others in GA and TX, is that we do not advertise. Instead, there is a growing group of Independent Associates, like me, who informs people, our friends and family, that they might be able to save on their energy bill by becoming our customer. Many decide to join our team and make money, too. I'm delighted to have 9 deaf individuals from all over the country join my team recently, so earlier this week, I invited a blind man to also join us. This business is changing many lives by offering them a Plan B for supplemental income. My mentor and the #1 money earner has an appropriate motto for 2009, "No excuses! No fear!! FREEDOM!!!

Sue Marshall - Managing Director with IGNITE, Inc. and Owner of Carpet for Less

Story 2 – Diversify After Being Laid Off - "I’ve been laid off since last August, an early casualty of the slowing economy. I am surviving by doing multiple things: sales and marketing, consulting on social media, public speaking. I blog about this of course. You can check out my blog http://mykalsreport.blogspot.com/"
Chris Morales – Business Owner, Marketer

Story 3 – Improving Client Returns Through SEO - "We are helping our clients opt out of the recession through usage of Google Website Optimizer, Google Analytics, and other similar tools. For example, one client had their best year ever last year and after taking a nose-dive at the end of the year we have their revenues up over 20% compared month over month. This was done by optimizing their website so it better converted people and improving the SEO/Organic and Paid Campaigns to drive higher quality traffic. Our clients are making more money with smaller marketing budgets which is pretty exciting during these harsh economic times."

Kayden Kelly - CEO / Managing Director, Blast Advanced Media

Story 4 – Consulting Is Where It’s At - "I am living and working in Silicon Valley and quite a few companies have (or are about) to lay-off they technical staff. Therefore there is a need for consulting services in technical management and strategy to do more with less. This can be a good source of supplemental income."

Patrick Nicolas - VP Engineering, Operations, Bigger Boat

Story 5 - Add A Second Income - "I have added a second business from home to my executive recruiting business. Instead of taking a nose dive in total income, my income has increased in the first quarter vs. a year ago."

John Bornholdt - President at John Bornholdt Associates Executive Recruiters and Owner

Story 6 – Refocus On New Directions - "On the grounds that funeral directors always have plenty of business, I have refocused on investigative accounting. The benefits for the client is that there are "no surprises" at year end; this is achieved through review plus implementation of simple but effective management accounting reports. The darker side of the business is finding out what went wrong and who was to blame; I have already done some work for liquidators."

Roy Law - Owner of Systems Studio

Story 7 – Apply New Technology And New Pricing - "By using newly available technology to streamline the production process, thus changing the way professional video can be priced. More importantly, we managed to do this without sacrificing quality."

Ursula von Rydingsvard - Chief Executive Officer and Founder of YouHere Productions

Story 8 – Teach Others How To Make Money - "We started using more creative ways to market our opportunities, services and products. We teach people how to own your very own Full Service Internet Travel Agency, Get paid to travel, Travel like an insider, extra Money, change their financial position to receive residual income and provide financial security!"
Nyanza Duplessis - President/CEO at Nyanza Enterprises

Story 9 – Instead of Going New, Restore - "People still have money, but most are more careful of how they spend it. Fortunately for my company, spending it on photo retouching and restoration is a smart move for a good number of persons. Having a photograph retouched (to hide skin flaws, slimming, look younger, etc.) is a luxury for some but a career necessity for plenty of others.  Our other business, the restoration of old, damaged, faded photographs, provides an inexpensive way for adult children to give a personalized gift to their parents and spouses...a restored snapshot from the past."

Miles Abernathy - Owner at 399Retouch LLC

Story 10 - Simple And Smart Financial Management - "Continuing to pay off - bit by bit - my mortgage and invest time in new ideas."

Johan van Staalduinen - R&D Consultant & University Relations Manager at IBM

Story 11 – Publish What’s Relevant To Now - "During the last 2 recessions, IBM had better sales than any other time frame. Investing in sale training is the best investment right now. CEOs need to know how to sell and if you have a sales force, they need on-going support and training. Because selling is the way out and up, my company just published a great book that became a Wall Street Journal bestseller the week before its official launch - see more at http://www.SandlerRules.com . Because my company publishes only business books and we are emphasizing sales and marketing, we are having our best quarter ever in business. We not only publish in this category, we read and absorb every word. Learning, doing, perfecting - repeat."
Nance Rosen - Consultant at Sandler Training

Story 12 – Go After More Market Share - "I must admit that last year we were down, the past 6 months really beefed up my networking, following up and simple back to basics hunger to grow my business that I had when I first started 20 years ago. I tripled my advertising budget and the first quarter of 2009 was the best I've had in the past three years. I also feel the success has come from many that are finally getting it - this economy is a great opportunity to capture market share, while your competition is sitting back waiting for things to get better - if you are aggressive and spend a few dollars on marketing and advertising and simple networking and follow up you will survive and come out with more market share."
Tim Somers - Owner at Bizarre Promotions, Inc.

Story 13 – Plant Seeds For the Future Now - "I'm trying to be as flexible as a palm tree in a storm. Based on all the comments and advice I've gleaned from increased presence at networking events , association events, and watching various TV programs about small business; I've decided to expand my services to now include an educational workshop called Event Design Basics. http://eventdesignbasics040609.eventbrite.com. In addition, I exhibited at a Bridal Show and Expo this past February. I've been following-up on leads through emails, newsletters, and targeted mailings. I'm planting seeds that I can harvest when things start to turn around economically."

Sandra Placide, CSEP - Owner & President, Illumination Marketing + Events, LLC

Story 14 – Find Other Countries To Expand In - "No one can beat a recession. People can only survive it and hopefully they'll do better than the average. As for our company, NewMarket Technology Inc., our growth slowed down but we still made progress with both revenue and net income in 2008, thanks to our presence in China and Latin America which made up for our lost of clients in North America. But we see possible slowdowns in China and Latin America too, for 2009, although we wish for the contrast. Our strategy is to seek opportunities in even less developed markets, such as Kenya. In short, geographical diversification have pillowed us so far, and we are counting on the same strategy against the upcoming challenges."

Larry Xianghong Wu - VP, China Operation at NewMarket Technology Inc

Story 15 – Restructure Without Layoffs - "I have found that the only way to "beat the recession" is to rethink one's approach to all aspects of business. This is the time for innovative thinking and questioning the relevance and profitability of the tried and true. When looking at my company, The Alcazar, I have found ways to offer cooperative opportunities. I have been able to save $12,000 in three months without layoffs and we are able to offer more services. Personally, I have started a company because it became apparent that the paradigm has shifted - no longer can one expect to have one job at a time, but multiple streams of income is essential."

Janice Masson Shokrian - Assistant General Manager at The Alcazar

Story 16 – Offer Better Priced Chinese Imports - "I am a native Chinese and have been doing new type of e-commerce company in China for more than one year, it is really an eye openers. Yiwu is a typical export-driven town and there are so many booths there, selling so many amazing stuffs at so low price. I used to extensively travel over US among West Coast, Midwest and East coast. Often times, one item sold in Washington DC for 20USD, it can be bought at around 1-2 USD. And they are usually the same one. It is stunning to know how much prices added to the products between factories in China and the end consumers over the world elsewhere. It is not only unfair for factories in China, but also unfair for end consumers outside of China, and we do see huge opportunity to help people save money!"
Jian(Paul) Zhou - Founder at Quan Information Ltd

Story 17 – Take Smart Steps For Saving And Growing - "It hasn't been easy. I have the unique perspective of working in a large company but also being a small business owner.
There are a few things that I've done in both that has made it easier.
1) Wait 60 days before we make any large purchases. Unless absolutely necessary we've been putting all expenses on hold.
2) Require customers to pay a portion up front. This usually covers the cost and we wait for the profit. The customer gets what they need, we get the work and a revenue stream. As a small business owner this has worked well.
3) Increase the attention on our existing customers. Last thing we need is to lose customers. Retention has been a big focus this year. Take a look at: http://www.stagesofinnovation.com/whatwedo/savemycustomers.html
4) Look for areas that we can cross sell other products or services. Once we have the attention of the customer we are always looking at ways that we can offer more. At PB we recently launched a new reporting system for postage payments. The system consolidates all of the postage (meter, permit, third party) that a company does. This changed the way we talk to customers and we end up displacing the competition and picking up, for us, incremental throughput."

Rob Goldberg - Vice President, Global Strategy & Product Development at Pitney Bowes

Story 18 – Team Up With Winning Thinkers - "I work with Brian Tracy and iLearningGlobal, and we are offering a free GPS - Guided Path to Success ebook, that will help people steer clear of the recession and drive toward success and prosperity. The world-class authors include billionaire Bill Bartmann, Brian Tracy, Don Hutson, Hyrum Smith(Frankin Planner), Ivan Misner(BNI), Jim Cathcart, Marsha Petrie Sue, Steve Siebold, Tom Feltenstein(McDonalds VP of Marketing), Terri Murphy and Tom Murphy(Tom Hopkins Int) Go to http://ilgfinancialsuccessplan.com to get your copy."

David Wilcoxson - iLearning Global Business Training

Story 19 – Utilize Free Social Media And Networks - "I was researching survey results online for data on successful techniques of leaders and business owners (specifically real estate related). I came across the Small Business Outlook 2009 (http://www.businessknowhow.com/money/smallbizoutlook2009.htm) and the section, “What are small businesses doing to get through the recession.”
Increasing sales and marketing was a strong response but it was vague. Any increase in sales or marketing efforts needs to be focused. It needs to have safeguards to qualify leads, especially when investing in collateral or services to make it happen.
We're thriving and surviving through this difficult time by leveraging FREE social media tools to increase traffic and supplement our sales and marketing. There's so much value within our network - http://www.AlphaAgent.net- for recession-proofing REAL ESTATE businesses. Ways to get business during this distressed property market and powerful tools, resources and relationships - all of which can be qualified and leveraged to gain exposure and, as the survey indicated, increase sales and marketing - but for little or zero cost."

John Macias - CEO, Alpha Closing, Inc.

Story 20 – Find Out What Customers Want - "It's in a market like this when many businesses are cutting back on marketing, that gives potential to those who focus on customer service, finding what the customers really wants (using surveys) not what the company thinks the customers wants. Social Media is good, but also going back to basics as in networking groups, face-to-face meetings etc."
Christine Best - Health Benefits Specialist at Ameriplan

Story 21 – Eliminate Debt And Double Sales Efforts - "When the bleak news was coming I began by eliminating debt. Then doubled my sales efforts. I then drafted up a plan, using my own experience, of a hybrid sales strategy using the basics, with additional understandings of how new customers will end up buying."

Bill Berchtold - Business Development and Technical Engineer at Edwards Business Systems

Story 22 – Find Government Incentive Programs - "My company provides SR&ED consulting and translation services. The demand for translation declined visibly, but the demand for SR&ED grows day by day: the companies are desperate for funding, and SR&ED is a great way to get some money from the government if you do anything at all that is technology-related."

Tania Samsonova - Technical writer, translator at TIS

Story 23 – Change, Change, Change! - "I would love to share what I am doing to beat the doom & gloom hangover. I have changed my script, my beliefs, my view of the world. I believe the tough times are going to change and only the tough will survive.

Here is what I have told my team.
1. Change your reps - if we are used to doing 40 push ups a day, then we need to increase to 200 a day to get the same results. The good news is when things do change, we will be in a great position and get more than the 4X effort we have put in.
2. Change your angle- where do you want to be in 6 months, 12 months? 99% of the people are looking at the TV or sky waiting for it to fall. I am CHOOSING to look at the world from my own angle and looking under every rock for every opportunity. It is a choice, don’t watch or read the NEWS, CHOOSE to make your own news.
3. Change... PERIOD- You can not do the same things you have always done. You have to change.
Change usually brings fear...fear of the unknown. Get out there, read what other successful people are doing...don’t reinvent the wheel: if you are not sure where to start. Start with Seth Godin. He will change everything you think and believe. Malcolm Gladwell is a good one as well. I am reinventing myself everyday. Be flexible, liquid.
4. Change your view- Believe whole heartedly in the above and make it genuine and part of everything you do. If you don’t feel it, then fake it until you make it. No one is going to ordain you to change, you must DECIDE to do it and then change your mind to believe it.
I have started a blog this month to share everything I am doing and learning through my reinvention of myself. Engaging is the new world. Take a peak, let me know your thoughts...
http://tinyurl.com/ccqo4n Don’t believe the bad hype and fall into that "hangover". Be Blessed."
Chad Rothschild - Senior Account Director at Summit Marketing

Story 24 – Follow-up And Ask For Business - "We are in Tacoma/Gig Harbor WA and I did fabulous last year. I worked hard, worked my plan, did my gratitudes and kept moving on. People are out there buying and they are getting prequalified. You have to be in the market. Sitting at home waiting for a buyer is not going to work. This year is a prime time to be in the market. We are seeing multiple offers under $300,000 if the house comes on and is in good condition. Those are first time homebuyers hoping to cash in on Obama's rebate and the best interest rates ever. There are homes selling in every price bracket and I do open houses both Sat. and Sunday every weekend. This is a great time for sellers to move up and with first time homebuyers showing up, they are out there. I show property and make sure I have followed up on every lead. I keep in contact with my sphere and ask for the business."
Joyce Shipley - Realtor at Windermere Professional Partners

Story 25 – Helping Experts Get Media Attention - "I think adding value to what people are already doing is what wins the day during times of economic recession. My company launched a free service this year that connects members of the media looking for sources with experts looking for media coverage. Both parties reap great benefits from the service, and my PR firm has brought on 7 new clients in the past 6 weeks (largely due to the additional exposure the service provides)."

Drew Gerber - Owner, PitchRate.com 

 

 

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[Joan Schramm]

Very thought-provoking and useful info. It's nice to read what people are doing to succeed, instead of hearing grim stories all the time.

#23 is the best advice for anyone -- change. If you don't like the way things are going for you, then start telling yourself a new story. Change your perspective and your actions will follow.

[Ron Garner]

I like this idea. I just gave similar advice yesterday in responding to a query on LinkedIn. http://tinyurl.com/d798y7. You demonstrate 10 times the response because you followed the right approach.

Thank you, Andrew for providing proof of concept.

Best to you in 2009.

[Marie Cindric, REALTOR®]

Great information, #24 hit home for me, I am a real estate agent in NE Ohio and believe this 100%. So if you're in the market for a home in the Cleveland area.... I am asking for your business.

[Katherine Kline]

Interesting Article. Thanks for publishing it.

Kathe
www.californiabusinessresource.com

[Geoff Holman]

Some very inspiring stories. It really comes down to remembering the basics. Face to face contact, listening to the client, following up and being diligent.

[Michael N. Brette,J.D.]

Every one seems to be looking for cheerleaders to pump them up or someone to pat them on the back as a method to getting through this "crisis". Just focus on your business and work smarter. If your older than 30 you have been through tough times before. If you surived then you will surive now. Quite looking for the magic bullet.

[John Moore]

Great stories, very inspirational. It's a tough job market out there and it's great seeing people finding ways to be successful.

If anyone reading this is also looking for a job, check out my blog. I'm not a recruiter but I've have several contacts who are and they have posted some of their jobs here:

http://johnfmoore.wordpress.com/job-opportunities/

Good luck.

John
http://twitter.com/JohnFMoore

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