Three Ways to Capitalize on Business OptimismEven before the nation added 200,000 new jobs in December, business owners were starting to feel more upbeat about 2012. Here's how to take advantage of that warm, fuzzy feeling.
ByCarol Tice•
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Even before the Labor Department reported that200,000 new jobs were createdin December, a funny thing was happening: Business owners were starting to feel more upbeat about 2012.
Surveys of owners' attitudes started coming back showing rising confidence:
- Peer-mentoring organization Vistage International'sCEO Confidence Indexhit the highest level since the beginning of 2011. It also saw the biggest single-quarter uptick since 2009.
- 全国Federation of Independent Business -- which always seems to have the gloomiest or, depending on how you look at it, realistic data -- found small-business owners' confidence in December had risen for the fourth month in a row. Their headline: "While Economic Winter Continues, It Appears to be Getting Warmer."
So what's going on?
Is it just that we don't want to be depressed anymore? Or maybe four (going on five) long years of pent-up, American-consumer demand may be all we can take before we've just gotta buy.
Perhaps owners are simply feeling better these days because they're having an easier time getting the money they need to grow. A Thomson Reuters/PayNet survey showed business lending hita four-year highin November.
There are still plenty of negatives out there, though.
The unemployment rate isstillhigh, at 8.5 percent. Some say Americansoverspent on the holidaysand may not be able to buy much for at least another couple of months. And Europe remains ineconomic chaos.
If you sense a positive change in the wind, here are three ways to lay the groundwork for growth in 2012:
- Up your marketing spend.Money invested in marketing now should pay off in more new customers as the economy improves.
- Consider a hire.It's a great time to snap up talented applicants. And thanks to hiring subsidies offered foremploying veterans, the move could make even more sense.
- Move in a new direction.If you've been holding off on a new product or business initiative, now's the time to put it in gear. Get a jump on the competition before everybody catches on to the upswing.
What business-building, if cautious, moves would you add to this list?Leave a comment and let us know.
