Keep up marketing

Jeremy Tauri.

Every Tuesday at 6am, my day starts in a way that is a bit different from the rest of the week.

Before the house has stirred (or not, depending on the smallest family member's sleep habits) I'll be out the door, heading to our BNI Northland (Business Networking International) breakfast meetings.

It is a Tuesday tradition that I have kept up for the past seven or so years and, even though we're in a time where our firm and our local economy is busier than ever, it's still something I consciously choose to do.

I'm not a morning person by any means and I try not to remind myself of that as I head in for my meeting.

If business is busy why do I need to get even busier? This is a question I'm asked by business owners when inviting them to networking events to grow their business. Or even if we're discussing more general strategies (which involve spending) to increase business.

It can be counter-intuitive for some to look for more work if they're already busy. As you get busier, as the confidence increases, as work comes in the door on its own it gets easier to say no, you can pick and choose your customers and still make a decent and deserving amount of money for your work.

But, by saying no to networking and ignoring strategies to spend on marketing and advertising, could you be letting an opportunity to grow your business pass you by? How much could you gain by pushing this even harder now?

It's important that efforts are made now while times are good to encourage and foster business relationships and opportunities.

In a positive environment around the right sorts of people amazing things start to happen. That includes the creation of friendships and in times where things get tough it's your friends you can count on.

- Jeremy Tauri is an associate at Plus Chartered Accountants.