5 Simple Strategies To Create Cash In Your Business Right Now

One of the things I hear most often from my new clients is, “Elizabeth, I need to start making money… yesterday.” Can you relate?

I certainly can! There have been plenty of times in my business where it felt like my cash flow was a total roller coaster – up one minute, down the next. And I have to tell you… one day, I just plain got fed up with it.

It takes a lot to push me to the breaking point, but when I’m there, I am SO THERE. So I made a decision: do whatever it took to master my cash by learning how to manage it, and more importantly… learning how to create it on demand.  (And it has worked – my cash creation strategies have resulted in multiple 30-day five-figure windfalls this year.)

The first thing you must remember is that you receive money in exchange for the value you give.  Naturally, the skies aren’t just going to part and rain gold ingots down on your head simply because you “need money right now!”  Cash flow problems are simply amazing opportunities to provide great value to your clients.  The great news is, you can create cash quickly because you have everything you need to do just that, right now.

The second thing to remember is you must take an active role to generate more cash flow, rather than just leaving it up to chance, blaming the economy, or waiting for “things” to change.  Remember, you are responsible for the financial health in your business, nobody else.  Creating more cash, in good times and bad, has nothing to do with luck and everything with the questions you ask yourself and the actions you choose to take.  (A good first question to ask when you begin the cash creation process is, “How can I create more value right now?”)

The 5 strategies below are both practical and energetic. All of them are very client-attractive and 4 of the 5 do double-duty as marketing strategies for you.  Best part?  You can use them to create cash immediately, and they position you for the inevitable economic turnaround.

1. Create something special for your very best clients. Once your clients have experienced the value of working with you, they will want even more transformation from you!  First, discover the 3 most pressing problems your clients are having right now.  Choose one, and create a short package or program, focused on providing quick results. (If you’d like to model this, watch closely for what I’ll be offering in the next few weeks.)

The name of the game here is specific results.  What will bring your clients the most value right now?  Focus on that problem first.  And remember, your clients can’t say yes if they don’t know about it!  So don’t keep your offer a secret.  The “special offer” is a great chance to connect with your best clients one-on-one and see what they’re up to.

2. Buddy up. One of the quickest shortcuts to the “know, like, trust” factor is an endorsement from or alignment with a business owner who serves the same clientele as yours.  There are all sorts of ways to leverage “rich relationships” to create cash fast.  One possibility: create a special package or program for their clients.  Your partner can host a teleseminar for “their peeps” introducing you, offer it via email, or even recommend your package one-on-one.

Another possibility is to buddy up with another entrepreneur or practitioner and offer sample sessions or some other lead generator (such as a free report or audio) as a bonus.  They add value to their clients, and you get a steady stream of potential clients who have already heard the good word about you.  And you get to provide value to them in your sample session or free giveaway.

Remember to “dig the well before you’re thirsty!”  The “buddy up” strategy is VERY powerful… but of course it requires you to have existing relationships with potential partners!  Cultivating rich relationships should always be a part of your overall marketing plan.

3. Go to a networking event and follow up. I know it’s easy to believe that “networking events don’t work,” but the truth is, I’ve walked out of events I’ve never attended before and landed thousands of dollars in new business within a few days, and my clients pick up business at networking events regularly (yes, even events they’ve never been to before).   There are 3 keys to making networking events work for you.

The first is, be visible! Business will not come to you if you’re hiding out.  If you have an opportunity to say who you are and what you do, take it!  Then, go beyond just sharing your elevator speech by looking for opportunities to share your expertise.  Offer useful tips, resources and help during group discussions and in one-on-one conversations – in other words, add value!  (Bonus: this feels great, too.)

Second, focus on giving first. When you’re talking to someone new, really listen and focus on how you can help them, even if it’s not your service.  Focusing on THEM takes the emphasis on how nervous (or strapped for cash) you might feel in the moment and gives you space to shine and serve, authentically.

The third key is: follow up. Check in with those you spoke with, send them a resource they may need, and add them to your follow up system for further connections.

4. Pay yourself first. You’ve heard this one before and it bears repeating.  Want more money?  Give it to yourself!  I recommend paying yourself twice every month.  Make a commitment to set aside money for yourself on those dates, no matter what.

“But Elizabeth, how can I pay myself first if I don’t have any money?” Here is where your energy really comes into play.  It’s not the amount, it’s the action.  Start with ONE DOLLAR.  Everyone can create a dollar.  Just don’t miss those dates.  Honor that commitment to yourself.

In her book Rich Woman, Kim Kiyosaki (wife of “Rich Dad” Robert Kiyosaki) models this practice with courage that borders on stunning.  She tells of the commitment that she and Robert made to “pay themselves first, no matter what.”  Their commitment was so strong that they would call their creditors and explain that their payment would be late, but it would come.  Whether that’s the right course of action for you or not doesn’t matter – the takeaway here is, “Whatever it takes.”  Start with one dollar.

5. Raise your fees… and the value you provide. The quickest way to create more income without doing more than you do now?  Raise your fees!  If you haven’t taken a good look at your services in a while, chances are good that you’re giving away too much and charging too little.  Remember, your clients are paying you for a solution to a problem, not to be bombarded with “stuff.”

Overloading your packages actually diminishes the value of your service, because these days, your clients want solutions quickly… and it’s something they will pay more for.  Cutting down the amount of time you spend with each client requires you to streamline your solution: they get results faster, and you make more in less time.  A win-win!

Cash creation opportunities are a great time to revisit your current packages and redesign them to provide more value with less of your time.  Then follow up with a few clients who may have passed on your service before.  Just ask them, “How’s that [problem] going for you now?”  If there’s a match, it’s a great time to offer your new, streamlined services.

Want tips on how to create packages your clients can’t resist?  The Abundant Business Homestudy System contains a whole section on how to create high value packages & programs, and a simple 3-step system for setting your fees. Get yours here.

© 2009 Elizabeth Genco Purvis.  All Rights Reserved.

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Elizabeth Genco Purvis, “The Marketing Goddess” teaches spirited solo business owners and conscious entrepreneurs how to attract an abundance of clients, income, freedom and satisfaction in their business while staying true to their values.  Visit MarketingGoddess.com to claim your copy of “Grow Your Business With Spirit And Soul,” a 7-part audio workshop with everything you need to begin attracting more clients right away.