There is no doubt about it, running a business in today’s economy is tough!  Consumers are driving fewer miles so they need to see you less often.  I just read this account today:

By Eric Schurenberg – CBS Moneywatch (It has been a rough few years)

34% Percent of Americans who say they or their spouse lost a job in the recession

27% Percent who say their personal finances won’t recover until after the end of this year

24% Percent who say their personal finances won’t ever…

 For many years shop owners and other small businesses have seen their marketing dollars be swallowed up by Yellow Pages.  They had slick talking salespeople convince them that without an ad in their Yellow Page book their business was doomed.  They also felt that they had to have the biggest ad going and finally, they felt it had to be a full-page ad and then a full-color ad.  Thousands of dollars were spent on this endeavor.  At best it was a prospecting piece as it was in no way targeted marketing.  The shop owner had…