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Jeez, business has been verrrry slow in the last month or so. I haven't
lost any clients, but a lot of them are putting off their
monthly/quarterly newsletters until later later on (with "later on"
being completely up in the air). I was doing about 12-15 newsletters per
month in the early summer, but I only have 4 to do this month. Lately,
my overall Contribution To The Health And Well-Being Of The Household
has been coming up a little short. Crap.
It's a little weird for me in that my business
depends on the how the U.S. economy is doing, or at least one phase of
it (back in my CVS days, business was always good because everyone needs
shampoo and Advil and such). I guess my theory was wrong: I figured that
if the real estate market was good, agents and brokers would have plenty
of cash to spend on my newsletters; if the market was bad, they'd need
my newsletters to increase their business. Well, it looks like they need
the business, but simply can't afford the newsletters right now. Stupid
dumb real estate market.
Actually, the market isn't in bad shape right
now, contrary to popular belief. No, houses aren't being snapped up
after only four days on the market (like they were the past two or three
years), but it's not like the whole market is in the tank. In reality,
the market has adjusted back to normal. So, in contrast to the
Super Real Estate Market of 2003-2005, people think housing is in the
toilet now. But it's not. It's just that buyers and sellers
are trying to wait out the market. And who gets hurt? The Glenny.
But, like any good businessman, I'm trying to
diversify. I'm currently working on an email version of my newsletter
that I can offer to clients at a cheaper rate (no printing = less
expenses). My gross income may be start out being less, but hopefully I can make that up
through more volume and a higher profit margin. We'll see. Plus, I'm
looking into selling some of my real estate and mortgage articles to
various publications. It might not pay a whole lot, but it's something.
And if things get really bad, I can
always whore myself out to Rat Bastard. I'm sure his 14 acres of grass
needs cutting and his nine cars need waxing. |
2000-2006