The world is experiencing its worst economic dip in more than a decade. After a long run of sunny days, the storm has finally caught up with us and business opportunities all around the world are dwindling. When a recession hits, the first to feel the heat are small businesses and businesses that have just started. Vulnerable businesses such as these experience a sudden drying up of all new business opportunities. Worse, many existing businesses close shop or move elsewhere. Increasing expenses, retention headaches and falling sales nag at bottom lines. The fight for survival becomes all-consuming, driving many to bankruptcy and devastation.

To prevent this, it is imperative that you make some plans to recession-proof your business, particularly when the going is tough. Here are some ways in which you can preserve sufficient business opportunities even when the businesses near you are dying out.

Strategize: The first thing to do is to get to the drawing board. Make a business plan on what needs to be done to boost your revenues. See where you are spending more than you can afford. Cut costs where you can. Revise existing work policies. In shorten, tighten your belt!

Client satisfaction: During difficult times when your clients are feeling the pinch, it is only right to extend the red carpet treatment. Give them attractive discounts or send them a small gift, if you can. Give them a reason to remember why they selected your services. But, that alone is not enough.

Qualified leads: To keep your business opportunities from drying up, it is important to find new clients. You need to exercise several methods of prospecting for new clients and generate qualified business leads. Sales leads are the lifeline of any business. The more qualified leads you have, the better your chances of clinching a deal. So while your competition is nursing their recession-ridden wounds, you should start aggressive marketing. Get in touch with new clients through online business communities, business fairs and meetings. Connect with the right people and your business opportunities will grow automatically. Remember, even during the worst of times, there are people who need your services. You just need to find them.

Get technology savvy: When business is drying up, you need to do everything to meet your current business milestones. There is no better way to start than technology. Use software that reduces your workload and decreases your expenses. Get your website up on the net. Consolidate your identity through Blogs and forums. If you are into selling something, build a comprehensive and well-structured online catalog that makes it easy for customers to buy from you.

The above techniques will help you protect your business opportunities during the best and worst of times. Having said that, it is important to remember that almost all businesses will face some hardships when the economic climate is hostile. At such times, it is up to you to take maximum advantage of the spare time you have. This is the best time to sharpen your skills and build new ones. This will definitely pay off in the long run.