How close to a recession are we really?

On the first Friday of the new year Wall Street suffered dramatic falls. Weaker than expected job reports and a sharp rise in the December unemployment rate has heightened fears of impending recession in the USA, the world's largest economy.

Technology behemoth Intel increased American market fears after Intel fell eight percent. Investors are fearful computer sales will lead a lag in overall corporate spending.

The head of OPEC predicted crude oil prices will remain high for at least another three months because of problems in Nigeria, Pakistan, and the credit crisis caused by the mortgage market collapse in the US.

On top of that, the Dow Jones fell to the worst three-day start to a year since the Great Depression in 1932.

The mortgage credit crisis, rising petroleum costs, and looming recession almost guarantee consumer spending will hit a significant slowdown too.

All these problems prove the US economy is on shaky ground.

That's why I predict 2008 will come to be known as the year of greatest turmoil and loss for small business. It will also become the year of greatest opportunity for companies that proactively implement proven business growth strategies, instead of sitting around hoping things will get better.

That's because the next 12 to 18 months will be a period of considerable change. Globalization, a softening U.S. economy, and increases in petroleum and energy costs will make remaining agile in already competitive markets a challenge.

Only companies that have built high performance organizations that can react quickly to change will survive and prosper. A key to that survival is capitalizing on new marketing opportunities. It also means making changes to decommoditize your company in your market's eyes.

How do you know if your business is resting on a shaky foundation? Here are five questions that help determine if your company needs or should make adjustments:

1) Are you an independent professional, service business owner, or marketing director who wants to stop worrying about the future and the impact of recession on your business?

2) Would you like to increase the frequency, volume, and profit of each purchase from existing clients?

3) Would you like to attract more high quality leads and increase the number of leads converted to profitable paying clients?

4) Do you want to significantly boost referrals?

5) Would you like to stop clients leaving to competitors?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, now is the time to do something about it. In fact, the best defense is usually a strong offense.

Sitting around doing nothing is not the answer. Instead, look for ways to change your business model to coincide with the changes taking place in your marketplace and the global economy as a whole.

Planning for the coming recession doesn't require a battery of consultants or years of market research. Really, there are just three steps required:

Step 1 - Evaluate And Diagnose Your Current Marketing Position

Step 2 - Implement A Proactive Marketing Action Plan

Step 3 - Track And Measure Results

In a nutshell make a complete assessment of your company's potential, determine where improvements can be made, then select practical and low or no expense strategies to strengthen your business model.

Taking these three steps and making adjustments to your current marketing processes will help improve overall profitability regardless of what is going on in the rest of the economy.

Hopefully it's obvious that the coming recession doesn't have to be a case of 'doom and gloom' for every company. Even during the Great Depression there were companies that came out of the Depression and continued to prosper.

How the next 12 to 18 months turn out for you and your company largely depends on the choices you make right now, early in the game as the new year gets underway. And before the recession is officially reported.

Andre Bell is a business growth specialist and author. Visit his official informational small business growth strategies site for additional tips and strategies.