In preparation for the times ahead, small business owners are taking rational steps to protect their business. Now more than ever, it is important to invest time and money efficiently, and in the areas that will prime the pump for future growth. Here are some creative ways to achieve this:

1. Maximize Employee Productivity. Let’s face it: day-to-day tasks can get in the way of activities that really impact your business. To solve for this, consider outsourcing tasks to help with distracting activities such as entering data into your database, writing articles for your blog, or other administrative tasks.
2. Deepen Relationships with Key Customers. Thank your existing customers and build loyalty by reaching out to them with special offers or relationship campaigns. There is no better time than now to make sure you are closer than ever to your most valuable customers.
3. Sharpen Your Sales & Marketing. Think about the most efficient ways to attract new customers such as sharpening your sales materials, updating your website, launching a blog, or qualifying sales leads.

Sound difficult? You may be surprised to learn that there are tens of thousands of professional online freelancers now available at Elance.com with these skills. They can help reinvigorate your business with nominal levels of investment and without adding any fixed costs to your operation. And best of all, when American Express OPEN Cardmembers join Elance, they can highlight their affiliation with the OPEN community by adding the OPEN logo to their Elance profile.
Visit Elance and tap into a world of online professionals that can help you get the job done.