Are you an Ostrich?
So let’s be honest, most of you are sticking your head in the sand on the issue of your retirement. Many of you have become aware that depending on the existing retirement options will probably leave you wanting in your golden years but are not taking the action necessary to fix the problem. You are aware that the freedom to live wherever you want and finally do all those things you have put off while you were young will continue to be financially out of reach. You have realized your social security, pension fund and 401k checks are going to be too small to diffuse the high inflation in our economy.
Well unfortunately I have some more bad news…about this time the ostriches will stop reading this so to them I wish a speedy “Good Day”. Now getting back to the bad news, unfortunately, there is no guarantee that those checks will even be there. We have all heard about the failing social security system so I won’t go into those details but I do want to share with you a recent PBS Frontline special which reminds us how risky depending solely on pensions and 401Ks can be. Please follow the links below when you have time to sit and listen for about a half hour.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/retirement/view
For now I want to recap the major points. The first two segments of this frontline special highlight how even some of the most secure pension funds have failed and left their beneficiaries having to live on as little as 70% of the amount promised to them. They are now being paid through a government insurance program. Large American companies and even cities have discovered the value of bankruptcy and restructuring to walk away from their pension promises. Pensioners are left selling their prized processions and working until death to keep a roof over their heads and food in their mouths.
The last two segments cover the pitfalls of the 401K system, the do-it-yourself retirement plan that is perpetuating many of the ills of our society. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. This special highlights the huge yield disparity between the participants in 401K plans. The high level engineer with the Masters in Business Administration is depositing and earning 5-7 times the amount deposited and earned by the equipment technician in the same company. Individuals not versed in financial planning are expected to make ongoing decisions that deeply affect their success or lack of it. When you throw in the volatility of the stock market it is a recipe for disaster for the majority of the Americans depending on this flawed system.
As a retirement pest I hope all of you will stop being an ostrich. Starting tomorrow I hope you take the time to learn all there is to learn about your options. Sit down and set an appropriate target retirement amount. Then start making the hard decisions necessary to get you to that amount.
As part of your learning process I urge you to take the time to explore the options Ace Capital Group specializes in. For over 30 years, Ace www.Ace4Weath.com has been helping individuals yield gains 2-3 times the historical average return of the stock market with much less risk. Please contact me to set up at your convenience your own personal information session to learn how.
Debra Madore 951 347 3602 or dmadore@Ace4Wealth.com
Sunday, March 30, 2008
What is Redesign
What is Redesign?
The latest trend in home decorating involves using what you already have. OK, I realize that doesn’t sound all that new and exciting. After all, you don’t get to buy all new furniture or accessories. You’ve had this same stuff for 20 years and now I’m telling you to live with it awhile longer. However, learning to use what you already have will allow you to make better use of the new stuff when you get around to getting it. Let’s discuss the redesign procedure and then we’ll come back to the idea of “new stuff”.
When attempting to rearrange or redecorate a room, most people make the mistake of trying to envision the new design while the old design is right in front of them. The fundamental idea behind redesign is to empty everything out of the room and start from scratch. Throw out all of your preconceptions of how the furniture should be arranged, what furniture should be in the room and how to accessorize. Start with a clean slate and create a new look.
Slowly reintroduce your furniture (largest piece first) and rearrange it in every configuration imaginable. Put the couch in places you “know” it won’t go. Why? because you need to see it everywhere. Mentally, you’ve probably already eliminated one or more locations in the room. “I’d never put the couch in front of the window.” Try it. You might be surprised. Don’t forget to try angles. Many people think putting a couch at an angle will take up space. Actually, an angle may make the room feel larger.
Once you’re satisfied with the placement, begin introducing tables, lighting, plants, art and accessories. Don’t forget to “shop the house”. It’s a lot faster and cheaper than rushing to the store for a new table, lamp or plant. Look in the garage, the attic, even outside for great “finds” that might work in your new room.
How does it look? Did you find the table you needed next to the chair? Everything works except you still need a new sofa? That’s all right. Now, you have a great arrangement. You know where you need a table and what size it should be. You won’t make the mistake of buying a couch that’s too big for the room, because you know where it needs to fit. You can be a smart shopper and buy just what you need. You won’t buy all new furnishings only to end up with a room that still doesn’t make you feel at home.
Bribe your husband or best friend to help you move furniture and give this a try. Or give me a call. I’d love to share the entire redesign process with you.
The latest trend in home decorating involves using what you already have. OK, I realize that doesn’t sound all that new and exciting. After all, you don’t get to buy all new furniture or accessories. You’ve had this same stuff for 20 years and now I’m telling you to live with it awhile longer. However, learning to use what you already have will allow you to make better use of the new stuff when you get around to getting it. Let’s discuss the redesign procedure and then we’ll come back to the idea of “new stuff”.
When attempting to rearrange or redecorate a room, most people make the mistake of trying to envision the new design while the old design is right in front of them. The fundamental idea behind redesign is to empty everything out of the room and start from scratch. Throw out all of your preconceptions of how the furniture should be arranged, what furniture should be in the room and how to accessorize. Start with a clean slate and create a new look.
Slowly reintroduce your furniture (largest piece first) and rearrange it in every configuration imaginable. Put the couch in places you “know” it won’t go. Why? because you need to see it everywhere. Mentally, you’ve probably already eliminated one or more locations in the room. “I’d never put the couch in front of the window.” Try it. You might be surprised. Don’t forget to try angles. Many people think putting a couch at an angle will take up space. Actually, an angle may make the room feel larger.
Once you’re satisfied with the placement, begin introducing tables, lighting, plants, art and accessories. Don’t forget to “shop the house”. It’s a lot faster and cheaper than rushing to the store for a new table, lamp or plant. Look in the garage, the attic, even outside for great “finds” that might work in your new room.
How does it look? Did you find the table you needed next to the chair? Everything works except you still need a new sofa? That’s all right. Now, you have a great arrangement. You know where you need a table and what size it should be. You won’t make the mistake of buying a couch that’s too big for the room, because you know where it needs to fit. You can be a smart shopper and buy just what you need. You won’t buy all new furnishings only to end up with a room that still doesn’t make you feel at home.
Bribe your husband or best friend to help you move furniture and give this a try. Or give me a call. I’d love to share the entire redesign process with you.
Hype, Fad, or Trend
Hype, Fad or Trend?
By Cynthia Renee Frazier, Business Growth Exert
www.EnergyTourCafe.com
If you are a business owner, solopreneur, coach, author, speaker, virtual assistant, or service professional, growing your business is almost always a challenge you face. It’s what is known in the industry as working on your business rather than working in your business. (For a longer explanation of this concept read my book 101+ Proven Growth Strategies for the Small Business Entrepreneur). Of course there are a host of other challenges like getting known, building trust, filling the marketing funnel, growing a platform, and the daunting task of keeping up with the Internet.
In the process of working with clients who are looking for ways to grow their company, the hype, fad, or trend comment/question is sure to come up. “Why should I learn about the Internet? It’s all hype and it’s not going to last. Besides, MySpace is for kids anyway. I don’t see how something for kids can be used to grow my business.”
Before I tell you why this statement couldn’t be farther from reality, let me explore the difference between a fad and a trend. Most people use the two terms interchangeably. And they can mean something similar if you are referring to fashion. However, they are not really the same outside of the fashion example. A fad tends to be short lived whereas a trend is associated with long-lasting movements and progress.
So the answer to the question – why learn about the Internet as a business growth tool—because it is a trend that will have a long term success impact on your business. It is not going away.
With that said, take a moment to go back to some of the challenges mentioned at the beginning of this article. Now consider some of the trends taking place on the Internet right now—MySpace, Facebooks, Blogs, Podcasts, Twitter, and Photo Sharing. When used appropriately, each one of these can enhance your ability to get new clients, fill your marketing funnel, generate and qualify leads, and so much more. Does it take time, money, and effort to figure out? Sure it does. But don’t let that stop you! Believe me, the Internet is helping ordinary business owners experience extraordinary results. And those of you who know me, know that I too am using these cutting edge techniques to speed up my goal of building a million dollar enterprise. Not only that, clients who follow my lead are seeing similar results.
Therefore, my advice to you is to change the way you think about the Internet and your business. Learn what you can and put your knowledge to work. It is an investment that will give you a tremendous return for your efforts.
Cynthia is the Co-Founder of Energy Tour Café, the number one go to resource for women business owners looking to become a million dollar company. Get on the bus and join Cynthia on March 22 for an exclusive travel and learn experience – Marketing To Go. You will learn how to use Social Media to grow your company. Visit www.EnergyTourCafe.com for details.
By Cynthia Renee Frazier, Business Growth Exert
www.EnergyTourCafe.com
If you are a business owner, solopreneur, coach, author, speaker, virtual assistant, or service professional, growing your business is almost always a challenge you face. It’s what is known in the industry as working on your business rather than working in your business. (For a longer explanation of this concept read my book 101+ Proven Growth Strategies for the Small Business Entrepreneur). Of course there are a host of other challenges like getting known, building trust, filling the marketing funnel, growing a platform, and the daunting task of keeping up with the Internet.
In the process of working with clients who are looking for ways to grow their company, the hype, fad, or trend comment/question is sure to come up. “Why should I learn about the Internet? It’s all hype and it’s not going to last. Besides, MySpace is for kids anyway. I don’t see how something for kids can be used to grow my business.”
Before I tell you why this statement couldn’t be farther from reality, let me explore the difference between a fad and a trend. Most people use the two terms interchangeably. And they can mean something similar if you are referring to fashion. However, they are not really the same outside of the fashion example. A fad tends to be short lived whereas a trend is associated with long-lasting movements and progress.
So the answer to the question – why learn about the Internet as a business growth tool—because it is a trend that will have a long term success impact on your business. It is not going away.
With that said, take a moment to go back to some of the challenges mentioned at the beginning of this article. Now consider some of the trends taking place on the Internet right now—MySpace, Facebooks, Blogs, Podcasts, Twitter, and Photo Sharing. When used appropriately, each one of these can enhance your ability to get new clients, fill your marketing funnel, generate and qualify leads, and so much more. Does it take time, money, and effort to figure out? Sure it does. But don’t let that stop you! Believe me, the Internet is helping ordinary business owners experience extraordinary results. And those of you who know me, know that I too am using these cutting edge techniques to speed up my goal of building a million dollar enterprise. Not only that, clients who follow my lead are seeing similar results.
Therefore, my advice to you is to change the way you think about the Internet and your business. Learn what you can and put your knowledge to work. It is an investment that will give you a tremendous return for your efforts.
Cynthia is the Co-Founder of Energy Tour Café, the number one go to resource for women business owners looking to become a million dollar company. Get on the bus and join Cynthia on March 22 for an exclusive travel and learn experience – Marketing To Go. You will learn how to use Social Media to grow your company. Visit www.EnergyTourCafe.com for details.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
How a Brand Strategy is Born
How a Brand Strategy is Born
Gail Guge & Jim Hughes, Brand Strategists
Wilkin Guge Marketing, Inc.
While speaking to a group of CEOs recently, we asked how many of them share their business plans with their advertising agencies. Only a small number raised their hands.
It’s not surprising. It seems agencies and clients are equally at fault for this “separate camps” mentality. The important strategic business stuff never leaves the corporate office, and agencies tend to get caught up in the creative execution of assignments to promote sales. The result is that businesses seldom see their agencies as valued strategic partners. What a waste, and here’s why. A company’s business strategy has a far greater chance of success if it is aligned with the company’s brand strategy. The really great advertisers get together with their really great agencies and make really great brands. So why can’t smaller advertisers and agencies benefit from working this way also? Well, often the business doesn’t have a written business plan. Or, the CEO, president, COO, CFP and VPs shut themselves in a room and brainstorm a business strategy, then they pass it down to marketing for a plan and execution. What a waste of good perspective. Most agencies can offer incredible external insights and bring critical customer data into the mix to make for a better plan. Here’s an example of a terrific business strategy perfectly aligned with a brilliant brand strategy. In the early seventies, BMW held a miniscule share of the European luxury car market and an even smaller share of that audience’s mind. Mercedes-Benz outsold BMW 3 to 1, establishing its foothold on the U.S. market by promoting its “European Engineering.” However, if you talked to BMW designers, they’d tell you their cars had far superior engineering than Mercedes-Benz’s cars. They would also suggest they designed and built cars with much greater responsiveness to a driver’s actions, providing a better sense of the road beneath and offering greatly enhanced control. Mercedes, according to BMW, had a smoother ride.
However, BMW’s tighter feel and enhanced responsiveness gave drivers the sense they were in complete control, something no other brand of automobile offered. This handling advantage was greatly appreciated by sports car aficionados and car enthusiasts.
Thus, a business strategy was born. “At Bayerische Motoren Werke, we will build highly engineered automobiles and market them to performance-minded enthusiasts.” This new strategy was communicated to all of the company’s employees, strategic partners, suppliers, distributors, customers, sales teams andmarketers. And, at this point, with BMW’s agency (Ammirati & Puris) involved in every step of the strategy development, a brand strategy was carefully crafted and aligned for the purpose of advancing an overall corporate message: “BMW, the ultimate driving machine.”
This message was also delivered to the same employees, strategic partners, suppliers, distributors and customers. In three decades, BMW’s business strategy and brand strategy alignment have driven the company to the top of the category, and today, BMW outsells Mercedes-Benz 3 to 1.This strategy alignment should never be ignored. That is, the two should never operate exclusively, nor should C-level executives and their agencies. We believe combined intelligence, know-how and experience can be of great value to all. Our brand discovery process provides the perfect link. When we facilitate a branding session, we recruit a company’s CEO, COO, VP of marketing, marketing managers, sales managers, folks from operations and someone in the field with a clear pulse on the buyer. Then, we spend half a day in an information-distilling process, identifying simple facts to possible unique selling points and absolute USPs.
And, our proprietary process includes a built-in delivery mechanism to assure the company’s newly discovered positioning is deliverable constantly and consistently. The outcome is the new or revisited business strategy, the basis for the development of a crystal clear and memorable brand positioning statement and, ultimately, the company’s internal and external brand communications strategy.
For all the reasons just mentioned, we always say, “Brand development is not a marketing initiative; rather, it is a corporate initiative.” It must start at the top and permeate from the president to the guy sweeping the floor in the factory, and that’s before we start talking to customers and prospects.
To take this alignment further, let us suggest it can also surface and highlight other issues worthy of exploration... things such as “What’s our business model, our channel strategy, now that the business and brand strategies are one?” and “Should our vision for the future stay intact, or should we revisit it?”
Here’s the typical scenario: A client wants growth and increased sales (1). (see figure 2.) The agency responds with an ad campaign or some creative execution as the solution (2). This happens all the time; we agencies are famous for it. But, the smarter agency will come back with an insightful argument (like BMW) for business and brand alignment initiatives before any ads are written (3&4). From the outcome of this discovery process, the client, agency and other strategic partners can re-evaluate its distribution strategies, communications, sales networks and processes (5) and even take a fresh look at the company’s vision (6). With this new, linear perspective, sales and growth can now increase, creating a smoother ride to greater success.
So remember, to propel your brand forward, share your business plan with your agency and brainstorm collaboratively with it as your partner. You’ll find the agency will bring a vital external perspective to your strategic thinking and this team approach will lead your company to increased profits.
Gail Guge & Jim Hughes, Brand Strategists
Wilkin Guge Marketing, Inc.
While speaking to a group of CEOs recently, we asked how many of them share their business plans with their advertising agencies. Only a small number raised their hands.
It’s not surprising. It seems agencies and clients are equally at fault for this “separate camps” mentality. The important strategic business stuff never leaves the corporate office, and agencies tend to get caught up in the creative execution of assignments to promote sales. The result is that businesses seldom see their agencies as valued strategic partners. What a waste, and here’s why. A company’s business strategy has a far greater chance of success if it is aligned with the company’s brand strategy. The really great advertisers get together with their really great agencies and make really great brands. So why can’t smaller advertisers and agencies benefit from working this way also? Well, often the business doesn’t have a written business plan. Or, the CEO, president, COO, CFP and VPs shut themselves in a room and brainstorm a business strategy, then they pass it down to marketing for a plan and execution. What a waste of good perspective. Most agencies can offer incredible external insights and bring critical customer data into the mix to make for a better plan. Here’s an example of a terrific business strategy perfectly aligned with a brilliant brand strategy. In the early seventies, BMW held a miniscule share of the European luxury car market and an even smaller share of that audience’s mind. Mercedes-Benz outsold BMW 3 to 1, establishing its foothold on the U.S. market by promoting its “European Engineering.” However, if you talked to BMW designers, they’d tell you their cars had far superior engineering than Mercedes-Benz’s cars. They would also suggest they designed and built cars with much greater responsiveness to a driver’s actions, providing a better sense of the road beneath and offering greatly enhanced control. Mercedes, according to BMW, had a smoother ride.
However, BMW’s tighter feel and enhanced responsiveness gave drivers the sense they were in complete control, something no other brand of automobile offered. This handling advantage was greatly appreciated by sports car aficionados and car enthusiasts.
Thus, a business strategy was born. “At Bayerische Motoren Werke, we will build highly engineered automobiles and market them to performance-minded enthusiasts.” This new strategy was communicated to all of the company’s employees, strategic partners, suppliers, distributors, customers, sales teams andmarketers. And, at this point, with BMW’s agency (Ammirati & Puris) involved in every step of the strategy development, a brand strategy was carefully crafted and aligned for the purpose of advancing an overall corporate message: “BMW, the ultimate driving machine.”
This message was also delivered to the same employees, strategic partners, suppliers, distributors and customers. In three decades, BMW’s business strategy and brand strategy alignment have driven the company to the top of the category, and today, BMW outsells Mercedes-Benz 3 to 1.This strategy alignment should never be ignored. That is, the two should never operate exclusively, nor should C-level executives and their agencies. We believe combined intelligence, know-how and experience can be of great value to all. Our brand discovery process provides the perfect link. When we facilitate a branding session, we recruit a company’s CEO, COO, VP of marketing, marketing managers, sales managers, folks from operations and someone in the field with a clear pulse on the buyer. Then, we spend half a day in an information-distilling process, identifying simple facts to possible unique selling points and absolute USPs.
And, our proprietary process includes a built-in delivery mechanism to assure the company’s newly discovered positioning is deliverable constantly and consistently. The outcome is the new or revisited business strategy, the basis for the development of a crystal clear and memorable brand positioning statement and, ultimately, the company’s internal and external brand communications strategy.
For all the reasons just mentioned, we always say, “Brand development is not a marketing initiative; rather, it is a corporate initiative.” It must start at the top and permeate from the president to the guy sweeping the floor in the factory, and that’s before we start talking to customers and prospects.
To take this alignment further, let us suggest it can also surface and highlight other issues worthy of exploration... things such as “What’s our business model, our channel strategy, now that the business and brand strategies are one?” and “Should our vision for the future stay intact, or should we revisit it?”
Here’s the typical scenario: A client wants growth and increased sales (1). (see figure 2.) The agency responds with an ad campaign or some creative execution as the solution (2). This happens all the time; we agencies are famous for it. But, the smarter agency will come back with an insightful argument (like BMW) for business and brand alignment initiatives before any ads are written (3&4). From the outcome of this discovery process, the client, agency and other strategic partners can re-evaluate its distribution strategies, communications, sales networks and processes (5) and even take a fresh look at the company’s vision (6). With this new, linear perspective, sales and growth can now increase, creating a smoother ride to greater success.
So remember, to propel your brand forward, share your business plan with your agency and brainstorm collaboratively with it as your partner. You’ll find the agency will bring a vital external perspective to your strategic thinking and this team approach will lead your company to increased profits.
10 Effective Tips to Market & Grow your Business
10 Effective Tips to Market & Grow Your Business:
Marketing your business is the key to your success; however marketing can be costly if you try to do everything at one time. We all need to talk about our business, passion and vision because who knows it better than we do? This article will give you effective ways to get you business out there in the public’s eye without draining your checkbook.
Marketing is much more than running an ad or buying time on a billboard. Marketing is engaging with people and giving back to them. We are responsible as business owners to connect with people, find out their needs and then meet them. People do not care what you do or what you know until you show you care or are interested in them. So let’s get into the 10 Most Effective Ways to Market and Grow Your Business!
Website: Don’t spend an arm and a leg getting one started if you do not already have one. Websites can run you anywhere from $199.00 (and it looks like $199) up to $6000 +. The key to an effective website is one that generates you traffic, ranks you on Google and Yahoo. Most companies will charge you additional money to get this pre-web page, it can run you an additional $2000. We have found a cost effective and quick company to help you get up and running in as little as 2 days, www.ticklemewebsites.com you can fill out a questionnaire and be on your way to an inexpensive marketing tool that will rank you on the major search engines, you own the website and it can be up and running in as little as 2 days.
Statistics are that 97% of new business is coming from the internet.
Networking: If you want people to know what you do you have to tell them. You have to connect and show-up at different networking events and talk to people. Be sure you bring your business cards and handouts. The key to the success at large networking events is asking what they do first. Show interest in their business which gives you the okay to share yours. This will help you engage in conversation and see what they need that fits your business or a strategic business partners business. Be sure to get their business card and make notes on the back so you will remember their needs. Follow-up with an email telling them it was a pleasure meeting them…
Email Campaign: Again electronic is where the money is right now, however don’t just send an email step it up with a contact manager program. Our favorite is www.contantcontact.com it is FREE for 60 days so you can try it out. Create a newsletter so you can keep your name in front of those contacts on a monthly basis. Be sure when you create the newsletter it contains more than just a “Buy Me” from you. Include in it a story about the holiday of the month, a recipe or a household hint. Maybe add a testimony from a recent client. Make your newsletter something they can’t wait to receive. Constant Contact also allows for them to opt out if they do not want to receive the newsletters anymore and it has a SPAM check so you can see if your content is high risk.
Affiliate Programs: Look for other businesses that have products that will enhance what you do. For example we have signed up as an affiliate for the Goal Guru. They take what we teach to the next level with tools. As an affiliate your name will be linked to them and you will receive a percentage of whatever you sell. You sell their product by having a link on your newsletter and the client goes to buy, you get a check. This cost you nothing to participate and if you select your affiliates to complement what you do you will appear to be more of an expert in your field.
30 second elevator story: You need to develop a story to capture a potential client’s attention in 30 seconds or less. The way to think about this fantastic and powerful tool is, you are riding in an elevator and the person next to you says hello, now you have 30 seconds to pitch your story can you do it? This takes practice and practice and still more practice. A few key elements to a successful elevator story: start with a question or a quote to engage their mind. Second, who are you; state your name and business name. Third, what problem can you solve regarding the question or issue.
For example here is one of my 30 second stories (yes I have more than one depending on the crowd and my attitude for the day) “Do you know that 97% of people will never reach their true potential?” I am Robin Hardy Certified Professional Speaker and Life/Action Coach. I engage your mind to help you reach your dreams and goals, What may I coach you on? I am Robin Hardy President of The Moosey Group.
Try writing your own and practicing it, you will be amazed at the results next time you network!
Write an Article: This is a fantastic way to become the “Expert” in what you do. You can publish your articles on websites like Amazines.com and Ezines.com for FREE. They allow you to link your website to your article so you can generate business from people searching for your topic.
Write an E-Book: Okay do not panic, it can be an e-booklet or article. Take your expertise and start writing you will be amazed that you can create an e-book in as little as 30 days. The key to this is write the time in your calendar to sit and write. Once you have written your e-book print it for a friend to read and comment on before sending it out to the public. Then you can create your newsletter to announce the new book or a press release. Save your e-book as a PDF so you can email it to the person. You can do e-books as a free gift or sell them on your website. You can do this even if you are in a MLM or direct selling business, you would do them as your name recommending the product. Yolanda Levy (membership chair in Murrieta For You Network) is a great example of this, she has overcome some great health issues and is now representing Isagenix. She has also written a book that started as an e-book and is now published. The key is just do it!
Press Releases: I thought those were for big events in the newspapers…wrong. A press release is a way to announce something new; a new business, a new book, a new product… Once you have created your e-book or articles go to www.prweb.com and submit a press release. Be sure you have your website mentioned somewhere in the press release (hint this will also move you up on Google/Yahoo). If you are creating product you need to boast and get the word out, this is a free and effective way to get it out.
Create your BLING: What is a BLING? A BLING is something that catches the interest of an individual that makes them want to look for more or search your website. We were asked this question recently and I could not answer I did not have the BLING. This is where “Follow The Moose” came from, I guarantee people are hitting our website quite a bit right now wondering what is this about. Then we created stickers like you see below and when they ask what is Follow The Moose we respond you’ll have to go and see. They are intrigued and will go to the website. So what is your BLING? There is a computer repair man who uses “The Computer Doctor, the Doctor is IN”. So start thinking now, what can you do?
Ask for the Referral: The biggest thing most forget to do is ASK. If you have taken care of your client and they are happy you are the hero right now so ASK. Who do you know that I could provide the same service/product for? You will find most clients are willing to talk about you if you ask. Send them a gift card if you get a close on a referral, guess why…they will send you more business. It is all about just ASKING.
Robin Hardy
Certified Professional Speaker
Certified Action/Life Coach
www.FollowTheMoose.com
Robin@TheMooseyGroup.com
951-789-6648
Marketing your business is the key to your success; however marketing can be costly if you try to do everything at one time. We all need to talk about our business, passion and vision because who knows it better than we do? This article will give you effective ways to get you business out there in the public’s eye without draining your checkbook.
Marketing is much more than running an ad or buying time on a billboard. Marketing is engaging with people and giving back to them. We are responsible as business owners to connect with people, find out their needs and then meet them. People do not care what you do or what you know until you show you care or are interested in them. So let’s get into the 10 Most Effective Ways to Market and Grow Your Business!
Website: Don’t spend an arm and a leg getting one started if you do not already have one. Websites can run you anywhere from $199.00 (and it looks like $199) up to $6000 +. The key to an effective website is one that generates you traffic, ranks you on Google and Yahoo. Most companies will charge you additional money to get this pre-web page, it can run you an additional $2000. We have found a cost effective and quick company to help you get up and running in as little as 2 days, www.ticklemewebsites.com you can fill out a questionnaire and be on your way to an inexpensive marketing tool that will rank you on the major search engines, you own the website and it can be up and running in as little as 2 days.
Statistics are that 97% of new business is coming from the internet.
Networking: If you want people to know what you do you have to tell them. You have to connect and show-up at different networking events and talk to people. Be sure you bring your business cards and handouts. The key to the success at large networking events is asking what they do first. Show interest in their business which gives you the okay to share yours. This will help you engage in conversation and see what they need that fits your business or a strategic business partners business. Be sure to get their business card and make notes on the back so you will remember their needs. Follow-up with an email telling them it was a pleasure meeting them…
Email Campaign: Again electronic is where the money is right now, however don’t just send an email step it up with a contact manager program. Our favorite is www.contantcontact.com it is FREE for 60 days so you can try it out. Create a newsletter so you can keep your name in front of those contacts on a monthly basis. Be sure when you create the newsletter it contains more than just a “Buy Me” from you. Include in it a story about the holiday of the month, a recipe or a household hint. Maybe add a testimony from a recent client. Make your newsletter something they can’t wait to receive. Constant Contact also allows for them to opt out if they do not want to receive the newsletters anymore and it has a SPAM check so you can see if your content is high risk.
Affiliate Programs: Look for other businesses that have products that will enhance what you do. For example we have signed up as an affiliate for the Goal Guru. They take what we teach to the next level with tools. As an affiliate your name will be linked to them and you will receive a percentage of whatever you sell. You sell their product by having a link on your newsletter and the client goes to buy, you get a check. This cost you nothing to participate and if you select your affiliates to complement what you do you will appear to be more of an expert in your field.
30 second elevator story: You need to develop a story to capture a potential client’s attention in 30 seconds or less. The way to think about this fantastic and powerful tool is, you are riding in an elevator and the person next to you says hello, now you have 30 seconds to pitch your story can you do it? This takes practice and practice and still more practice. A few key elements to a successful elevator story: start with a question or a quote to engage their mind. Second, who are you; state your name and business name. Third, what problem can you solve regarding the question or issue.
For example here is one of my 30 second stories (yes I have more than one depending on the crowd and my attitude for the day) “Do you know that 97% of people will never reach their true potential?” I am Robin Hardy Certified Professional Speaker and Life/Action Coach. I engage your mind to help you reach your dreams and goals, What may I coach you on? I am Robin Hardy President of The Moosey Group.
Try writing your own and practicing it, you will be amazed at the results next time you network!
Write an Article: This is a fantastic way to become the “Expert” in what you do. You can publish your articles on websites like Amazines.com and Ezines.com for FREE. They allow you to link your website to your article so you can generate business from people searching for your topic.
Write an E-Book: Okay do not panic, it can be an e-booklet or article. Take your expertise and start writing you will be amazed that you can create an e-book in as little as 30 days. The key to this is write the time in your calendar to sit and write. Once you have written your e-book print it for a friend to read and comment on before sending it out to the public. Then you can create your newsletter to announce the new book or a press release. Save your e-book as a PDF so you can email it to the person. You can do e-books as a free gift or sell them on your website. You can do this even if you are in a MLM or direct selling business, you would do them as your name recommending the product. Yolanda Levy (membership chair in Murrieta For You Network) is a great example of this, she has overcome some great health issues and is now representing Isagenix. She has also written a book that started as an e-book and is now published. The key is just do it!
Press Releases: I thought those were for big events in the newspapers…wrong. A press release is a way to announce something new; a new business, a new book, a new product… Once you have created your e-book or articles go to www.prweb.com and submit a press release. Be sure you have your website mentioned somewhere in the press release (hint this will also move you up on Google/Yahoo). If you are creating product you need to boast and get the word out, this is a free and effective way to get it out.
Create your BLING: What is a BLING? A BLING is something that catches the interest of an individual that makes them want to look for more or search your website. We were asked this question recently and I could not answer I did not have the BLING. This is where “Follow The Moose” came from, I guarantee people are hitting our website quite a bit right now wondering what is this about. Then we created stickers like you see below and when they ask what is Follow The Moose we respond you’ll have to go and see. They are intrigued and will go to the website. So what is your BLING? There is a computer repair man who uses “The Computer Doctor, the Doctor is IN”. So start thinking now, what can you do?
Ask for the Referral: The biggest thing most forget to do is ASK. If you have taken care of your client and they are happy you are the hero right now so ASK. Who do you know that I could provide the same service/product for? You will find most clients are willing to talk about you if you ask. Send them a gift card if you get a close on a referral, guess why…they will send you more business. It is all about just ASKING.
Robin Hardy
Certified Professional Speaker
Certified Action/Life Coach
www.FollowTheMoose.com
Robin@TheMooseyGroup.com
951-789-6648
The Rhino Principle
The Rhino Principle
Life has many rules. I have found one that I consider worth mentioning. It applies if and when you’re confronted by change, crisis and fear. I call it the Rhino Principle.
My friend the Rhino is not a gentle animal, nor is he subtle or clever, however he does possess a ‘heavy weighted’ desire to succeed! His body armor alone is worth mentioning when it comes to armor. The Rhino is one of those animals when progressive design is taken into account, should have been eliminated. He is still here. What does that say about his character?
Why was he not eliminated? Well, there is single mindedness, focused and very perceptive attitude about him. When he needs to make a decision, he will check out all the options, and when the decision is made, it is made with finality that we humans don’t readily posses. When the decision is made to move forward, he does it with all his might, no holding back. Charge! is the call. When the forward thrust is complete, everything before him is flattened! Then my Rhino friend finds the grass and begins the grazing action again, awaiting another call.
Few people I’ve met think much about a Rhino except that he is big, slow and can’t see. How wrong they are! I have learned a great deal studying him and being the “charming Pink Rhino’ gal that I am, take great stock in his strong behavior, willingness to move, the awesome ability to focus on his target…then Charge towards the goal. A Rhino will not just charge without knowing why, so studying the field ahead is his nature, thus I adopted that as well. I move quickly when all is right and things are in place.
Kenny Rogers has a song, “Know When to Hold em’, Know When to Fold em’” (that may not be the title) I hold fast to that as well. If you put that saying and the Rhino together you have a powerful team!
These principles can be applied to many other aspects of life, not just your personal life. When an entrepreneur (like us ladies) has an object in his line of vision, he should dismiss all other considerations from mind, and then abandon all other activity and charge directly at the object. Continuing to charge until the goal has been secured. Aggressive, single-mindedness and courage are his politics.
Time after time in our history we see where concentrated pursuit, with clear and definite aim was applied, great success came. Thinking of our history there was Columbus, Thomas Jefferson, even a current day Ali Sahabi (Dos Lagos dreamer) made history through diligence, hard work, focus and strength of character. Charging forward and not stopping, committed to the goal.
Ladies, I’m a Rhino! I invite you to take a second look at this magnificent animal and join me in the charge forward to the goal! You’re worth it; time has laid the plans for us! Just consider it……..
Kathleen Moon,
Motivational Speaker/Trainer/Consultant
The Pink Jungle (Rhino Style!)
Life has many rules. I have found one that I consider worth mentioning. It applies if and when you’re confronted by change, crisis and fear. I call it the Rhino Principle.
My friend the Rhino is not a gentle animal, nor is he subtle or clever, however he does possess a ‘heavy weighted’ desire to succeed! His body armor alone is worth mentioning when it comes to armor. The Rhino is one of those animals when progressive design is taken into account, should have been eliminated. He is still here. What does that say about his character?
Why was he not eliminated? Well, there is single mindedness, focused and very perceptive attitude about him. When he needs to make a decision, he will check out all the options, and when the decision is made, it is made with finality that we humans don’t readily posses. When the decision is made to move forward, he does it with all his might, no holding back. Charge! is the call. When the forward thrust is complete, everything before him is flattened! Then my Rhino friend finds the grass and begins the grazing action again, awaiting another call.
Few people I’ve met think much about a Rhino except that he is big, slow and can’t see. How wrong they are! I have learned a great deal studying him and being the “charming Pink Rhino’ gal that I am, take great stock in his strong behavior, willingness to move, the awesome ability to focus on his target…then Charge towards the goal. A Rhino will not just charge without knowing why, so studying the field ahead is his nature, thus I adopted that as well. I move quickly when all is right and things are in place.
Kenny Rogers has a song, “Know When to Hold em’, Know When to Fold em’” (that may not be the title) I hold fast to that as well. If you put that saying and the Rhino together you have a powerful team!
These principles can be applied to many other aspects of life, not just your personal life. When an entrepreneur (like us ladies) has an object in his line of vision, he should dismiss all other considerations from mind, and then abandon all other activity and charge directly at the object. Continuing to charge until the goal has been secured. Aggressive, single-mindedness and courage are his politics.
Time after time in our history we see where concentrated pursuit, with clear and definite aim was applied, great success came. Thinking of our history there was Columbus, Thomas Jefferson, even a current day Ali Sahabi (Dos Lagos dreamer) made history through diligence, hard work, focus and strength of character. Charging forward and not stopping, committed to the goal.
Ladies, I’m a Rhino! I invite you to take a second look at this magnificent animal and join me in the charge forward to the goal! You’re worth it; time has laid the plans for us! Just consider it……..
Kathleen Moon,
Motivational Speaker/Trainer/Consultant
The Pink Jungle (Rhino Style!)
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