Is your business card really helping you connect with prospective clients? This short video (less than 2 minutes) will explain how to change your business card so it works harder for you!
Having a niche can transform your business! Watch this interview to find out how.
As a business owner you’ve probably got several projects that you’re dying to get started or some you desperately want to finish. But something always gets in the way and it seems like you never get to it. It’s time to change that. Think of a project you’d love to complete. If you don’t have a project in mind, here are some ideas to get you thinking:
- Starting an ezine
- Creating a new product or service
- Being more active with social media and/or blogging
- Making videos for your business
- Creating a structured referral plan
Keep your project in mind as you read through the reasons you might be stuck and what you can do about it.
1. Not sure how to do get it done, lack of skills
Whenever you do something for the first time there is always a learning curve. And you’re probably not the first person who has done this type of project. So ask around, see how others do it. You can also post a question on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Learn it yourself or outsource it.
2. Don’t know what the content could be
You know heaps more than you think you do. Take a look at all of the information you’ve created, talks you’ve given, assessments you have, articles you’ve written, and questions from your clients. Think about the biggest problem your clients face and address it.
3. Lack of time
Start monitoring how you are spending your time and see if your activities match your priorities for your business. Maybe it’s time to let something go that isn’t bringing you the results you expected. And if you really can’t free up any time, you can always outsource.
4. Lack of resources
If it’s an important project that will increase the bottom line of your business, and your budget is limited, consider finding someone to trade services with.
5. You want to wait until you figure it out completely
This is a biggie for a lot of people. Trust me; perfectionism does not necessarily deliver better results. You will learn by doing and improve as you go. Now I’m not advocating being sloppy or having a half-hearted strategy. But if you wait until everything is perfect you’ll be waiting forever.
This quote by Anne Lamott captures the essence of this, “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.”
If you’re still not sure what the block is, try writing down all of your thoughts about the project. Don’t worry about structure, just do a brain dump and get everything out. Then go back and read it and see if you can identify the cause or a thread of reasons that point to the cause.
I hope you’re feeling an urgency to dive in and tackle that project that’s been hanging over your head. You’ll be amazed at how good you feel once it’s done and you start attracting more clients.
And you may wonder why it took you so long and wish you had done it sooner. But don’t let that be a negative, take it as the lesson that it is and remember it for your next project.
Action creates momentum, so get started and keep going!
© Stephanie Ward 2010
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire! Grab your FREE copy of the special report ‘7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.
Your ‘Call to Action’ is the first step in your marketing sequence. If you don’t have one that’s clear and compelling you are missing out on potential business.
In the two videos below (total of both less than 4 minutes) you’ll learn about how to create your own effective ‘Call to Action’ and how to market it. Creating your marketing sequence is the 4th step of the 7 Steps to Attract More Clients, you can get the full report on all 7 steps at for free at http://www.fireflycoaching.com.
When you answer the question “What do you do?” is it clear and memorable?
This short video (less than 2 minutes) from the Amsterdam Business Lunch covers part of step 3 of the 7 Steps to Attract More Clients, your Magnetic Marketing Message. You can get a copy of the entire report for free at http://www.fireflycoaching.com
Recently I had the privilege to be a panelist at a Dragons’ Nest event hosted by Connecting Women. Four passionate entrepreneurs presented their businesses and we gave them tips and ideas about how they can grow their businesses.
These two videos feature ideas I shared with two of the entrepreneurs. See which suggestions you can use in your business!
This post from Seth Godin’s blog really got me thinking.
“You’re boring
Sorry, someone had to say it.
Your products are predictable. Your insights are recycled. You don’t bring surprise with you when you enter a room.
That’s why people are ignoring you.
Which used to be fine, because you could just buy attention for your brand or your company or your sales efforts. But that half-price sale on attention is now over.
The only path left is to lean out of the edge and become interesting, noteworthy and yes, remarkable.”
Feeling a bit uncomfortable reading this? Yeah, I know, me too. So what are we going to do about it? Let’s take the only path left that Seth mentions and lean out of the edge.
To get a better picture of what remarkable means I looked up the definition online and found this:
- Adjective
1. notably or conspicuously unusual; extraordinary: a remarkable change.
2. worthy of notice or attention.
—Synonyms
notable, noteworthy, striking, extraordinary, wonderful, unusual, singular, uncommon.
I hesitate to use the well-worn word of innovation, but it is connected to being remarkable.
Here are two examples of innovative and out of the ordinary businesses I recently read about on Springwise.com. One is called Panty by Post, which offers a monthly subscription of specialty underwear sent in the mail. This is a unique combination of the subscription based business model, ease of on-line shopping, and luxury.
The other company, Soup Cycle, delivers organic soup on a weekly basis by bicycle to your home or office. An original blend of a subscription based business model, organic, sustainable, and sourcing as well as selling the product locally.
Wondering why you should bother being remarkable? Remember that being remarkable motivates people to talk about you and your business. Which leads to more clients and growth in your business.
Being remarkable is about creating a unique and unforgettable experience. In the book The Experience Economy by Joseph Pine and James Gilmore they state, “…companies stage an experience whenever they engage customers, connecting with them in a personal, memorable way.” It’s about “acting with intention” so that there is meaning in the things you do.
If I asked five people who know you well what makes your business extraordinary what would they say? If you don’t know, go ahead and ask them.
Think about the last time you yourself experienced a ‘wow’ from another business. Is there something from that experience that gives you ideas?
You can create the experience you want your clients to have. What can you do that no one else is doing? What is something unexpected and delightfully surprising that would make your clients say, ‘Wow – that’s amazing?’ or ‘I’ve never experienced that before!’
How can your business be remarkable? Think about these things:
Your products or services
- Change the format or structure
- Create a new combination
- Introduce new packaging
Who your clients are
- Different gender
- New age group
- An alternative industry
- Include a new geographical location
The way you deliver your products or services
- Location
- Timing
- Method
- Pricing
The way you interact with your clients
- Change or add a channel you use to communicate
- Change the frequency of communication
- Change the reason for communication
- Create a way for them to interact with you and each other
Forget about how you have done things in the past and start from scratch. Design your products, services, and processes with the goal of delivering a ‘wow’ and see what comes up.
I don’t have specific answers about how you can make your business remarkable; this will require some focused thinking on your part. You can do it on your own or find another business owner who shares the vision of having an incomparable business and brainstorm together. You can also hire a coach or consultant.
I hope you’re feeling inspired to take this challenge on with a vengeance and discover ways to make your business remarkable!
(If you want to read more about how to be remarkable from Seth Godin, who is quoted above, click here).
© Stephanie Ward, 2010
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire! Grab your FREE copy of the special report ‘7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com/.
What are you super passionate about? What do you believe in? As a business owner your passion is often intertwined with your business. Are you communicating with a group of people who share your passion? Are you leading this tribe?
Seth Godin the bestselling author of the book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us defines a tribe this way, “A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea.”
In an interview with Andrew Warner when asked what the point of having a tribe is Godin said, “A tribe is nothing but a tactic, a method, an approach to getting change to occur. And that change could be growing your business, or getting elected or making the world a safer place.”
It is possible to make money from leading your tribe but it should not be the main goal. It’s more of a bi-product that can emerge.
Do you consider yourself as: brave, persistent, committed, passionate, courageous, caring, having faith in your vision, hopeful, an initiator, motivating, imaginative, generous, curious, a good listener, and action oriented? These are the characteristics of a leader that Godin points out.
Here’s what Godin says it takes to transform a group into a tribe. First, you need a common interest and second you need a way to communicate.
Godin says, “Now the internet has eliminated the barriers of geography, cost, and time.” He lists some tools you can use to communicate with and lead your tribe:
- Facebook http://www.facebook.com
- Ning http://www.ning.com
- Meetup http://www.meetup.com
- Twitter http://www.twitter.com
- Squidoo http://www.squidoo.com
- Basecamp http://www.basecamphq.com
- Craigslist http://www.craigslist.org/
- Your blog
Remember, it’s about building relationships over time, not the technology. As the leader of a tribe you must create the atmosphere of excitement and trust. The technical piece just allows you to make it happen.
According to Godin the communication in a tribe can go four ways:
1. Leader to tribe
2. Tribe to leader
3. Tribe member to tribe member
4. Tribe member to outsider
The three ways Seth Godin lists that a leader can increase the effectiveness of the tribe and its members are:
1. transforming the shared interest into a passionate goal and desire for change;
2. providing tools to allow members to tighten their communications, and;
3. leveraging the tribe to allow it to grow and gain new members.
Keep in mind you want to build a tribe of quality members, not just quantity.
In a nutshell, according to Godin there are only three steps to leading a tribe: motivate, connect, and leverage.
Godin says that the most important common denominator for all leaders is that they make the decision to lead. Are you ready to make that decision?
You will figure the ‘how’ of leading your tribe once you’ve made the decision to do it. The purpose of this article is to get you to consider the choice you have. I hope you’re inspired to think about it and decide to do it.
For deeper illumination buy Seth’s book, Tribes, and read it. And being the immensely generous guy he is, he offers a free Tribes Q&A ebook packed with specific detail and juicy tidbits.
© Stephanie Ward, 2009
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire! Grab your FREE copy of the special report ’7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.
LinkedIn is more than just a place to post your profile and forget about it. You can be more visible on LinkedIn without devoting an enormous amount of time to it.
Connections are strengthened when you interact and share ideas and information. And a solid network is vital to growing your business.
Here are seven ways to increase your presence on LinkedIn:
1. Post a recommendation for someone you’re connected to. A key element of effective networking is to give first. And you never know, someone else may feel compelled to write a recommendation for you. This is not the reason to do it, just a possible outcome.
2. Join a group. On the navigation on the left click on Groups. From there click on the ‘Groups Directory’ tab at the top of the page. You can then search the groups based on: keywords, categories, or languages.
Another way to discover interesting groups is to see what groups your connections are members of.
Once you’re a member of a group, join the discussions and look for people you may know but are not yet connected to and invite them to connect.
3. Post your reading list. This is on the left navigation under ‘Applications’ and it’s super easy to add books you’ve read or are reading. You can also “watch” the reading lists of people you are connected to.
What a person reads gives you insight into what interests them (and you to them). Sharing similar interests can create a bond and lead to new projects.
4. Check out who has been looking at your profile. This is located on the right sidebar of your home page and is under the heading ‘Who’s Viewed My Profile?’ and if you click underneath you can see a list.
You may find that you know people who are looking at your profile and you can invite them to connect.
5. Invite people to connect. I know, this seems ridiculous to mention but often people get into a reactive mode and wait for others to ask them to connect.
If you meet someone and exchange contact details you can search Google using the keywords of their name and LinkedIn to see if they are already on LinkedIn. If they are, you can send them an invitation to connect.
If there is someone you would like to be connected with, but don’t know personally, you can request that someone you are connected with (that is connected to the person you want to meet) make the introduction for you.
6. Update your status daily, a few times weekly or as often as possible. You can share quotes, interesting links to articles and websites, and ask questions. This positions you as a resource and keeps your business visible.
You can also comment on the status updates and changes of people you’re connected to. Congratulate someone on a new position or comment on a particular project.
7. Add a presentation to your profile using ‘Google Presentation’ which is found in the navigation on the left under Applications. This is a fast and easy way for people to find out more about what you do or learn about valuable information you have to share.
There are so many more ways to use LinkedIn, this is just a short list to get you started. Hang out at the site and spend some time exploring which applications and features will work best for you.
If you visit LinkedIn every other day or weekly in ten minutes you can update your status, comment on what others are up to, and invite a few new connections.
These actions will increase your visibility and deepen connections you have with your network. This will increase your potential to attract more clients and build your business. So don’t blink, get linked.
© Stephanie Ward, 2009
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire! Grab your FREE copy of the special report ’7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.
