Financial Intelligence - Natural Marketing For Lone Rangers
January 31, 2008
“Ooooooh,” you may say, “I could NEVER be good at marketing, I’m just not that sort of person. I’m just not pushy enough”.
Well, if that is your reaction to the title of this article, I would like to kick off by giving you permission to hate marketing (and its cousin, “sales”). I am not going to try to turn you into a marketeer or a salesperson - but will you open your mind (just a chink!) to the possibility that you CAN stay just as you are and STILL be more successful at what you do?
Marketing and sales are inextricably linked in most people’s mind and everyone knows sales people are scuzz-bags - right? The very words “marketing” and “sales” conjures up images of people being brainwashed by ads and parted from their money, in exchange for something they don’t want. By people in dodgy suits!
Well, the first concept to get your head around, is that people are generally very sophisticated and astute. You cannot generally sell people something they don’t want, no matter how heavy handed your tactics. And generally, even by very clever marketing, you cannot persuade or brainwash people into wanting something, that they hadn’t wanted before. You couldn’t massage someone who didn’t want it, could you?
Define Success
January 30, 2008
Have you ever asked yourself why you want to succeed online?
If not, … allow me to ask you …
So, … why do you want to succeed online?
Do you have e reason for it? Do you clearly know what the reason is?
Do you think other people are succeeding online? Are they more successful than you are? Are you more successful than them? Why?
Are you currently succeeding online? Do you feel successful? How do YOU define success in general?
These questions are very important questions in your journey to online success. The nature of your answer to these questions would significantly impact your mission.
We all have a pre-programmed definition of success. We all know what will make us successful in other people’s eyes and what will personally make us feel successful. We have needs, wishes, wants and cravings for the results we desire.
But only you know what’s important for you and what would drive you to achieve your vision of success, whether online or offline. You’re the only one who can unlock the door to your hidden treasure of desires. Desires so powerful that would literally force you out of your comfort zone to find the success you seek.
Professional Organizations: Join or Fold?
January 30, 2008
All of us join professional organizations for a reason–a friend belongs, we need to for credibility, etc. Many times we let years slide by and we don’t stop and review those reasons. Unless something sets off a boundary–lack of funds, the organization runs itself into a ditch, or a leadership problem.
When doesn’t it fit any longer? Is there a pattern to you dropping a membership?
I know, as an accountant for 15 years, I joined organization after organization. Without knowing it, and after delegating it to my assistant, I realized that I belonged to 32 organizations. Yes, at one time. Yes, I know this is probably exceptional. Yes, I can blame it on my assistant or being too busy. But I’m not. It wasn’t until I began to take a complete review of those memberships that I realize many no longer fit.
During the review process, I learned to ask different questions. Let me share with you a 6-step process that I’ve used for the last 8 years that I know will help you: 1) choose more wisely in the future; (2) set your intention and expectations first; and (3) know what you want to give back.
Small Business Planning — Three Myths
January 29, 2008
Are you — like 70 percent of small business owners — working without a plan?
Here are three myths that need to be dispelled about strategic planning for small business.
1. It has to be formal — Not so.
The value of a strategic plan for your small business is in putting the ideas on paper, creating action steps that will get you where you want to go and implementing those action steps.
2. I’m too small — Not so.
Even a one-person business can benefit from a strategic plan. A strategic plan can help you make decisions about time management and budget. You can use your strategic plan to help you determine whether to attend an event or advertise in a publication. It’s a check and balance tool.
3. A strategic plan is like a ball and chain — Not so.
It’s your plan. Too many small business owners feel like once it’s on paper, it can’t be changed. Wrong! Your plan should be an active document that gets reviewed and updated at least monthly, if not weekly. You’re the business owner, you wrote it, you know what’s happening in your market — adjust as necessary.
10 Ways To Boost Your E-zine Subscribers
January 28, 2008
10 Ways To Boost Your E-zine Subscribers
by: Gabriel Ungureanu
1. Show your potential subscribers a sample issue
of your e-zine. Black out some of the important
info; this will make them more curious & subscribe.
2. Give away a free follow-up autoresponder course.
Publish your e-zine ad in each lesson. The more
people see it, the higher the chance they’ll subscribe.
3. Offer your potential customers a discount on a
particular product you sell if they subscribe to your
free e-zine.
4. Give other businesses permission to give a free
subscription to your e-zine as a bonus for a product
they sell.
5. Ask your potential subscribers questions that’ll
persuade them to subscribe like: “Would you like to
be able to retire before you’re 40?”
6. Write your e-zine’s ad to sound like it is common
sense to subscribe. For example: “Everyone knows
you have to…”
7. Assume people are going to instantly subscribe to
your e-zine. For example: “Dear Healthy Subscriber”
They will want to subscribe in order to feel healthy.
8. Allow your subscribers to collect stuff from each
The Illusion of Print Mail Services
January 27, 2008
If ever there was a lazy way to easy profits in mail order it hasto be the concept of letting someone else do all the work foryou.
In theory, it works like this: You send a camera-ready circular or ad to someone who advertisesa print/mail service and they will print and mail it (along withmany others) to 1,000 to 25,000 names on their own list. Yousimply pay a one-time charge while they do all the work. Now,multiply this by 5, 10 or more such services and you could (stilltheoretically speaking, of course) have several thousand of youroffers in the hands of prospective buyers within a few weeks.
The problem, is that it doesn’t work that easily, at least not tothe point of making it profitable for the dealer who expects tobecome delunged with orders. Even the very best mailers in thebusiness can produce only a small percentage of return for theirclients, so you would have to have a very high markup on youroffer and reach millions of people if you hope to make itprofitable. If you already have a test-proven offer that producesabout 3% return when you mail the offer by itself, you will belucky to get one-half of 1% when mailed by a mailer along withhundreds of others.
Taking Your Words Seriously
January 26, 2008
When we ordered the stained glass window as an accent piece for our home, the artist-proprietor told us he was a bit behind. "So,” he said, "to be on safe side, plan on six months.” That was two years ago. We still don’t have the window. Each time we call or stop in, he has yet another plausible reason why our project isn’t done, the appropriate apology and a new promise of a delivery date. What he doesn’t have is credibility.
Wishful promises don’t cut it in small-town businesses or big-city corporations. It doesn’t matter what role you’re in. If you tell me you’ll do something, I expect you will do it whether you’re a business, an employee, a co-worker or my boss. You’re the one setting my expectations, so why wouldn’t I believe what you tell me?
It baffles me. I’ve found in twenty years of management few people meet or exceed the expectations they set and they control. I’m not talking about deadlines other people set for you. I’m talking about the ones you establish. Maybe it’s because few people take their own words seriously. If you do you can differentiate yourself at work. People who consistently do what they say they’re going to do, without sandbagging, are memorable. They’re the people with credibility. They’re the ones you want to hire and promote and do business with.
Are you NICE or do you CARE?
January 25, 2008
Are you NICE or do you CARE?
Most people and most managers want to be nice. After all, it’s easier to be nice than to not be nice. But when we talk about being a manager, there is a difference between being nice and being NICE. A NICE manager can be pleasant to be around. They’re friendly and helpful and avoid even the most remote semblance to confrontation.
How do you spot a NICE Manager?
When someone brings them a problem, a NICE manager provides them with a solution.
When a report is late because the employee in question and their spouse went to a movie instead of completing the assignment, a NICE manager understands. After all, it’s important to balance work and home.
When the presentation lacks clarity, or the conclusions aren’t supported by the facts, a NICE manager thanks them for their efforts and doesn’t dig any deeper.
And when the production numbers for the month are down for the 3rd consecutive month, a NICE manager clearly understands the reasons that are causing the problems and knows that they are not the fault of the employees.
Target Your Share of the 50-Plus Market
January 25, 2008
It’s quite apparent that Americans are living longer— and as people age, they request and require many more products and services than ever before. Now, as aging Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are coming of age, the fifty-plus population is over 77 million people and growing enormously all the time. And since they control 77% of all financial assets, your mature market share may make or break your business profits.
Every 7 seconds someone in America turns 50. Are you doing your personal as well as professional best to make them your loyal customers, build trust, and receive referrals from satisfied customers? Here are some ways to increase your success and sales with this very diverse group.
In every respect, the 50-plus market is the wealthiest population with major discretionary money to spend on everything from luxury cars, travel, homes, healthcare, gifts, entertainment, grandchildren, etc.
They defy any one “lumped together” label—rather they are unique individuals reflecting their own life stages, lifestyles, physical abilities, household configurations, attitudes and personalities. Cater to each client the way you believe they would like you to behave.
The #1 Commandment for Internet Success
January 24, 2008
The #1 Commandment for Internet Success
by: Ernie Kuonen
The Single Most Important thing you can do to make money on the Internet is to simply Get Started - As Nike’s slogan screams out - Just Do IT. If you sit there and think about your wonderful plans, or worry about all of the imagined difficulties that you need to overcome, all you will do is amass a layer of dust and cobwebs and there is no profitable market for them since everyone already has their share of these (the world’s largest Niche market - ennui)..
The most common roadblocks are fear of failure or success, worry over required hi-tech skills, too many ideas crowding each other out and the excuse of not enough time (I’m too busy already). Go to bed one hour later each night for two weeks and you will easily have enough time to put up your first web site. All it really takes to get started is to make the decision to give it a try and then begin with a really rough plan, cleaning it up as you go along. Nothing is more cool than Earning while Learning. You will never regret committing a mistake half as much as having let a great opportunity pass you by - especially a potentially huge money making one. Don’t let yourself and all of those depending on you down.
