leverage (8)
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As women in business, we know all too well that new customers don’t just fall into our laps; we must create a stellar plan for them to land there. Simply, the art of marketing is paramount to your overall success. So what does it take? Here are the 3 L’s to ensure that potential clients continuously land your way:
LEADS
There are a multitude of FREEor low cost sources that can be used to help your business with highly-qualified sales leads.
Here are 3 ways to build your leads:
- Social Networks: Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are great FREE sources and highly effective in lead generation as it brings potential clients to your business.
- Website: By creating a web presence, will bring new traffic to your site. Traffic = Leads! The key is to consistently publish fresh content such as articles, videos or interviews that highlights what your business offers and the benefits gained. In addition, having a FREE offer to entice visitors to leave their contact information is effective.
- Referral Marketing: If you’ve spent time on relationship building, establishing communication, building trust and resolving potential problems or conflicts, then your customers will see little risk in recommending your company to their peers.
Just as people do business with people they know and trust, they also feel more comfortable when a product or service is recommended by a friend. A prospect that was referred to you has already been told about the quality and professionalism that you provide your customers with.
Say after implementing this or a similar plan, you've gained 25 new leads per week. That’s 1300 new leads per year!
LIST
One of the most vital tools for business owners is the ‘LIST.’ To remain competitive, it’s do or die! Your list is simply a database used to store your contacts such as name, business name, address, email, phone number and website address and more! If you need database software, A few systems that I am familiar with:
- ACT: makes it easy for you to manage your contacts and calendar, and connect to powerful, subscription-based sales and marketing services.
- FileMaker Pro: worldwide leader in easy-to-use database software
There are many ways to build a list, but here are two that work for me:
E-newsletter: The use of e-newsletters has quickly come to be an indispensable component of the advertising campaigns of many businesses, large and small! This is an easy, low-cost and profitable way to be introduced to warm leads! Consider increasing your chances by creating a landing page that includes a ‘free offer’ or ‘discount’ on specific services. Make sure you use a service such as:
Article Marketing: This is an effective and cost efficient way to provide solutions to potential prospects and current customers. Be sure your articles are well written with relevant content that relates to your niche. Your website or blog should include an RSS feature which allows visitors to subscribe to your feed.
LEVERAGE
Ever wonder how billionaires such as Oprah Winfrey or Donald Trump are so successful? By leveraging their time and resources of course! This is a no brainer way to grow your business… by leveraging established relationships with your clients and your network!
Not sure how to leverage? Here are 3 ways:
Leverage Peers. Can you think of any business owners that you know and whom you share mutual customers with? You should be running, not walking to discuss a collaborative venture. For instance, if you are a business writer, you can partner with a web designer, PR firm and / or an ad agency; and a realtor can partner with a mortgage lender, title service and home builders. The key is to learn about each team members business so that you can promote it as you would your own. Your new sales team will enable you to grow more rapidly. It makes so much sense to work smarter and not harder!
Leverage Experts. Partner with industry experts to collaborate on a project. For example, create an audio or video series by interviewing experts. Dr. Shannon Reece interviewed 12 leading women experts and offered the live events FREE to those who registered. These experts shared personal and professional experiences and keys to success. This series will soon be available at a cost. Can we say passive income!
Leverage Investors. Do you need capital to expand your business? Consider exploring investors who are willing to finance your growth. This can be a daunting task, but the outcome well worth it! As you near your forty-ninth business pitch, that fiftieth might be your lucky charm!
So what strategies will you put in place to continuously obtain leads; manage your list and leverage your resources?
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What do you want? No I mean what do you really, really want? If you knew you could not fail and money was not an issue what would you really want?
What does your ideal lifestyle look like?
These are some very good questions that actually as I’m passionately empowering women many who are in a consultation or coaching with me are stunned by and they have to think just a bit. We should all have the answers to these questions.
I did a Tele-class on Top 5 reasons you are not where you want to be – YET! One of the Top 5 included “You Don’t really want what you think you want.”
Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.
Thomas Jefferson
Everyone wants to run their own business and be their own boss…. right?
Everyone wants a vacation home in the mountains… right?
Everyone wants 2.4 kids and the white picket fence…. right?
Wrong.
When it comes to dreams, one size most definitely does NOT fit all. Our dreams and goals are as individual as we are, and adopting someone else’s goals as our own can feel like wearing someone else’s shoes: It looks okay to everyone else, but to us, it feels awful and gives us blisters.
There are thousands, if not millions, of people out there striving for the wrong goals. Wrong not because there’s anything inherently bad about them, but wrong because the goals they’re aiming for are wrong for THEM. So as I persevere in my endeavor to empower women I must remain authentic and help you discover your authentic self for your realized empowering success.
There’s the law student that is very gifted in music and enjoys her classes in school leading up to the profession of a lawyer who would never give an extra thought to setting that aside for pursuing her career in music because both of her parents are Lawyers.
There’s the successful saleswoman who would really love to chuck it all and teach English, but she’s making too much money and only a crazy person would throw away a six-figure paycheck.
There are many frustrated individuals out there “believe it or not ” Frustration knows no geographic, socioeconomic, or race or religious boundaries.
The only way to know if the goals you’re aiming for are the right goals is to figure out if they are your heart’s desire. Sometimes it takes some detective work to peel back the layers of societal and family expectations to get at what YOU really want.
There are clues all around you: If you fall asleep dreaming about something, wake up thinking about something, and find yourself perking up whenever you meet someone doing what you’d like to do, you’re on the right track. Meanwhile, if you get a sinking sensation when you pull into the garage of house with the white picket fence, or find yourself calling in sick to that six-figure job “everyone” would kill to have, then you may be in the wrong place… for you.
So what do you do if you find you’ve been chasing after the wrong dream? If you find that you’re not on track to your destiny. You readjust. You discover what your vision is, your purpose in life. You reignite your passion. You connect with someone who can be an accountability partner, who is not biased and can offer expertise in the area you are seeking to move forward in. Even if they don’t have the specific expertise in that area but have the life skills you need to help you discover your authentic self, get unstuck, get focused, make BIG changes and get results that will put you miles ahead of where you’ve been for the last 1 to 5, 5 to 10 years or more!
You find ways to move your current life closer to the one you really long for. Maybe that means getting up an hour early to work on your novel. Maybe it means spending your weekends teaching art to inner city kids. Maybe it researching organizations that may need your expertise and would like you to share with their members. Take a small step and see how it feels. Then take another, and another, until you know deep in your heart you’re on the right track. If you are, the momentum will carry you forward.
You’ll be closer to where you want to be. The Authentic you that is.
Are you ready to say yes to the healthier, wealthier, empowered, focused, joyful, and Authentic you?
I invite you to request your free access to 4 more reasons you’re not where you want to be – YET! Request access to my Top 5 reasons you’re not where you want to be YET empowering Training Audio. Go there now!
This is also part of my preview Tele-series “Get it Done. Make it Happen!” A preview of my phenomenal 90 Days of Empowerment and Focus Coaching Program. If you’re tired of the overwhelm, stress, lack of productivity, playing small and more learn more and secure 1 of 10 spaces for gold and 1 of 15 for Silver.http://bit.ly/90daysregister
Are you a victim of Time thieves?
Maybe that would be easier to answer if you knew what time thieves were. And quite possibly you already know what they are but need to be reminded of how much they are stealing from your Destiny, from your relationships, okay from your life.
I’m sharing another post on Productivity secrets because it is one area that most women have a challenge with whether in business or their personal life.
You’ve probably given in to most of the time thieves I’m going to mention below.
Phone
You can actually use the phone as a timesaver if you know how.
TV and Radio
How many hours have we given to watching TV or listening to the radio. Now get this, some of it is done out of habit. What that means is if you actually made a decision (remember everything begins with a decision) a decision to reduce the amount of time you watch Television and replace it with a productive activity you could achieve that goal and realize increased revenue in the process.
The same thing applies to the radio. Be intentional about your listening and not habitual.
Waiting in Line
I truly believe that this is one way our patience is tested.
Sometimes going to crowded places can’t be avoided, however, there are peak hours that you can expect longer lines. Pick a schedule where you least expect many people to show up. For example, buy your groceries on weekdays. Don’t shop during weekends and paydays. If you can afford the higher price tags of items that can be bought through the phone, internet, or third-party services, then go ahead and buy them. If you treat time as gold, then the extra time you’ll be saving as a result of this act is worth much more than the extra money you’ll be spending. In case you really have no choice but to wait in line, then don’t waste your time complaining. Do something productive like reading a book, listening to educational tapes, or writing your future plans on your little notebook.
Social Media
Yes I said it. Social Media. Some individuals spend all day on Social Media sites and get absolutely nowhere. Social media is a power resource if you know what you’re doing. Automate your activities. Up grade your skills. Connect with a Social Media Coach such as myself to learn how to monetize your efforts or outsource it. Our World Wide Visibility movement is set for this very thing. to support you in your efforts to gain World Wide Visibility.
Email overwhelm
The ability to send emails has contributed to productivity in the office whether you have an office at home or in the workplace. It’s become such a part of our daily activities that we’ve forgotten about the snail mail which can end up being more effective due to the fact that some people don’t even open most of their emails.
However, there are certain downsides to using email as a means of communication. Do you check your emails many times in the day? If so you’re hampering your productivity. It can end up being a very time-consuming activity.
Traffic Traffic and more Traffic
This is another hair-pulling moment, especially when you’re running late for an important appointment. Avoid the rush hour by all means. Anticipate when a traffic jam is usually occurring during the day so you can adjust your commuting time. If your destination is not too far away, a walking session might
be a great idea to evade traffic, save on gas or money, and attain a healthy lifestyle.
I’ve shared with you a few time thieves and you may be asking “Okay Robin that’s all good but what do I do about it?” I’m glad you asked.
I’m hosting a Tele-series “Get it Done – Make it Happen: Get Focused, Make Big Changes and Get Results!” I’ll be sharing some yummy insights on this very topic and more! If you’re serious about keeping your appointment with Destiny, manifesting your most desired results and ideal lifestyle while having time for what matters most, you don’t want to miss this call.
Go to http://bit.ly/90daysofempowermentinfo to secure your VIP ticket to my Tele-class. There are only 200 lines so secure your ticket and call in early.
Here’s to your empowering success!
“The Empowerment Diva”
Women’s Empowerment incorporates various components that when successfully integrated will yield a greater return on your endeavors.
As a woman you have many demands on your time, however, if you add that of being a woman entrepreneur it can be a very frustrating task to leverage your time. It may seem that the more you try to balance out your day the less time you end up with.
Do you feel like your day is spent in “firefighter” mode – putting out one emergency blaze after another?
You can easily spend eight hours or more at the beck and call of the urgent activities on your list: The phone call that comes right when you’re sitting down to do some much-needed strategic planning, the unexpected invitation to contribute to a blog round-up, the desperate plea for a last-minute speaker on an industry teleconference. While these all might be worthy tasks, they’re not necessarily related
to your high-level goals. And as a result, the time you’ve set aside for your important activities can be usurped by the tyranny of the urgent.
It is very tempting to check emails all day every hour or answer your phone overtime it rings.
If you want to manifest your EMPIRE by moving toward the next levels quickly you must have a system for focusing on important tasks instead of the urgent ones.
Here are five tips for prioritizing
1. Set expectations. I’ve had mixed feedback on this one. I’ve developed a system and enforce it so that I can remain healthy and sane. When doing this one you must get over what people think of you and commit to what you’ve set as an action to support your empowering success. You train people how to treat you and what to expect from you. If you always respond to their emails immediately, they’ll grow to expect immediate answers. Slowly wean them from expecting you to be on-call, 24/7.
2. Create No distraction zones. Although you may be tempted to shut down your phone, email and other interruptions for 8 – 10 hours, it’s actually not practical to turn off your phone ringer for 8 hours straight, or to check your email only once a day. But you can set up zones where you limit outside interruptions. Start with a no email time first thing in the morning. Institute a quiet time first thing in the morning for one hour.
Get to the cash producing activities before you check email. Once you’ve adjusted to this you can add another quiet zone, maybe in the afternoon right before you quit working. This way you can close your day and have a fresh empowering start the next day.
3.Know what “important” is. No more 10 item to do lists. You have to have your high-level goals in front of you, literally and figuratively. You must know what you’re trying to accomplish this month, this week, today, so you can filter your activities accordingly.
4. Create systems to support your new habits. This one tip has done wonders for some of my clients that I’ve shared it with. Email in-box filters that shuffle non-critical newsletters and group emails to another filter for later reading will help keep you from getting sidetracked. Removing all non-essential programs and icons from your computer desktop (and from your physical desktop, too!) can keep you focused. Figure out where you’re getting derailed and create some boundaries to keep you on task.
You can realize productive days instead of just busy, overwhelming, pull your hair out days, however, as I always say don’t just learn new skills and systems, take targeted action and implement.
I’ll share this and more in more detail during The Empowerment Diva’s Fit and Fabulous Coaching Program/Club.
Here’s to a healthy you and a thriving business!
Robin aka The Empowerment Diva
http://www.Authenticlifeempowerment.com/blog
The Authentic Life and Biz Empowerment
Mentor,Coach,Trainer and Public speaker
to savvy women, New,Aspiring and Enterprising woman entrepreneurs across the world.
Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up every morning with a smile on your face,
energy and life balance?
Work at home women are experiencing their share of stress. Between caring for family, their business, nurturing their Faith and otherroles it can be a bit overwhelming.
Did you know that stress can be attributed to 90% of all chronic diseases. Stress can ead to heart attacks, strokes and other chronicdiseases..
What are some of your areas of stress?
Three essential keys to stress management include…
Discovering how to leverage your time
Mastering your mindset
Working on and following a system for life balance
It’s important for you as a Work at home woman to begin taking stress reduction
serious. Take something from this post and apply it to your life.
A powerful stress reduction tip is to laugh. It has been stated that
laughter is like medicine for the soul.
List ways you can integrate laughter into your schedule.
Want additional information on how you can begin reducing stress?
Request my free special report – “Stress reduction and the powers of
a positive mind” by clicking here.
How can you use the information shared in this post before your head hits
the pillow tonight? Go ahead write it down and add one to two daily action steps
to focus on.
Here’s to the new stressed-less you!
