marketing (437)

Introducing the RELaunch of the Garrison Prosperity Solutions Blogsite. Here you will find all the information you need to build and sustain a business, with NO NONSENSE, just business.

We also offer:
  • Success Coaching
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Subscribe to the blog today to receive weekly advice on building a successful business. By subscribing to the blog, you will receive an exclusive copy of The Lazy Person's Ultimate Guide to Starting a Business: 5 steps to Starting and Marketing Your Business.

Use G.P.S. to guide you on your journey to prosperity. If you don't start now, then when? Let me help you.

www.garrisonprosperitysolutions.com

See you at the top!

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Are YOU the Common Denominator?

Often times I hear it said by man ythat they feel like everyone around them is out to harm them. I also see these same people, continue to exhibit self destructive and non constructive behavior. They are unable to maintain any healthy relationships. They are insecure and they seem to find joy in the act of self pity. They struggle with forgiveness and are unable to accept the blame for many of the wrong turns that they have taken in life.

So, again I ask… Are YOU the Common Denominator?

It is imperative that we take an extensive look at ourselves on a regular basis to establish what type of person we would like to project ourselves to be. Do you want to be someone who lives a lonely and destitute life, lacking of true friendship, true happiness and the knowledge of self worth? If you answered NO to any of these questions, there is help. But it starts with you. 

Once you realize that you have the power to change these obstacles, then and only then can you begin to change them. It is absolutely necessary to remove the blinders from your eyes, the plugs from your ears and the hardness from your heart. 

The world is not out to get you, It is not everyone else………the Common Denominator is YOU!!

If you have a problem with keeping friends……..There is a reason!

If you have a problem maintaining healthy relationships…..There is a reason!

If you can’t seem to find true joy in your life……There is a reason!

If you find yourself isolated……..There is a reason!

First you must find the root of the problem and then you can trim the dead leaves and branches and establish a healthier life that grows better with time! 

 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed. We can’t do it all on our own!!

Stop being the Common Denominator!!

 

Randa Johnson

"Helping You Brand the Best You"

 

http://www.RandaJohnson.com

http://www.WorkWithRanda.com

 

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What is the one thing most coaches concentrate on?


Coaching certification. Or you may focus on the business of what?
Coaching.

 

Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying that you shouldn’t learn the necessary skills involved in coaching nor am I saying that you shouldn’t get certification, however, you’re doing it all wrong if this is your main focus or area of concentration.

This is not exclusive to coaches many entrepreneurs, small business owners spend little to no time concentrating on this one area I’m going to mention.

The one mistake you may be making is focusing about 85% of your time on the business of coaching and 15% of your time on marketing.

Here’s the scenario. You’ve studied the hours needed to fulfill your coaching certification, you have developed your programs and even identified the formats you’ll use…. now what? Exactly you’re stuck with the task of locating leads, attracting and getting clients!

What you should be focusing more on is “Marketing!” This is not the last step in your process. You should be looking into this much sooner than most coaches have. Marketing is something you must learn more about and even more specifically “online marketing.”

I’m not going to tell you that more experienced coaches are doing any better, however, my commitment is to seek out Christian Women Coaches who are in the early stages so that I can empower you to get your message out there and reach those who so need your services. If there are any coaches out there more advanced who need my support and commitment I’m available to you as well.

Are you in need of support in this area? Great! What I’ve done is set aside time for you. My Free call is designed with you in mind and I invite you to join me. I’ve only reserved about 90 phone lines so you want to get on a few minutes early.

 

All you need to do is go to http://bit.ly/aspiringnewcoach to register.

I’ll share additional mistakes you may be making, strategies to empower you to manifest the results you desire and more!

 

Of course I’d love to have you on the call live with me, however, the audio replay will be available to you for a limited time.

 

You’ve got a message. God’s given you gifts. Let’s get them out there!

 

Talk soon!

 

Robin aka The Empowerment Diva


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One of the biggest challenges that Small Businesses face is creating effective marketing collateral.  In addition to a challenging budget, there is just the question of what to communicate.  My motto is K.I.S.S., Keep It Seriously Simple! Don't make the mistake of over communicating your product or services.  Consumers are a lot smarter than you think, but they don't want to be bombarded with tons of messaging or content.  It takes too much time to sift through the clutter.  So in order to help you avoid overkill, I will offer you some Tips in Marketing K.I.S.S.


 

1. Avoid Hokey Taglines - If you can't afford to hire a marketing consultant, then leave off the tagline all together.  As cleaver as you might think you are, customers can always tell when your tagline is homegrown.

 

2. Get to the Point - Don't waste time with too many details on your materials.  Your collateral should communicate four things immediately.  1) Who you are, 2) What you do, 3) What is unique about your offering and 4) How to contact you.  Anything more is TMI (too much information).

 

3. Minimize Images - Too many images can be a lot of the brain to process.  Keep your collateral to 1 or 2 images that communicate your focus at a glance. If you need to show multiple images, then stick to one main image that draws the focus.  Keep the other images subordinate so they con't compete with the main focus.

 

4. Use the 3-Click Rule - When it comes to your website or blog be sure not to bury your content and confuse visitors.  The 3-Click Rule states that a visitor should be able to get to any content on your site within 3 clicks.    Does your site measure up?

 

5.  Eliminate Business Card Clutter - While your business card has a lot of 'real estate', its important to stage the content carefully.  Stick to relevant contact details on the front, such as your name, title, email address  and phone number.   Put all other details on the back (but don't make the mistake of printing a book back there).

 

There are lots of other ways to Keep It Seriously Simple, but its easiest just to keep the customer in mind by asking a simple question.  If I had 5 seconds what would I want my customers to know? I have included a sample ad that we designed for a customer utilizing Marketing K.I.S.S.

 

Happy Branding!

 

You can continue this conversation on Twitter @brandcoachllc or on Facebook.com/TheBrandCoach

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As we all know, we need more prospects in our business and upfront cashflow.  In most businesses, people lack marketing training and don't have a network to succeed in their primary business.  You need a system that generate leads and leverage a list of leads to convert into your primary business.

 

You also need a system that will teach you about Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to market yourself and earn income, how to dominate PPC, article marketing, and blogging.

 

This online industry is mainly about building relationships, being a leader, providing value and learning how to make additional income outside of the primary business.  You need the right system, the right mentoring and marketing training and a funded proposal.

 

If I offered you a way to generate quality leads/prospects, training on how to recruit, how to attract people to you, how to generate traffic to your website, generate more profit to your primary business and help build your downline, would that be something you're interested in?

 

Please visit my websites for more information on lead generation and more!

http://howtogenerateincomeinmlm.com

 

To learn more about my marketing system, visit:

http://caldwellbusiness.mlmleadsystempro.com

 

 

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If you have a website, blog, ezine, or newsletter, I'm sure you consider your content valuable to your readers and potential customers. So, why not get paid for it in the meantime? If you're new to this idea, then this article will help you. There are several ways to go about monetizing your website or blog:

 

Google Adsense

This is one of the most popular and best ways to monetize your website or blog. Google Adsense will put advertisements on your site that has to do with your content. So, how do you get paid? You get paid when someone clicks on the advertisement. Here are some resource sites that will help you better understand Google Adsense and help you sign up.

 

Google Adsense Sign Up

More information on Google Adsense


Clickbank

This is a program that offers several different types of products you can promote on your website and get as much as 75% commission on them. You can choose any product and as many products as you would like to promote or advertise. This is another lucrative way to make money from your website or blog.

 

 

Clickbank.com

 

Text Link Ads

Text-link-ads.com brings targeted traffic to your website or blog. Similar to Clickbank.com, you make money from potential clients clicking on text-based ads inserted on your site. You receive 50% commissions on everything and they also have an affiliate program which gives you $25 for every person you refer to their company. Read more here:

 

Text-link-ads.com

 

Here are some additional sources for making money on your website or blog:

 

JuiceBoxJungle.com

 

Blog Traffic Cash

 

 

Keep in mind that just because you create a website, doesn't mean people want to see it or work with you. Give them a reason to , by enriching your website or blog. Make some extra money!

 

How do you make money on your website or blog? Share ideas with us.

 

 

 

Tamara Garrison-Thomas

www.garrisonprosperitysolutions.com

follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/tamarargarrison

follow me on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/People-Who-Prosper/125968110792129

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Side Hustle

I know, I know. Sounds like something illegal, but I'm not talking about anything like that. Whether you have a 9 to 5 job, own a business, or are a domestic diva, I believe everyone should have a source of additional income or as I like to say -side hustle-. Below, I have listed a few -side hustle- ideas that have made people a good amount of extra income. Hope you find something you like:

 

Affiliate Marketing

This is probably one of the best ways to make extra money online. Affiliate Marketing allows you to sell certain products from your website on commission usually via advertisement or referral. It's an excellent way to make extra money, even in your sleep! Some great affiliate programs are right in from of you, you just have to look. Here are some of my suggestions:

BBWO: Black Business Women Online

TheCEOMamma Marketing Blog

Magnetic Sponsoring

HostGator

Vistaprint.com

 

Read Emails

Now, you won't make thousands of dollars doing this, but it is a good option to make an extra few hundred dollars a month. Here is a company you can sign up with:

Read emails

 

Social Networks

Yes! You can get paid to socialize with people. I know we have facebook, twitter, and myspace but these social networks actually pay you for visiting the site, getting friends, and even clicking on advertisements. Of course you want to choose the best one. From my research here are two that I thought were the best:

Crazygood.com

Swom.com

 

These are all great ways to create additional income for yourself. If you need help deciding which one would be the best, or need more information, contact me. BUT you should do something. If you would like to work with me and my team as your -side hustle- contact us today! garrisonprosperitysolutions@gmail.com .

 

If you already have a -side hustle-, please comment to this post and share it with us! You never know who could be interested.

 

 

 

Tamara Garrison-Thomas

Updated 6/4/11

http://www.garrisonprosperitysolutions.com/

garrisonprosperitysolutions@gmail.com 

follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/tamarargarrison

follow us on facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/People-Who-Prosper/125968110792129

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Small businesses and start-ups put forth great effort to appear stable and established.  But often times they have a 'tell'.  Business cards printed at home, an AOL email address or ...a tri-fold brochure.  No matter how great your company/ service may be, you simply sell yourself short with these marketing flubs.

Marketing Faux Pas

While the tri-fold format in printed collateral has long been a a staple in marketing, in recent years the layout style has become a faux pas.  We live in the age of 'instant' success, consumers want to get information at a glance. That means they are looking for a Visual Snapshot. Its a big risk to assume that someone will take the time to comb through the folds of a page just to find out what you do, and how it will benefit them.

The Visual Snapshot

If you are wondering what a Visual Snapshot is, then imagine yourself in line at the supermarket.  When you glance at the magazines on the shelf you make a decision on whether or not to buy, just by looking at the cover.  The same thing happens when  a person looks at your marketing collateral.  I mean we don't want to have to read the

entire magazine to determine if we should buy it.

The first page of your brochure should state the following (very obviously):

  • Who are you?
  • What do you offer?
  • What is unique about your product or service?

I'm not saying that the triple dipper doesn't have its effective uses.  It can be quite helpful as a pamphlet and its a wonderful tool in the health care industry.  But for small businesses, it just makes you LOOK small time.

 

I have included an example of a Sell Sheet.  Whether single or double sided, its a sure fire way to impress prospects.

Happy Branding Everyone! (http://thebrandcoach.com/ or @brandcoachllc)

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Business owners know all too well that finding the best qualified leads takes time… lots of time!  So, what if there was a way to skip the time it takes to develop ‘cold leads?’ Now, close your eyes and imagine building a referral network.  Even more, it won’t cost you a dime!  Does that sound too good to be true?  

 

It can be done by adapting referral networking.  A referral network is a group of people who already know and trust you, understand your business concept and willing to refer people interested in buying your product or service. This is an extremely effective way to create a steady stream of very warm leads. Here are 4 tips to create a powerful referral marketing strategy.  Read more...

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How Health Brings Wealth

Have you ever thought of this concept? That maybe by having a healthy lifestyle you can actually make a substantial living? You could experience freedom and create your own retirement plan? You could be at home with your kids more and make decisions on whether you want to work or not? If you said "yes" to anything above, then there is a way to help you.

 

I have discovered a company that has not only laid the foundation for an opportunity

that would span the spectrum of wellness but actually has a great line of products. These products contain antioxident properties good for streghthening the immune system, supporting cartilage and joint funtion, promoting a healthy respitory system, and make you look good too!

 

But it’s not just this product that can benefit your health and life but it can also benefit your income. Offering a lucrative compensation plan, this company is second to none in helping others build a successful business. Whether it is part time or full time. The bottom line is your not selling a product; you’re building an empire.

 

I work with a team of dynamic individuals who have the passion, proof, and resources to build a team of successful business owners. All you have to do is, get started. Stop questioning yourself and procrastinating. Research shows that the main reason why most people do not start a business(or do things to better themselves) is due to fear of failure. Well , let me tell you now, there are going to be times in your life when you fail. It's inevitable, because we're human. The difference between you and others that fail SHOULD be that you get back up and try again. That’s evidence of a true and successful “go-getter”. If you don't believe me, read the biographies of "go getters" like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Robert Kiyosaki, and Carlos Slim Helu. So, if you’re ready to change your life-story then let us help you!

 

Click here for more information => I’m Ready For Change

  

  

Tamara Garrison-Thomas

www.garrisonprosperitysolutions.com

www.businessadvice2011.blogspot.com

Market your business and get paid! www.crazygood.com/refer/whywait

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LinkedIn is a powerful social network for business growth. As recent as March 2011, LinkedIn reported more than 100 million registered users, spanning more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Imagine the exposure using LinkedIn as a part of your strategic plan? If used properly, LinkedIn is a superb and very effective networking and marketing tool! Are you LinkedIn? If not, then why not? Here are 6 ways to incorporate LinkedIn as a part of your company’s marketing strategy:

Create Your Profile
We can all use new contacts to keep our business open. By joining LinkedIn and developing your profile is a great way to personally brand yourself as a leading industry expert. LinkedIn allows you to connect and continue to build relationships. Not only do you have access to your 1st connections, but you can gain exposure to a second and third tier of contacts. Even more, once you create a LinkedIn profile, you’ve established an identity on the website which is searchable. Here are a few tips to create a stellar presence:
  • Create your profile to match your target audience.
  • Highlight your expertise and the benefits of connecting with you.
  • Ask for recommendations from former employers, colleagues or clients
  • Make sure you convey a polished and professional image
  • Examine invitations to connect before accepting to ensure there’s a match with your profile
Gain Competitive Advantage
Do you know your competitive advantage? According to Wikipedia, competitive advantage is “strategic advantage one business entity has over its rival entities within its competitive industry.” If you are serious about business, you want to be at the forefront of any changes or trends in your industry. By establishing a presence on LinkedIn, gives you full access to resources, news, support and information.

In turn, you can continually create superior value for your customers and profits for your company.

Ask for Recommendations
If you are of good character and have built a successful professional reputation, then there is no reason not to ask your clients, colleagues, former employers or anyone familiar with you for a recommendation. With that being said, I suggest asking only people you know. Too many times I’ve been asked to give recommendations by people that I don’t know which is very awkward.

A client recently wrote “Sylvia is an excellent Life Coach and Advisor. She has given superb guidance and offered insight that has jump started my company's success. I will forever be thankful for her counsel in how it has helped my bottom line. Sylvia is reliable, trustworthy and offers out-of-the-box ideas and solutions. If you are in a slump and need genuine directions - contact Sylvia Browder!”

Create a Group
Make your online presence felt by creating a group specific to your industry to share common interest. This allows you to connect with like-minded professionals for networking, collaboration and lead generation. As a group creator, be sure to share your knowledge and expertise by answering discussion questions and posting relevant information. Here are a few tips to optimize your marketing efforts:
  • Add RSS feed of your blog to drive traffic back to your website.
  • Include links to your Facebook, Twitter and other social network sites.
  • Stay in contact with your members by sending a message on a regular basis.
  • Include keywords about your business in the description of your group.
In 2009, I created National Association of Women on the Rise, a professional group for women entrepreneurs which currently have over 251 active members.

Join a Group
An important thing to consider when researching groups is to only join those that are relevant to you. Once you are a member, lend your professional knowledge by interacting with other members, respond to posts; share tips and articles; get connected to potential customers and partners; or test a new idea to get the reaction of group members.

I am currently a member of 48 professional women and small business groups. I schedule an hour per week to interact with most of them. This has been beneficial as I’ve gained contacts, new clients and new members joining my LinkedIn group.

Recruit Employees
Need to hire an employee? There are many benefits to companies looking to fill job vacancies. They can post jobs, recruit and hire qualified candidates. In a recent statement by LinkedIn officials, “We combine job listings, candidate search, trusted referrals and the power of networks to give you results." This allows you to find qualified candidates easily by using search options.

In addition, you can read recommendations of potential candidates to determine their character. To optimize your experience in researching potential candidates:
  • Search for resumes. Some job seekers will post their resume and it gives employers an advantage of scoping out a candidate in advance.
  • Change your status to ‘hiring’ as this will alert candidates that you are currently hiring. This allows them to freely seek your company out.
In conclusion, by following these tips, will allow you to market, grow and connect with people that matters for the success of your business.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Sylvia Browder is founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. The association’s mission is to provide professional and personal resources while uplifting and empowering women entrepreneurs through collaboration, education, mentoring, spiritual and peer support, leadership and networking. She has served as an online volunteer SCORE counselor since 2004. For FREE weekly articles go to Sylvia Browder’s Blog for Women Entrepreneurs, www.sylviabrowder.com. She can be contacted at info@nawomenrise.com.
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You're invited to attend The International Association

Expert Series POWER call with Social Media and Online Marketing

Expert Michele Scism.

 

10744065065?profile=original

 

 

If you've been thinking about upleveling your business

via Linkedin you don't want to miss this call! 


 


Michele will share with us......
Why she thinks Linkedin is so important for you to achieve greater success.

How to get started on Linkedin

Changes you can expect to see in your business in the next 30, 90 days to a year if you get started after the call


And the 3 Big Mistakes she sees small business owners make on linkedin

When: Thursday, June 23 at 1:00 pm PST, 4:00 pm EST
Can't make the call? The Audio replay will be available for a limited time to all registrants.

Secure your seat now for this POWER call!
http://bit.ly/iacweseries

 

 



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Are You a Microwave or Are You an Oven?

When the going gets tough...the tough gets going, right? At least that is what I have always been told. Unfortunately I rarely get to witness it. It has become evident that most people don't really have what it takes to press on and persevere through the storm. But for those of us that do, it can be extremely rewarding.We live in what I would consider a microwave society. We want everything fast and with little to no effort. We have developed a sense of entitlement that leads us to believe that we don't have to work hard to be rewarded. We want rewards and accolades to be easily attained. We have lost sight of all the hard work and dedication that goes into reaching our goals and having the lives of our dreams.Think about it....everything that you have ever had that was worth keeping did not come to you overnight..did it? For mothers, it took nine months to finally be able to receive that bundle of joy. For those with college degrees, it took years to achieve those ranks. Not many can say that they are a "true" overnight success. Easy come...Easy go!! When we work hard for our rewards, we are much more apt to take better care and have a greater sense of pride.For those looking for true success in life and in your business, know that it does not happen overnight. You must put in a great amount of work and dedication. There will be sacrifices that you must make and the transition will not be comfortable. Take massive action for an extended amount of time.Don't put your life in the microwave and expect it to come out perfect...Put it in the oven and let it cook slowly and consistently. The finished product will be much more appetizing!!

 

Randa Johnson "Helping You Brand the Best You" http://www.randajohnson.com

 

 

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Gaining Credibility as an Author

 

Getting endorsements for your book from published authors or experts in your field is key to establishing your credibility, and we advise that authors start soliciting endorsements as soon as possible.

 

Benefits of endorsements:

  • They lend credibility to your work
  • They pump up your publicity
  • Bookstore buyers consider them when deciding whether to place orders
  • Consumers look at them when deciding whether to buy a book
3 Steps to Successfully Soliciting Endorsements:

 

Step 1: Evaluate your contact network.
Consider experts in your field. Do you know any potential endorsers? If not, do you know anybody who can put you in touch with a potential endorser? Look at the bestselling authors in your genre. Do you have some way of contacting them directly? If all else fails, you can try contacting them through their publishers or agents.

 

Step 2: Determine which celebrities or experts are appropriate for the book’s subject.
The most effective endorsements are from other authors, particularly bestselling authors. Celebrity endorsements may also be helpful, but only if the celebrity is known to have an interest in the subject matter of the book. For business books, well-known business leaders are also good endorsers. Consider the different audiences for your book and work toward a variety of endorsements that, together, speak to all of your readers.

 

Step 3: Request endorsements by preparing a clean copy of your manuscript or an ARC along with a cover letter.
It’s a common practice to write a sample endorsement or two and include them in the cover letter. Indicate that it is a sample endorsement, and the endorser is welcome to use it, modify it, or write an original endorsement. Pre-written endorsements not only improve your chances of receiving an endorsement but also help emphasize the selling points that you’re interested in publicizing. Keep endorsements short and sweet. A couple of sentences is an ideal length to capture readers’ and buyers’ attention. 

 

 

Rochelle Carter is the President/CEO of Ellechor Publishing House. Ellechor is a publisher of Inspirational Christian books, including Adventure and Romantic fiction, and non-fiction/devotionals dealing with Relationships, Suicide Prevention and General Self-Help.

Contact Us | Write for Our Blog | Latest Publications

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Successful Southern Sistas is pleased to present our May Feature Friday interview. This month we’re featuring Kimberly S. George, Owner of Lab-Ratz Technical Solutions in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. This under 30 tech savvy Diva is not taking no for an answer as she builds her successful Information Technology services company. Recently, we had a moment to speak to Kimberly and to learn more about how she’s blazing a trail for other women in the information technology field.


Please tell us about your background? I’m Kimberly George the owner of Lab-Ratz Technical Solutions.
I am a Louisiana native but relocated to Dallas Texas in 2007 after finishing grad school at Southern University A&M College to pursue a career in technology. In 2009, I started Lab-Ratz Technical Solutions – an IT services company that provides computer and network support to small businesses in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex.


Wow, there aren’t that many women in the I.T. field, How are you blazing a trail?
I think that I’m blazing a trail for women in IT honestly by having the courage to start a business in an industry that is male dominated. By starting Lab-Ratz, I’m showing the world that I/women are just as knowledgeable in IT and capable of helping small businesses owners with computer problems as my male counterparts.


What is the best business advice you’ve received?
The best business advice I’ve received was to remain resilient in my endeavors as a small business owner and to never give up on anything that you truly love and are passionate about doing. I’ve also been told to surround yourself with people who are going to lift you higher. For me, surrounding yourself with people who have your best interest at heart is very important. As a small business owner, there are times that you will get discouraged, and want to quit. Surrounding yourself with positive people who continuously motivate you to pursue your dreams no matter what– can make all of the difference in the world.

 

Read the Full Interview

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Affiliate Marketing is a great way to make some additional income outside of your primary business?  Here's A "Done-For-You" Prospecting and Booking Service that can earn you $800 each time you refer other network marketers, stay at home moms or anyone looking to make some extra monthly income.

 

How would you like to receive an email that says " "YOU GOT MONEY!"  Click below to learn how!

http://bit.ly/iECZ3D

 

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You’ve joined a network marketing company….Now What? Wait for the sales and recruits to start piling up, right? WRONG!! It is not going to happen. Your upline is seeing great success, some of your team members are seeing great success, why aren’t you? The non-sugar coated answer would be that it is ALL YOUR FAULT!! Plain and simple. I know that you may be telling yourself that you are doing all that you can to succeed in your business, but are you really? Are you really taking all of the necessary steps to get where you want to be or are you only half-stepping and expecting to reap the full benefits? First of all let me tell you this….. Never base your expectations on anyone else within your organization. You will be disappointed every time. You cannot compare yourself to others especially those that you see doing extremely well in your industry. You should look to them for inspiration and encouragement and not as competition or comparison.As a new network marketer it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to gain as much knowledge about your company, its products and services as you possibly can. How can you sell something that you know nothing about? How can you develop a passion for something that you yourself don’t understand? You can’t!! You should be a regular consumer of your products. Then and only then will you understand them, relate to them and be able to help others understand and relate to them. This is when your personal organization (your downline) will begin to take lasting shape.Sure, for some it can be easy to initially explode in the business without any real knowledge, but soon the flame will fizzle. I see it often in this industry, you have those that do absolutely amazing. Above and beyond what any others are doing in the company and then before you know it, they are back to square one. Don’t be one of those people. Build your foundation on solid ground from the beginning.If you have joined a company that you really believe in, why wouldn’t you give your all? Didn’t you join the company for specific reasons to begin with? More time, financial freedom, funding your retirement, etc. Whatever the case may be, remember that none of that is going to happen without your full undivided attention to your goals and expectations.Everyone is different. Find YOUR niche. Don’t depend on others to work your business and hold your hand the entire way. Sure your upline should always be available to help you, but that is not always a reality. More often than not, we are left to figure it out on our own. Use the resources and tools available to you. The internet is an excellent source for information about absolutely anything. Take full advantage of it. Your company website should also have tools, resources, tutorials, etc. to help you.Ask yourself a few questions like….. Have you established a clear goal? Have you set goals that are within your reach? What is it that you’re comfortable with? How can you more effectively work your business for maximum results? What knowledge do you need? Whose help do you need? What system should be in place? These are just a few questions that should be addressed. Don’t leave your success to chance. Be active and watch your dreams begin to take flight.

 

Randa Johnson "Helping You Brand the Best You"

 

For More tips, visit http://www.randajohnson.com

 

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Networking for the "Authorpreneur"

In order to efficiently reach a large number of people, you need to develop and leverage a network of contacts who will help you identify, build, and connect with your platform. These individuals include, but are not limited to:
  • Publishing professionals (e.g., your editor, publicist, or agent)
  • Booksellers in your genre
  • Other writers
  • Members of industry or trade organizations to which you belong
  • Media personalities (e.g., reporters, radio hosts, or producers)

 

The Author Power Team

As an author, you are always on the lookout for new ways to improve your marketing strategy and grow your platform. One of the best ways to do this is by developing your power team.

 

What’s a power team? A familiar term among business networking professionals, a power team is comprised of individuals and/or businesses with whom you share common goals or a common client base.

 

How can it help you as an author? The members of your power team can help you improve your strategy, connect with more readers, identify more opportunities, hone your message, and expand your reach.

 

Let’s look at key members of an author power team and how they help you build your career.

  • Publisher: Your publisher is an industry insider. If you have chosen wisely, your publisher should have a track record of producing successful books in your genre and should be able to provide you with tips and insights to help you get on bookshelves and in front of readers. Keep your contacts at the publisher in the loop so they are aware of all of your marketing and publicity efforts. This helps them keep your book stocked when and where it needs to be available. They can also give you feedback on publishing best practices.
  • Publicist: A publicist helps you develop your marketing strategy and puts you in front of big media—radio, television, print, and online. A publicist also helps you hone your message and clarify your brand so you can reach readers. They have spent years cultivating relationships with media and industry professionals and have access to contacts you may not be able to reach on your own.
  • Other Authors in Your Genre: Wait—they’re your competition, right? Not necessarily. If you have differentiated yourself well, your work will stand out when compared to other authors’ work. Each author has something unique to give to the reader, but authors in the same genre share the same audience and are marketing to the same people. If you have been growing your platform and marketing your book, you should already have a following. Pull your efforts together with another author doing the same and you can double the strength of your platform and gain twice the reach.
  • Bloggers: Bloggers who write about your topic or genre also share face time with your audience. They often have an open dialogue with a following that listens to their advice and trusts their recommendations. Develop relationships with bloggers in your category and offer to write guest posts, send them a free review copy of your book, share links, or come up with cross-promotional activities.
  • Industry Gurus: No matter what topic or genre your book covers, there will be some movers and shakers already commanding a strong following in the same area. Cultivate a relationship with these people. They’re connected and know what your readers are looking for. They can get you into events and speaking engagements that will put you directly in front of your target audience.

 

These are the primary members of your power team, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box while choosing members. Each book and genre has special needs and interests that are served by many people. Aligning yourself with those people will help you engage your audience and, in turn, sell more books.

 

Remember, just as with your audience, be willing to provide value before you ask for anything from your power team in return. You are looking to cultivate relationships, not just take what you can get. Here are a few key things to remember as you build your team:

  1. Be sincerely interested in the other person.
  2. Find ways to help them meet their goals.
  3. Be willing and able to promote and/or endorse them.
  4. Relationships are a series of meaningful interactions. Make time to check in and see how they are doing, without looking for something in return.

 

Above all, treat them as you would want to be treated. If you are truly interested, considerate, and helpful, they will reciprocate.

 

Keeping Track of Opportunities

As an author, you’re constantly chasing down opportunities to share your book, speak to a crowd, serve as a resource, and perform other platform-building activities. People will often say no to your first request—but don’t let that discourage you or stop you from pursuing a lead after the first contact!

 

It takes at least six points of contact for a message to sink in—six—yet more than 75 percent of the time, people stop pursuing leads after the first point of contact (Good Day 2009). Sometimes authors stop pursuing because they receive a no on the first try, other times because the number of leads to manage is overwhelming. Cultivating relationships is crucial to your career, but it doesn’t need to take up all of your time.

 

The first thing you need to do is gather contact information. Every time you meet a lead or come across someone in a search, collect his or her contact information or business card right away. Enter them into a simple database such as Microsoft Outlook, PlanPlus, or Salesforce. Spreadsheets and Rolodexes can be hard to manage effectively, but databases like these allow you to classify your contacts, set up reminders, add notes, and keep track of all interactions. You can also consider adding new contacts on LinkedIn if you feel you know the person well enough to engage them online.

 

Next, you want to categorize your leads. Not all leads are created equal, and each group requires a different type of interaction. Here is a simple way to classify your leads:

  1. Hot or “A” Leads: These are people interested in having you speak or scheduling you for some other event. These contacts are ready to go and need to receive frequent, personal contact in order for the relationship to develop into an event or opportunity. These contacts go to the top of your list.
  2. Warm or “B” Leads: These are people who showed interest, but who have not yet decided whether they want to work with you. You will need to provide them with more information and work to cultivate the relationship.
  3. Cold or “C” Leads: Cold leads are people with whom you have no rapport, such as those you find on the Internet or find out about through third-party sources. These contacts are usually managed through what is called “drip line marketing.” Drip line marketing consists of things like newsletters or emails you send out to a distribution list on an infrequent basis. You may need to send an introductory email and then a reminder a few months later or add them to an informational newsletter until they opt out or say they are not interested. Setting up a drip line campaign is to help you cultivate those six points of contact and to educate potential clients who may turn into A or B leads.

 

Sorting your leads into these categories will help you better identify and manage opportunities as they come. Don’t forget to provide value first, and remember that your leads are people. Treat them with respect and consideration, and always show your appreciation for their time.

 

 

Rochelle Carter is the President/CEO of Ellechor Publishing House. Ellechor is a publisher of Inspirational Christian books, including Adventure and Romantic fiction, and non-fiction/devotionals dealing with Relationships, Suicide Prevention and General Self-Help.

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Imagine being sound asleep and dreaming your piggy bank or shall we say, merchant account, is being filled to the brim with cash? So, you wake up, roll out of bed, fix a cup of coffee, check your email and notice several new transactions from your merchant. You realize it was not a dream after all! Cha-ching, you’ve created a marketing strategy to earn passive income continuously! In fact, many savvy entrepreneurs are creating online business models using the internet and social media to market 24/7. They are literally turning on their computers every morning and are greeted with multiple sales.

So how can you create a marketing strategy that works even when you’ve stepped away to go golfing, attend your son’s baseball game, on vacation or sleeping? Here are 5 inexpensive marketing strategies to make money 365 days per year.

Launch a Business Blog

As an entrepreneur, it makes good business sense to establish a blog. Once you decide to become a blogger, it is imperative to gain exposure. By doing so, will build your subscriber base and revenue. Here are 3 tips to automate your blog:

Blog Directories:

Blog links are vital by which search engines establish who, what and why of your blog and ultimately how you are rank in search results. Subscribing to blog directories will help in link building. Many bloggers list their articles in blog directories. There are literally hundreds of them, but here are a few that we am familiar with:
  • Blogarama is a categorized directory of blogs and journals. www.blogarama.com
  • iBlog Business Directory is a blogging portal featuring the best blogs and news in the
  • Business blogoshpere. They use strict editorial guidelines ensure the integrity of its growing collection of business bloggers and related business topical information. http://www.iblogbusiness.com
  • Technorati is a real-time search engine for blogs that tracks what is current and popular. It offers the ability to search blog postings using a tag library, list your blog and find out who's linking to it and from where. http://technorati.com
AD-vertising:
  • Pay-per-action: a blogger can earn money from the advertiser each time visitor clicks on the ad and performs an action such as making a purchase.
  • Pay-per-click: a blogger is paid by the advertiser each time visitor clicks on the advertiser's ad.
  • Pay-per-impression: a blogger is paid by advertiser each time the ad appears on the blog's page.
Affiliate Ads

Many bloggers use affiliate ads to provide products to customers. Bloggers are compensated when purchases are made. The key is to offer products that compliment your business. For example, a benefit to members of National Association of Women on the Rise is access to business resources, such as:
  • Aweber: an auto responder service provider
  • BizFilings: help small business owners to form corporation, limited liability company (LLC) or other business structure; with a full range of business filing and compliance products and tools.
  • 1Shopping Cart: an automated shopping cart solution to manage all aspects of an eCommerce business - reducing operational costs and increasing efficiency.
Two popular affiliate advertising programs:
  • Amazon Associates: allows business owners to make money selling affiliate products.
  • eBay Affiliates: pays Internet publishers, Web masters, online partners, and eBay sellers to drive new users and sales to eBay.
Write an E-book

Writing and selling e-books are big business! This is due to the popularity of the internet and digital products. Many entrepreneurs use this technique to earn passive income. You don’t have to be an expert in writing e-books, merely, having a message that appeals to your audience. Consider writing a ‘how to’ on a subject that you are an authority on. The possibilities are endless! In addition to making money while you sleep, you will:
  • Establish expert status within your industry
  • Fulfill the need of impulse visitors of your website
  • Earn additional income by revising as your industry changes, and offering your new editions to your current and future audience
Create a Membership Association

Virtual membership sites are very popular as it provides a continual source of recurring revenue. The revenue can be frequent and substantial as members join. After creating your first successful membership site, you can use the same process to create several new membership sites. A few things to consider:

Determine your market. It is important to define your target market. Do you already have a following that you can convert into members? If not, consider starting a group on Facebook or LinkedIn. This is how I grew in popularity as business expert. By doing this, made it easier to start National Association Women on the Rise. Recruiting and retaining members will enable you to have a successful site.

Create content for your members. Be creative in how you provide information to your members. For example, we use:
  1. Audio: Audio Acrobat
  2. Written content: Blog articles, interviews, downloadable PDF files, eBooks, resource guide
  3. Video: Vimeo, Camtasia
Research membership site software. This will enable you to manage your member site. A few things to consider:
  1. Membership levels: you can offer two or more levels adding additional benefits with each one.
  2. Encrypted payment gateways such as Authorize.net
  3. Training program using webinars, teleseminars and inviting expert guests
Select a Membership Platform. There are many to choose from so do your homework before making a decision. Here are a few that we are familiar with:
  1. Wordpress using Wishlist and Buddy Press
  2. Ning
  3. Membergate
  4. Wild Apricot
Develop and sell an App

We are constantly introduced to new applications on the market for either cellular services such as I Phones, Blackberry and other PDA’s; or social network sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. Why not create your own app? Though technical knowledge is helpful, it’s not necessary. It is important to plan what kind of app you want to create; and it should be a practical and worth the price you will charge for it.

According to Lloyd Reshard, founder of Tip or Tap Marketing, LLC., and an award-winning electrical engineer with over 20 years experience as a research scientist, says, “Apps use your phone's web browser, so in that sense they are WebPages. The get more complicated when they interact with the native features of your phone. Some typical native phone features are sound, touch, GPS,accelerometer, clock, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and temperature just to name a few. Using the Socialight do it yourself location based platform I didn't have to write a single line of code to develop the 1st Friday iPhone app.”

As a bonus, Reshard is offering the iPhone app, ‘1st Friday Mobile’ available to our readers for free at the Apple App Store. For Android and other smart phones users, can use the mobile website version of the app at 1stFriday.mobi.

In conclusion, by developing a strategy for creating residual income will ensure that your business is making money whether you are working or NOT!

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Sylvia Browder is founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. The association’s mission is to provide professional and personal resources while uplifting and empowering women entrepreneurs through collaboration, education, mentoring, spiritual and peer support, leadership and networking. She has served as an online volunteer SCORE counselor since 2004. For FREE weekly articles go to Sylvia Browder’s Blog for Women Entrepreneurs, www.sylviabrowder.com. She can be contacted at info@nawomenrise.com.
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