strategy (17)

You left your corporate job (or perhaps it left you) and you’re finally self-employed. You get to finally live your dreams of business ownership right. but do you have the right mindset? Are you still treating yourself like an employee of your own business? What are the 3 things you need to do to shift your mindset from thinking "paycheck to paycheck" to thinking like a real employer?

When I said "that's IT" from my last corporate layoff (yes I had 2) I was ready to embrace self-employment head-on. I had clients almost immediately and had replaced my corporate salary and then some. BUT

I was overwhelmed, I didn't know know to set boundaries with my clients, I felt like I had to "earn" every penny they paid me. I was  "crackberry" addict (my Blackberry stayed on 24/7 literally. I spend 40+ hours on client work with little time to actually build my business. Despite the fact I had 15 years+ experience and a solid background in operations and systems. I was still struggling and overwhelmed. Even though I was my own boss, I was treating my business and my value like I was still an employee.

Listen to this latest podcast for the 3 things I learned about myself and my business that literally changed the course of my business.

 

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Multipassionate entrepreneurs often suffer from this...Self-competition - doing WAY too much in your business or having so many visions and passions that it's difficult and challenging to know exactly what to focus on - where and when to ask for help and how to really impact change with your work. What is the key "thing" you MUST know and understand if you desire your visions to truly manifest into real impact?

I'm excited to introduce my new PODCAST show "Liberation Conversations with Katrina" discussing a issue I struggled with for YEARS in my business. The issue that caused me to start a business on Monday and by Friday I'd be "on the next". Or to start a project and then find myself completely overwhelmed (and underperforming) because I was doing waaaay too much and not delegating properly. I got the wake up call and in this podcast I reveal the "thing" we must all do to be both effective and sane. The truth revealed here may ruffle a few feathers and be uncomfortable to hear but often the truth isn't comfortable, but it's always necessary if you intend to grow.

Listen to this podcast, then leave me your thoughts, comments. Do you agree with me? Disagree? Are you challenged in your own business with "Self-competition?"

Until next week

-Katrina

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How to raise your prices without losing your clients

Eventually in your business you’ve probably considered or are forced to increase your fees or prices. And for many doing so without losing your most valuable clients/customers comes with a level of anxiety and perhaps fear.

Will they go to another competitor?
Will they begin to bad mouth me and tarnish my reputation?
Will they simply laugh at me and threaten to leave if I raise my prices another penny?


However at some point, especially if you offer time based services (charge by the hour), you’ll need to increase your fees, give yourself a raise and expand your business. We all have the same 24 hours a day it’s impossible if you are a solo entrepreneur to grow your biz without hiring new staff, or increasing fees.
So If you’re in that critical space where your palms are sweating, you’re staring at your bank account or an open email to your client where you have to break the news that you must raise your fees - here’s what you need to do and how to go about raising your prices.

1st. EVALUATE YOUR TOP CLIENT LIST. While all your clients/customers are important to you, those that consistently invest in your services are your Top clients. Evaluate the services you clearly offer to your top paying (or frequent paying) clients. What are they buying from you? What questions or issues do they seem to have that you may not be charging them for? What are they saying about your services right now? Often clients will hire you for what they think they need and then realize they need you for more.It’s up to you to be in the position of power to realize exactly what that is. There is hidden (profit) potential in those unspoken needs of your clients.

2nd TURN IT INTO A PACKAGE. Turn what they buy from you that is related to task/time (hourly) into packaged automated services. Ex. when I created Your Simple Bookkeeper, I created it as a monthly automated service to tackle bookkeeping task at a monthly recurring fee. This allowed me to package my “time driven” services and hire other bookkeepers to actually do the work so I could be available to offer higher end consulting services. Automating (or systemizing) your services and business is a common struggle for business owners as many like the control of knowing they did the work, however remember there are only 24 hours a day and you need most of them to work ON your business (more clients, partnerships, exposure) not IN. Your clients will appreciate your keen insight into entrepreneurship.

3rd MAKE IT SIMPLE. Create one sheets of those simple services you’re now automating or have created packages for. One sheets are literally that, a one sided designed document with your service or product description on it. It gives the reader all the information they NEED to know about what you offer to make a decision on hiring you. You can place your new automated time driven services on your website or "work with me" page. Ensure to include a payment link so potential customers can submit a payment (or if you need them to inquire first - a way for them to email you). Automate your hourly based services as much as possible. 

4th. SEND A LETTER. Send your existing clients a letter – written to them as specifically as possible (or call them, invite to coffee, etc) and explain to them that you are seeking to expand and offer more services to them and want to serve them in more ways. Having this personal touch goes along way. Like in #1 - getting to know your clients is important. You are in the position of power - you were hired to provide a solution and often that solution isn't in what you're being paid for, but in those consistent questions you're being asked that you're not charging for. Once you've realized that, and have now increased your fees. Compassionately talk to your clients, get them on board - you'll find that most are eager and ready to have you do more for them.

5th. MAKE IT COMPLIMENTARY. You may offer them the same services they are currently buying from you at a slightly higher fee (your new higher price) but you’ll offer 2 of your task driven services for “free” or “complimentary” Ex. YSB’s bookkeeping services are $75 an hour for most businesses. Our Small Business packages run form $150 a month to $1250 a month. At the $1250 level, bookkeeping becomes “complimentary” as the bulk of the services they are getting become more consultative in nature. 

There are countless other strategies that I’ll share in subsequent blog post about how to do this, but these 5 steps are great starters. The moral of the story is to not become self-victimized by fear of losing clients when it’s time to raise your fees. Do it with confidence, and be clear on WHY you’re doing it. You could lose some clients, but again you probably WILL open yourself to a new group of clients eager to pay your higher fee :-) .

Like this? Make sure you subscribe to this blog on the right…more goodies in store for those who do.

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Katrina M. Harrell is a Award-Winning Entrepreneur and Business Strategist and 3x Best-selling author. She trains and teaches women entrepreneurs how to create solid 6-figure and above business strategies focused on strategic pricing and marketing. She is co-author of "How She Got Free: A 5-step Spiritual Business Manual for Women Who Lead through Entrepreneurship". 

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Moving Your Business from Potential to Profitability in 2013

 

 

Entrepreneurs – as you think about your business plan for 2013, consider the following questions:

  • Did your gross receipts exceed the level of effort and resources put in the business in 2012? (This answer indicates whether you have a business, per IRS standards, or just a hobby)
  • Are you aware of the substantial changes in your industry that will impact your business next year? (This includes new technologies, new competitors, new laws, etc.)
  • If Business Growth is one of your goals for 2013, have you already figured out what will be the “RIGHT” type of growth? (i.e. not just more clients, but the clients with whom you will have continuous sales next year)
  • If you are a Coach or Speaker, what “new” insights, services or products do you plan to bring to your clients or audiences next year? (In other words, what will make you stand apart from all the others in your field?)

As a solo entrepreneur or a small business owner, you may have the “potential” to make millions, but if you have not mapped out a strategy for addressing issues such as the ones listed above, increasing your profitability in 2013 is unlikely. Your business plan outlines your business structure, but a solid strategy is the bridge to get you to your destination.

As entrepreneurs, we must relentlessly pursue our highest level of potential in business. Utilizing our full potential empowers us to serve the world with our unique gifts and talents, while being compensated accordingly for doing so. I believe that every entrepreneur should strive for extraordinary success. If you know the precise destination in which you’d like to take your company, then you have a definite target for which to aim.

First, let’s look at why you need a strategy and not just a business plan:

  • Business plans are essential to have, but they are used primarily to start a business, obtain funding, or direct ongoing operations
  • A strategic plan is used to provide focus, direction and action in order to move your business from where it is now to where you want to go
  • A strategic plan is critical for prioritizing your three most valuable, but limited resources (time, talent and capital) to grow the revenue and increase the return on investment
  • A strategic plan focuses on building a sustainable competitive advantage and is futuristic in nature

Strategy helps you make clear and conscious choices about the direction of your company in relation to what’s happening in the dynamic business environment. Armed with strategic knowledge, you’re in a much better position to respond proactively to a changing environment.

Second, let’s review some of the fine points and benefits of small business strategy:

  • To establish a unique value proposition as compared to your competitors
  • To enable you to do the RIGHT things at the RIGHT time
  • To identify the tradeoffs and clarify what you should not do
  • To focus on activities that fit together and reinforce each other
  • To execute your business plan in a way that provides distinct and tailored value to customers

Third, strategic planning is the most effective way to “position” your solo venture or small business for success and profitability. Positioning helps you align your business activities with the goals that you have set and it helps differentiate your products and services from others in the mind of the consumer. If you think positioning your business strategically is an easy task, consider the following senarios:

  • The owner of a local bakery wants to remain small and local, but needs to increase profits. How should the owner adjust and align all business activities, including operations, inventory, marketing and customer service in order to achieve these goals in 2013?
  • A clothing designer wants to position her business to grow into a much bigger regional or national company in 2013. In what way would she need to adjust operations and inventory to cater to a broader client base? How will the owner develop the distribution channels needed to achieve this goal? How much will she need to invest initially – before profits?
  • A Health & Wellness Coach has been planning to launch a new suite of wellness products in 2013. She just found out that another contender in the market is also launching a similar suite of products with a sophisticated online portal at a much lower rate. The competitor is also positioning themselves to become a player in the healthcare exchange market in 2014. How should this Coach adjust her go-to-market strategy?

These are actal strategy senarios from three of my current clients. As you can see, developing a profitable and competitive strategy is much more complex than just putting together a business plan. You have to know the direction you want your company or solo venture to take, understand how to position yourself, and align the various elements of your enterprise with that directional goal. This avoids wasting time and effort on activities that don't add to your bottom line.

I realize that it’s not easy, so I want to help you develop a solid Game Plan for your business in 2013. Because I want you to succeed, you don’t have to work through this process alone. Joined by two other phenomenal business coaches (Chloe Taylor Brown and Cheryl Budden Earls), we have scheduled two workshops in an effort to coach and train you in the development of your “2013 Strategic Play Book”!

Follow the link below to find out more about the Strategic Coaching Workshops that I'll be offering in December, with Chloe Taylor Brown and Cheryl Budden Earls! Armed with the right strategy, you can Rock 2013 and drastically increase your profitability!

Click Here To Get Started with the 2013 Small Business Prosperity Challenge Today: www.moniquestoner.com/2013-prosperity-challenge. It's totally FREE & there's no obligation.

Also, for additional 2013 Business Planning Tips, read my Five Steps to Business Success in 2013 article - http://www.moniquestoner.com/five-steps-to-business-success-in-2013/

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Image Courtesy of Fotolia

If you are like most women in business, you are looking for new strategies to stimulate growth. Whether solutions to better communicate or how to best manage employees, here are 5 Proven Strategies to Accelerate Business Growth:

 

Expand thru Alliance Partnership

An extremely effective strategy for expanding your business is by forming an alliance with non-competitive companies. This gives you an instant marketing presence in front of potential clients. Do you know other companies to whom you share mutual customers with? You should be running, not walking to find who they are and how you can team up and benefit from each other.

For instance, say you are a broker… idea partnerships would include Realtors, mortgage lenders, title companies, appraisers, insurance agents and home builders. The key to this is to learn as much as you can about each partner’s business so that you can promote it as you would your own. This new strategic alliance will enable each of you to grow more rapidly as you have a sales team working on your behalf. It makes so much sense to work smarter and not harder!

To find businesses that complement yours, jot down every linked product or service that you don’t offer but that is related to what you do.

Here are 3 D’s for a Sound Collaboration:

  • Draft an agreement outlining expectations of the partnership
  • Develop a bond with your new alliance partners
  • Decide how marketing activities will be initiated between partners such as handing out marketing material at various networking functions, exchanging banners and links on websites or share a big marketing project.

 

Build a High Performing Internal Team

Your employees are the lifeline of your business. Treat them well! Promote a healthy and professional culture so that they share your company’s mission, vision, goals and metrics. In addition, challenge and hold each employee accountable to achieve outstanding results. This requires serious dedication and commitment on your part, but well worth it.

Here are 5 ways to invest in your employees:

  • Provide a competitive wage
  • Develop a benefit package
  • Allow flexible schedules
  • Offer professional development thru education and training
  • Create advancement opportunities


By providing security for your employees, you’ll have a dedicated and loyal team. This can lead to long-term success of your company.

 

Join Women Networks

Many of us know the value of networking. As women, it is important to support each other. A great way to do so is by joining and participating in women networks. There is nothing like socializing with like-minded professionals! Networking is one of the most powerful and cost effective marketing tools and lead generation for small businesses.

There are many advantages to joining networks that are targeted and designed by and for women.

For instance, you can:

  • Make connections and grow your business
  • Learn from industry leaders
  • Get answers to your most pressing issues
  • Form lasting personal and professional relationships
  • Network, brainstorm and empower others in their business pursuits


Go Green Business

Many women are choosing to adapt sustainable and Eco-friendly business practices. Managing a green business is environmentally smart and good for your business's bottom line as it allows you to conserve resources and cut down on waste… thus, saving you money!

Here are 5 Go Green Tips:

  • Read email from your computer. Avoid printing to save on paper.
  • Use electronic invoices and statements. This saves on postage.
  • Scan and email instead of faxing. Again, saves on costs of paper
  • Turn off equipment when not in use. This can reduce energy costs by up to 50%.
  • Use natural light during the day. Substantial savings on your power bill


These are small and simple ways to go green - but can yield big results!

 

Pay It Forward

The purpose of Pay It Forward is merely taking the focus off of oneself and finding a way to render an act of kindness that will positively impact another life. With success comes a responsibility to help or support other women. For example, since 2004, I've spent countless hours as a volunteer SCOREcounselor and personally mentor aspiring entrepreneurs.

Here are 3 ways to pay it forward:

  • mentor someone
  • make a donation to a non-profit agency
  • offer to do pro bono work on a project where your skills are needed


In conclusion, due to challenging times, it is important to learn to think outside of the box for innovative ways to grow your business. Once you find strategies that work, the outcome can result in an abundance of customers and increased revenue. 

 

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 a small business consultant, trainer and author. She is founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. She has served as a Project Director of a non-profit women’s organization for the last six years and an online volunteer SCORE counselor since 2004. For FREE weekly articles go to Sylvia Browder’s Blog for Women Entrepreneurs, www.sylviabrowder.com.

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WHAT IS IT TO PING A WEBSITE

WHAT IS IT TO PING A WEBSITE

by Rickey Johnson

ASA Instructor ( http://www.asanetwork.biz)

 

First an explanation ( now this is the simple version)

Ping is technical term used to describe how computer "speak" to each other.

To determine if a website is working (connected). A person "pings" that web address and translate the data received back to establish if a website is connecting.

OK enough techie talk.

 

WHY PING

I read this explanation for pinging on a blog ( interesting huh?)

 

The first question should be, WHY to ping a website?

Well, pinging is a way for search engines to update themselves quickly when you change your website content.

You want to ping a website after any big changes so that you can get that information to the search engines ASAP.

The quicker you ping, the quicker you get higher search engine slots and such.

Bloggers especially, should take heed, as they update frequently.

 

OK, now I will add my two cents ( and you might get change back)

People are using every "tool" they can to get people to pay attention to their information.

Blogging, ( writing an article in putting that information in a blog. LIKE RIGHT NOW) is one way to get people attention.

Yes, you are a BLOGGER, as soon as you write an article, and post it to your group site or blog site)

Congratulations!!!

But, how do you get the blog websites  to pay attention to your blog?

You got it  PING!!!

Inexpensive, ( how about free?!) and requires no technical knowledge

ASA recommends, the ping service,  ping.fm,  as part of ASA member's promotion strategy. This service has been used by many and you know what websites you are "contacting"

There are other ping service available.

Some service do not show what site you are updating with your PING. You have to check for yourself. Most service will show which sites they are sending the ping to.

Check for yourself, which one(s), you think are more effective or even useful at all!!  Remember PINGING is just a tool.

Like any tool, it must be used correctly.

When post a article to your blog page ( you automatically are creating a blog page url ( web address) when you post). you should go ahead and use your ping service.

You are "telling" the search engines, " Hey over here!! I just added some fantastic information to my blog page and I want the world to know it!!".

OR

You can wait until a search engine search happens and finds your update.

 

Notice , this article ( BLOG) can be located at

this address

http://asaonline.spruz.com/blog.htm?a=&nid=BE79CE7C-17EA-43BE-B7A2-D60291CA2B7C

Now, that is a long address ( most ping services will shorten that address when you submit).

Now, if I want someone to read this blog, I can send that address to them manually (email) or post to other blog sites, or social groups ( suggest you use a link shortening service  should you do that), or  a ping service,  and PING it!!!

 

I can do all of the above or none.

 

Again, you must determine what works best for you!

The great news is you have ASA members and membership benefits that can help you in your education and research.

 

Pretty cool, huh?

Ok, may this information been of benefit to you and business growth
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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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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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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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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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7 Ways to Make a More Powerful Introduction

1. Introduce yourself clearly and concisely.
Though this may seem obvious, it is often overlooked or done poorly.First, say your name and company, then ask for the same from your listener.

2. Be specific about your line of work.
Don't say, I'm in technology or, I'm in insurance. Instead, bespecific. For example, “I specialize in creating targeted marketing solutions for business insurance agents. Or, We focus on the lowest possible fares for law firms that fly their lawyers on short notice, and we can get them waivers and favors to reduce their bottom lines.

3. Organize your introduction.
Prepare a 15-second opening statement that describes what you do. Ifyour product or service is technical or hard to explain, begin with a 15- to 20-second story that illustrates how you provide solutions for your clients. Stories help create and maintain listener interest.

4. Inform, don't sell.
Don’t come on with a sales pitch. Always remember that your initial goal is in building a relationship. When in doubt, remember a low-key introduction is always better.

5. Be yourself.
Not being yourself can make you look silly, artificial, or worse.Learn what makes people receptive and master that. There is no substitute for being genuine.

6. Be a better listener,
When someone else is speaking, it’s tempting to be thinking of yourresponse. But careful listening builds goodwill, trust, and confidence. Two ears, one mouth, use them proportionately.

7. Follow-up.
Always send a personal note to follow-up your conversations. It isunlikely your listener will need your product or service immediately. But don't be surprised when they make the call and say, I really appreciated your note when we met last. Oh, and can you do it via email? Sure, but a sending a personalized greeting card goes a long way toward making a lasting impression.

So after your next networking event, pick someone and send them a follow-up greeting card on me. Go to www.sendoutcards.com/80793 - click option #2 and follow the prompts.

Take care and stay blessed!
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Leadership

I just wanted to leave two quick tips that go hand in hand with success. Recognize that no matter what position you play or how big your business is at the present moment; you play a role in leadership. Design yourself to be the leader you would want to be. Recognize your leadership characteristics will become the culture of your organization, so lead well. Second, work daily to become the expert in your field. Taking small steps each day will assist you in becoming that go to person in your industry. I wish you and your business great success.
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Use Gratitude As a Positive Business Strategy
By Audrey Robinson

Posted By: The CSGroup INC.


Three Important Steps You Must Know!
Find Out More On This Article!
http://www.epiphanysoul.ws/


Gratitude is defined as a positive emotion that acknowledges a benefit that one has received or will receive. It is about showing others how thankful you are for their actions. This is reflected in how you act towards and respond to others. In business, gratitude is about realizing that every customer counts, even the difficult ones. It is about realizing that each day, each customer that you encounter is the reason that you are in business. Therefore, think of gratitude when you encounter your next customer, and think of how that customer can impact you personally. Show your customers how genuinely grateful you are for their business.

www.remaecsgroup.com, www.epiphanysoul.ws -Making it happen for you!

There are everyday actions that you can take to show your gratitude towards your customers:

1). Be willing to serve- even though at times, you may feel that you can't face another complaint, you must remember what the customer means to you- he is the life of your business. Then gratitude and willingness to serve will follow. You will find that this positive "friendly" attitude is contagious. Your customers will tell others how remarkable you are.

2). Always say thank you- thank you are two words that when used will always benefit you. Always thank your customers for their business and do it in a way that they know how grateful you are to have them (not just anyone) as a customer. Even though you are providing a service to them, they are building your business and in the long run providing opportunities for you and as well as for your family.

3). Always be positive- in any situation focus on only the positive. At times, this can be difficult to do, especially in the face of a ranting, raving customer. Stay calm and let the customer vent. Soon most will come back to reality. Keep in mind that this customer can impact you and your company. Therefore, think of a positive way to solve the problem. Then show the customer your gratitude for their allowing you to help them.

www.remaecsgroup.com, www.epiphanysoul.ws -Making it happen for you!

Remember, "when you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears" (Anthony Robbins). With a positive business strategy that includes gratitude as well as attitude, your business can flourish.

Audrey Robinson is a research scientist in Cell and Molecular Biology. She is dedicated to the field of cancer research and has striven to support this research through her internet business marketing products for financial education and wealth management.

www.remaecsgroup.com, www.epiphanysoul.ws -Making it happen for you!

The CSGroup INC.-Making It Happen For You!

All comments are welcome!
http://www.epiphanysoul.ws/

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Strategic Planning...What is it?

Strategic Planning sounds serious. And it is, but three points I want to make is that it doesn't have to be complicated, its needed for success and we use it all the time in every day life. Strategic planning is a road map. If you are taking a trip driving from one state to a state that you have never visited. You would not make that trip without a road map. You would want to make sure you have the right direction and know what roads to take. That is strategic planning and that example also shows how you use it in everyday life.In business, have a strategy so that you have direction and will successfully reach your business mission.For more tips visit www.pathfindersbr.org
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WANTED

eBiz Marketing is looking for contributing writers for articles and essays to be posted on eBiz Marketing and several of our network affiliate sites. These articles must be based on “Online Marketing Tactics/Techniques” and “How Your Business Can Survive the Recession”. We will provide a bio/bi-line and your contact information. Some articles may be posted in our “eBiz Marketing Newsletter" eBlast. Because our subscribers are typically African American Professionals , Companies interested in submitting articles must be 51% African American owned. eBiz Marketing has last say on what articles will be published. Once your article is approved we will contact you via email. You must have complete rights to publish your creative works. We at eBiz Marketing recognize the importance of featuring articles in blogs, blasts, and network sites. We are currently seeking your help in increasing our exposure. There are many excellent writers in this community. In exchange we hope to bring additional exposure to you and your business. We would additionally like to thank LaShonda for all the valuable information she provides on a daily basis.

Please Email the following information with your submissions to: articles@eBiznessonline.com NOTE All responses must come to email address provided. Thank you


Name
Company Name
Company Website
Contact Number
Brief Bio or Bi-Line (95 words or less).
URL Links to any RSS Feeds, Blog Sites, etc..
URL link to where you may want articled to be linked to.
All articles must be submitted in word or notepad only.
Please do not submit any pictures, logos, or graphics.

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Every entrepreneur should have an understanding of the power of business testimonials and references. They are nothing more or less than personal endorsements, but they can make a huge difference to your company's bottom line.People are extremely skeptical about doing business with companies they are unfamiliar with - especially if you're strictly online. Something as simple as a good testimony can give them the confirmation they need to buy whatever you're selling.Here's how to maximize on this:Take your best 5-10 clients and put their contact info on a list that you can easily email to interested ones. Be sure to let your clients know that from time to time, you may have someone contact them. Usually, most clients don't mind this - as long as people aren't calling them every single week.In addition, post some testimonials on your web site. Use pictures if you can.It sounds simple, but doing this will drastically increase your chances of converting a potential client into an actual client. This well demonstrates the power of word-of-mouth advertising; What satisfied customers have to say can be very influential to others.On the flip-side, be careful yourself when you are contemplating doing business with an unfamiliar company. Search their web site for testimonials. If there are none, call the company and ask for a list of references. This way you can talk to their actual clients, who can tell you whether or not they are legit.If a company tells you that they have no testimonials or references, this may be a sign that they are running a scam. Don't jump to conclusions too fast though - It could just be a new company, with no existing clients. This, however, is rarely the case.Dante LeeGet More Business Building Strategies atThe Black Business Cafe~www.theblackbusinesscafe.ning.com
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