Category Archives: Business Goals

Grow and Succeed in a Bad Economy

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Posted by admin on January 27, 2009 – 6:04 pm
Filed under Business Goals, attract clients, client attraction, market in economic crisis

The following article and excercise was taken (with permission) from Envision Lifeworks LLC, From Purpose to Profit Ezine, Issue 5 dated 1/22/09.

MINDSET WARMUP #2: U-TURN YOUR LIMITING BELIEFS

Find a time and place where you can quietly take 15 minutes to think and reflect. This exercise starts by stirring up some of the gunk that clogs your ability to thrive – your limiting beliefs.

Start by thinking of five beliefs that you live with that really hold you back. You can expand the number later, but five will help you get the idea. For example, as a Conscious Entrepreneur, you may sometimes find yourself yielding to limiting beliefs like:

·         “I have to work harder than I do now to increase my prosperity.”

·         “I can’t succeed because of this bad economy.”

·         “Clients will never pay me the fees that more successful providers command.”

·         “Who am I to be creating this business? People are going to see right through me and think I’m a fake.”

Can you remember having these or other beliefs with a similar tone of negativity? Don’t be hard on yourself if you have. You’re in good company! Even the most successful entrepreneurs combat the occasional encroachment of disempowering beliefs. But that said, don’t stay there. Your success will grow if you go on to the next steps below.
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Now we are going to turn this around. This year, and forever more, you are going to increasingly empower yourself by getting into the habit of doing two things.

1. Becoming actively aware of when you are yielding to beliefs that do not empower you. Awareness in itself is a big step forward, signaling that you are ready to grow beyond negative beliefs and into wonderful new territory.
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2. U-Turning the disempowering belief. You will do this by identifying an opposite, empowering belief that you will choose to enjoy in place of its negative opposite. Then, when you become aware of the negative belief trying to creep in, you will actively choose to think the positive replacement instead.

Here is how you might U-Turn the negative examples above:

Disempowering Belief: I have to work harder than I do now to increase my prosperity. U-Turn with Empowering Belief: Prosperity comes with ease when I yield to Spirit’s plan for my life.

Disempowering Belief: I can’t succeed because of this bad economy. Empowering Belief: Many entrepreneurs are thriving right now. I have chosen to grow and succeed along with them.

Disempowering Belief: Clients will never pay me the fees that more successful providers command. Empowering Belief: I provide great value to my clients and help improve their lives, and for that I deserve to be well-compensated.

Disempowering Belief: Who am I to be creating this business? People are going to see right through me and think I’m a fake. Empowering Belief:In building this business, I am being my most authentic self and using my genuine talents to succeed.

I know some will smirk and dismiss this approach as Pollyannaish or just a gimmick for “tricking” yourself into avoiding reality. I am not asking you to put on rose-colored glasses or deny physical realities like gravity and sunshine.

But your thoughts and your beliefs are a different matter. You have a choice. You have free will.

What I am suggesting is that you exercise this choice and take complete responsibility for your thoughts and beliefs.

We all go through life endowing our strongly-held beliefs with the sacred status of “the truth,” whether these “truths” serve us or not. But know this: beliefs that are founded on negative drivers, like fear and doubt, are just your ego’s attempt to protect you. Yes, your ego means well, but it will often do this by keeping you small with “truths” that prevent you playing big and making positive changes.

In choosing to U-Turn your limiting beliefs, you are exercising veto power over your ego and choosing to be and play bigger in life.

Each time you do this, you are choosing to grow and become stronger.

So try it!

Practice becoming aware of beliefs that don’t serve you, beliefs that just bring you down. Give yourself credit even if at first you get just that far. Then, practice taking a fast and sharp U-Turn on that stinkin’ thinkin’.  Peel some rubber as you turn your thoughts around to positive beliefs of your choosing. Then hit the pedal to the metal down the road of success and prosperity!

About the author:  Julio Blanco is a certified coach, veteran marketer, and conscious entrepreneur. As owner of Envision Lifeworks LLC, he champions other conscious entrepreneurs to align their business with their purpose and to achieve the abundance they desire on their own terms. He is the author of the from PURPOSE to PROFIT Ezine and serves clients through individual and group coaching, seminars, and public speaking. For more information, please visit www.EnvisionLifeworks.com.

Attract the Business You Desire: The Spiritual Art of Business Success

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Posted by admin on December 8, 2008 – 3:05 pm
Filed under Business Goals, Growing Business, attract clients, grow your business

Bountiful Business –

The Spiritual Art of Business Success

 

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Join Julio Blanco and Andrea Costantine for a F*REE Tele-Seminar, Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 6 p.m. EST, where they will divulge the success habits that you must acquire if you want to create a more successful business, work less, and have more ABUNDANCE in your life and business!

 

You will learn about the PROVEN principles and AMAZING techniques that will propel you into ATTRACTING exactly the business you desire.

 

You will not want to miss this opportunity to hear not one, but TWO incredible coaches combine their insight and expertise to bring you a powerful and value-filled F*REE tele-seminar on the habits you need to develop right now to increase your income while WORKING LESS!

 

Click here to register: http://www.courageousliving.org/bounitfulbusiness.html

 

 

Increase Business in Economic Crisis and Strengthen Your Brand Name

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Posted by admin on December 3, 2008 – 8:07 pm
Filed under Business Goals, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tip, attract clients, client attraction, increase site traffic, market in economic crisis, marketing trends, online marketing, press releases, small business marketing, target market, web traffic

During tough economic times, customers are more particular about businesses they’re buying from. Customers want to know you understand the current crisis and are there to help them with their needs. Showing clients you value their business during economic crisis expresses your dedication to customers and their satisfaction. Your company will appear as a helpful friend as opposed to a business looking for a quick buck.

Show customers your brand name symbolizes a business that cares about their families, their success, and their happiness.

·       Nurture relationships with customers. Sell them products / services with benefits that cater to their needs and be truthful about the benefits. Once customers recognize they have purchased a product / service worth their money, they’ll most likely come back. Strengthening brand loyalty is a great way to grab customers during this economic crisis and keep them when the economy rebounds.

 

·       Present customers with a mission statement on your website. When customers see a set of values on your site, they’ll be more likely to view your company as truthful and trustworthy. Customers are looking for businesses they can trust and who can satisfy their needs and the needs of their families.

 

·       Submit newsworthy press releases explaining company improvements and innovations during the economic crisis. This will show customers you dedicated to them.

Strengthening brand loyalty in tough times will gain customers now and keep them in the future. For more helpful tips on marketing in economic crisis and to learn about our many marketing services, visit Michelle Salater Writing and Editorial, LLC. 

Changing the Way You Do Business

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Posted by admin on November 20, 2008 – 5:15 pm
Filed under Business Goals, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tip, market in economic crisis, online marketing, small business marketing

Change can be extremely scary, and it’s easy to fall into a pit of stress and worry when change is inevitable. Change should open new doors for your company and create new opportunities.

It’s not about the change itself. It’s about your actions in response to the change. Stress, anger, frustration, and worry aren’t going to get you anywhere. Thinking positively and constructively will create benefits to big changes. Positive thinking can have more of an impact than you might think. Even seeking out change is a great approach to improving business operations, products / services, customer service, and marketing campaigns.  

Change can have many positive impacts on your business and everyday work interactions.

·       Change can create a rejuvenating feeling that could lead to a more successful business. Your mind is clear for the future, and you see a fresh slate for something new to integrate into your company.

 

·       If you’re not reaching future goals as best you can, make some slight changes to your business—whether it’s the way you run business or the products / services you’re selling. Tweaking these things can lead to a smoother ride to business goals and eliminate obstacles that have been keeping you from reaching them.

 

·       Making changes can be stressful and unsettling. However, these feelings could create more unity in the business setting, since everyone is going through similar changes. Business members will most likely be in the same boat, creating support systems for all.

 

·       Changes open the door for many new things to come, and although it’s a big step, these changes should be embraced and evaluated for all the possibilities they create and maybe even lead you to re-evaluate past goals to benefit your company in the future.

 

For more tips on how to market your business, sign up for Your Business Marketing Solution, a biweekly ezine filled with marketing stats, news, and tips.

Time Management: The Key to a Happy and Successful Life

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Posted by admin on September 18, 2008 – 9:28 pm
Filed under Business Goals, Small Business, small business marketing, small business organization

Working hard to handle excessive work overload is a sure way to complete tasks. And increase stress. Finding ways to successfully manage your time can lead to a better work environment, happier personal life, and a more successful business.

Many of us find ourselves working late nights to finish work that we couldn’t manage during the day. Time management is about finding what to work on, when to work on it, and where. Effective time management means you need to break down and focus on what needs to be done to achieve your goals.

Time management elements consist of:

·       Eliminating Procrastination:  We all suffer from procrastination to some degree. It’s important to recognize when we’re doing it and develop a way to combat the urge. Procrastination occurs mostly from feeling as though a task is too difficult or too boring. Prioritize the important tasks you need to perform in list form, then find ways to motivate yourself to work. If you’re still having trouble getting in gear, make a list of the risks involved in not completing tasks or treat yourself to something when you finish two objectives on your list. If you’re overwhelmed by an assignment, brainstorm your thoughts and break the entire task into small pieces to work effectively on each.

·       Understanding Your Body: Throughout our daily lives, we may be more focused at certain times than others. It’s important to recognize these fluctuating levels during the day and define your tasks around them. Note when you feel most alert and focused and when you feel most tired. After a week of logging these feelings, you’ll most likely recognize a pattern. If you notice you’re usually more focused during midmorning, it would be beneficial to save your most important tasks until that time, making you more motivated to complete them.

·       Setting Goals: Having solid goals in mind will aid you in managing your time since you know where to focus your attention to gain success. Set a long-term goal to have an idea of where you’re heading, and use smaller goals to lead up to the main one. Achieving the smaller goals will build your confidence and motivate you to keep reaching for the future.

Data Research Tips for the Small Business

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Posted by admin on August 7, 2008 – 6:14 pm
Filed under Business Goals, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tip, Small Business, marketing trends, online marketing, small business marketing

Researching the industry that your company is a part of can be extremely beneficial to the growth and long-term success of your company. Understanding the economy, as well as the demographic changes occurring in the U.S. can lead to new products and services, and changes in existing ones. When first researching data for your business, I suggest learning more about your competitors and other business owners in your industry. Research competitors’ demographics, target markets, company success, number of employees, years in business, etc. This is going to give you an idea of what your competition is like, and help you create tactics to be on top. After doing extensive research on the industry and your competitors, dive right into customer profiles and demographics.

Places to Research:

·       Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/ The Bureau is an excellent source for data on the economy and the people of the U.S. It’s a great place to get an overview on the industry your business is a part of. This website provides data on people, households, businesses, industries, geography and recent news.  This website also provides the Survey of Business Owners (SBO), which updated every five years. It’s a great place to find stats on business ownership (based on various demographics), characteristics of businesses, and characteristics of business owners. 

·       Other stores in your industry: Visit other companies’ websites and stores to get an idea of what they’re doing right when it comes to attracting customers. Once you have an idea of the positive aspects of your competitors, figure out what would make your company stand out above the others. Are their prices too high? Is their website amateur? Is the customer service good/bad?

·       ResearchWikis.com: This website provides free market research for over 250 industries and has contributors worldwide. The goal of ResearchWikis.com is to “let the global community of research and others contribute high-level core research on all major business research topics” (http://www.researchwikis.com/Main_Page).

·       Outsource: Market research can be very difficult and sometimes you may not know what to do with the information you receive. It’s about searching, sorting, and analyzing. This could get extremely time consuming and confusing. Outsourcing your market researching to a professional allows you to focus on other areas of your business, things you are more familiar with. Since market researching is an important element to the workings of your business, it’s sometimes best to leave this task up to the professionals.

Want more small business marketing advice? Subscribe to Your Business Marketing Solution, a bimonthly ezine filled with marketing tips and informative articles. 

 

 

 

The Power of Organization

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Posted by admin on July 28, 2008 – 4:24 pm
Filed under Business Goals, Marketing Strategy, Small Business, small business organization

Does your small business cause you to feel stressed, moody, and overwhelmed? It could be because you have too much work to handle. More often than not, lack of organization is the problem. 

When you organize your tasks and priorities, I can guarantee you’ll feel some sense of relief. So sit down with a pen and paper, take a deep breath, and begin organizing your thoughts. Make a list of ways to organize your office. Do you need more filing space? Do you have a stack of paperwork that needs to be filed? What can you do today to organize important information? 

Ways to Organize:

·        Spreadsheets with Contact Information: Organize your contacts, clients, employees, and business partner information into a spreadsheet in alphabetical order. This eliminates the extra work of always having to look up an email address or phone number of a company by visiting their website.

·        Spreadsheets with Tasks to be Performed: Use categories such as task, date needed to be finished, cost, priority, etc.

·        Spreadsheets with your Monthly Budget: This will help you keep track of how much money you plan on using during that month, monthly pay, monthly earnings, outsourcing costs, etc. Also, focus on future projects and how much those may cost.

·        Spreadsheets with Stats: You could have a dozen different items on this spreadsheet, such as your blog stats, website traffic, number of clients (increase or decrease from the previous month), success of a product or service, etc.

Don’t overwhelm yourself with work. Figure out what you can organize today. Doing so will help you prioritize important tasks that need to be done and help you figure out where you can and should outsource. 

Want more small business marketing advice? Subscribe to Your Business Marketing Solution, a bimonthly ezine filled with marketing tips and informative articles.

Stress Less and Outsource

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Posted by admin on July 18, 2008 – 9:13 pm
Filed under Business Goals, Copywriting, Small Business, small business marketing

Overworked? Not enough time to finish your daily, weekly, monthly to-do list? The solution is to outsource some of your work. It’ll save you time, money, and stress.   

 

Three ways to outsource your work:  

1. Ghostwriters are specialist who take ideas and put them on paper. Hire a ghostwriter to write letters, articles, ebooks, ezines, and the list goes on. Want to know more about ghostwriters? Check out a previous blog from Copy Doodle. 

2. Copywriters have the talent and the knowledge to phrase web copy, articles, ezines, etc. in order to reach your target market. Writing SEO and organic web copy is an important talent copywriters perform because the right web copy can bring your website a major increase in traffic.

3. Editors are a vital element for all small businesses. Nothing looks worse than grammar and spelling errors on marketing materials . . . write? That’s a joke, but see what I mean? Why risk turning off potential customers and having a word spelled wrong?

 

Subscribe to Your Business Marketing Solution, a bimonthly ezine filled with marketing tips, market trends, and informative articles.

Time to Take a Break?

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Posted by admin on July 17, 2008 – 6:32 pm
Filed under Business Goals, Small Business, small business marketing

When’s the last time you took a vacation sans cell phone, email, and paperwork? Spent time with friends and family—really spent time with them, being present in the now—without worrying about work, deadlines, or your to-do list? Whether it’s been four years or five months, do yourself and your business a favor and take a relaxing vacation. 

Everyone needs time for himself / herself. Business owners included. Stepping away from daily operations often allows a fresh perspective on your business. There’s nothing like a vacation to bring back the creative juices that once flowed—before the stress and agony reached its peak.

But it isn’t always as easy as picking a date and booking a flight.

Instead of asking, “What’s the worst that can happen if I go?” ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen if I don’t go?”

Here are a few tips to make your time away less stressful on you, your staff, and your customers:

  • Contact clients in advance and advise the people who contact you on a daily basis that you will be out of town for personal reasons.
  • If you absolutely cannot leave your BlackBerry behind, notify customers you will be away and appoint someone you trust to take care of small things that may arise during that week. Then, if the secretary or employee can’t manage the task, he / she can contact you wherever you may be. Therefore, you will have the power to manage the situation. (Ahh. Feel better?)
  • Book your vacation in advance. Notice of three to six months allows ample time to forewarn people of your departure. It will also give them the opportunity to work around your schedule.

This excerpt is taken from my bimonthly newsletter, Your Marketing Solution. Discover simple marketing strategies that will increase your income and boost your business. 

Why Hiring a Ghostwriter is Beneficial to Your Marketing Strategy

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Posted by admin on June 13, 2008 – 7:27 pm
Filed under Business Goals, Copy, Copywriting, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tip, Small Business, online advertising, online marketing, small business marketing, web copy, website

Ghostwriting is extremely beneficial for any business. Ghostwriters will take your idea about a book, article, or blog and write a clean and thorough form of this idea on paper.

If you’re a small business owner and don’t have great writing talent or the time, a ghostwriter will credit you with his/her talent. Usually ghostwriters will record interviews with their clients and edit the material.

Ghostwriting can be beneficial for marketing your services or product if you know what you want to say but don’t know how to say it. Writer’s block happens on a daily basis and it consumes a lot of time. Ghostwriters will cut that time down, saving you the agony of thinking of a creative and thorough way to get your idea across.

Why hire a ghostwriter?

  1. You don’t have the time to write.
  2. You don’t have the skills necessary.
  3. You know what to say, but don’t know how to word it.

Ghostwriters are plentiful these days and easy to find. Save yourself the time and distress. Hire a ghostwriter to write letters, articles, material for your website, books, autobiographies, virtually anything.

 

Do you have questions about how a ghostwriter can help your business? Contact Michelle Salater Writing & Editorial to learn more.