June 20, 2007
- Business Success Secret: Be Who You Are
I have a secret to share with you, one that has taken me many years to learn: You are more successful in business when you are being who you are.
It sounds simple, but, actually, is pretty complex. You see, as a business owner, you are constantly forced to take stock of your service and your products, and, therefore, of yourself.
If you sell consulting or other professional services, you almost constantly have to strive to differentiate yourself from the marketplace. You need to stand out in some way, to be faster or better.
February 14, 2007
- Balancing Doing and Marketing
One of the biggest challenges of any service business owner is the balance between doing and marketing. Very often, the doing supercedes the marketing, until the client flow dries up, then the business owner quickly markets, trying to get clients, and the cycle repeats.
November 8, 2005
- You have to believe in the ultimate value of your service.
In order to be a successful at self promotion, we all need to believe, deeply, in the ultimate value of our service. It is from this place of deep belief plus service that we can stand in truth and integrity about what we offer to our clients.
October 28, 2005
- Giving value.
One of the elements of being a successful self promoter is that you must believe in the value you provide. Because, let's face it- all marketing hype and perfect taglines aside, value is what clients remember.
May 6, 2005
- Use national news as an angle to promote your own business.
Like many of you, I've been following the developments in the Jennifer Willbank's case with some interest over the past few weeks. Read the full story here:http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/06/wilbanks.ap/index.html You may know her as the "runaway bride" who felt so much stress about her upcoming wedding that she disappeared for a few days. This whole situation got me thinking about what a huge publicity opportunity this is for professionals in many different fields. For therapists/relationship experts/relationship coaches: The opportunities are obvious. You could talk about pre-wedding jitters, managing anxiety, and keeping your relationship strong.
April 28, 2005
- Be open to new opportunities.
Be open to new opportunities.
April 19, 2005
- Tips for Self Promotion, Part 1
As a service business owner, you need to become a successful self promoter. After all, you're most likely the one with whom clients will be working so they need to know who you are– and how to find you– in order to become your clients in the first place! After all, no clients = no money. (Which is not good.) It probably doesn't come as a surprise that most people fear self promotion, and because they fear it, they actively avoid it. I, too, used to be uncomfortable with self promotion, until I implemented the following tips: 1) Be as attractive as possible. This means that you do everything you can to present a polished, successful, confident image. It doesn't mean that you present yourself as someone different than who you are, rather, that you present yourself the best you can.
March 14, 2005
- Get professional assistance.
Ok- so I was interviewed for my first TV show today- a news program which may be syndicated nation-wide. So if you happen to see or hear me "on air"- I'd love it if you'd drop a line and let me know.
March 8, 2005
- Support others in their success.
One of the biggest internal hurdles most of us need to overcome is that of feeling resentful or envious of others' success. This seems to be especially evident when you are ambitious.
March 2, 2005
- Do you advertise on your car? Don't drive like an idiot.
If you are one of those small business owners who puts some kind of advertising on your car, then do yourself & your business a favor- don't drive like an idiot. Advertising on your vehicle can be an excellent, low cost method for "getting the word out" about your business. The only problem, is, though, that if you drive poorly, curse other drivers, or generally act like a jerk- you're tarnishing your business by decreasing your professional image.
February 16, 2005
- Putting your best self forward.
In order to be an effective self promoter, you want to put your best self forward. This doesn't mean that you spend a lot of energy to be someone you're not, but it does mean that you take care to present yourself in the best light possible- all the time. This came up today because I called a business and the phone was answered by a frazzled sounding woman who was a bit abrupt in her tone.
February 11, 2005
- Get comfortable making recommendations.
When someone asks for your general professional opinion, don't be afraid to give it. This doesn't mean that you should allow yourself to be taken advantage of by people who want to "pick your brain" for free- nor does it mean that you have to discuss the specifics of any situation- but be willing to offer general guidelines or strategies.
January 25, 2005
- Believe in your own value.
Part of being a successful self promoter is deeply believing in your own value, for when you believe in your own value, it's easier to share who you are. When you share who you are, and what you do, people can't help but be attracted to that level of honesty and clarity.
January 14, 2005
- The ultimate goal is to get paid for being yourself.
Last night, I was listening in on a teleclass about internet marketing- and one of the points raised on the class was really important- and poignant. The guest speaker ended the call with saying that she really enjoyed her work and life as an internet marketer and that she was finally being paid to be herself.
January 13, 2005
- Let Yourself Be Known.
One of the most powerful needs people have is to connect to other people who are like them. When you have your own business, you must become comfortable with a certain amount of personal disclosure and being known by your potential customers.
January 5, 2005
- Be helpful.
Every now and then, I get a request for assistance (no, not those ones from Nigeria)- but a request from someone who is feeling discouraged or overwhelmed by the demands of building a business.
December 10, 2004
- Self Promotion Doesn't Need to be Painful.
Very often, clients come to me sharing painful stories of times where they tried to promote themselves and experienced anxiety, overwhelm, and rejection. They speak of forced networking exchanges, unpleasant sales conversations, and times where they wished they could sink into the floor to overcome something dumb they just said to a potential customer.
December 2, 2004
- Be Likeable.
One of the biggest assets to being a successful self promoter, in my experience, is being likeable. While there are definitely successful self promoters who gain from being shocking, rude, or cruel- this type of approach won't work for most of the rest of us.
November 26, 2004
- Be pleasing to listen to.
Marketing is about communicating your message and if you aren't pleasing to listen to, few people will listen.
November 23, 2004
- Trust yourself.
One of the most powerful tools in your sales and marketing toolkit is trust. Not only having your customers trust you, which, of course, is important- but just as important is that you trust yourself.
