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Browse published articles attributed to Jeannine Clontz, with full-archive search.
Even when you've set a "good" goal - one that adheres to your higher objective and is specific and measurable - you can run into some issues along the way... namely, staying motivated. Without motivation, even the most ambitious person will get sidetracked. Here are the strategies that I feel will keep you on track to achieving your goals: Get an accountability friend.
We all have the same amount of time to expend each and every day, 24-hours. So why does it seem like some people have mastered their time better than others? I don't think it's about the time at all, I think it's about how we manage ourselves. My friend, and savvy professional speaker on the topic, Pam Vaccaro says it best, "It's about your focus!" I know from my own experience, making a few simple changes have made a HUGE impact on my effectiveness, and stress levels. I tried several different options and settled on the system that worked for me.
One of the things I enjoy most about having my own business is the freedom to choose who I'll do business with. Not that I've always enjoyed that luxury, but my business is at a point where I can be a bit picky about who I decide to do business with. Add to that a very specific 'ideal client' vision, and I find that I seem to attract clients who fit nicely into that vision without a lot of hard work.
At a recent speaking engagement on business ethics, one of the 100 or so participants voiced a differing opinion to my discussion revolving around whether or not you would tell a client, or prospect, that you had heard something negative about a competitor of yours who was being asked to bid on the same project you were.
One of the things I enjoy about social media is that it allows you and your audience to be a little more personal. However, unless your presence is intended to be just personal, you still don't want to be posting only things about what you're eating (unless your niche is food related), what's bugging you today, etc. I actually don't prescribe to using what you're eating as a viable post at all. While you want to be personal, you don't want to be too personal. You need to keep things as relevant and as on topic (to your product or service) as possible.
Running an online business gives entrepreneurs an incredible chance to expand and scale their operations. While offline business requires a physical presence -- offices, retail outlets, and kiosks in every location -- an online business can operate virtually and via digital real estate. Expanding is simple, and scaling businesses can be achieved without the need for expensive physical locations.
Value is a funny thing. We look for it everywhere we go – if it’s not a good value, or doesn’t provide us with benefits, we keep moving. I wonder why it is we don’t feel WE have a value?
Have you ever felt like you were doing all the right things, but not getting anywhere? If you truly are putting in the effort to set your goals as we've been discussing thus far, it may be a matter of choosing goals that just aren't right for you. This may lead us to consider changing your goals. The situation has changed.
I'm sure we'd all agree that the world is definitely changing. On the national news last night they introduced me to the first graduating class of the recession. How encouraging? I also attended a Chamber event where the guest speaker spoke all about change and why it's good for us to continue to grow and change, no matter what the economic climate. I totally agree. I used to balk at change, used to try and avoid it, but nowadays I embrace change and at times, go out in search of change - new technologies and processes that make life easier for me, and my clients.
I belonged to a local networking group that touts allowing only "one person per profession". Over the four years I was a part of the group, there had been several times when someone's competitor had visited and the group worked with the competitor to find ways for them to be a part of the chapter by offering services outside what the established member of the group was already offering. Sometimes we were able to work it out, sometimes we were not. But overall, the entire group understood the process and importance of protecting the "one person per profession" guidelines.
There are many ways to create video marketing content that will make you stand out without access to a production studio or require spending thousands of dollars. Take a look at some of my five easy, affordable steps you can take to show your viewers you're worth their time and money: 1. Create a Video Yourself
Got your goals set and your motivation and systems in place? Great! Now let's look at five ways to stay focused on keeping focused, especially on long-term goals. Focus is a problem even for the most experienced goal-setter. In fact, getting distracted is one of the biggest problems in goal achievement. Try these five methods to keep focused and your eye on the prize: Commit
I recall several years ago hearing a newscasters words, “Another blow for the music industry today. Washington has decided that Internet Service Providers cannot be held responsible for their consumer’s actions and will not be expected to provide the names of their members who download music illegally from the Internet.”
Technology - everything from our computer to our cell phone - seems to have invaded every area of our modern lives. But we often do not take full advantage of the features and benefits that can really make our lives easier. Use these technology tips to help you achieve your goals: Set alarms.
A woman had a dream to swim the English Channel. After two years of stringent training she was ready to reach for her dream. The day was unseasonably warm, a good sign she thought, as she prepared for her take off from France, heading for England. Not worrying about beating any records, her plan was to complete the swim in 12-14 hours. Nine hours into the swim she was still feeling positive. The boats continued to provide encouragement and support as she continued towards the English coast.
Some people jump on every new social media platform before it's even out of beta. The social sharing buttons on their blog seem to go on forever, and they've got profiles on every site from Bebo to Yelp. Here's the problem this can create. You can't jump in head first and use social media just for the sake of using it and be successful. It can be overwhelming and will certainly become frustrating when you're not seeing any positive results from your efforts. And how could you, when you're spending 5 minutes a month on each site?
In the past creating a website provided you with an online presence. While it’s still an important part of promoting and marketing your business, it’s no longer enough. When social media came into play it became one of the most effective ways to reach your clientele and was quickly included in many organizations’ marketing plans.
I put the word "fail" in quotes in the title because I strongly believe that you never REALLY fail if you've learned something from having tried. There's a difference between a good goal and a good outcome - sometimes, despite your best efforts, you can't make it work. In my experience, there are three main reasons for this. Your goal was bad for the outcome you wanted to achieve. You did all the right things, but you were aiming at the wrong target. For instance, let's say you wanted to do something to help people (your objective) so you decided to go to law school (the goal).
The short answer to that question is, 'no' - it is what it is. A first impression is what you project to someone whenever they are first connected to you. Especially if you're in a B2B-type business, it's important to remember that your body language, the words you speak, and the way you present yourself (hair, clothing, if online, through your copy), etc., are what people will immediately judge.
Several months ago I was contacted by a woman looking for a transcriptionist. Even though I no longer provide this service, I got some basic information and told her I’d check around to see if I could find someone to help. I called back the next day and inadvertently got to speak to her boss. I explained that I’d found three options for him, one local (as he had requested), and two outside the area and asked if it would be okay for me to give them his contact information.
Last week we looked at building trust in our email marketing campaigns by creating a recognizable ‘from’ line to our messages; optimizing the copy that is viewed through the preview pane; and encouraging subscriber communication. This week we complete the process with three more tips to polish your email marketing appearance. 4. Include full contact details in your footer.
When I first started my home-based business, everything I read about marketing indicated a need for me to think BIG, act like I was this huge conglomerate in a brick and mortar storefront, with scads of happy employees all a buzz to keep our clients happy. That was a bit over the top for me, but I soon realized that to get noticed, the small fish did indeed need to be creative.
One of my first clients calls me periodically to ask questions, and get my advice for free, sometimes keeping me on the phone for hours. She recently purchased a new laptop computer, and was having problems with Outlook and getting her contact list restored to the new system from her backup copies. She made a series of appointments for me to come out and help her make the transition.
Did that title give you pause? Many people struggle to answer this question. Sometimes referred to as your elevator speech, or infomercial, having a smooth and easy to understand response will really go far in helping people to know who you are and what you have to offer. Whether you’re at a networking event, online webinar, teleseminar, or actually in an elevator, it’s important to communicate in a quick and concise way, what it is you do and how you solve a prospect’s challenge or problem.
Through her position as president of Count Me In and CEO of her own company, Merlino has witnessed firsthand the unique challenges that women in business face. In her experience, the biggest obstacle for women in business has to do with many female business owners' desire to take on all aspects of the business. Merlino finds she is constantly coaching women on becoming better delegators.
As the Internet evolves from its technology to its software, and changes the way we communicate, it has opened us to a whole new world of social media. Blogging is one such evolving method of communication, and WordPress is one of the foremost accepted platforms for people wanting to get into the blogging action. Evolving Software
Social media is red hot - all you have to do is take a look at all of the Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ links plastered all over the Internet to figure that out. All those social media channels give you opportunities to connect with and build relationships with other like minded people. Are you involved in social media?
Getting referrals takes time and work. Just because you do a good job for your clients doesn't mean they're going to naturally send you referrals. Attending networking events and making connections with people who could potentially provide you with referrals isn't automatic, either. Just like everything else to do with your business, it's hard work! But it doesn't have to be drudgery. Once you start asking for and listening for the openings to make a request, it becomes a habit that will help you expand your business and increase profits.
Your email copy plays an immensely important role in gaining trust from subscribers. While the quality of information is still the most important element, there are a lot of other factors to consider. Listed below are those I find most important. 1. Give more than what you might gain.
Email marketing is becoming a vastly popular and beneficial direct marketing tool, especially for small and home-based businesses. Used primarily to provide subscribers with information on service and product offerings, it has also been particularly useful in building a loyal customer base by helping stay top-of-mind with your subscribers.
In Part One we discussed blog basics, promotion and whether or not it was a worthwhile endeavour.
Article marketing on the Internet harnesses the power of the Web and the hunger for written content. Article marketing allows writers to promote themselves, their websites, products or literally anything, by writing about them and making the content freely available for reproduction on other Internet sites and electronic mediums.
As a young teenager, our family spent carefree summers at a secluded lake house about 2-hours from St. Louis. I recall getting up early and sneaking off to a secret spot in the woods where someone had built a cool tree house. The view was spectacular and on many occasions it afforded me quiet seclusion to look far out over the countryside, or when a nighttime stroll was in order, a fabulous spot to stargaze.
Unlike other forms of online marketing, social media marketing has no stone-set right and wrong behaviors; no cost-per-user statistics, and there is, by no means, a code of conduct or behavioral plan that must be adhered to. While pay-per-click advertisers and SEO experts are inundated with information on what is and is not effective, social media marketers are left without dedicated and accurate information.
Bloggers - at least the successful ones - know the importance of consistent posting. It's the only thing that keeps the traffic coming in. If there is nothing new to see, or read, why visit? Well the same goes for your social media communication. Staying active is the only way to grow your presence.
Email marketing is one of the most low cost and effective options available for organizations looking to grow their business. Building a viable subscriber’s list is important to getting the biggest ROI (return on investment) for any email marketing program. There is a lot of truth to the statement, ‘the money is in the list’!
Ever have a client make a deduction from an invoice? I bet that got your attention. You know the type, they always find fault with your work, can’t believe that you charge those kinds of hourly rates, and they wonder why you’re not able to drop everything and handle their projects immediately without adding “rush charges” to the invoice.
Many of you broke into a sweat after reading the title, didn't you? Many small business owners don't have a marketing plan because they believe it's too hard, too time consuming, or they just don't know where to start. Creating a good marketing plan doesn't have to be overwhelming, or costly, but it will save you time and help you achieve your goals much more easily than you ever believed possible.
In my former life, I was a purchasing agent for a seafood company. This time of year reminds me of the salmon runs. During the summer months, many wild salmon species take the journey back to their birthplace to spawn and ultimately end their lives. Their upstream journey is a challenging one, swimming against rugged rapids, leaping over rocky waterfalls, traversing fish ladders, avoiding fishermen nets, and staying clear of hungry bears. When they finally reach their natal stream they are ready to spawn. This is an amazing and focused journey calling them to do what comes naturally.r
Giving up sounds so negative. But can you make room for the possibility that you can release your goals without being a failure? Yes, you can! Sometimes the goals themselves are unreachable, for reasons outside your control. Don't continue to try and achieve a goal that will only serve to create less than positive results and growth in your business. There are times to let your goal go - or at least set it aside for a while. Here are five of those times: Not motivated to achieve the goal.
Value is a funny thing. We look for it everywhere we go - if it's not a good value, or doesn't provide us with benefits, we keep moving. I wonder why it is we don't feel WE have a value?
Why is Business Branding important? And can it help to increase and drive sales growth? Business branding is not just a one-time process. Rather, it is something you work on and build up over a period of time. After all, branding reflects your reputation as a business enterprise. Along with your efforts to create and manage your brand is the efforts of trying to build and protect your relationship with your client base.
Creating your company's brand is extremely important to portray a stable, and profitable business. It helps people understand your position within your market, the promises that you make to clients and helps establish your expertise.
The task of building a list of subscribers for email marketing isn't too difficult if you already have a website that has engaging content and decent traffic. However, your visitors won't sign up just because you asked, you need to optimize your site to build your subscriber list without compromising its current focus or making it look like a sales page. To help you use your website to build your subscriber list for email marketing, consider these tips: 1) Make Your Sign-Up Form Visible
The 1980s are remembered for their developments in business and technology, particularly computing. The 1990s for their advances in technology, particularly the growth of the internet and online business opportunities. If the 2000s are to be remembered for anything (although it may still be too early to tell), it will be their developments in communications and online communities, particularly the incredible power of social media.
Looking through magazines for gift ideas recently, I stumbled upon something I hadn't seen in years, a glass piggybank. I recall receiving one when I opened my first savings account as a child. It forced me to continue to save because I didn't want to 'break' it until it was completely full, or until I had enough to purchase something I really wanted. My eyes were always on the prize.
In my last article, Now Tweeting for Business: Twitter Benefits (Part One), we looked at how utilizing Twitter in small businesses can save marketing dollars, expand your customer base, and manage and increase your ability to build relationships. In this final segment, we look at additional ways Twitter allows small business to reap big rewards. Feedback loop
In recent years, having an Internet presence for your business meant putting up a website. While still an important feature for promoting your business, a website is no longer enough. Web 2.0, or the social web, is an essential feature of a successful marketing plan to reach your clientele. Facebook is considered one of the leaders of social media. Its growth has continued to increase and Facebook has become an essential and innovative idea for business marketing.
According to research released recently by O2, the mobile phone provider (“Small Businesses are Catching Twitter Bug,” Richard Tyler, The Telegraph, 16 March 2009), almost one in five small businesses now tweet regularly. Although the larger, multinational firms were the first to jump on the Twitter bandwagon, increasing numbers of small to medium sized businesses are taking the plunge.
Have you ever wondered how your competitors generate six and seven figures incomes? Do you think they have a secret way of doing things? Do you make excuses for not being able to achieve six or seven figure goals in your business? As a professional in your field or niche, you face many challenges when marketing and promoting yourself to achieve six and seven figure incomes.