This month we are reading "Get More Referrals Now" By Bill Cates. If you could benefit from increasing the number of referrals coming into your business then this book group will be great for you.
Read all about it:
Showing posts with label business coaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business coaching. Show all posts
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Monday, February 09, 2009
Are You Evaluating Your Lead Generation Strategies?
Are you evaluating your lead generation strategies?
Generating new leads is a focus of most business owners. But do you ever stop to evaluate where your leads are coming from and how your lead generation methods are working? It is important to have systems in place to track new leads and evaluate each lead strategy.
There are a couple of ways that you can do this.
1. Website –
If you have a website then it should be one of your lead generation strategies. You want to have your subscription form on your site for your newsletter or email list. If you don’t, you will not be able to keep in touch with folks that visit your site. Take a look at your website statistics to see what kind of traffic your site receives and where the traffic is coming from. If your web host does not provide statistics you should set up a Google Analytics account and add the code to your web pages in order to track your traffic. You want to know who is visiting, how long they are staying on your site, what pages they are visiting and where they came from to get there. Did they do a search? If so, what keyword were they searching that landed them with you? Once they are there are they interacting with you and your site: subscribing to your newsletter, taking surveys, leaving feedback on your guestbook or forums? All of this detail is great information for you.
2. Leads –
Do you receive leads from referrals, lead boxes, listings in directories, yellow pages? When a new person contacts you it is a good idea to ask where they got their information from. Recently several business owners have asked whther the Yellow Pages is a good place for them to spend their money. As a business coach I really don’t know the answer to that because it is different for each business. It depends if YOUR business is receiving calls as a result of the ad. That is why asking about where the lead came from is so very important.
It's essential that you know where your leads are coming in and what isn't working. It's not cost effective or wise to use mediums that aren't working. They should be changed so that there are more leads generated, in the case of a website, or done away with altogether, in the case of a
newspaper advertisement.
The medium that you dispose of right now can always be revisited in the future.
A down economy is a great time to evaluate everything that you are doing, but it is not a time to eliminate advertising and marketing. You have to continue to market or you won’t have new leads and referrals. Do your marketing wisely, track it all and evaluate relevant pieces each month.
As part of the new Business Coaching Express program I am offering a marketing plan review. If you have questions about your marketing then sign up today.
Generating new leads is a focus of most business owners. But do you ever stop to evaluate where your leads are coming from and how your lead generation methods are working? It is important to have systems in place to track new leads and evaluate each lead strategy.
There are a couple of ways that you can do this.
1. Website –
If you have a website then it should be one of your lead generation strategies. You want to have your subscription form on your site for your newsletter or email list. If you don’t, you will not be able to keep in touch with folks that visit your site. Take a look at your website statistics to see what kind of traffic your site receives and where the traffic is coming from. If your web host does not provide statistics you should set up a Google Analytics account and add the code to your web pages in order to track your traffic. You want to know who is visiting, how long they are staying on your site, what pages they are visiting and where they came from to get there. Did they do a search? If so, what keyword were they searching that landed them with you? Once they are there are they interacting with you and your site: subscribing to your newsletter, taking surveys, leaving feedback on your guestbook or forums? All of this detail is great information for you.
2. Leads –
Do you receive leads from referrals, lead boxes, listings in directories, yellow pages? When a new person contacts you it is a good idea to ask where they got their information from. Recently several business owners have asked whther the Yellow Pages is a good place for them to spend their money. As a business coach I really don’t know the answer to that because it is different for each business. It depends if YOUR business is receiving calls as a result of the ad. That is why asking about where the lead came from is so very important.
It's essential that you know where your leads are coming in and what isn't working. It's not cost effective or wise to use mediums that aren't working. They should be changed so that there are more leads generated, in the case of a website, or done away with altogether, in the case of a
newspaper advertisement.
The medium that you dispose of right now can always be revisited in the future.
A down economy is a great time to evaluate everything that you are doing, but it is not a time to eliminate advertising and marketing. You have to continue to market or you won’t have new leads and referrals. Do your marketing wisely, track it all and evaluate relevant pieces each month.
As part of the new Business Coaching Express program I am offering a marketing plan review. If you have questions about your marketing then sign up today.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Great Book
I am just finishing a book I found at the book store called Photo Reading. I am historically a pretty slow reader but I have alibrary full of books I want to read and share. Photo reading is a phenomenal process for reading a book in a fraction of the time. While reading the Photo Reading book itself I also read The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey. It is one of the books that we will be covering in the new book club that I am starting in 2009. More info to come on that. I also read Eric Butow's book on using LinkedIn. I've been on LinkedIn for years but hadn't really mastered it. I"m not saying that I've mastered it yet (do you ever?), but I did learn alot and am using LinkedIn more. In fact-- early in 2009 I am planning a tele-seminar on using LinkedIn. Sign up for the newsletter -- link is to the right there, and I will let you know when the tele-seminar is. Let me know what your successes and challenges with LinkedIn are and I will research them and answer them on the the tele-class.
Do you have other business questions? Let me know!! I am always working to find answers to client questions and would love to be helpful to you too!!
What business books are you finding helpful?
Have a great one!
All the best,
Donna
Do you have other business questions? Let me know!! I am always working to find answers to client questions and would love to be helpful to you too!!
What business books are you finding helpful?
Have a great one!
All the best,
Donna
Monday, April 07, 2008
We Sold Our House!
Last Friday we sat with lawyers and our buyer and sold our house. It's been a long drawn out process of over 16 months on the market. We bravely bought a new house in August and moved. Confident that we would sell. Throughout nervous that we wouldn't and constantly listening to the news and the "crumbling housing market". I have often wondered how the Law of Attraction played into the whole thing. I am a skeptical believer in the Law of Attraction. I struggle with the concept and continue to read about it to try and figure it out. But, I do believe that the media has contributed to the economy that we are seeing. If you believe in the Law of Attraction then all of the negative talk about the economy and the housing market is creating just that a negative economy and a negative housing market. We see this played out over and over. There are leaders like the Fed Chairman that know when they speak, what they say directly affects the economy. So, if this is so clearly known what would happen if they were to talk differently, talk more positively, highlight the positive aspects of the economy?
In looking at the affect of negative talk on the country's economy and relating it to the Law of Attraction I began also looking at myself and my personal economy. Part of what I have learned is the believing in the vision, writing it down "as if" it is happening now. Going and test driving the car, getting the FEELINGS of it. I have done all of that and at the same time in my head and my heart been saying "Yeah, BUT, the reality is: we don't have the money to pay the bills; or, our debt is too high; or we aren't going to be able to.... " and my negative talk goes on and on, based in "reality", just like the country, the FED, the media.
Ah haa! It's one of those ah haa moments; where lights go on in your head, bells ring and you shout: "OH, I GET IT!!" I am creating that personal negative economy just by continuing to hold that energy, stay in that thought pattern. The mindset that it's "reality" isn't helping me to change it, it is keeping me right there in it.
How do you stay in the positive flow? Just like everything else in life: PRACTICE.
This is what I have learned:
What do you do to stay in the flow?
In looking at the affect of negative talk on the country's economy and relating it to the Law of Attraction I began also looking at myself and my personal economy. Part of what I have learned is the believing in the vision, writing it down "as if" it is happening now. Going and test driving the car, getting the FEELINGS of it. I have done all of that and at the same time in my head and my heart been saying "Yeah, BUT, the reality is: we don't have the money to pay the bills; or, our debt is too high; or we aren't going to be able to.... " and my negative talk goes on and on, based in "reality", just like the country, the FED, the media.
Ah haa! It's one of those ah haa moments; where lights go on in your head, bells ring and you shout: "OH, I GET IT!!" I am creating that personal negative economy just by continuing to hold that energy, stay in that thought pattern. The mindset that it's "reality" isn't helping me to change it, it is keeping me right there in it.
How do you stay in the positive flow? Just like everything else in life: PRACTICE.
This is what I have learned:
- Meditate regularly (each day, and practice being in the flow)
- Create a meditation CD or Audio if that is helpful.
- Journal -- I keep what I call a passion journal -- accomplishments, gratitude and intentions
- Stay connected to the vision, write and read it.
- When I get distracted by the negative talk that is mine, acknowledge it, take a breath, hold my hands on my heart and breathe in the positive flow
- Read my vision again if I am really stuck in the negative talk
- Have faith and believe.
What do you do to stay in the flow?
Monday, January 21, 2008
Full Moon on Blue Monday
According to the evening news, today, January 22nd, is Blue Monday. I had never heard of Blue Monday before. What is it? What does it mean? It is a day that experts say is the "unhappiest" day of the year. This is based on a mathematical calculation taking into account the time since Christmas and incoming shopping bills, winter weather, and failed New Year's resolutions. Add these factors altogether and you end up with Blue Monday. As I drove to pick up our car from the mechanic tonight (adding to our piling bills and blueness I guess), our daughter watched the full moon, asking: "why is the moon following us?" She continued, "I've been watching it and first it was on that side and now it is over there. It's following us, how does it do that?" What a wonderful perspective.
How does a following full moon affect us on Blue Monday? I love full moons. For me they represent hope, wonder and potential. Perhaps the Blue Monday is all perspective too. The weather can get you down. I love the snow and am disappointed at each snow storm that doesn't materialize. I dream of snow pack, shovelling, cross country skiing and sledding. If anything it's the weather that's too nice that doesn't fit the season that is depressing, at least for me, in January. Come March, I'm with the rest of you, dreaming of beaches.
Mounting bills, well, that is cause for blueness, or for better planning. Taking control of money, planning can alleviate this blueness. What a great time of year to start planning for next year's holidays. Of course, pay the current bills, and then set up a savings plan. I'm doing this too. We need to be saving each month for next year. This year we set up a budget and a plan. It's part of the coaching program.
New Year's Resolutions are a favorite. We each have such good intentions at the New Year of making this year different. There are some real keys to creating success and follow through with New Year's resolutions and goals. My favorites are:
How does a following full moon affect us on Blue Monday? I love full moons. For me they represent hope, wonder and potential. Perhaps the Blue Monday is all perspective too. The weather can get you down. I love the snow and am disappointed at each snow storm that doesn't materialize. I dream of snow pack, shovelling, cross country skiing and sledding. If anything it's the weather that's too nice that doesn't fit the season that is depressing, at least for me, in January. Come March, I'm with the rest of you, dreaming of beaches.
Mounting bills, well, that is cause for blueness, or for better planning. Taking control of money, planning can alleviate this blueness. What a great time of year to start planning for next year's holidays. Of course, pay the current bills, and then set up a savings plan. I'm doing this too. We need to be saving each month for next year. This year we set up a budget and a plan. It's part of the coaching program.
New Year's Resolutions are a favorite. We each have such good intentions at the New Year of making this year different. There are some real keys to creating success and follow through with New Year's resolutions and goals. My favorites are:
- Write your goals down
- Post them where you can see them, keep track of your actions.
- Tell people about your goals and vision -- it deepens your commitment AND can build alliances with other resources that will help you.
- Hire a coach to help you stay focused on your plan
- Find a friend or buddy that you can talk to each week about what you are doing.
- Write down your action plan and your accomplishments (big and small).
- Develop a story of vision of the end of the year having accomplished all of your goals. Include as many details as you can. Read it at least weekly.
Blue Monday, with a Full Moon doesn't have to be the most unhappy day of the year. Each of us has the ability to take charge of our lives, our actions and even our perspectives. I say our perspectives because we can't change the weather but we can create our perspective to one of positive optimism.
Create your own healthy Monday.
All the best,
Donna
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Open House Events
Dear Business Colleague,
I am excited to let you know that my company, Compass Rose Consulting, LLC is celebrating 4 years in business as of August 30th. I am a bit delayed in the actual celebration due to my recent move to a new house, on that very day!! But we are ready to celebrate now, and you are invited.
I am hosting an Open House Celebration throughout the day on November 1st, 2007, from 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM, at Olde Lafayette Village, Town Hall Building (in the center of the mall) Lafayette, NJ. I’ve enclosed your special guest pass and three additional passes for your friends, family, and business colleagues. This is an opportunity for you to introduce them to coaching and the services we offer.
The Open House Celebration is going to be fun-filled and info-filled with 3 mini-workshops, networking, give-aways and of course some food and refreshments.
I’m giving away 20 copies of my book: “Launching Your Dream” and 10 copies of the book that I am a contributing author to, “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life” as well as chances to win the complete “Launching Your Dream” Multi-Media Kit, and a 3 month coaching package.
You and each of your guests will receive a complimentary coaching session that they can schedule at the event or following the event and you will all receive a program book with info for each mini-workshop!
Join me and many local business people for networking, learning and celebrating!
Please RSVP to: 973-948-7673. I need to have enough materials and food for each person coming!! Thanks.
All the best,
Donna
Donna Price
See the back for the full schedule of events.
Compass Rose Consulting, LLC Open House Celebration
Schedule of Events:
8:30 – 9:00 Registration, Coffee/Tea & Continental Breakfast, Networking
9:00 – 10:00 Mini Workshop: The Marketing Puzzle: You get to put together your own marketing puzzle – learn strategies for filling your marketing funnel.
9:45 – 10:15 Networking
10:00 – 11:00 Mini Workshop: Envision: A powerful workshop focused on vision. Your personal vision, your company vision: creating success starts with your compelling vision. If you haven’t looked at your vision in a while this is a great time to revisit it, refine it and get yourself moving in an accelerated way towards it.
11:00 -11:15 Networking / Refreshments
11:15 – 12:00 Mini-Workshop: Internet Marketing Strategies—is your web presence working? This workshop will give you powerful tools for improving your web presence and using your internet marketing.
12:00 – 12:45 Lunch – Join us for a light lunch of sandwiches, salad....
12:45 – 1:15 Mini-Workshop: Top strategies for Building High Performing Teams– This workshop was developed for leaders that are working with their leadership teams and work teams but aren’t producing the results they need. Learn how to get your team on board and producing.
1:15 – 2:00 Open forum: Questions, answers, networking – with a focus on developing business success – what’s working, what’s not. Join the conversation in this open forum discussion.
As you can see, the day is filled with opportunity for learning, networking and connecting. Join me and the many others that will be there. You will receive a comprehensive program book with note sheets for each workshop, coupons, and lots of great information and business networking.
Space is limited, so make your reservation today. You can come for the whole day or just stop in for a mini-workshop and coffee. Just let me know your plan. I want to have enough materials for you and your guests.
Please RSVP to: 973-948-7673. I need to have plenty for everyone!
Not in New Jersey -- Well I'm offering two of these workshops via teleclass!!! So, don't feel left out. You can be part of the fun. Visit my site for the details: Open House
Sign up today!!
I am excited to let you know that my company, Compass Rose Consulting, LLC is celebrating 4 years in business as of August 30th. I am a bit delayed in the actual celebration due to my recent move to a new house, on that very day!! But we are ready to celebrate now, and you are invited.
I am hosting an Open House Celebration throughout the day on November 1st, 2007, from 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM, at Olde Lafayette Village, Town Hall Building (in the center of the mall) Lafayette, NJ. I’ve enclosed your special guest pass and three additional passes for your friends, family, and business colleagues. This is an opportunity for you to introduce them to coaching and the services we offer.
The Open House Celebration is going to be fun-filled and info-filled with 3 mini-workshops, networking, give-aways and of course some food and refreshments.
I’m giving away 20 copies of my book: “Launching Your Dream” and 10 copies of the book that I am a contributing author to, “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life” as well as chances to win the complete “Launching Your Dream” Multi-Media Kit, and a 3 month coaching package.
You and each of your guests will receive a complimentary coaching session that they can schedule at the event or following the event and you will all receive a program book with info for each mini-workshop!
Join me and many local business people for networking, learning and celebrating!
Please RSVP to: 973-948-7673. I need to have enough materials and food for each person coming!! Thanks.
All the best,
Donna
Donna Price
See the back for the full schedule of events.
Compass Rose Consulting, LLC Open House Celebration
Schedule of Events:
8:30 – 9:00 Registration, Coffee/Tea & Continental Breakfast, Networking
9:00 – 10:00 Mini Workshop: The Marketing Puzzle: You get to put together your own marketing puzzle – learn strategies for filling your marketing funnel.
9:45 – 10:15 Networking
10:00 – 11:00 Mini Workshop: Envision: A powerful workshop focused on vision. Your personal vision, your company vision: creating success starts with your compelling vision. If you haven’t looked at your vision in a while this is a great time to revisit it, refine it and get yourself moving in an accelerated way towards it.
11:00 -11:15 Networking / Refreshments
11:15 – 12:00 Mini-Workshop: Internet Marketing Strategies—is your web presence working? This workshop will give you powerful tools for improving your web presence and using your internet marketing.
12:00 – 12:45 Lunch – Join us for a light lunch of sandwiches, salad....
12:45 – 1:15 Mini-Workshop: Top strategies for Building High Performing Teams– This workshop was developed for leaders that are working with their leadership teams and work teams but aren’t producing the results they need. Learn how to get your team on board and producing.
1:15 – 2:00 Open forum: Questions, answers, networking – with a focus on developing business success – what’s working, what’s not. Join the conversation in this open forum discussion.
As you can see, the day is filled with opportunity for learning, networking and connecting. Join me and the many others that will be there. You will receive a comprehensive program book with note sheets for each workshop, coupons, and lots of great information and business networking.
Space is limited, so make your reservation today. You can come for the whole day or just stop in for a mini-workshop and coffee. Just let me know your plan. I want to have enough materials for you and your guests.
Please RSVP to: 973-948-7673. I need to have plenty for everyone!
Not in New Jersey -- Well I'm offering two of these workshops via teleclass!!! So, don't feel left out. You can be part of the fun. Visit my site for the details: Open House
Sign up today!!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Why Coaching?
As a business and life coach I say of course coaching. But just like you, not that long ago I was new to the idea of coaching. I thought -- why coaching? What I have discovered in my own coaching work with clients and with my coaches is this: coaching works. Clients gain different things from coaching. To distill it down to a few areas they would be: focus, clarity, accelerated accomplishment and follow-through.
I always thought of coaches as baseball coaches or football coaches. Since I don't play sports, what could I possibly work on with a coach and would it really make a difference? The goals that clients work on with coaches run the gamut:
Focus: Coaching assists in gaining focus. We each gain that for ourselves especially around New Year's. A time of year that we take the time to reflect and plan. Having focus involves those two elements, reflection and planning. But with New Year's resolutions they often fall aside as the year goes along. The coach assists to maintain the focus over time. In initial coaching sessions that is much of what is discussed.
Clarity: Clarity actually comes first I think. It comes back to the vision and what that compelling vision is for your life or business or both. I find that vision is at the core of my work all the time. Organizations and individuals need a clear and compelling vision. Creating that vision is at the core of clarity -- where are you trying to go? Vision gives you the map, the destination. Visions can be enhanced and modified along the way, they aren't written in stone. It's yours.
Accelerated Accomplishment: Coaching keeps the you, the client, on track so that projects are accomplished, faster and more efficiently than before. Many call this accountability. Having someone to check in with helps to maintain that focus and follow-through that you need in order to accomplish what you set out to.
Continuous action planning with your coach provides you a framework for moving goals forward quickly.
The results of the coaching relationship are many. Achievement, success, better productivity, and usually feeling good about yourself, which is a great bonus! Lives change with coaching.
Coaches offer coaching in so many different ways. How do you figure out the right path for you? Listen to your inner wisdom and pick the approach that will work best for you.
Individual Coaching -- many coaches offer individual coaching via telephone or in person. Coaching by phone is easy and convenient as it saves time for both the client and the coach. Relationships are built effectively via the phone. Tools such as email also enhance the coaching experience allowing the coach to easily send the client tools they can use for things such as goal planning.
Group Coaching -- some coaches offer group coaching. Groups also meet either in person or via phone using a conference call line. Groups are typically small: 6-8 people.
Individual vs. group -- I love both. I am in a group and have an individual coach. I also love working with groups and individuals. Groups offer the benefit of the members of the group: shared experience; shared learning. You receive input and feedback from the group. Individual coaching provides you with more focused attention and coaching.
Meeting Regularly via phone or in person -- 3 meetings a month is ideal. The progress is accelerated and results happen more quickly.
Monthly meetings-- if they are very targeted and focused will also produce results.
Coaching Gym -- this is a really unique approach. With the coaching gym you get a member's pass and have access to your coach during specified hours one day per week. Calls are typically 15 minutes or less.
Why coaching? Coaching is about action, taking intentional action. A good coach helps you to tap into your own inner coach and produce the results that you want. As the client, you do the work and are in charge of creating your own results.
*****************************************************************
Compass Rose Consulting can provide each of these coaching approaches. In addition, we offer a proven coaching curriculum that provides an extraordinary framework for working together.
For more information about CRC's coaching services schedule your complimentary conditional consult today. Seriously, the complimentary session is great. You will receive real coaching for a full half hour. Complete our self coaching form to get started. Because our time is valuable we only schedule 4 complimentary sessions each week. Schedule yours today.
I always thought of coaches as baseball coaches or football coaches. Since I don't play sports, what could I possibly work on with a coach and would it really make a difference? The goals that clients work on with coaches run the gamut:
- starting a new business
- business development
- marketing strategies
- achieving life/work balance
- career transition
- achieving something extraordinary
Focus: Coaching assists in gaining focus. We each gain that for ourselves especially around New Year's. A time of year that we take the time to reflect and plan. Having focus involves those two elements, reflection and planning. But with New Year's resolutions they often fall aside as the year goes along. The coach assists to maintain the focus over time. In initial coaching sessions that is much of what is discussed.
Clarity: Clarity actually comes first I think. It comes back to the vision and what that compelling vision is for your life or business or both. I find that vision is at the core of my work all the time. Organizations and individuals need a clear and compelling vision. Creating that vision is at the core of clarity -- where are you trying to go? Vision gives you the map, the destination. Visions can be enhanced and modified along the way, they aren't written in stone. It's yours.
Accelerated Accomplishment: Coaching keeps the you, the client, on track so that projects are accomplished, faster and more efficiently than before. Many call this accountability. Having someone to check in with helps to maintain that focus and follow-through that you need in order to accomplish what you set out to.
Continuous action planning with your coach provides you a framework for moving goals forward quickly.
The results of the coaching relationship are many. Achievement, success, better productivity, and usually feeling good about yourself, which is a great bonus! Lives change with coaching.
Coaches offer coaching in so many different ways. How do you figure out the right path for you? Listen to your inner wisdom and pick the approach that will work best for you.
Individual Coaching -- many coaches offer individual coaching via telephone or in person. Coaching by phone is easy and convenient as it saves time for both the client and the coach. Relationships are built effectively via the phone. Tools such as email also enhance the coaching experience allowing the coach to easily send the client tools they can use for things such as goal planning.
Group Coaching -- some coaches offer group coaching. Groups also meet either in person or via phone using a conference call line. Groups are typically small: 6-8 people.
Individual vs. group -- I love both. I am in a group and have an individual coach. I also love working with groups and individuals. Groups offer the benefit of the members of the group: shared experience; shared learning. You receive input and feedback from the group. Individual coaching provides you with more focused attention and coaching.
Meeting Regularly via phone or in person -- 3 meetings a month is ideal. The progress is accelerated and results happen more quickly.
Monthly meetings-- if they are very targeted and focused will also produce results.
Coaching Gym -- this is a really unique approach. With the coaching gym you get a member's pass and have access to your coach during specified hours one day per week. Calls are typically 15 minutes or less.
Why coaching? Coaching is about action, taking intentional action. A good coach helps you to tap into your own inner coach and produce the results that you want. As the client, you do the work and are in charge of creating your own results.
*****************************************************************
Compass Rose Consulting can provide each of these coaching approaches. In addition, we offer a proven coaching curriculum that provides an extraordinary framework for working together.
For more information about CRC's coaching services schedule your complimentary conditional consult today. Seriously, the complimentary session is great. You will receive real coaching for a full half hour. Complete our self coaching form to get started. Because our time is valuable we only schedule 4 complimentary sessions each week. Schedule yours today.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Did you make mistakes starting your business??
A friend and colleague emailed me that she's starting her own business and asked for my advice. It made me think about what I did right and what mistakes I made in starting my own business. I came up with my sage advice for her:
Some of the things that I wish I had done better -- were:
Number 1 and the biggest is the books. Right from the start set your bookkeeping up right. use a program like Quickbooks. I think I have every program except Quickbooks and there are many other good ones. I hear most people using Quickbooks. I use Microsoft Small Business Accounting. One of my greatest weaknesses in tracking money. This has been a challenge for me. I have studied the concepts and understand the bookkeeping. I have a couple of great books that I recommend, BUT they are packed for our move! I will add them to my blog once we unpack.
Operationalize! Creating effective and efficient operational procedures from the beginning is a key to success. Once you have them, you can tweak them as you need to. Operational procedures will aid you as you grow. They lay the foundation of how you do business and give your staff a framework to work in. Write down the procedures and keep them all in a centrally located binder. But also important is to follow them!! Many people create systems and then don't follow them, and then they create a new system and don't follow it. Give your systems a chance to work and don't waste all your time creating and recreating.
Build a website. I prefer building my own because I can update it easily. There are some great tools now for building your own site with little knowledge of the HTML code. It's important to have a professional looking site and one that offers great content. Adding content regularly also helps the site to remain interesting for people to revisit and also have a better page rank. the site builder tool that I am using right now is: Site Sell. Part of what I like about it is the extensive training they provide via video tutorials. If you have never built a site this program can really teach you more than the basics. The other feature is the tools for researching and optimizing your site.
Be ready to wear many hats and figure out how to love them all. As a business owner of a small business owner you often are wearing the hats of service provider, marketing director, business development, finance director, janitor, bookkeeper, webmaster, networker, sales manager and more.... So many of the business owners I work with say they hate marketing or sales. You have to find a way to love each part of your business if you don't have the resources to outsource those things. If you do have the resources then by all means outsource!
Work on your marketing plan. How will you get clients? Why you instead of all the other service providers on the corner will people pick you? What's your unique selling proposition? If you are new to business and new to marketing, this could be the most important piece of your planning. Marketing, becasue without clients/customers, you don't have a business!! Develop a complete plan including a comprehensive follow-up plan.
Network everywhere and have a postcard or memorable business card to hand out. My business card is orange and often when I hand it to someone they recognize it and say, oh I have your card and I get your newsletter! Make your materials memorable.
Over deliver to your clients and take care of them when they make referrals to you. We call this "wowing your clients". Go above and beyond what they expect. This will keep them happy and keep them talking about you and your business. When people are "wowed" they will tell their friends and you will increase your business! This fits in with a good customer service approach. And, when they do refer people to you, say "thank you". Don't forget to say thank you. You can also give them a gift, a free service, a significant service discount or other reward for their efforts to help you build your business!
What lessons have you learned? Let me know by emailing me at: info@compassroseconsulting.com
To learn more about each of these lessons join the Business and Marketing Mentorship where I will guide you through developing an effective strategy and marketing approach.
To your business success!
Donna
Some of the things that I wish I had done better -- were:
Number 1 and the biggest is the books. Right from the start set your bookkeeping up right. use a program like Quickbooks. I think I have every program except Quickbooks and there are many other good ones. I hear most people using Quickbooks. I use Microsoft Small Business Accounting. One of my greatest weaknesses in tracking money. This has been a challenge for me. I have studied the concepts and understand the bookkeeping. I have a couple of great books that I recommend, BUT they are packed for our move! I will add them to my blog once we unpack.
Operationalize! Creating effective and efficient operational procedures from the beginning is a key to success. Once you have them, you can tweak them as you need to. Operational procedures will aid you as you grow. They lay the foundation of how you do business and give your staff a framework to work in. Write down the procedures and keep them all in a centrally located binder. But also important is to follow them!! Many people create systems and then don't follow them, and then they create a new system and don't follow it. Give your systems a chance to work and don't waste all your time creating and recreating.
Build a website. I prefer building my own because I can update it easily. There are some great tools now for building your own site with little knowledge of the HTML code. It's important to have a professional looking site and one that offers great content. Adding content regularly also helps the site to remain interesting for people to revisit and also have a better page rank. the site builder tool that I am using right now is: Site Sell. Part of what I like about it is the extensive training they provide via video tutorials. If you have never built a site this program can really teach you more than the basics. The other feature is the tools for researching and optimizing your site.
Be ready to wear many hats and figure out how to love them all. As a business owner of a small business owner you often are wearing the hats of service provider, marketing director, business development, finance director, janitor, bookkeeper, webmaster, networker, sales manager and more.... So many of the business owners I work with say they hate marketing or sales. You have to find a way to love each part of your business if you don't have the resources to outsource those things. If you do have the resources then by all means outsource!
Work on your marketing plan. How will you get clients? Why you instead of all the other service providers on the corner will people pick you? What's your unique selling proposition? If you are new to business and new to marketing, this could be the most important piece of your planning. Marketing, becasue without clients/customers, you don't have a business!! Develop a complete plan including a comprehensive follow-up plan.
Network everywhere and have a postcard or memorable business card to hand out. My business card is orange and often when I hand it to someone they recognize it and say, oh I have your card and I get your newsletter! Make your materials memorable.
Over deliver to your clients and take care of them when they make referrals to you. We call this "wowing your clients". Go above and beyond what they expect. This will keep them happy and keep them talking about you and your business. When people are "wowed" they will tell their friends and you will increase your business! This fits in with a good customer service approach. And, when they do refer people to you, say "thank you". Don't forget to say thank you. You can also give them a gift, a free service, a significant service discount or other reward for their efforts to help you build your business!
What lessons have you learned? Let me know by emailing me at: info@compassroseconsulting.com
To learn more about each of these lessons join the Business and Marketing Mentorship where I will guide you through developing an effective strategy and marketing approach.
To your business success!
Donna
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