First step towards trust...

Recently one of my clients came to me to help her launch her book as well as a remake of her website. She asked me if there was a way to make everything work together to promote her & her book. Here is a rough draft of what I laid out for her.

“Website” aka “Home Base” for Establishing Yourself as an Expert

I recommend that we start by building (or re-building) your website or what I call your “home-base” on a Wordpress Blog platform. The software itself is free and it is pretty simple to customize. Many of the WP themes are free and if they are customized correctly, they can be a work of art. Even better than the design being simple, it will be very easy for you or your virtual assistant to change elements of the information on the site / blog related to marketing yourself & your products.

• You can have all the static pages (unchanging – information stays the same over the long term rather than change daily) of a website prominently displayed in the navigation of this blog site for easy visitor navigation.
• Showcase regular posted content, which is great for search engine optimization and organic traffic. In addition a content rich site is a key component for you to build your brand image and develop a “know, like & trust” relationship with your visitors & clients.

There are also several plugins and widgets that I will recommend (in another post) that will help you promote your site, as well as be promoted by other bloggers and visitors. These plug ins are simple to install without messing things up.

This is where most coaches stop. If you add the following elements you will see an increase in subscribers, and followers – which, if you’ve researched your market and understand how to communicate with your audience, you will being to sell products & coaching services.

Lead Capture at main web/ blog site:

There must be a lead capture available in the upper right side bar with an offer to visitors and a form for capturing Name & email address.

Landing Page:

• Invitation to download a “sample” of your coaching method / message
• Promote your book / teleclass
• Promote a “free coaching” session – sample of what is possible with a paid package

Don’t promote all three of these thing on one landing page – only offer ONE along with invitation to visitor to subscribe by giving you their name and email address

In addition to the main web/blog site you should have a “single option landing page” that makes an offer for a free “something” related to your offer:

• ebook
• report
• mini-guide
• audio
• video
• e-course

This one page does not have links to anything else and only one choice – to sign up for your free download or not. Don’t send the visitor to your blog, to your social networking sites – just one single option – and that’s to sign up.

At the point when the visitor clicks the button to submit his or her name and email address, he or she is taken to a …

Thank you / Sales Page

Thank your visitor for requesting the free download (see list of possibilities). Remind the new subscriber to click on the confirmation link in their first email from you before they can get the download. On the same page make the offer for one or more of your products at a one time offered discount.  This offer is only good from this page the day the visitor lands on it, and will not be offered later. In place of a discount I actually recommend that you add additional bonus products – for example, if you offer a book for sale, add an audio of one of your classes that compliment the book.

The new subscriber will either buy or not with a “buy now” link on the page.

Follow up email

Don’t worry about losing your visitors, because once they sign up to get your free download you can follow up with a your auto responder series that gives them more information such as where to find your blog where you share your expertise.

I have tested this process, as have many other professionals, if you give your visitor many options to connect with you – lots of links all over your blog or to your social networking website profiles – you greatly reduce the amount of visitors that will subscribe to your email list.

Your number one goal should be to get your visitor on your email list, giving you a more intimate opportunity to communicate with your audience. This is the first step towards trust and prepares the visitor to take the next step of doing business with you.

When not to use this

This particular path of  landing page, to thank you/sales page, follow up email is not the link you want to put on your Twitter profile – that’s like asking for marriage on your first date. However, it is not such a drastic commitment when you visitor finds your landing page as a result of reading one of your published articles, because your article should set them up – develop interest and desire for more information which is what your download should offer once they get to your landing page. At the end of your articles you add an invitation to get more information by clicking on one single link that takes the visitor to your single option landing page.

Does this make sense? Have any questions? Leave me a comment and I will clarify.

Tweet This Post 

Related posts:

1. Writing Often, Writing Relevant for Your Coaching Business To be able to “coach the game” you have to...
2. Coaching & Business or Coaching as a Business In order for your practice of coaching to be profitable...
3. Convert the Reputation & Attention You Get From Your Free Give-Away “Free is not a magic bullet. Giving away what you...

Highlight books, blogs, vids, online shops, or just spread the word about stuff you love. Bonus: you raise money (for you or charity) at the same time. It’s fast, free, and supereasy.

Squidoo is a network of user created lenses or single pages that highlight one person’s point of view, recommendations, or expertise. Lenses can be about anything, such as ideas, people or places, hobbies and sports, pets or products, philosophy, and politics. Lenses aren’t created to hold content, but rather they are created to recommend and point to content elsewhere on the web.

So, maybe by now you’ve heard of Squidoo and maybe you even have a lens or two. Today I interviewed a man that has over 300 lenses and expects to be earning about $2000 per month in passive revenue by year end.

Joe Dillon, also known as, “Captain Squid” is a Giant Squid on Squidoo. This means he is recognized as one of the best lensmasters around. Joe was on “The Small Business Guru & Gadget Guy” Podcast today, as our guest and expert on Squidoo.

<side note>A Giant Squid, by the way, as the story goes is a lensmaster that has published 100 quality lenses. Geez, these guys must have a lot of time on their hands or there must be a financial strategy to all this lens making.

Today Captain Squid - uh, Joe, gave us the basics on Squidoo. You can download the show here. We had a couple of short conversations prior to the show and let me tell you there is some serious strategy behind every lens this guy builds.

Over at the Captain Squid website there’s a gold mind of information. The basics are free. You can find video tutuorials in the Captain’s Training section.

It’s a facinatingly interactive alternative to Article Marketing – well maybe not an alternative because as Joe pointed out on the call it’s actually works the same as article marketing in creating a viral spread of your links but it’s more because it’s so interactive.

Oh, and there are angel Squids that give blessings – blessings boost lens ranking. Why is that important? The more popular the ranking the better the payout is from the revenue share. Oh, didn’t I tell you? Not only is it free to create a lens, and create as many as your heart desires, but Squid Inc shares the revenue from Google Adsense, Amazon, Ebay and the like.

I must confess, I too have become addicted to Squidoo. I’ve just begun, with 6 lenses now published and two more as WIP (works in progress). I’ve been reading the Captain’s “Lens Publishing Checklist” (you’ll have to subscribe to get your own copy). I’ve got much to learn but you can be sure I’ll be posting again on Squidoo.

Come take a look at my lenses and join as a favorite so you can see what I am up to on Squidoo.

First is my Lens for The Small Business Guru, and then…

• Press Releases on the Internet – about how the Internet has changed Press Release submission; along with how and where to submit.
• (of course) Get More Business Podcast – contains all my show listings
• Referral Marketing Best Practices – many resources on how to build a business by referral
• SmBizGuru Favorite Lenses – I had to have a lens where I saved and shared my favorite lenses that I really liked.
• and just for fun I created a “SquidWho” page for Beth Moore - one of my favorite people. I have YouTube Video’s up on the lens for Beth.
• Next I’ll begin creating a lens for each of my guests that I’ve had or will have on my Get More Business Podcast. This is going to be fun!

I’ve got more ideas than I can type fast enough! Gee I wonder if Squid Inc is still awarding Giant Squid Status?

Many lensmasters use their lenses as a tool for affiliate marketing. Not a bad idea!

Tune in to our next show – date, time and guest will be posted at the TalkShoe page soon. Check it out here.

Tweet This Post 

No related posts.

“I don’t have enough money to budget.”

For many small business owners, the word “budget” is something for the bigger company – maybe they’ll have one when their business “grows up.”

What is a Budget?

The simple explanation is a budget is a plan for how you will manage all financial resources and all expenses for your business. The basic equation that you want to demonstrate in a budget is as follows:

(estimated )Sales minus (estimated) Expenses = Profit (or loss)

How to create a Budget

If this is your first time to work on a budget for your small business, you might work from the perspective of having to list cost of goods or services plus all of your operating expenses to start the process.

*How much does it take to operate your phone line?

*What is the cost of other utilities?

*How about the cost of a company vehicle, or what is the cost of transportation if you’re using your personal vehicle to also serve as a company vehicle?

*Do you need any supplies or inventory to operate your business?

*How about any employee payroll, payroll taxes or independent product or service providers?

Remember to include everything you spend money on to operate your business even if you allocate some of the expenses to “petty cash” expenses, such as parking or bridge tolls while traveling to see clients.

I recommend that you create annual budget, in addition to a monthly budget, so you can identify any expenses that you may have that come up only once or twice a year such as insurance and include them in your list of expenses. This allows you to amortize or spread the cost of this out over several months so that you can plan ahead for the expense.

As you work on your list of expenses keep in mind that these are the expenses that are necessary to operate your business. These should not be items from your “wish list” unless you want to budget in some expansion or growth. You may want to create a budget with just the necessities and another version of your budget with expansion expenses listed so that you can see the cost of both separately. With a dollar figure to work with of your total expenses you are able to set the standard for or evaluate your sales figures. If you are new to your business you may need to use the dollar amount of your expenses to help you determine what your sales need to be in order to cover all costs and show a profit. If you have been in business for a while you can evaluate whether or not you are producing a profit by looking at historical sales figures.

As you conduct business during your budget year you should compare your actual income and spending with what you estimated. This will allow you to manage your spending so that you don’t over spend and cut into or eliminate your profits. You will also be able to see if sales have met expectations in order to cover expenses and still remain profitable.

Who should Budget?

Every small business owner should budget, no matter the size of business. I have heard some small business owners say their business is too small to budget, but that is not true. If you don’t have a written plan for what your financial obligations are and how your revenue will cover those obligations and leave some money unspent, then your business will never grow. In fact, you may out-spend your revenue and put yourself out of business.

Why Budget?

Budgeting for your small business gives you control over your finances. By looking ahead to what you know or can reasonably estimate what your expenses will be, you can then make financial decisions that will keep you from over-spending, or give you the freedom to invest in the growth of your business.

When Budget?

Every small business owner should have a budget to start their business and then review it annually. I recommend that small business owners review their budget several months before the end of their fiscal year. When I say review the budget I’m talking about comparing projected budget with actual. In the comparison you can see if your estimates were realistic. You and your CPA can also plan for last minute tax strategies, or plan to implement strategies in the up coming year’s budget.

The Goal in Budgeting Remember, the goal of having a budget is to stay in control of your finances in advance. Setting the standard for your spending and revenue and having a tool to compare with actual will give you the control that you need to stay profitable. At the very least it will give you an indication of whether or not your business is actually profitable and not just busy.

Melody Campbell, Business Coach invites Small Business Owners to do an “Extreme Marketing Make-Over.” Receive her Special Report “5 Strategies that Any Business Owner can do for an Extreme Marketing Make-Over” along with having access to her blog and weekly show “Get More Business Podcast at: http://www.TheSmallBusinessGuru.com

Tweet This Post 

No related posts.

Sorry, Meryl! This is much delayed but nevertheless rectified. Let me introduce to you our WINNER!

Meryl K. Evans, Content Maven, has written and edited for AbsoluteWrite, ECT News Network, The Dallas Morning News, Digital Web, Lockergnome, MarketingProfs, PC Today, O’Reilly, Pearson, Sams, Wiley, and WROX. Meryl has written copy for businesses as well as Fib-or-Not? and Meet, Mix, and Mingle games.

Meryl writes and edits content for businesses and publications. She helps business build and maintain relationships with clients and prospects.

She is Editor-in-Chief of Shavlik’s The Remediator Security Digest, a popular newsletter on computer security with over 100,000 subscribers. She’s also the editor of Professional Service Journal, an email newsletter for business-to-business (B2B) service providers, Intel Solution Services’ Connected Digest, and TailoredMail’s Focus eJournal.

Those who want to improve their Web sites can get guidance from the Web Design Guide @ InformIT and blog. Want some CSS inspiration? Check out the CSS Collection.

Meryl is also an educator with New York University’s online graduate program. She has worked for two Fortune 500 telecom companies, federal government in Washington, D.C. and IT consulting. A native Texan, she lives a heartbeat north of Dallas in Plano, Texas with her husband and three kiddos.

Here is the comment that won:

I use various strategies when in need of sources for my business. If I need a product, but don’t know which brand or model — I do research on the Internet to narrow the list.

Once narrowed, I check reviews, blogs, and articles on the product keeping in mind that some reviews could be biased. After deciding on the product, I use shopping comparison sites to find the best deal.

Also I check for the basics: Is transaction secure (some places still haven’t caught on)? Is it easy to contact customer service? Does the store/seller have a good reputation? How is payment handled?

Please check out Meryl’s Website. You can contact her at her website. Congratulate her! And, if you need writing projects done, she’s the one to call.

Tweet This Post 

No related posts.

Let me say that another way…The same is true of business as with friendship. You will earn more business by being interested in other peoples lives than you can by trying to get people interested in your product or service.

Sending Thank you cards is a very powerful marketing tool. I quickly Googled how many books had references to the sending of Thank you Cards to build business. Here’s a summary of what I found:

Here’s a quote from Make Million$ Selling Real Estate: Earning Secrets of Top Agents By Jim Remley

…when I do receive these cards or letters in the mail, they are something that I stop and read. Even when I am busy, tired or stressed out, I put what I’m doing aside and stop to read what someone took the time to write me in longhand. A Thank You card is special.

For this reason, by far the most powerful of any mailing program is a personalized handwritten note, and the most powerful handwritten note is a thank you card. Unfortunately the handwritten note is quickly becoming a lost art. Now that email has surpassed all other forms of communication for overall use, very few people take the time to actually write a note to someone the old fashioned way with paper and ink.

How long did you hang on to you last thank you card? I bet you still have it. Your clients are just like you. I don’t care how jaded we have become; when we receive a card in the mail we all carefully open and read it. Why? It’s human nature. We love to be treated as special, we love to be the center of attention, and we all love special recognition.

The author Jim Remley provides readers with the following list

Twelve Reasons to send a handwritten note to members of your Sphere of Influence

1. Follow up after a transaction
2. Thank them for their business
3. Thank them for a recent referral
4. Congragulate them on career achievements
5. Welcome them to new clubs or organizations
6. Invite them to an annual sphere of influence event
7. Follow up after a recent phone conversation
8. Send a note with a clipping containing interesting information
9. Wish them a happy holiday
10. Wish them a happy one year home anniversary
11. Follow up on a business achievement
12. Congratulate them on family events, such as new children

I use thank you cards in my business and I’ve discovered a wonderful way to make the “job” of writing and sending the note – less like a “job.” I shop, write and send from a website called Send Cards Get Business.

The selection at Send Cards Get Business is amazing! there are over 12,000 cards to choose from in hundreds of catagories…AND you can also create a completely customize your card by uploading your own photo or artwork.

It takes about 30 seconds to send a card – including a customized message. Send Cards Get Business will print, stamp and mail your card for you in ONE BUSINESS DAY!

But what about handwritten notes – oh that’s easy – you send the alphabet written in your own handwriting and they create a font from it. So everytime you go online to send a real printed greeting card the personal message is produced in the font of YOUR HANDWRITING!

I’m telling you this system allows you to touch so many more people – This year alone I have sent over 300 cards to business contacts, friends and loved ones.

My favorite way to use the card is to send a gift card to someone who has sent me a referral. Wnen I get a referral that does business with me I add a $5 Starbucks card. Whoa! I get some wonderful feedback and MORE referrals! I love it. Make me feel wonderful to know that just a small gesture showing my gratitude has such a profound impact on my customers. Yeah, can you believe that not only does this company print the cards with my handwriting, stamp and mail them – they will also insert a gift card or even a CHECK up to $50.

David Frey, of The Small Business Marketing Bible, created a wonderful video about using Send Cards Get Business to create a stream of Instant Referrals. Click on this link to watch.

Tweet This Post 

No related posts.

First Karen starts of with the bigger goals such as

1. What is the dollar amount you want to do in January
2. What number of parties you have to have in order to earn that income?
3. Set up dates that you’re willing to conduct parties and put the dates on your booking tree.
4. Determine how you will keep your “store” open for January.
5. Pre-Determine your Monthly offer and limit the information you share to a week so that your hostess doesn’t schedule at the end of the month – leaving the first of the month empty. Say “I know you’ve been wanting ________ from our catalog. I have a few dates in January left to take advantage of the January Double Hostess credit.” Guide your hostess to the date choices YOU want to have booked.
6. Call hostesses that booked last January.
7. Call prospective hostesses that said “Call me after the first of the year”
8. Start call in NOW to book January.
9. Keep a customer information card so follow up calls are easier because of familiarity.
10. Call all of the “Maybe later” – The people that said call me later. Let them know you’ll be calling them at a later date when you need to fill in booking dates. They will expect that you will call them.
11. Call previous hostess that promised they would rebook.
12. If you send out invitations for your hostesses you have copies of their guest list so when you call hostesses to book a new party you can use the last list and just ask her for modifications.
13. Prepare a script – know what you’re going to say. (Karen gave examples of the scripts she has used.)
14. Offer a special bonus – “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to receive _______, in addition to the normal hostess gifts. I have a few bonus booking dates left. I wanted to be sure to call you because I knew you’d want to take advantage of the special bonus. The dates I have available are ________ or ___________. Which date works best for you?”
15. Especially for parties during the first of the New Year – mail invitations for you hostess – make calls for the hostess – It’s too busy during the Christmas. Your hostesses might not get their invitations out if you don’t help them.
16. Do a “Toast the New Year” bring sparkling grape drink
17. Have “Nutty Buddy” parties – two hostesses have party at the same time. Less reschedules and cancellations.
18. Start promoting Valentines Day right after Christmas!
19. SECRET WEAPON  to have a phenomenal January – always run a special with a HUGE romance basket – knock your socks off stuff in basket. Minimum value $100 (not necessarily cost but must on value). Wine Glasses – Wine – gooooooood Chocolate – restaurant gift certificate, movie passes (think date nite), nice candles, bath suds, more gooooood chocolate (don’t limit the gifts in the basket to just your product) make the items stuff that your hostesses would be willing to work for. Start carrying and promoting The Romance Basket as soon as December is booked. Some way to give the basket would be to

                   –highest dollar in sales
                   –give hostess tickets for different things – returning list in 3 days – per $100 in sales - 
                      bookings – buying guests in attendance.

There was a special bonus package of her best products and other gifts and bonuses using a special link in the call handouts. Go to the Karen Phelps website – www.karenphelps.com This call is available for recorded listening.

After the first of the year we will have Karen on www.GetMoreBusinessPodcast.com as a guest. Be listening because her information has many years of experience behind every idea. She’s field tested all of it!

Tweet This Post 

No related posts.

If you’re in network marketing, relationship marketing, mlm, party business – This is a call you don’t want to miss. It’s TONIGHT.

Read on…

Imagine entering January 2008 with a calendar full of enthusiastic hostesses who can’t wait to have their party with you!!! Imagine having the highest sales ever during the month of January!

Hey guys and gals! Tonight’s the night! Wednesday, December 12, 2007 9:00 p.m. EASTERN. FREE JUMP INTO JANUARY CALL!!!

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Her name is Karen Phelps and she’s agreed to share with everyone her secrets to having a FULL CALENDAR OF BOOKINGS and “off the chart sales” in January.

Free Jump Into January Teleseminar

Having a super start in January is the best thing you will ever do for your business!!! It is Super Easy to get Hostesses to book and have Super Parties in January! All you need is the right attitude and some simple strategies and you can have outrageous January sales!! We hope you decide to join us for this complimentary teleseminar.

What you will learn:

• How to entice Hostesses to host the first week of January
• What to say when you are calling for January bookings
• How to Hostess Coach for successful January parties
• Karen’s “secret weapon” for promoting huge January parties
• How to use Valentine’s Day specials to build January sales
• Plus many more fun and simple ideas…

The tips and ideas you will learn in this teleseminar could easily add hundreds if not thousands of dollars in income at the beginning of the year. Karen could easily sell this information for $50 per person but she is so concerned with EVERYONE having a great beginning in 2008 that she has decided to share this information at no charge. Lines are limited, so make sure you jump on 5 mins. early.

Jump Into January Teleseminar

Tweet This Post 

No related posts.

Dont forget to enter The Small Business Guru’s Christmas 2007 giveaway!

Have you heard we’re giving away an Apple Nano this week, right on time for the holidays!

The Small Business Guru is teaming with goWholesale to find out more about
how you use the internet to source products and services for your business.

The Apple Nano will go the person that gives us the best tip on using the
web to source products for their business.

*  Leave a comment below with your answer.
*  You may only enter The Small Business Guru’s Christmas 2007 giveaway
once. You can enter different giveaways, but you can only enter this one
once.
*  Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older.
*  Winners will be selected by The Small Business Guru on December 11. The
Apple Nano will be shipped shortly after.
*  Entries can be submitted until Monday, December 10th, 11:59PM EDT.

Good Luck! And check out goWholesale’s Sourcing Survey 2007 for a chance to
win an Apple Touch!

Remember, you also need to leave a comment here on this blog as well as take the survey !!!

Tweet This Post 

No related posts.

Have you heard we’re giving away an Apple Nano this week, just in time for the holidays!

The Small Business Guru is teaming with goWholesale to find out more about
how you use the internet to source products and services for your business.

The Apple Nano will go the person that gives us the best tip on using the
web to source products for their business.

*  Leave a comment below with your answer.
*  You may only enter The Small Business Guru’s Christmas 2007 giveaway
once. You can enter different giveaways, but you can only enter this one
once.
*  Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older.
*  Winners will be selected by The Small Business Guru on December 11. The
Apple Nano will be shipped shortly after.
*  Entries can be submitted until Monday, December 10th, 11:59PM EDT.

Good Luck! Leave a comment on your best tip on using the web to source products for your business AND complete the survey at goWholesale’s Sourcing Survey 2007 for a chance to win an Apple Nano!

Remember, you also need to leave a comment here on the blog !!!

Tweet This Post 

No related posts.

The Small Business Guru is teaming with goWholesale to find out more about
how you use the internet to source products and services for your business.

The Apple Nano will go the person that gives us the best tip on using the
web to source products for their business.

*  Leave a comment below with your answer. (This step is important – Don’t forget!)
*  You may only enter The Small Business Guru’s Christmas 2007 giveaway
once. You can enter different giveaways, but you can only enter this one
once.
*  Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older.
*  Winners will be selected by The Small Business Guru on December 11. The
Apple Nano will be shipped shortly after.
*  Entries can be submitted until Monday, December 10th, 11:59PM EDT.

Good Luck! Leave a comment on your best tip on using the web to source products for your business AND complete the survey at goWholesale’s Sourcing Survey 2007 for a chance to win an Apple Nano!

Tweet This Post 

No related posts.