Tag: Plan

  • How to Select the Right Marketing Strategy for Your Business

    How to Select the Right Marketing Strategy for Your Business

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    I’ve probably had more conversations about this topic with clients than any other: What marketing strategies should I use to market my professional services?

    These days, there are more options to market yourself than ever before. And you may have a tendency to look for something quick and easy that will generate a never-ending stream of new prospective clients.

    I wish that solution existed. Some of the newer methods of marketing, such as YouTube videos, are very powerful, but extremely difficult for the average person to pull off successfully.

    Over the years, I’ve had tremendous success with three primary marketing activities. And I’ve also helped a whole lot of clients implement these strategies successfully as well. Nevertheless, for all of them it can take a tremendous amount of time and energy to get consistent results.

    Here are the pros and cons of each strategy and my overall recommendations about how to integrate each one into your overall marketing plan.

    Networking and Direct Outreach

    This strategy about building relationships with others in your field who can connect you to prospective clients. This means having conversations, attending meetings (individually or in groups), and doing follow-up. Sometimes it means reaching out directly to those in your network (including LinkedIn), being proactive, and exploring possibilities for projects.

    Pros: Networking is the most concentrated, focused, personal kind of marketing. And if you do it well and consistently it can be extremely effective in building strong relationships and trust with your business associates and prospects.

    Cons: The downside of networking is that it can drain your energy. This is a particular issue for introverts like me. And networking only enables you to reach a limited number of people.

    Recommendation: Start marketing your professional services by meeting as many people as you possibly can – face to face. Join organizations and associations and then learn how to use LinkedIn to connect with new prospects.

    Speaking (Live and Webinars)

    If you want to gain a reputation as an expert, nothing is better than speaking. And it combines the best of networking and writing, in that you are connecting with people directly and also sharing your valuable expertise.

    Pros: Speaking can quickly establish you as an expert. And you can immediately follow up with those in your audience.

    Cons: The downside of speaking is that, for many people, it comes with a high fear factor, therefore a lot of people avoid it.

    Recommendation: As your network expands, start to find audiences to present your ideas through professional associations, chambers of commerce, and other groups both offline and online. Learn the skills of giving a great presentation and of following up with your audience members.

    Writing

    Publishing articles and books have always been a good way to market professional services. It establishes your credibility. And with the expansion of various platforms on the Internet, such as Medium, and tools such as WordPress, it’s easier than ever to put your ideas out there.

    Pros: There is no better way to get your ideas out into the world and in front of a large number of people quickly and at virtually no cost.

    Cons: The downside of writing is the sheer volume of online material. There are so many articles published online these days and sent out by email that it can be hard to break through. And yes, writing is a lot of work and takes lots of time.

    Recommendations: You should publish an online newsletter and blog as soon as possible. Work at growing your list and you’ll expand both your reach and credibility. Note that this can take years, so you need to be patient.

    This is the fifth of five articles about the 5 Pillars of Marketing, my marketing model that helps get your marketing on track. 5 Pillars article here.

    Social Media (supplemental strategy)

    For independent professionals, social media is a fast and easy way to communicate about what you’re up to in your business. It’s worth the time to set up LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

    Pros: It’s easy to set up social media accounts and start posting and linking almost immediately.

    Cons: It can take a long time to gain traction that results in any new business. And it can also eat up a huge amount of time.

    Recommendation: Think of social media as a supplement to networking, speaking, and writing. It can increase your visibility and credibility among those you already know.

    All of these marketing strategies take time to master and don’t yield immediate results, but in my experience, the time and effort you put into them will reward your investment many times over.

    Perhaps the biggest mistake you can make in marketing your professional services is implementing these activities randomly and superficially. For success, you need to do all of them regularly and frequently. And for that you need a solid, step-by-step plan.

    Cheers, Robert

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    Source by Robert Middleton

    Views: 1

  • Give Away Your Best MLM Success Stories

    Give Away Your Best MLM Success Stories

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    Give away your best MLM success stories during special days throughout the year. Sounds crazy but if packaged right and promoted to deal with pain points you could see a boost in business. You can bundle them or change formats of any of them. The best way is to find a mixture of formats and use them in your marketing plan during holidays or other special events. Why should you give them away? Holidays are often cash restrictive. This prevents prospect from spending money on things that may not have a high priority.

    MLM success stories can break down walls

    If your finding a lot of resistance in your day to day operations. You could offer something special to help gain business, especially if it’s around MLM success stories or events. The stories can make a difference between success and failure. There is a set up to the whole idea. It must have a good promotional length and should be easy to access and the material should be complete. These three areas are important to the execution of your promotional campaign.

    The individual MLM success stories can include a variety of themes. You may want to run a single theme if you chose. Single themed stories are aimed at specific areas of a pain point in the person’s life. They can be done in most formats that include videos and eBooks. You can design a themed campaign for them that is separate from a multi themed set. Even though these sets can reach a broader audience that is looking for a generalized picture.

    Plan and measure for success for MLM success stories

    Plan your MLM success stories campaign carefully. The stories are the end product and are given away for free. This doesn’t mean you can’t link them to an email list. You may be able to link them to a social media follow and like. If you use WordPress, keep an eye out for new tools that can help. The end goal is to drive success in all areas. You could and should like premium content from your freebie in order to create a strong path for the visitors to follow.

    Always check your analytics for information regarding to the success and of your campaign. Measure the visits to the bounces and take a snapshot before launching the campaign. This can help you adjust and realign your efforts. Check it at least once a week and take a snapshot often as well. Especially if you are running a quarterly campaign.

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    Source by David L. Feinstein

    Views: 1

  • Type 2 Diabetes – An Oral Drug That May Protect Against Heart Failure As Well As Lower Blood Sugar

    Type 2 Diabetes – An Oral Drug That May Protect Against Heart Failure As Well As Lower Blood Sugar

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    Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) is an SGLT2 inhibitor, given in the form of a pill for people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and is used along with diet and exercise and sometimes with other medications. It works by making the kidneys secrete more sugar into the urine. According to a study reported on in October of 2018 in the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology, the drug is also helpful for treating heart failure, one complication of Type 2 diabetes.

    Heart failure takes place when the left side of the heart is unable to take in blood from the lungs and send it out fast enough to the rest of the body.

    The heart is made up of muscle tissue which grows when it is stressed. Inward growth of this muscle makes for a smaller space to accommodate blood flowing in from the lungs. This causes the heart to fail, filling the lungs with fluid from the blood.

    In 2017 an estimated 26 million people worldwide had heart failure. In Type 2 diabetes high blood sugar levels damage the heart and blood vessels, and high blood pressure can result. It is vital to bring down the blood pressure reading to a healthy level to lower the strain on the heart. Heart attacks may not cause chest pain in people with Type 2 diabetes because nerve damage reduces sensation. That makes preventing heart disease even more imperative.

    Investigators at Kobe University and several other research facilities in Japan looked at 58 people who had Type 2 diabetes and who also had heart failure. Dapagliflozin at a dose of 5 mg / day was added to their usual regimen. After six months the muscle tissue comprising the left side of the diabetic's heart decreased in size. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a protein secreted by the heart cells in response to being stretched too far, lowered in the participants whose BNP was extremely high. From this information, the researchers concluded dapagliflozin could be helpful for improving heart failure in those who have Type 2 diabetes.

    The natriuretic peptide is effective in making the kidneys secrete potassium into the kidneys, lowering the blood pressure and the amount of blood in the heart and blood vessels.

    Dapagliflozin is given once a day, either with or without food. It is prescribed as part of an overall treatment plan that includes diet and exercise. Side effects include …

    • urinary tract yeast infections,
    • a stuffy nose with a sore throat,
    • frequently urinating in more copious amounts and at night,
    • dizziness or light-headedness,
    • ketoacidosis (check for ketones in urine),
    • nausea and vomiting,
    • feeling very tired,
    • having difficulty with breathing,
    • abdominal pain, and
    • kidney injury.

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    Source by Beverleigh H Piepers

    Views: 1

  • The Real Reason Why Small Businesses Can’t Get Approved for a Loan

    The Real Reason Why Small Businesses Can’t Get Approved for a Loan

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    Oh no, not again. Yes, that’s right, I’m not going to go there… at least not for today. There’s no shortage of excuses and reasons why small businesses can’t get approved for business loans. It never fails to amaze me the coverage this topic gets especially when the national economy goes into recession or when major political races are at stake. Yes, I agree that small business growth and success is the economic back bone of the US and also, that more than 60% of the US workforce are employed by small businesses. But where I get off the group think is when it comes to the lack of financing for a small business with a business loan. In this article, let’s explore the REAL REASON that small business don’t qualify for loans and the truth may even surprise you.

    It’s Deeper Than Statistics

    I love numbers and even better, I love reading financial statements and the notes. The love for numbers did not become a passion for me in the world of small business lending until I came to understand that the financial statements tell the story of a business. Similar to the story behind the financial statements, there’s a story behind the statistics stating that small business owners can’t get approved for loans especially if they’re of a certain ethnic group, gender, and / or industry. I’m not completely washing away the reality that there’s a shred of discrimination in our world… hey, we live in a broken society with broken people. However, a large part of this thinking (small business owners can’t get a loan because of skin color, gender, etc) is just simply untrue. I’ve been on both sides of the fence so to speak in the world of small business lending. I’ve worked for a big bank, and I’ve worked for a not for profit community development financial institution and it’s always the same. The number one reason why small business can’t (and don’t) get approved for loans is due to the considerably large operating risk that exists in these businesses.

    Operating Risk: It All Starts with You

    What does operating risk mean? Well, here’s a question to bring some clarity. What speaks more to sustainability: a business that’s been operating for at least one year or a business that’s still in the owner(s) mind? I’d go with the first option. Operating risk means that you have and continue to execute on your business plan(s) and that the business is cash flow positive (i.e. returning a sustainable profit margin to cover costs and make you money). Here’s the sad truth: not many small businesses get to this point. Most if any, within two years are still trying to figure things out. OK, granted, there are levels to this particularly when you observe the diversity of businesses. However, I’m speaking to the ones that endeavor to obtain a business loan.

    In closing, I offer a couple of ways to minimize your operating risk and increase your chances of getting approved for a loan. (1) Grow tough skin and learn to survive. The game of business is one of survival. Most days, things will not go your way and you just have to stay the course, be adaptable, and stay true to the business mission. (2) Never forget the 3 P’s – Production, Processes, and Personnel. Become efficient in the production of what you offer for sale, create and put in place processes to enhance production efficiency and ultimately the customer experience, and finally, hire, train, and invest in people who share your vision for the business.

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    Source by Pierre Pinkerton

    Views: 1

  • Successfully Resolve Customer Service Problems to Retain Customer Loyalty

    Successfully Resolve Customer Service Problems to Retain Customer Loyalty

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    It seems that as our technology improves, the business/customer relationship is declining. With online technical and sales support, the personal side of customer relations is not as prevalent. There is no longer any loyalty to a business and its products and services. This trend can cause a significant decrease in sales. One way to counteract this trend is to resolve customer service problems successfully and efficiently in order to retain customer loyalty.

    The following list outlines simple but effective methods of successfully resolving customer service problems:

    Create a Customer Complaint Department: The best way to deal with customer complaints effectively and efficiently is to have experts who are able to manage irate customers with their problems

    Be Polite and Courteous: If a customer walks into a business or calls, it is important that the customer service representative takes the time to show that they care and are willing to listen and help. Empathize with the customer’s problem. An angry customer will calm down if they feel they are valued and respected. Be positive.

    Record the Problem: Writing the complaint down and the actions that will be taken helps avoid any misunderstandings. It also shows the customer that the matter is important to the business.

    Provide Solutions or Methods of Resolving the Problem: Don’t list business policies and practices. This will only infuriate the customer. Work with the customer to come up with a solution that will satisfy the customer. If possible, don’t pass the problem off to another representative or transfer the call to someone else. If you do, make sure the new representative has all of the pertinent information so the customer does not have to repeat himself.

    Empathize, Don’t Apologize: A direct apology will assign blame to the company. It is better to empathize using such phrases as: ‘I am sorry you have had such a difficult time with our product.’ It will show that you care about the customer’s situation. Try to understand the customer’s feelings and point of view. Understanding will go a long way in satisfying the customer.

    Keep Your Promises: Make sure that you don’t make promises that you can’t keep. It will reflect badly on the company and make you look incompetent. The customer will also appreciate reliable service.

    Produce Positive Results: Always follow through with your plan to resolve the problem. Bad or poor quality service will cause you to lose customers. The key to maintaining customers is to always follow through with your promise.

    Offer loyalty Incentives: If the problem cannot be adequately resolved, offer a customer an incentive so they will continue being a loyal customer. This can include giving them a replacement product or service along with a gift or discount on their next purchase. Everyone loves free things. It will make the customer feel appreciated.

    Think of customer complaints as lessons for improving customer care. The solution to great customer service is being able to identify the type of customer you are dealing with. To reap the rewards of customer loyalty, the customer needs to be put first when there is a problem. Showing the customer you care and are willing to resolve the problem efficiently and effectively will go a long way in retaining customer loyalty. Customer loyalty cannot be established immediately, but the investment is well worth it. A happy and satisfied customer is essential to achieving a successful and long term business.

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    Source by Amy Nutt

    Views: 1

  • Healthy Living – Should You Try A Technology Detox?

    Healthy Living – Should You Try A Technology Detox?

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    We have all heard about detox plans. Many of you may have tried one in the past, hoping it would help you reach your health and fitness goals. The primary purpose of the detox approach is to detoxify your body from the toxic waste we encounter on a day-to-day basis, which should then enable your body to work better and more efficiently.

    In most cases, a detox approach is strictly revolving around food. You eat a particular type of food, and that gives you the detoxification benefits you want to see.

    But what about other types of detox plans? As it turns out, one detox plan you might consider using is a technology detox. With so many of us becoming so connected every day, these can do us a world of good. So what is behind a technology detox? Here are the main points…

    What A Technology Detox Is. A technology detox is, as the name suggests, a break from all things technology. If you are like most people, you are acutely aware you are spending a lot of time on your SmartPhone. Or, perhaps you are hooked to the TV.

    Whatever the case, a technology detox is a chance…

    • to stop watching TV,
    • to stop looking at your smartphone, and
    • to even stop going on the computer apart from the essential things you need to do for your career.

    A technology detox allows you to take a step back and live life how it was before all these “toys” came along.

    Benefits Of A Technology Detox. So what are the benefits you will receive from doing this?

    • first, you will find you are less stressed out. You would be amazed at how much stress you get from being so “busy” with your technology. When you do not have it to distract you, you have more time to sit and think – and work through anything that may be bothering you.
    • a second significant benefit is time. Without your smartphone or TV to distract you, what will you do with all the open time? You may find you now have hours in the day you can devote to other, more productive things.
    • finally, you may also notice weight loss! That is right. Without TV and your smartphone to take up your time, you may become more active. This could prompt better health as well. Not to mention, most people will find they experience fewer headaches.

    How To Get Started Today. To get started, decide on two days this week you will unplug. Remember you can use a computer for work-related tasks, but for nothing else. You want to follow through on this to reap the full benefits.

    • try that for just two days.
    • then the following week, aim for three days.
    • take a few weeks off, then aim for four days.

    Eventually, you can design for a full week away from all technology once each month. See what a difference this makes in your life!

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    Source by Beverleigh H Piepers

    Views: 0

  • Have Your Grief Healing Efforts Been Half-Way?

    Have Your Grief Healing Efforts Been Half-Way?

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    Have Your Grief Healing Efforts Been Half-way commitments? Because of your awful grief happening have your self-promises to overcome your unwanted sorrow and loss been only half-hearted?

    “Many important things shouldn’t be done half-way. Think of getting married, having children, starting a business, changing your career. There are times to gather your courage and make the leap, the whole leap.”

    ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

    Grief healing is certainly an imperative, essential and important consideration! It is vital to you to recognize half-way actions as simply expressed words that fade into the air and are nothing more than uttered wishes. To stop grieving and start healing, after a horrendous grief experience, requires total commitment of the mind and heart.

    “You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.”

    ~ old proverb often attributed to David Lloyd George

    Overcoming your grief chasm is personal and unique requiring essential action steps. Have you clearly defined beneficial steps you will take? Half-measured actions are an unpalatable food-source for healing from your grief and loss.

    Action Steps

    Perhaps because of your awful grief and loss, your what-to-do actions have been like a Beebe rattling around on the floor of a boxcar. It is important that you identify your personal decisive grief healing actions with clarity. Your sorrow and loss need your attention now!

    “Up to a point a man’s life is shaped by environment, heredity, and moments and changes in the world about him. Then there comes a time when it lies within his grasp to shape the clay of his life into the sort of things he wishes to be. Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, ‘This I am today; that I will be tomorrow.’” ~ Louis L’Amour

    Early in your grief experience perhaps you have lacked clarity, even experienced confusion, as to actions you should take. In the aftermath of your extreme sorrow and loss you may have taken the shotgun approach rather than pondering and deciding clearly what you wish and should do. Ready-aim-fire-shoot without an identifiable healing plan target purpose is not ever in your best healing interest. Now is the vital time for you to decide. Because your grief experience is unique to you it is essential you decide now the most beneficial actions you will take.

    Commitment Action

    Over the years my life’s happenstances have underscored a vital clarity. I have learned an essential personal truth: As I have experienced failures and successes – professionally, personally and physically – I have learned that until I commit, I am hesitant; there is a chance I will draw back and be ineffective. Nonetheless, the moment I absolutely commit, expectations also move. All sorts of things occur; a stream of assistance and helpful happenings, which I couldn’t have imagined, have come to me. Possibilities and opportunities appear, often unforeseen until I commit to act. Then I experience new personal and spiritual empowerment to develop new habits that support me in new special desired efforts. I am enabled to choose to be willing to grow and evolve professionally, personally, spiritually and physically. This commitment concept has been proven to me time and time again, and so indelibly stamped into my mind, that I believe it is a true principle for individual support and growth.

    After your personal commitment, your life will begin to give beneficial answers to help stop your grieving and start healing. You will receive insight, inspiration and strength far beyond what you imagined.

    What Is Half Success

    Half-way and half-hearted actions result in half success. What is half success? Fifty percent of a forever life condition that can be restored more whole is not what you should accept. You can’t always control life experiences that often permanently change what you hope and dream your life will be. Nonetheless permanent peace, happiness and a life more whole is attainable even if your wholeness is different. Be willing to take the action and make the commitment to seek more happiness and peace. Seek your joy with all your mind and heart. Believe you can obtain lasting hope, peace and wholeness.

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    Source by Duane Marchant

    Views: 0

  • Four Types of Marketing For Small Businesses

    Four Types of Marketing For Small Businesses

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    As a small business owner, you most likely spend quite a large amount of time trying to discern new ways to gain customers. Marketing can be a fun or stressful business. They key is to understand the types of marketing.

    Instead of sending your marketing budget in many different directions, you can choose a specific type and be consistent with it. You will quickly see that your marketing budget pays off much more quickly.

    Here, you will find information on four of the main types of marketing. This way, you will be able to choose the marketing actions that will work best for your business. You will then be able to point your marketing budget in the right direction.

    1. Blanket marketing is a type that is often used by larger business. Blanket marketing means that you spend money advertising to everyone. Many people choose to do blanket marketing by advertising in magazines or newspapers. You will not really have control of who sees your advertising, but you will have the potential to reach many people.

    The downside to blanket marketing is that it can be quite expensive, and you could be wasting money marketing to people who may never become your customers at all. Blanket marketing is best for those who have plenty of funds available and who feel that they will be able to gain many customers from the plan.

    2. Targeted marketing is a method in which you choose a certain demographic and only market to them. This could mean that you advertise to everyone in a certain area. Alternatively, you could advertise to everyone in a certain age range.

    The great thing about targeted marketing is that you will have a much better chance at getting customers since you will be advertising to the types of people who would most likely become customers. The downside is that it will take a little legwork to determine who your target is and then find the right way to advertise to them.

    3. Social media marketing could be called the new kid in town since it is relatively a young concept. With this marketing, you use any one of the many popular social media sites to advertise your company. You can also use a daily blog to garner business.

    The downside to this type of marketing is that you will be sending your information out to many people who may not be interested at all. With blogs, you will have to take the time to keep the blog up to date. Otherwise, people may stop reading it.

    4. The last type of marketing is not marketing at all. There are not upsides to this. It may seem like a way to save money, but when your business fails, you will actually lose a great deal of money. It is extremely important to find marketing funds within your budget.

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    Source by Melissa B Evans

    Views: 0

  • The Five Pillars of Marketing Success

    The Five Pillars of Marketing Success

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    Does the following give a pretty good picture of your current marketing activity?

    You have a website but you’re not really satisfied with it. You go to networking events once in awhile. If someone asks you to give a talk, you’re happy to do it. You post on Facebook and/or LinkedIn semi-regularly. When you find the time, you send an article to those on your relatively small email list. You occasionally set up meetings with colleagues to explore opportunities.

    Now there’s nothing wrong with any of those marketing activities. And usually, they will result in landing some new clients.

    But this is not the approach that works to get a steady, predictable stream of new clients.

    Please don’t tune me out here, thinking, “Well, I really can’t do more than this. I’m already stretched thin. If you give me too much to do I’ll get overwhelmed.”

    I agree. It’s not that you need to do more marketing, it’s that you need to shift your marketing paradigm from one of “Randomness” to one that is “Focused.”

    Random marketing is just that; it’s all over the place. You do a little bit here and a little bit there on an inconsistent basis. You are trying to keep your face, name, and message in front of your prospective clients but the results are unpredictable.

    The Random marketing paradigm is not very effective because it doesn’t gain a lot of momentum. You don’t do enough of one marketing activity to grab the attention of your prospective clients and move them to take action.

    The Focused Marketing Paradigm is very different. It’s based on repeatedly communicating very directly to your target market with a very definite end in mind. It gets the attention of your prospective clients and they ultimately take action.

    The Focused Marketing Paradigm has Five Pillars

    Understand and implement these five pillars and I promise you’ll see a shift in your marketing results.

    Pillar One: Focused Goals

    A Random goal is saying something like, “I’d like to attract a few more clients to my business.” Not very compelling is it?

    A Focused goal is much more specific. “My goal is to land 3 new clients in the high-tech plastics business in the Houston area with an average project size of $30,000 each by the end of the year.”

    The more detail, depth, and specificity about the goal, the better. You’ve really thought through what you want to achieve and also have confidence that you could deliver if you did reach your goal. It’s so real to you that you can taste it.

    What is the Focused Goal for your marketing?

    Pillar Two: Focused Program or Service

    Random programs or services are generalized consulting, coaching or training programs. “I offer management consulting and training to corporations.” Kind of vague, right? But this is what I hear all the time.

    A Focused Program or Service is more tangible. “I offer the high-tech plastics industry Management Acceleration Programs for emerging leaders in the industry.”

    In my business, I’ve always offered programs: The Marketing Mastery Program, the Marketing Action Group, and the More Clients Club. And each program has very specific parameters, deliverables, and objectives. It sure makes intangible services easier to market and sell.

    What is the Focused Program or Service you’re offering?

    Pillar Three: Focused Target Market

    In the above example, the target was the “high-tech plastics industry.” But it’s more common to hear things like, “I work with large companies who want to increase productivity.” This is too general and it makes it hard for clients to know if you understand them and can help them.

    A Focused target market is where you are absolutely clear what kinds of people or companies can most benefit from your expertise. And then you articulate that clearly.

    I worked with a financial planning company last year that targeted middle class families in the Buffalo New York area. Guess who they attracted to their practice? When people read about who they worked with on their website, they said, “That’s Us!” and called them.

    Who exactly is your Focused Target Market?

    Pillar Four: Focused Message and Value Proposition

    A Random message or value proposition tends to be too general and can be hard to pin down. It avoids making a promise that is meaningful to the prospective client.

    Messages such as, “We offer the best service in the industry,” or “Smart insights into great management,” are meaningless to your prospective clients. The value is not immediately obvious.

    A Focused message or value proposition zeros in on exactly what your clients get and what it means to them. I admit that this can be the marketing pillar that is hardest to pin down. Ultimately you have to test a number of different things.

    For the re-launch of the More Clients Club, my current value proposition is: “Everything Self-Employed Professionals Need in One Place to Attract More Clients.” And now, of course, I’m bending over backward to deliver on that promise.

    And a marketing message or value proposition is much more than a sound bite. Your message must permeate every aspect of your marketing, from your website to the emails you send out. Your prospects need to be constantly reminded of the value you offer.

    What is your Focused Message or Value Proposition?

    Pillar Five: Focused Marketing Strategy

    A Random marketing strategy is much like the collection of marketing activities I outlined at the top of the article. You’re just all over the place, throwing something at the wall, hoping it will stick, with no organized system or plan.

    A Focused marketing strategy is more like a putting on a theatrical production. You have the script, the actors, rehearsals, and opening night, all executed on a strict timeline.

    Two examples:

    For my Marketing Mastery Program, I held a series of introductory teleconferences, invited those interested to apply for the program, interviewed each applicant, and then converted 50% into participants. Over a 6-week period, I filled my business for a full year – four years in a row.

    A career coach in one of my programs recently filled her practice in three months with a focused campaign of personalized emails designed to get appointments with her ideal clients. Then she converted a large percentage into paying clients.

    That’s the power of a focused marketing strategy.

    You need to identify the right marketing strategy for your business, but even more important is the way you organize and implement the strategy.

    Developing a focused strategy is the most complex and challenging of the Five Pillars. You can’t just put together something haphazardly and hope you get the equivalent of a professional Shakespearian production.

    What is your Focused Marketing Strategy?

    If you work to build a focused plan with these five solid pillars, your marketing will work better and faster, attracting more of your ideal clients, usually at a higher rate.

    I recommend you work on one pillar at a time. Write them out and fine-tune them until you feel confident and excited about them. Yes, you will need to do some research and study to make sure your plan is viable. But this is certainly better than spinning your wheels with a random strategy that is going nowhere.

    Cheers, Robert

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    Source by Robert Middleton

    Views: 0