Reach Your Goals - Goal-Pooling
May 31, 2007
Goal-pool with friends or acquaintances
Get together with a group of friends or co-workers and host a logistical brainstorming party where all the invitees lay out the goals they’d like help with and make plans to meet them, with the help of the rest of the group. The result might look something like this:
Every Monday the whole crew gets together for a half-hour after work to help Barbara make fund-raising calls for her charity (and in exchange, everyone gets invited to the hoity-toity, networking-heaven Christmas party held to thank the donors and volunteers).
On Wednesdays, Bob hosts a scrap-booking dinner where he provides the food in exchange for mooching supplies, equipment and techniques from his more scrap-savvy cohorts.
On Sundays, June hosts a brunch where everybody eats high on the hog in exchange for honest feedback on her catering recipes and presentation/marketing ideas.
Continue goal-pooling until everyone involved has met their goals ? unless everyone decides to keep going and move on to the next batch of goals!
(c) Soni Pitts
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Soni Pitts is the Chief Visionary Butt-Kicker of SoniPitts.Com. She specializes in helping others reclaim “soul proprietorship” in their lives and to begin living the life their Creator always intended for them.
Local Search and Internet Yellow Pages - A Whole NewVocabulary for Small Businesss
May 30, 2007
Buyers want both online and local information about where to buy Most small businesses are local in nature, serving people who live nearby. Their customers found them through traditional methods like the Yellow Pages or newspaper ads. So far, the Internet hasn’t figured prominently in their marketing efforts. That’s about to change, as Local Search methods become more widespread. Even for buyers expecting to spend their money close to home, more and more of them go to the Internet to locate desired products and services. They rely on search engines to find suitable vendors in the fastest, easiest way. Local Search combines the search query word or phrase with specific geographic terms, like city or zip code. That way, search results only include enterprises in that local area. Instead of information about a small enterprise being lost among millions of pages of search results, it shows up in a small pool of local providers. That’s good for them, as well as the person looking for what they provide. Small operations can easily be located by a whole new group of buyers Consumers don’t simply go to the Yellow Pages when ready to buy - as they once did. Studies show that an astonishing 36% of online searches are conducted to find local businesses. About a quarter of all Internet users already conduct local searches. They’d do even more of it, if the desired small business data were more complete. Local enterprises need to prepare for the impact of changing customer habits. An easy first step is to include your business in Internet Yellow Pages (IYP), along with the printed Yellow Page directory. That puts your enterprise on the radar screen. Learn how your business can make the most of Local Search by visiting http://www.yellowpagesage.com. You’ll find reliable advice from experts in Yellow Pages and Local Search so you can get more mileage from your promotional dollars. Start by getting comfortable with search concepts, and improve your odds of being found when people search online for what you offer. You don’t even need your own Web site to benefit from Internet Yellow Pages and Local Search. Learn the Relevant Terms Search Engine - method for locating the information available on the Internet; a program that searches Web pages for requested keywords, then returns a list of documents where the query terms were found Google and Yahoo, the major general search engines, have both shifted gears to make Local Search a priority when delivering relevant results. Spider (also called “crawler” or “bot”) - goes to every page on every Web site and reads the information so it can be available to searchers; to “crawl” a site it collects and indexes information from it Specialized Search Engines - narrow focus of information crawled and indexed, like medical, business, or shopping sites Keywords - word or phrases used by search engines to locate relevant Web pages; words chosen to improve a site’s search engine placement and ranking Search Query - search request, which the search engine compares to the spidered entries, then returns results to the searcher Search Results - compiled list of Web pages that a search engine delivers in response to a query; the number of items returned is usually overwhelming (in the millions), so searchers only bother to view results on the first pages Relevant Results - the test of a good search is whether the results obtained relate to what the person wanted to find, without a lot of irrelevant links Local Search - combining a geographic term in a search query to locate suitable providers in a specific area Pay per Click (PPC) - method of building traffic whereby site owners bid on search terms (keywords) that link to their site Geographic Terms - specific information about the local area that can be included in a local search: zip code, town, county, geographic region, state Top Ranking - sites shown on the first page(s) of search results Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - fine-tuning keywords and page content so the Web site rates high in search engine results Tags and Titles (on Web Pages) - provide site keywords and information to search engine spiders for indexing a site Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) - directory of business phone numbers and locations in a geographic area, organized by category; searchable data base accessed on the Internet Make your business easy for searchers to find The public is embracing the convenience of searching on the Internet to find information about local businesses. However, their searches for desired information are compromised because so many local enterprises don’t show up in the databases as yet. Those that do have an edge in their local market. Climb aboard! Make sure searchers can find you. For little or no money, you can expose your enterprise to the whole world. Whether or not your business has a Web site, you need to provide the information people are looking for in the places that they look for it. Local Search and Internet Yellow Pages open new avenues to buyers ready to spend. Best of all, they support and compliment your traditional methods of finding new business. So you cover all your bases. (c)2004, Lynella Grant
The Top Five Reasons Strategic Plans Fail
May 30, 2007
“Most great plans aren’t. They are just nice, high-level ideas.”
That’s how one of our survey respondents answered our question, “What are the top three obstacles that prevent great plans from reaching effective implementation?” Despite the universal chatter around the need to be “strategic”, and the untold hours spent developing strategic plans, it appears that they don’t work nearly often enough. And based on the spirited responses we got from the generous folks who answered our survey, it seems that many have been involved in a strategic plan that failed. Of course, we all know it’s not YOUR fault!
If it’s any consolation, even the big boys can’t seem to get it right. Many more than Ted Turner are disappointed in the results from the AOL/Time Warner merger strategy. Arthur Andersen had a great strategy, except for the one little loose thread that allowed the entire company to unravel. And what happened at Kmart, Xerox, and Polaroid? These are organizations that all had the wind at their backs at one time or another, and now you have to wonder if their management could lead a dogsled team to a meatpacking plant.
The Fine Art of Relationship Marketing
May 29, 2007
The buzzword these days is "relationship" marketing. Just what is it? And why is it important? Relationship marketing is so much more than "networking. It’s gathering support of your friends, peers, and business contacts. It’s developing strong, lasting, unique relationships with your most valuable asset, your customer. It’s what keeps people "coming back for more." It’s an excellent way to shorten the traditional routes of building trust, create opportunities, increase valuable contacts, to achieve success and excel in business.
Every opportunity you have to meet new people is an opportunity to grow your business! If you are willing to invest your time, networking is a process, and the payoffs are almost immeasurable. It’s not realistic to expect instant success. It takes time. You can plan your networking opportunities to shorten the time it takes to build those relationships.
What do you want and need to accomplish? Do you want to develop lifelong individual customers, land large accounts, or make an impact in your community? You will accomplish all three by getting involved in your local civic organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Business Associations, Non-Profit organizations, etc. One of the best ways to get to know people "up close and personal" is to volunteer to serve on a committee; give your time and talent to a cause. People want to do business with people who have similar interests and values.
I Dont Need A Financial Coach To Help Me!
May 28, 2007
You’ve been thinking that your financial life could probably be better, right? Maybe you think, "If I could just stick to a budget everything will be fine?", or how about "When I get that next raise or promotion, I’ll have enough money to pay off my debts and save some money?" You may even be thinking,"I can do this on my own!"
I hear these comments and more on a regular basis. I usually say, "Great! Can you think of any reasons your financial life isn’t perfect right now?"
It’s really your "little voice" which is prompting you to say all these things! Your little voice has a job to do and that is to protect you from any change because it "knows" that change will be hard or scary or cause more work and it’s just easier to keep things the way they’ve always been. Your current situation is something you already know and even if you don’t like it, you at least know what you already have.
Or maybe you feel it’s all up to you and it’s weak to have other people help you, especially when it comes to money. Besides, you might think, I’ll probably have to pay to get help!
Selling with Purpose
May 27, 2007
Selling With Purpose
What is it about selling that makes you afraid? Do you get nervous at the hint of having to sell? Is it the fear of rejection that scares you? Is it the fear of not being able to communicate effectively?
Define Your Fear. What is it about selling that makes you afraid? Next question, how did you develop this fear? What is it based on?
a) Many people fear sales because they’re afraid of being rejected as I mention.
b) Others simply fear being the center of attention; especially when giving a presentation in front a large group of people.
c) Some fear selling because they’re simply unprepared to answer tough questions or don’t have a deep understanding of the product or service they’re selling.
d) Could it be you don’t believe in the product or service your selling?
e) Other _______________________________________________
Why do your fear selling? Circle one before you proceed.
Communicate To The Four Main Personality Types
May 26, 2007
You probably know this already, but there are generally held to be four main personality types, which I call: Extrovert, Amiable, Analytical and Pragmatic .
Let’s take a moment to consider each of them in the workplace.
Extrovert: someone who probably has a messy desk; who leaves projects 75% completed then gets distracted by new, ‘more exciting’ projects; someone who communicates their ideas with enthusiasm and charm; makes instant decisions; hates ‘paperwork’ and the ‘dull routines’ of life, such as filling in order forms, checking bank statements, etc.; is usually ‘fashionably late’ to meetings, events and parties (and they love entertaining clients!); always has interesting screen savers.
Amiable: someone who is the ‘peacemaker’ in the office; is always striving for a ‘win-win’ in everything in life; someone who probably isn’t terribly ambitious and striving, but is very happy to support and encourage others who are; someone who cannot say “No” very easily and so are probably on every committee going (whether they actually want to be or not); is more likely to make a decision on the spot if only to stop you ‘hassling’ them, otherwise will take weeks to make a decision (if at all, as they prefer others to make the decision for them); like to know what others are doing (in case they themselves are doing something inappropriate or foolish).
How to Advertise To Your Opt-in Newsletter List, For Maximum Profit
May 25, 2007
How to Advertise To Your Opt-in Newsletter List, For Maximum Profit
by: Cathy Qazalbash
Your opt-in or business list is the most valuable asset to your business. Your subscribers have made a positive decision to voluntary subscribe to your free newsletter. Subscribers to your newsletter are potential customers for you and deserve to be treated like the VIPs they are. Before advertising to them in the form of Solos and other ads in your newsletter, keep a few points in mind:
1. Create trust -credibility
2. Do not over advertise
3. Do opinion Polls/surveys to find what subscribers like
4. Target your advertising
Create trust -credibility: Good content in your newsletter will do this. Info articles and tips are the main source of content. If possible use either freshly written articles or write your own. Tips are always popular, small jokes and sayings are often used to lighten up the newsletter. All these things will help your readers enjoy their newsletter and when you publish a good quality newsletter it will boost your credibility and create trust with your subscribers.
Make More Sells With Colors
May 25, 2007
How Colors Effect Our Emotions?
One of the most interesting things to me is how colors effect the way we think and feel. They effect us whether we are aware of it or not. Some colors effect us more then others but they all have their own individual properties that effect the way people feel.
All colors don’t effect all people in the same ways, however, there have been extensive studies done that show how colors effect the majority of people in the same ways. As with all rules, there are exceptions, but to ignore the power of colors would be to ignore an essential element of a good website design.
Another extremely important element to colors is not only the properties or emotions each color conjures up in each of us, but also how combinations of colors make people feel. And to further complicate your perfect color selection you also have to be concerned with the fact that people have to be able to read your content or the most beautiful color in the world will be for nothing. No matter how important the content on your site may be to someone, if they can’t read it due to bad color selection they will leave in search of another site to serve their needs.
Stacking The Deck In Your Favor
May 24, 2007
Many people do not bother to look at their own magnificence and without that view it is not likely that we will recognize the need for strategies to maximize our strengths. When we buy an outfit for a special affair, we automatically try to coordinate each piece so that they enhance one another and amplify our sense of "looking good" from head to toe. A man will make sure his socks and tie are in sync while a woman will adorn herself with color coordinated makeup, jewelry, nail color, etc. But when it comes to our gifts and talents, we get extremely casual or sloppy and so we stack skills on top that don’t bring out our best and sometimes we are so off kilter, our skills are actually a tacky appendage that detracts from our gifts and talents.
You are your most valuable asset. To build your premiere asset up, you must enhance your gifts, your talents, and your primary personal preferences with skills that round out your life’s tool kit so that you are worth more to yourself and to others. When I speak of worth, I am not speaking of your value as a human being. I am speaking of the value added to the world by doing what you do best in a way that is of great service. You are worth more to yourself when you can spend more time doing what you love and value and less time doing what you don’t love and don’t value.
