Make a Splash in Your Own Backyard: Local Marketing Tactics

Make a Splash in Your Own Backyard: Local Marketing Tactics
For most small businesses, all marketing is local marketing
— as it should be. But even if your company is
regional or national in scope, it's a good idea to "go
local" to select, targeted communities.

The keys to effective community marketing can be summed up
with three guidelines:

1. Get local: target your marketing efforts down to the
neighborhood level

2. Get involved: participate in the community to generate
visibility and good will

3. Get personal: as much as possible, market on a
one-to-one, face-to-face basis

Here are some tips and techniques to get you started:

Use local city-specific Web sites and local portals

City and town Web sites, as well as local versions of major
portals, are growing in number and popularity. Maintain a
presence on local sites by providing content — or by
advertising. In addition to local versions of AOL's
Cityguide, community-oriented Web sites like Yelp.com and
Judysbook.com (which has the added advantage of covering
suburbs and small towns in addition to major cities) are
becoming more common.

Use local search engines and directories

Make sure you're listed with local search engines and
city-specific directories. Local.com and CitySearch are two
such search engines. A newer, but more "hyper-local" site
is Backfence.com.

Set your Google ad to appear locally

If you operate a local business and advertise on Google,
you can target local customers only. Google lets you set
ads to appear only to people in a particular city, state or
region. In the AdWords section, click on "For local
businesses" under "How it works."

Get involved in your community

Volunteer, serve on local boards, participate in your local
Chamber of Commerce and work for local charities as a way
to grow your grassroots marketing efforts. You may find
that your neighbors become your customers. For volunteer
opportunities, visit idealist.org, The United Way, or
Rotary International.

Support community events

Take your community involvement one step further by
supporting community events. Sponsor a Little League team,
participate in parades, town days or other local events.
Small business associations such as SCORE offer tips for
establishing a strong presence in your local community.
Suggestions include starting a local newsletter or creating
a local advisory board made up of customers. John Jantsch's
"Duct Tape Marketing" blog's "In your own backyard" section
is insightful as well.

Make the most of local media and publicity opportunities

Generate awareness for your business locally by writing
op-eds in the local newspaper, getting booked on local
radio talk shows, and advertising in the good,
old-fashioned Yellow Pages. Online community Craigslist
continues to be a great local resource. For help getting
booked on radio talk shows and otherwise generating local
publicity, seek out the services of a good local public
relations consultant by searching the directory of the
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Other local marketing options to keep in mind...

* Explore cause-related marketing opportunities to generate
good will for your company.

* Consider taping a TV show on your local public access
station — it's usually free.

* Give your Web site or blog a local focus or start a local
blog.

* Develop a customer advisory board to get input from local
customers.

* Create alliances with non-competing businesses —
you promote me, I'll promote you.

----------------------------------------------------
Lou Bortone is an author and entrepreneur with extensive
experience in marketing, branding and promotion. Before
starting his own company, Lou was an award-winning
marketing executive in the media industry. Today, Lou helps
entrepreneurs and solo professionals navigate their online
businesses with services such as copywriting, video
production and creative services. Sign up for Lou's free
mini audio course about using Online Video at
http://www.TheOnlineVideoGuy.com .

Be Creative, Go Get the Business

Be Creative, Go Get the Business
Do not wait for the business to come to you, go get it
yourself. Residential management cannot always sit behind
the desk and wait for the phone to ring like a high school
boy waiting a on girl to call him on a Saturday night. If
it does not happen, you wasted valuable time on the job.
Like all businesses, residential properties have slow times
of the year too. So instead of sitting behind the computer
playing video card games during drought periods,
residential management can take advantage of the slow time
by promoting the business. This can be done in two ways.
Residential management can promote using a computer or he
can leave the residential property and promote in person.

The winter months are slow for many industries including
automobile, self storage, and real estate. All are looking
for ways to increase business during the drought period.
Residential management and real estate agents could really
benefit from one another if they work together. And it does
not take much effort. Residential management could simply
email a real estate agent or walk into a real estate office
and meet some of the agents. Real estate agents are the
first people to meet people who are relocating to the area.
Who better to become friendly with than someone who shows
homes to people needing a place to live. Real estate agents
can benefit from residential management too. They can
recommend agents to tenants who are relocating from the
residential property. So it is a win-win situation. A
simple email inquiry will do, but meeting them in person is
better.

Join the local Chamber of Commerce. Not only will you get
the occasional free meal and drink, you will get to
participate in the network web of local business owners and
other people hungry for business. You never know who you
will be schmoozing with. They might be looking for a new
residential property for themselves or know someone else
who is looking. That is what networking is about, to
promote your business. If you are in residential management
for a self storage company, you will shake hands with many
business owners who will need self storage for commercial
storage products.

Residential management can get together with the homeowners
association to have a neighborhood garage sale. First the
residents will be happy to get rid of some old closet
storage. Second, a garage sale will bring people to the
neighborhood or to the residential building. If residential
management puts up a huge sign that advertises we have
vacancies, maybe you can get a few new tenants out of it.
Have the rental contracts ready to be signed.

If residential management has a college or university
nearby, put up fliers or pamphlets on bulletin boards.
Residential management might be able to catch some students
relocating during the winter break. If so, you will want
them to think of your residential property when they are
looking for a new pad. Many students transfer from other
schools during the winter. Residential management will want
to catch them before another residential management does.
Drop off a few business cards and fliers at the
registration office or guidance office. While they waiting
on line at least they will have some reading material.

The possibilities are boundless. Be creative and think of
other types of businesses or people that could be looking
for a new apartment during the winter.

----------------------------------------------------
Property Management
http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/

Business Referrals - 5 Easy Steps To Increase Your List Of Referral Partners To 100

Business Referrals - 5 Easy Steps To Increase Your List Of Referral Partners To 100
Do you obtain much of your business through referrals from
others-from people who know, trust, and like you?

Is your network of referral partners producing the number
of referrals you want?

Do you want to increase the size and quality of your
referral partner network?

Getting business by referral from other people is one of
the best ways to grow your business. If you want to earn
more business by referral, you have to be involved in a
referral partner network that is large enough so it can
provide you with a steady stream of new business. Referral
partners are people who are in touch with your prospective
clients on a regular basis.

If you want to earn more business by referral, you have to
be involved in a referral partner network that is large
enough so it can provide you with a steady stream of new
business. Referral partners are people who are in touch
with your prospective clients on a regular basis.

For example, if a business provides web site design
services to small business, their referral partners may
include graphic artists, copywriters, business coaches, etc.

Get the picture?

By actively seeking out referral partners, you will
increase your chances of developing relationships with
people who can refer business to you on a regular basis.

A network of 100 referral partners is usually large enough
to provide you with enough business. Yet, is not too large
that you can't handle staying in touch with them---perhaps
monthly with an eZine publication, or meeting them
quarterly for coffee or lunch.

Here are the 5 steps you can take to build your referral
partner list:

1. Think about who your potential client is, and brainstorm
what type of business services they need to operate their
business. This information will give you clues about what
other professional categories may be good referral
partners. Develop a list of 10 professional categories.

2. For each professional category you identified, actively
seek to make the acquaintance of 10 people. There's a good
chance you already know people in these occupations. If you
need more individuals to increase your list to 10, ask
current business associates if they know individuals they
would recommend. Then, ask them if they would introduce
these people to you.

3. Schedule a time to meet with your potential referral
partners. Meeting these individuals provides you an
opportunity to tell them about your products and services,
and their benefits. It also gives potential partners the
opportunity to tell you about their products and services,
as well.

At your meetings, provide prospective referral partners
specific details about your market niche so they will be
able to quickly identify if a prospect is right for your
business. For example, if you are seeking businesses that
generate $1M to $5M in revenues, and operate in the
metalworking industry, give your referral partner this
information.

4. When you meet someone who seems willing to send you
referrals, add their name to your referral partner list
until eventually you attain 10 people x 10 occupations =
100 referral partners

5. Once you have 100 names on your referral partner list,
and you've made acquaintances, develop your tactics for how
you will stay in touch and build relationships.

Some ideas about how to do this are; develop a tickler file
to remind you to contact and meet them, send out a monthly
eZine to keep your business top-of-mind, attend networking
functions they may attend, send greeting cards, or invite
them to a cocktail or holiday party. The methods you can
use to keep in touch are endless!

TIP: Contact your referral partners at least one time every
three months-once a month is even better!

Over time, you may find some people are not good referral
sources. Replace them on your list to keep it fresh.

----------------------------------------------------
Bonita L. Richter, MBA, founder of Profit Strategies,
http://www.profit-strategies.biz (for FREE tips on how to
craft the successful business you desire, visit
http://www.Profit-Strategies.biz ) teaches entrepreneurs
and business owners how to start and grow businesses,
attract more clients, and market their businesses to
increase sales, business success, and generate wealth.

Have YOU Given Thought To Your Future Career Goals?

Have YOU Given Thought To Your Future Career Goals?
Today, I look at young boys and girls and wonder what
they're thinking. Is their Career or future livelihood
even a figment of their imagination?

Does it cross their mind in the course of a day? Where is
their "head" or brain when it comes to decisions about
making a living or where they will live?

Personally, I wonder! Interesting is the fact that my Mom
and Dad had the same questions about me. Hard to believe
but true.

Every generation seems to think the next bunch are going to
the dogs. Fortunately, most find their way and often end
up making a great contribution to society.

It's encouraging to know that's the case. Sadly, some do
fall through the cracks and end up in jail, on the streets,
or worse.... dead! Freedom is often too costly for some to
handle.

As Parents, most of us do, want the best for our children.
However, one of the worst things we can do is make fun of
the decisions our kids make or put them down rather than
building their self-esteem.

Not everyone is going to be an executive, a doctor, a
lawyer, a scientist, minister or whatever you can dream for
your children. We have to accept them for who they are,
whatever ability God gives them as their gift to society.

Being the "best you can be" is all I ever wanted for our
children. It has not been my goal to direct any of them
into the same mold or career path as we've enjoyed.

Life is all about making good choices and being honest,
living with the integrity and character of respected
individuals, regardless of where you find yourself.

Success is not about making money or being rich. Yes, it's
nice to have the means to provide well for your family, but
in society today it's possible in most occupations for us
to be successful and responsible.

None of us have to cheat our way, or take advantage of
others in order to provide for our family. Not everyone
is a business guru who can make tons of money without fail.
There are risks involved in working for the business owner
as well as having your own business.

Often times a person ends up working twice as many hours
for himself as he/she would be working for someone else to
make the same income. Something to think about!

Many successful business executives work for others in the
same industry before embarking on their own. Even then not
everyone is successful because of hidden secrets or
expertise.

Few of us can really get inside where the details are known
by the owners and kept confidential rather than spilling
the beans to all the staff.

Understand there are risks whatever your decision about
working for an employer or trying it on your own as the
employer. As you might surmise, you're on your own when
leaving the comfort of a steady paycheck.

It's imperative to know that it's never as easy as you
think. Usually, the boss is not as rich as you think
either. The first 25 years is the hardest then it gets a
little easier.... so be careful how you put your business
plan together.

----------------------------------------------------
Don Monteith spent 32 years as co-owner of several
franchises and a personnel/staffing business. Every year,
his firm placed hundreds of job candidates in their dream
job. Today, Don shares his business and career expertise
through published articles and his newest websites on the
Internet. Lots of FREE ideas - suggestions - ready for your
perusal and study.
http://www.HowToGetYourDreamJob.com

The Importance of Body Language in Communication

The Importance of Body Language in Communication
When working with other people, verbal communication is
only one way that you show others emotion, approval,
disappointment and confidence. How you walk, how you
position yourself when talking and how you use your facial
expression are all cues that other people rely on when
making assessments about your abilities and current state
of mind.

Using Body Language in the Workplace

The more you understand body language and its affect on
others, the better you will be in communicating with
co-workers, bosses, clients, vendors and others you
encounter during the day. By making simple adjustments to
your posture, facial expressions and mannerisms, you can
improve the way others view you. Assessing how people view
you is necessary in order to make changes.

Ask those around you whose opinion you can trust to
determine where improvements need to be made.

Adjustments can include the following:

* Maintaining a relaxed posture while walking or during a
meeting. Relaxed posture indicates you're comfortable in
your surroundings and not under stress. Even if you
experience stress while working on a project, when you
reduce the appearance of stress, those around you will feel
more comfortable and will have more faith in your abilities
to lead, delegate responsibility and manage the project.

* Mannerisms such as fidgeting, moving around a room while
talking, breaking eye contact with others frequently and
other bodily quirks you have can be seen as a distraction
to those around you. These mannerisms can make you appear
anxious, unprepared, unorganized, and stressed even if
you're not. Learn how to control these mannerisms by taking
note of when they occur, how often they occur, and consider
ways to alter them. Many times, mannerisms are just old
habits that need to be broken.

* Learning how to control your facial expressions can help
you become more successful in the workplace. If people
often ask if you're upset or angry, it may be because
you're constantly frowning or you appear sad. Change your
facial expressions by practicing in the mirror. Find an
expression that is relaxed and calm and make an attempt to
wear it as often as possible around others. Once you're
learned how to use your body language to communicate more
effectively in the workplace, you will notice a change in
how others react to you.

Assessing the Body Language of Others

If you're always the last person in the office to know when
something is wrong, then maybe you need to pay closer
attention the signals others are sending through their body
language.

Noticing how people walk, how they carry themselves and how
their faces appear during the day can provide you with many
clues. Even though they may be sending the wrong signals,
you should still take note of them so you can assess
situations more confidently instead of relying on the
perceptions of others. Becoming more observant of body
language when hiring new employees can also help you choose
the right candidates for positions available. Take notice
of how they present their resume to you, how they sit and
how their facial expressions change as they talk about
prior job experiences. Use your observations in conjunction
with their resume and references to determine if they are
right for the company you work for.

----------------------------------------------------
Sharon Alexander is the author of the ebook Claim that
Job.com - The Ultimate Job-Hunting and Career Management
ebook that teaches the skills and techniques needed to
succeed in a competitive job-market.
http://www.claimthatjob.com .
http://www.claimthatjob.com/blog .

Network With a Hoe, Not a Machine Gun

Network With a Hoe, Not a Machine Gun
When I speak to women I meet at events and even talk with
my clients about how they could raise their profile, I am
always struck by how vital women consider the process of
networking. While most women will recognise it is a
potential boon to their careers, some do not embrace it as
readily as others -perhaps out of shyness or an unhelpful
assumption that you network only to sell...or hand out
business cards indiscriminately in a rapid,
take-no-prisoners, machine-gun style.

It is this image that often puts women off - the idea of
wearing a stiff suit, shaking hands endlessly and trying to
deliver an interesting "elevator speech" whilst the person
you speak to looks over your shoulder. The most successful
networkers I know say very little about themselves
initially and are much more curious about helping others -
this is an approach that has far better results in the long
run, but also is one that comes much more naturally to
women who don't like "tooting their own horn" and are happy
to let a relationship grow.

Also think carefully about what you want from a network.
Are you looking for a new job, a mentor, good contacts of
suppliers, a change of industry, somewhere to hear
inspiring speakers - or what I find many women who come to
my workshops want in the first instance - just a chance to
be around other women who are also working in
male-dominated fields.

The difficulty with networking can come in the self-
imposed pressure to make a sale at the first event you go
to. I used to put enormous pressure on myself when I first
started out, assuming that if no one asked me for
one-to-one coaching on the spot, I had failed. When I look
back, I see how ridiculous that is - especially in the
realm of coaching where most clients feel that they need to
know me better before delving into more personal territory.

It was only when I began to compare networking with that
great British pastime, gardening that I began to be easier
on myself. First, plant your seeds. In this case, begin to
attend events regularly and get to know people and what
they do. Next, choose the best plants for your gardens,
those that will give you the most bang for your buck. When
you first start out, go to a wide variety of networks to
get a feel for what they have to offer and who attends. For
example, when I first set up business, I used to attend
lots of events all over London and Cambridgeshire. It was
only after I began to whittle down to the few that had the
best buds (in gardening parlance) that I was able to become
more heavily involved in and to reap the benefits of
belonging to just a few groups. Marketers will tell you
people need to be exposed to a new product (in this case -
you) seven times before they make a decision to buy. It is
unrealistic to think you can do this with more than just a
few organisations on your first attempts.

Top Tips for Networking like a Gardener

* It is far better to attend 1-3 networks religiously than
keep up with more on a haphazard basis. Regularly attending
network events will help you build a rapport with the
group, making new introductions easier.
* Water your plants: You can't leave the garden unattended
and expect to reap big juicy vegetables months later.
Water" by being helpful to people - again a strength most
women I know already have. If they were in need of a
service of someone you know, a bookkeeper, virtual
assistant or colleague - pass on their details, as making
links is one of the quickest ways to make yourself valuable.
* Send an e-mail to those you met saying how much you
enjoyed talking with them and include specific references
to your conversation. Do not send generic emails to
everyone. They can feel soulless and impersonal - not the
message you want to send.
* Make yourself of use to them. Send links to articles
they may be interested in or invite them to other events
that they may enjoy. Make a referral for a service that
they said they need. It is usually after a few months of
contact, bumping into them at other events and infrequently
exchanged e-mails that people will respond
* Niche down to those you networks you truly enjoy, attend
regularly, be of use to others and you will begin to see
dividends.

----------------------------------------------------
To find out more and add your comments, please visit
http://www.doylemorris.com

Your Ideas Sell

Your Ideas Sell
All great sales and marketing strategies begin as a fertile
idea. Entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and fresh ideas go
hand in hand. My new Idea Sellers blog logo reflects this
thinking. The "swooshes" capture and highlight the words
"Ideas Sell" in an effort to remind us that all of our
ideas are important and worthy of our further scrutiny.
Ideas do indeed sell.

The action we implement on a valid idea is critical to the
success of our goals. Consider the word "change." It might
be associated with any number of thoughts. If you think of
money, it becomes the coins received back from your dollar
after a purchase. If you have a baby, change involves a
nasty diaper. It could refer to replacement of one thing
for another. Change could refer to a transfer, such as
changing planes. It might also reflect transformation such
as a change of seasons or perhaps an alteration of
circumstances.

Change is possibly the most utilized word and projected
idea in this early presidential political season. It is
becoming clear that most people want to see political
change in Washington. What does the word mean in this
context? Change in this instance means the dissolution of
special interest groups that dictate policy, reform in
health care and social security, an end to the war and the
end of doing business as usual. Change is virtually
synonymous with "successfully shaking up Washington."

Change is a potent and volatile idea. It creates tremendous
emotion and stimulates bold action. Change is a powerful
idea that sells; just ask Barak Obama! Ending the "business
as usual" policies is the core of their campaigns.

What about your sales campaign? Is it business as usual or
are your prospects and customers demanding change as well?
If you are paying attention to them, and you had better be,
they will tell you exactly how to do business with them and
explain how they want to be treated. Are you listening? Do
you think our "red and blue" presidential candidates are
listening?

All ideas need work. Whether your strategy for developing
great ideas includes the development of mind-maps, the use
of mastermind groups or simply dreaming, the creative
process must prevail if you are to be successful in selling
your ideas to others. Being intangible, your ideas come to
fruition when they are painted and constructed in the
mind's-eye of your customer. The successful sale of your
ideas is more likely to occur in a relationship context.

If your customer believes in and trusts in you, they will
accept your ideas as valid. So, the successful sale first
occurs when you sell yourself. Your ideas sell as a result.
Selling is synonymous with "creating ideas for finding
solutions." Selling your ideas is a winning strategy that
always pays dividends.

----------------------------------------------------
Daniel Sitter, author of both Learning For Profit and
Superior Selling Skills Mastery, has garnered extensive
experience in sales, training, marketing and personal
development spanning a successful 25 year sales career.
Experience his blog at http://www.idea-sellers.com

Five Reasons Why Ninety Percent of Network Marketers Fail

Five Reasons Why Ninety Percent of Network Marketers Fail
Nine out of 10 people who fill out a network marketing
application will fail to build a viable business. Among
that number will be people who do not take action and
people who build a business yet experience a true business
collapse.

The oft-quoted statistic allegedly from the Small Business
Administration(SBA) that 9 out of 10 of all businesses fail
within 10 years by comparison is not true.

According Brian Headd's article from Small Business
Economics 21:51-61, 2003: Redefining Business Success:
Distinguishing between Closure and Failure, 66% of
conventional businesses survive 2 years or more, 50%
survive four years or more and 40% survive six years or
more. Traditional small businesses do far better than the
90% failure rate quoted by people in the network marketing
industry.

What is the difference? Is the network marketing model
itself faulty? Many familiar sales models use the same
business model as network marketing. Real estate sales are
a prime example. Many top sales people across the
automotive, pharmaceutical, travel and other industries
have as their main responsibility to recruit and train
sales people and in return are paid commissions based on
the performance of their teams. It is not the model.

What is it then? Why do so many people fail in network
marketing?

Working with people over the past 5 years and in speaking
with other successful network marketers during the same
time, I have been able to come up with 5 reasons:

1) The cost of entry is too low: The typical start up
costs can range from 0 to $1500 dollars. Imagine the person
who decides to open a traditional business and has to
invest tens of thousands of dollars to do so. How might
that person differ from the person who can put their
business start up on a credit card? The person seeking to
open a conventional business where the investment is high
will develop a business plan. That plan will include a
skills assessment, expected expenditures and projected
revenues. If the prospective business owner realizes they
have a skill deficit that is material to their business
success, they will either set to work learning that skill
before opening their business or they will provide funding
and a plan to acquire that skill while they are in the
planning stages and before they open for business. Now
imagine the person who can simply put their start up costs
on their credit card. For the majority of network marketers
there is no planning beyond the initial start up. Most
never ask of their sponsors or themselves what they may
need to be successful other than the initial start op
costs. They never ask what skills they lack. There are
on-going business costs in addition to the start up costs
and those costs can range from $100 to $500 dollars per
month. Many do not make provision for on-going expenses.
On-going business expenses tend to be regarded as expenses
akin to the cable bill rather than investments in their
business. The low start up, then, can be a stumbling block
to success in business.

2) Lack of appropriate training: Unfortunately many
companies and teams do not offer training beyond corporate
events. In order to be successful network marketers must
master a simple formula, the Inviting Formula, and they
must use that formula 30 to 60 times per month. Without
this formula many new and seasoned network marketers will
invite the wrong prospects to review their information and
find themselves disappointed by the results. The Inviting
Formula is simple to learn and implement. Why is there so
little training available in network marketing? I believe
the reason can be found in the very reasons why people get
started in network marketing. Take the wage earner who
wants to fire his boss. He never wants anyone to tell him
what to do again; he hates his boss and wants to be free.
Take the corporate executive and the entrepreneur both of
whom are tired of managing people and are looking to build
a fleet of independent business owners that they never have
to manage. Put both groups of people together in what is
fundamentally a people business and what do you get?
People who find that they have to do what they were trying
to get away from in order to be successful and become free!
YIKES!

3) Too many people are looking for the big income score and
fail to appreciate the smaller sums of income they earn
along the way. Most people get started in network marketing
because of the big income claims. They want the six
figures. If they don't get 'em they quit. Here is a
statistic that will knock your socks off. Anyone grossing
$30,000 per year or more with their respective company is
among the top 3% of income earners for their company. Here
is another fact. The income earned through network
marketing is tax-advantaged income. Income earned through
a job is not. Anyone earning an additional $30,000 dollars
per year in tax-advantaged income who fails to make
significant strides in improving their wealth will never
improve their wealth with $100,000 per year. Finally, the
road to earning and keeping six figures and beyond is a 5
to 10 year process and there is no way around it. It is a
process that requires growth and change in the areas of
personal finance, emotional maturity, spiritual maturity,
and personal association.

4) Low EQ, failed expectations, too much hype in the
industry: Looks like I jumbled 3 different ideas into one
point but they are actually all related. There is a lot of
hype in the industry. Joe Smith the waiter to went from 0
to six figures in a year. Of course Joe Smith and his
company forgot to mention that all of Joe's family were
involved in the industry of network marketing, that all
were successful, and that Joe was working as a waiter just
to figure out what his options were. That skills are
required is just one of the "inconvenient truths" of
network marketing. The hype leads invariably to failed
expectations. If people understand at the start that
network marketing is really a business that requires a
skill set fewer people would get started and more people
would be successful. The organizations created would move
from vertical sales organizations to consumer-based
organizations as more people seek to become product users
rather than business owners. Network marketing itself is an
industry that attracts too many people who desire instant
gratification. Daniel Goldman described the Emotional
Quotient or EQ in his book Emotional Intelligence. He
found that the greatest determinant of long term success
was one's ability to delay gratification.

5) Money In, Money Out: Many people treat Network
Marketing as a Money in, Money out proposition. Imagine a
black box. On one side of the box is the word "IN" in bold
letters. On the other side is the word "OUT" in bold
letters. It would be easy to think that just because you
put money in, you should get money out. Investments rarely
work out that way. See the trouble is that "black box".
Something goes on in that black box that transforms inputs
into outputs and therein lies the rub. As an illustration,
I was on the phone with a prospect the other day. He said,
"I have been scammed so many times, what I need is a person
who will work with me, show me the ropes, train me…are you
that person?" My response was, "yes, we have a training
program that begins with our training manual. We have
weekly calls and I will be meeting with you a couple of
times per week and giving you assignments each time we
meet. You won't progress unless you do the assignments and
attend the training calls…are you that person?" Stone cold
silence. He never did answer my question. With my first
company, I received motivational materials at a cost of $60
dollars per month but no training. In my second program
there was training galore that I didn't take advantage of.
I thought my team's system would build my business for me.
When I realized that it wouldn't, I had a choice, quit or
continue. In order to continue I had to ask myself some
questions, among them, What skill or skills do I lack?
There are 2 skills required in network marketing A) the
skill of inviting which has embedded in it the stills of
listening, sorting and sifting and B) The skill of training
which requires the skills of boundary setting and the skill
of setting expectations. I lacked the skill of inviting.
I learned my profession through experimentation, direct
observation and practicing. I applied those same
strategies to learning the skill of inviting and I went
from sporadic checks to consistently earning multiple 4
figures per month.

----------------------------------------------------
Ouida Vincent has been generating leads online for her
primary network marketing business and teaching duplicable
strategies to her team from her home for over 5 years. To
pick up her team's Light House Marketing guide to Network
Marketing on the internet, go to
http://www.passiveincomesecretsonline.com

Think Like an Instant Billionaire

Think Like an Instant Billionaire
In sifting through emails from a recent R&D survey I
launched, I read the responses, and honestly, I wanted to
cry. Don't get me wrong. It's not that I haven't been aware
that most solopreneurs have very low expectations of what
could be made in self-employment (I've been at this for
almost 9 years after all!), but I just didn't know how LOW.
Until I got the responses to the following question: "What
is the most amount of money you see yourself making as a
self-employed person?" Not just this year, but EVER.

Close to 200 solopreneurs (mostly female) wrote in and
shared with me their "Most-I'll-ever-make-in-a-year"
numbers. What shocked me was that the number itself was
really LOW and the majority of people wrote in numbers
within a short range: between $50,000 and $75,000. Sure, a
couple of them wrote in $150,000, but even THAT seemed like
a far cry from what I *know* is possible, when you shift
the way you work, get good marketing in place, create
systems for everything, outsource, and set up leveraged and
passive streams of income.

But what really got me choked up was they didn't BELIEVE it
was possible and worse, some didn't feel they deserved it.
Their MINDSET wasn't accustomed to thinking BIG, and
truthfully that made me very sad, almost depressed. So I
went about adding it to my Client Attraction coaching
curriculum.

I had to find a way for them to stretch their thinking of
what might be possible for them. Then I thought of an
assignment I'd gotten years ago from my very first coach,
Talane Meidaner, author of Coach Yourself To Success. Back
when $3,000 a month seemed like a BIG goal for me to reach
in my private practice, she asked me to pretend I was an
instant billionaire. The goal was to expand what I believed
was possible for me and to do it in just 5 minutes' time.

Essentially, this Billionaire Game was about tapping into
my every wish, desire, dream, and hope I've ever thought
about. Where I wanted to travel, what I wanted life to look
like, what I wanted to have, how I wanted to set up my
business. What I liked about this exercise is the 5 minute
limit didn't allow me to think too much and instead to just
do it.

So, I set my timer and frantically wrote down all the
things I wanted for my life, and my business. It was a LONG
list, and when I was done, it felt actually freeing to see
what I'd written down. What I realized is many of the
things on the list weren't that far of a stretch, and I
could live many of them NOW, if I made a few changes. But
it also got me to start dreaming and imagining BIGGER
things for my life.

The coolest part is it helped me expand what was possible
for me. Things aren't THAT out of reach and you can live a
billionaire lifestyle now, which then feeds your mindset
even more that you DESERVE to make mo.re.

When I look back at the list I wrote back then, it's really
cool to see I'm pretty much living that exact life now.
(Although I still don't have a live-in spa chef and haven't
traveled to India and Vietnam for a month each yet, but
those will come.) :)

Your Assignment:

Give it a try. This game will help you get past your
restrictions around money. Grab a paper and pen. Imagine
you've just become the billion-dollar lottery winner. Not
just a million. You now have more money than you'll ever be
able to spend.

The condition of winning; however, is you must write down
100 different things, whatever you want to be, do, or have
on a piece of paper, and you have only 5 minutes to do so.
So write fast, without over-thinking. Remember to write
down every wish, desire, dream, and hope you can possibly
think of.

Set the kitchen timer and see if you can come up with 100
different things. Don't worry about any practical
considerations of your list. Don't let anything limit or
stop you. You can do, be, or have anything you want. This
is about expanding possibilities. Most of us start out way
too small.

I promise you one thing. This will not only affect your
mindset about what's possible for you, it will also affect
your Client Attraction. The more you begin to LIVE like a
billionaire (on whatever your budget is), the more Client
Attractive you will become. Try it and let me know how it
goes, OK?

Having trouble staying in the Success Mindset and believing
you CAN make a whole lot more being self-employed? You're
not the only one. The good news is, once you're shown how,
it all becomes easy to implement, especially when all the
tools, scripts, templates, and examples are handed to you
on a silver platter.

----------------------------------------------------
I will be diving deep into both the MINDSET and the
MARKETING necessary for you to finally succeed, and it's
all in my upcoming Client Attraction Marketing and Mindset
Breakthroughs Workshop. Why struggle when you can just
model a system that already works? Read the success stories
here: http://www.ClientAttractionWorkshop.com .

How to Resell Event Tickets Online

How to Resell Event Tickets Online
Purchasing tickets to events or shows then selling them at
a profit is nothing new. People have been reselling
tickets for decades but the internet is now shaping this
trend to be more sufficient. It has become very easy to
research what shows are expected to sell out as well as
sale and presale dates. Ordering tickets has become a
breeze and for most events can be done right over the
internet. Certain shows may only allow ordering over the
phone or in person but this is few and far between.

You generally don't have to stand in long lines while
tickets are going on sale anymore. In fact, you can even
be notified of special events when they are going on sale
as well as details of each venue. This is commonly done by
the larger ticket vendors.

There are also websites that provide access or information
to access presales so you are able to purchase tickets
prior to them going on sale to the public. This can be
very useful for resellers or people determined to obtain
tickets to a specific events. Event presale password
information can be obtained through paid websites or can be
found in opt-in emails sent by venues and promoters.

People are more commonly looking to the internet for sold
out events on websites such as StubHub, Ebay, and
TicketLiquidator. These websites provide easy to use
listings to allow the customer to find the event they are
looking for as well as allow them to bid or purchase on the
item directly through the internet. Once purchased, the
item is shipped or delivered to the customer directly from
the seller. These websites simply charge a small fee to
the sellers for each item sold or listed within their
service.

When reselling tickets you will need to keep in mind any
fees involved prior to setting your sales price. Fees
involved can include listing fees, shipping fees, and of
course the time you spent obtaining and selling the
tickets. Always try to have the highest profit margin
possible because in certain occasions you may find yourself
selling tickets for less than you paid for them.

Understand that you should research your local and state
laws before reselling tickets. Many states have specific
laws set in place that do not allow you to profit from
reselling tickets and others do not. Reselling tickets for
a higher value than the price on the ticket can be
considered illegal based on state and federal regulations
but this is not the situation for every state or country.

----------------------------------------------------
Get the most up to date presale ticket information at
http://presalepassword.net/news/ . Article written and
distributed by Steve Cancel at Secure Link -
http://www.slwebmarketing.com .

Should You Send a Thank You Note?

Should You Send a Thank You Note?
In today's electronic age, there is often some confusion as
to whether you should send a thank you note after a job
interview. Some people believe it is not necessary and
others think it is a nice touch. I will go beyond that and
say it is a must!

Jobs have been won on the basis of a good thank you note.
But it must be a good follow-up note. Although there is
nothing wrong with saying "it was nice meeting you... and I
am excited about the position", that kind of communication
doesn't SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY a thank you letter offers.
If you did your homework and CONTROLLED the interview, then
you will walk out knowing exactly what they are looking for
in a candidate and what the greatest challenge is that will
be faced. Your thank you letter is your opportunity to
remind them that you can overcome that challenge and
deliver the results they are seeking. This little reminder
can often tip the scales in your favor.

Imagine though that the interview didn't go as well as you
wanted or you want to ensure that you have the competitive
edge. Another smart tactic with a follow-up note is to add
that you gathered a lot of information in your interview
and will surely have some additional questions as you give
some thought to how you would face the challenges the job
presents. Add "I hope you don't mind if I give you a call
in the next day or so to ask you some follow-up questions".
This indicates that you are taking the job seriously and
are thinking about challenges and solutions. It also gives
you the chance to continue the dialog and build rapport
with the key decision makers. Remember: people hire people
that they like!

Here are my rules for a good interview follow-up letter.
First of all, if you met multiple people, send each one a
note and make sure it is different and reflects the
conversation you had. I suggest you email them a note
within 24 hours and then also follow-up with a mailed
letter - handwritten is best. If you provide this kind of
attention to detail and service, imagine what you can do
for their internal/external customers? You can't lose by
doing this and you have everything to gain. In short, there
is no downside and it might just be the reason you get the
offer.

Note: I just saw these statistics after writing this and
they confirm my thoughts: in a recent poll, 88% of
executives said sending a thank-you note following an
interview can boost a job seeker's chances and only 51% of
applicants do so. They also said that 52% prefer a
handwritten note and 44% prefer email. Need more proof?

----------------------------------------------------
Don Goodman, President of About Jobs
(http://www.GotTheJob.com ) is a nationally recognized
Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton
School of Business and Stanford University's Executive
Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their
next job. Read his blog at http://www.GotTheJob.com/blog/
or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at
dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.

School or Office.... Bullies Always Look the Same

School or Office.... Bullies Always Look the Same
The first word that comes to mind is - "insecure" - and
needing a friend. It's hidden but deep down inside that
mean spirited person, you can hear the BIG cry of fear and
aloneness to the core.

Back in my school days, even at the office, I don't recall
any bullying challenges. Maybe I've just forgotten but
don't think that's the case. Few of my friends had such
problems with someone being BAD or taking advantage of the
situation. Most of us just were supportive of each other
and no one dared to challenge any of us.

All of that sounds really good.... we were tough and no one
bothereed us. However, maybe that's not the situation at
all. Actually, times have changed in the school system,
even at the office. Boldness is on the rise. Bullies have
risen to the surface where none existed before.

On the other hand, you cannot allow "fear" to be your
guiding star as you encounter others in the marketplace.
School? Office? Plant? In the Mall parking lot? Inside
the Mall? Gas station? Likely places to run into the
"bullies" of today.

Honesty is not the same as before. Integrity is not what
it used to be. Value systems have changed. It's sad but
true in far too many areas of life that we have lost
direction in how to live our lives as good citizens,
responsible, trustworthy.

What's happened? Value systems seem to be screwed up for
some. Then pride shows it's ugly head. Respect of adults
and peers seems lost. Family values. Parents who care is
troubling in many neighborhoods. Many Teachers who take
pride in their work are lost in trying to keep classroom
peace.

You and I cannot vouch or take responsibility for the world
or those around us.... only for ourselves. It's up to us to
be the leaders - a guiding light - to show others what life
is all about and how to live.

We must step up without intimidation or fear. Look those
you encounter in the eye with confidence. Kind words and
good thoughts will go a long way toward difusing conflicts
with others, especially the bully.

Bullies are more afraid than you are. Stand your ground
and let them know where you stand. Walk with your head
held high with a spark in your step. You can difuse most
bullies simply by letting them know they can not intimidate
you.!

Have you noticed? Most bullies are seldom alone but have
their "like-kind" buddies along for protection should they
encounter a challenge from someone like you or your
friends. Few bullies are loners as they seek their prey but
have "friends" along "just in case" things don't go as
planned.

Over the years, I've seen many bullies back down when they
meet the guy/gal with determination and those who refuse to
be intimidated by their antics of fear or attempts to
control classmates.

Believe in the power of intention. Few people will get in
your way when they understand you are focused and directed
toward a specific goal. Keep up the good fight for the
right to be the best you can be in all areas of life.

----------------------------------------------------
Don Monteith spent 32 years as co-owner of several
franchises and a personnel/staffing business. Every year,
his firm placed hundreds of job candidates in their dream
job. Today, Don shares his business and career expertise
through published articles and his newest websites on the
Internet. Lots of FREE ideas - suggestions - ready for your
perusal and study.
http://www.HowToGetYourDreamJob.com

How to Build Relationships via Email

How to Build Relationships via Email
In the modern business world, telecommunications has become
commonplace. Interoffice communication that used to be
carried out in person or on the telephone has been replaced
by Email.

There are many advantages to sending memos and messages by
this method. No one should have an excuse for missing an
important meeting, and detailed lists of tasks are not left
lying around to get misplaced or thrown away by mistake.
The amount of paper and filing has been reduced. It also
cuts down on the amount of time a person spends away from
their desk. You can build strong working relationships by
presenting your thoughts clearly and accurately through E
mails.

Writing emails is different to writing a memo or a brief
letter. You need to write a specific subject line. There is
so much junk mail in most people's mailboxes that you need
to be sure that yours does not get deleted with the rest.
Give enough detail in the subject line to ensure the
recipient knows that it is a real message.

You should focus on only one subject in your message. If
there is more than one point that you are trying to make,
you may want to list and number them so the reader will
finish the whole message. For various subjects, send
separate emails. The recipient can then file them in the
appropriate folders.

When sending emails in a business setting, use proper
spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Using the
popular abbreviations looks very unprofessional. You should
also skip lines between paragraphs..

When communicating with someone else in your company, do
not assume that they remember who you are on a first name
basis, especially in a larger company. Always identify
yourself by your full name, job title, and department.

Never send an abusive or aggressive email. In the wrong
hands, it could cost you a promotion and even your job.
Always act like a professional and it will pay of in the
long run.

You should always double check your message for grammatical
and spelling errors before you send it. Also reread it to
make sure that it clearly states the message that you are
trying to convey. You should also make sure that there
isn't anything in the mail that you do not want anyone else
to see. There is no guaranteed privacy when sending these
messages. Anyone who really wants to see them can.

Writing and sending Emails is not as difficult as it
sounds. The main thing to remember is to clearly convey
your message in a courteous and professional manner. Your
recipients will return the favor.

----------------------------------------------------
Sharon Alexander is the author of the ebook Claim that
Job.com - The Ultimate Job-Hunting and Career Management
ebook that teaches the skills and techniques needed to
succeed in a competitive job-market.
http://www.claimthatjob.com .
http://www.claimthatjob.com/blog .

How Stressful Will 2008 Be For You?

How Stressful Will 2008 Be For You?
How was your 2007? What were your successes?
What would like you to do differently in the coming year?
Did it feel overwhelming at times, juggling the life you
want to live with a fulfilling career?

Given my interest in work-life balance and the state of the
modern workplace, I read a survey last year on the rise of
"extreme jobs" - those that seemingly demand 60+ hour
working week and a personal life that takes a backseat.

You have an extreme job if five or more of the following
characteristics apply to your role:

1. unpredictable flow of work
2. large amount of travel
3. tight deadlines and a fast pace
4. after-hours work events
5. 24/7 availability to clients
6. responsibility for profit and loss
7. mentoring and recruiting of colleagues
8. an assumption of being a physical presence at the office
at least 10 hours a day.

Globally, while men are much more likely to have these
types of jobs, a good third of those in such roles are
women - women like my clients who lament they "need a wife"
to handle all the domestic tasks that don't get done when
they are working such long hours. What is interesting to me
is how exhilarating many people initially find these
careers. Society puts a high financial value on these jobs
- they are often prestigious and well remunerated for the
hours and energy they demand. True, is wonderful to feel
fulfilled in a career to which you would want to dedicate
so much time and energy. However, what I sometimes see in
my practice are people who work long hours until they began
to suffer the physical symptoms of chronic stress. As
rewarding as work can be, our bodies often tell us, through
headaches, ulcers and digestion problems, we are
overworking before our minds are willing to accept it.

According to the Health and Safety Executive in 2002,
work-related stress, depression and anxiety account for
13.4 million working days lost per year, more than any
other work-related illness in the UK and costs £400
million a year. Stress and overwork are often seen as an
individual's problem, though it is pandemic - the World
Heath Organisation estimates stress will cause half of the
ten most common medical problems in the world by 2020 - a
shocking statistic in a world where over half of people
can't rely on safe drinking water.

It is my job to help clients identify their priorities and
feel better balanced - with a fulfilling career but without
the negative ramifications of an "extreme job". I'd invite
you to honestly think about how many characteristics from
the above list apply to you. If it is too many for your
liking, consider the following questions to help prepare
for a better 2008.

Stress Check for 2008

1. How stressful was your job in 2007?
2. Can you maintain that level of stress?
3. How does your body react to stress?
4. What are the signs you are stressed? Who notices these
signs?
5. What tasks could you delegate to have less stress in
2008?
6. What would that give you?

----------------------------------------------------
To find out more and add your comments, please visit
http://www.doylemorris.com