Recently, I was in a karate tournament competing in the 18 to 34 year old advanced black belt division. I was fighting for 3rd place, when all of a sudden I was caught by a punch in my eye. The punch was so hard and fast that I did not see it coming. When I woke up, I didn’t even know what I was hit with.

Now, that black belt was disqualified for malicious contact.

But as an Internet marketer and article marketer, you want to legitimately hit your competitors so hard and fast that they don’t see you coming. And, when they wake up, you already have their traffic and sales.
How to Get New Customers and Sell Like Never Before with Article Marketing

By writing and submitting articles online to the top websites, ezines and article directories, you will get more links, more traffic and more sales without any problem.

But, if you really want to compete with the BIG guys and girls in your market, then you need to follow my secret strategies to getting new customers:

1. Write articles that give away your best information for free!

Most people are afraid to give away great information so they resort to giving the same old information as everyone else. But this doesn’t differentiate you. This doesn’t show that you truly are the expert. It doesn’t give me a reason to go to your website instead of your competitors. You want to wow me with truly great, free content that makes my mouth watery for more. You want me to be like: “Oh my god, I can’t believe the information he’s giving out for free. I can’t wait to see the information that I have to buy for.” If you do this you will be a step ahead of your competition.

2.Write articles that educate the prospect on how to buy products and services within your niche.

Inform them on the types of questions they should be asking and what they should be looking for. Every question that you include should be something you do, that your competition doesn’t.  An example, would be my article: “How to Choose an Article Submission Service.”

Why does this template work?

Because it pre-sells your products and services.

Now you won’t have to work as hard to close the sale.

When you go to: http://www.StartWritingArticlesFaster.com/BeatYourCompetitionVideo

you’ll get even more information on how to hit your competition so hard and fast that they don’t know what hit them. Plus, I’m offering you 3 FREE Instant Article Writing Templates, including the template that helped me make more than $10,000.00 in less than 2 months.

About the Author:

Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber uses the power of articles to create online opportunities for Internet marketers, small business owners, authors, entrepreneurs and speakers who want more publicity, prospects and profits. Now, you can Eric’s FREE Article Marketing Video and 3 of his favorite his instant article writing templates that will help you write your articles fast. Get it all now at: http://www.TryMyFreeArticleTemplates.com

Many business people and entrepreneurs get a bit uncomfortable at the very mention of networking at business functions. The process doesn’t have to be traumatic, scary, or a waste of time. When done properly, it can truly make a difference in the amount of business your company generates. Use the following Ten Commandments to help you network your way through your next business networking event:
1. Have the tools to network with you at all times.
These include an informative name badge, business cards, brochures about your business, and a pocket-sized business card file containing cards of other professionals whom you can refer.
2. Set a goal for the number of people you’ll meet.
Identify a reachable goal based on attendance and the type of group. If you feel inspired, set a goal to meet a specific number of people and make sure you get all their cards, and don’t leave until you’ve met your goal.
3. Act like a host, not a guest.
A host is expected to do things for others, while a guest sits back and relaxes. Volunteer to help greet people. If you see visitors sitting, introduce yourself and ask if they would like to meet others.
4. Listen and ask questions.
Remember that a good networker has two ears and one mouth and uses them proportionately. After you’ve learned what another person does, tell them what you do. Be specific, but brief.
5. Don’t try to close a deal.
These events are not meant to be a vehicle to hit on business people to buy your products or services. Networking is about developing relationships with other professionals. Meeting people at events should be the beginning of that process, not the end of it.
6. Give referrals whenever possible.
The best networkers believe in the givers gain philosophy — what goes around comes around. In other words, if you don’t genuinely attempt to help the people you meet, then you are not networking effectively. If you can’t give someone a bona fide referral, try to offer some information that might be of interest to them (such as details about an upcoming event).
7. Exchange business cards.
Ask each person you meet for two cards – one to pass on to someone else and one to keep. This sets the stage for networking to happen.
8. Manage your time efficiently.
Spend ten minutes or less with each person you meet and don’t linger with friends or associates. If your goal is to meet a given number of people, be careful not to spend too much time with any one person. When you meet someone interesting with whom you’d like to speak further, set up an appointment for a later date.
9. Write notes on the backs of business cards you collect.
Record anything you think may be useful in remembering each person more clearly. This will come in handy when you follow up on each contact.
10. Follow up!
You can obey the previous nine commandments religiously, but if you don’t follow up effectively, you will have wasted your time. Drop a note or give a call to each person you’ve met. Be sure to fulfill any promises you’ve made.
Called the “Father of Modern Networking” by CNN and the “Networking Guru” by Entrepreneur magazine, Dr. Misner is considered one of the world’s leading experts on business networking and has been a keynote speaker for major corporations and associations throughout the world.
Right now you can learn the tips and techniques networking leaders use themselves and have proven to bring results. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.
About the Author:
Dr. Ivan Misner: When you buy Networking Like a Pro from Amazon via our special offer: http://ivanmisner.com/amazonbookbonus.html our exclusive bonus offer includes a 6-month free Premium Subscription to Networking Pro, the leading online networking resource that contains free training, e-books, audio podcasts and more! Offer good Feb 1-4 in honor of International Networking Week.

Networking is just as much a mindset as it is a skillset. Skillsets include learning how to teach others what kinds of referrals you are looking for and how to ASK for referrals from your clientele. The “mindset” is an entirely different way of thinking that you must be equally well-versed in for your networking to be as successful and dynamic. Let’s take an up-close look at some of the areas where “mindset” is critical to networking for success:
1. The Law of Reciprocity or Givers Gain Approach:
The Law of Reciprocity sets in motion in-kind responses of individuals towards the actions of others. What comes around goes around–you’ve heard it all before, but have you tried applying it to your networking?
The Law of Reciprocity is not transactional. That is to say, you cannot approach thinking, “I did this for you, now what are you going to do for me?” The return might not even come from the individual you gave to, but the return will come, of this you are assured.
2. Diversity in networking:
Look for groups that don’t target people just like you. Choose groups to participate in which are varied in their focus. Be in a casual contact network, a strong contact network, a service organization and a social organization. This way you are coming in contact with a wide variety of folks, many of which will be either your target market, or complimentary professions that make up your own contact sphere.
3. Farming Mentality:
In order for networking to yield extraordinary success, your mentality must be that of the farmer. He prepares the soil sometimes for months before ever planting the seeds! He tends the seedlings with care, feeding and watering them regularly. It is a long, drawn-out process to go from seeding a field to harvesting the crops. There’s no “quick return.”
It’s the master networker who turns her attention to developing the relationships with the professionals she intends to refer to her clientele, friends and family and would like to have referring her to theirs.
Now let’s examine a few of the skillsets you will want to have as you develop a strong word-of-mouth based business.
1. The VCP ProcessTM:
VCP stands for Visibility, Credibility and Profitability. Things like participating in the monthly mixers offered by your local chamber of commerce, writing a regular column in your local newspaper and sponsoring the Little League team are things that make you VISIBLE. As you become more and more visible in your business community, you will develop a greater credibility. So take a look around you for the opportunities you have to make yourself more visible to others. Think out of the box; be creative.
2. Sharpshoot, Don’t Shotgun:
I encourage you to focus on your top two of three areas of expertise. Keep in mind that you are not marketing to your referral sources! You are, in effect, training a sales force. Your networking team is there to keep an eye out for your potential clients.
If you break your business down into its lowest common denominators (LCD’s), you will find that you become much more effective in training your sales force. They will learn more about each thing you do and be able to recognize when they are in front of someone who really does need your product.
3. Hold One-on-Ones:
When you are conducting a one on one, it’s almost like doing an interview, except that you both get to ask questions of each other! The GAINS exchange is an acronym that stands for Goals, Achievements, Interests, Networks, and Successes. The idea is to bounce back and forth and share something in each category with your referral source.
I hope that by now you can see what I mean about networking being as much a mindset as it is a skillset. Clearly there are many things to DO that will make your networking attempts successful, but there are also a good many things to BE that are equally, if not more, important to this art.
Called the “Father of Modern Networking” by CNN and the “Networking Guru” by Entrepreneur magazine, Dr. Misner is considered one of the world’s leading experts on business networking and has been a keynote speaker for major corporations and associations throughout the world.
Right now you can learn the tips and techniques networking leaders use themselves and have proven to bring results. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.
About the Author:
Dr. Ivan Misner: When you buy Networking Like a Pro from Amazon via our special offer: http://ivanmisner.com/amazonbookbonus.html our exclusive bonus offer includes a 6-month free Premium Subscription to Networking Pro, the leading online networking resource that contains free training, e-books, audio podcasts and more! Offer good Feb 1-4 in honor of International Networking Week.

We’re constantly interacting with other people. No matter what the activity, work or play. It’s a part of life, and how well we interact often determines our success in many areas.
You may have noticed that people interact in very different ways with very different purposes. Some people love to socialize at parties while others will avoid such social situations at any cost. In contrast, others like to work cooperatively to make things happen but don’t understand how people can enjoy wasting so much time socializing.
Interaction between people can be broken down simply in three distinct ways:
* Transactions, or interactions designed to make agreements and trades
* Operations, or interactions focused on doing and accomplishing
* Resources, or interactions focused on facilitating yourself or others.
You do all three on a regular basis, but you have a distinct order in your preference for some types of interactions over others. Your preference strongly influences the kinds of skills and behavioral roles you’ve become good at.
You demonstrate your preference by naturally gravitating towards activities associated with one category over the other two.
If Transactions is your favorite, you might be that person who loves social gatherings because they offer so many opportunities for bargaining, convincing, settling arguments, mentoring, selling, networking, and persuading others.
If Operations is your thing, your interactions probably revolve around getting things accomplished, planning, organizing, delegating, trouble shooting, and managing/overseeing.
Finally, if you have a preference for Resource interactions you may find yourself spending a lot of time researching, teaching, counseling, sharing, advising, coaching, defining strategies, and connecting people with each other.
The degree of preference for each category varies from person to person, but there is always an ordered preference. What’s important to remember is that your natural preference isn’t right or wrong, it’s just yours!
Take 10 minutes and reflect on the three preferences for interaction categories. Think of some specific examples in your own experience.
* Which one do you feel most comfortable doing?
* Which one do you feel least comfortable doing?
* Can you think of some examples?
Identifying these preferences will help you understand yourself, the things you do, and the things you avoid in a different light. What’s especially important in this process is distinguishing between those skills that fit you naturally versus those where you had to work hard to acquire that drag on your emotional, psychological and physical well-being. Examining the various interaction categories will also stretch your understanding of other people and their different points of view, which is key to improving communication and building stronger relationships.
About the Author:
Lynda-Ross Vega: A partner at Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., Lynda-Ross specializes in helping entrepreneurs and coaches build dynamite teams and systems that WORK. She is co-author of Vega Role Facilities Theory, a revolutionary psychological assessment system that teaches people how to unleash their deepest potentials for success. For free information on how to succeed as an entrepreneur or coach, create a thriving business and build your bottom line doing more of what you love, visit www.VRFT.com

As a business owner, one of your primary goals is to continue to fill your pipeline with new business. One of the most cost-effective ways to do this – particularly for a smaller business – is through networking.
One of the biggest roadblocks to networking is the fear that being more of an “introvert” impedes any successful attempts at trying to network. In fact, it’s a question I get quite frequently: “How do I network if I’m not a naturally outgoing person?”
Go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief—because you don’t have to become Mr. Public Speaker, Person About Town, to be a successful networker. Most business people, given a little real-world experience, naturally develop a certain level of comfort in dealing with customers, vendors, and others in their day-to-day transactions. Even people who are not gregarious or outgoing can form meaningful relationships and communicate.
Online Networking: Building Your Social Capital at Your Desk
If it is taking you a bit longer to get used to face-to-face networking, remember that thanks to technology’s continuing advances, you can also network without ever leaving your desk – online networking is a very effective way to connect with potential clients and referral sources.It’s usually better to use online networking with people only after you’ve established a relationship with them by traditional means. To develop trust, respect, and true friendship, it’s hard to beat in-person conversation and the occasional handshake or pat on the shoulder.
Offering Advice to Break the Ice
So we’re back to the challenge of doing some face-to-face networking when you haven’t had much practice at it, or are not sure how to “break the ice.” To get you started, you might want to try offering some free professional advice. If you’re a marketing consultant, give your prospects a couple of ideas on how they can increase the exposure of their business. Don’t go overboard; maybe a technique you read in a magazine or tried with one of your clients. Just give them something they can “try on” to see if it works.
Not only will this open up a good conversation with the person (while you’re out networking), but if you play your cards right, who do you think they’ll go to when they’re in need of your kind of service? When it comes to building rapport and creating trust, nothing does it better than solid, helpful information provided out of a genuine concern for the other person.
Become a Trusted Source for Quality Referrals and Contacts
Another way to ease into networking is to provide a referral or contact. This could be a direct referral (someone you know who’s in the market for this person’s services) or a solid contact (someone who could help in other ways down the road). Being new to networking does not have to be a barrier to building and maintaining relationships that will help grow your business. Simply identify your professional skill set and make it work for you: Volunteer to be a presenter or host at a local chamber, civic, or networking event; offer professional advice as a way to develop a new relationship; and be willing to share your valuable relationships with others so they will identify you as a go-to person for trusted referral sources. Before you know it, you won’t remember a time when you were anything but a solid, professional networker.
Called the “Father of Modern Networking” by CNN and the “Networking Guru” by Entrepreneur magazine, Dr. Misner is considered one of the world’s leading experts on business networking and has been a keynote speaker for major corporations and associations throughout the world.
Right now you can learn the tips and techniques networking leaders use themselves and have proven to bring results. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.
About the Author:
Dr. Ivan Misner: When you buy Networking Like a Pro from Amazon via our special offer: http://ivanmisner.com/amazonbookbonus.html our exclusive bonus offer includes a 6-month free Premium Subscription to Networking Pro, the leading online networking resource that contains free training, e-books, audio podcasts and more! Offer good Feb 1-4 in honor of International Networking Week.

Based on the results she wants, a female entrepreneur can create a marketing system for her company that meets her needs. From a marketing workhorse to a slow and steady system, the possibilities are endless and depend on a business owner’s vision, entrepreneurial style and desire for growth.
A recent study from Jane Out of the Box, an authority on female entrepreneurs, reveals there are five distinct types of women in business. Based on professional market research of more than 1,000 women in business, this study shows that each type of business owner has a unique approach to running a business – and therefore each one has a unique combination of needs. This article outlines two of the five types and provides tips for creating marketing that meets the needs of the business, now and in the future.
Tenacity Jane is an entrepreneur with an undeniable passion for her business, and one who tends to be struggling with cash flow. As a result, she’s working longer hours, and making less money than she’d like. Nevertheless, Tenacity Jane is bound and determined to make her business a success. At 31% of women in business, Tenacity Janes are the largest group of female entrepreneurs.
One of the main reasons Tenacity Jane isn’t seeing the financial success she craves is that she doesn’t have a singular focus. Aside from being determined, Tenacity Jane business owners are visionary. A big vision provides something to work toward. On the other hand, many Tenacity Jane business owners envision several streams of income and start out by working on getting all of them profitable at once. The problem: if a business doesn’t already have a strong customer base and deep pockets, it is difficult to market effectively for several streams of income at once. Here are some tips to get Tenacity Jane’s business in the black:
* Examine the business concept and the business model. Define exactly what the business provides to customers (the product and its benefits), and in what form. If customers aren’t buying, consider revising the business concept or business model for a more effective base for marketing. Once the business concept and business model are crystal clear, it becomes easier to complete the next necessary step: decide on a target market and a clear message. Here’s an example: Sally, a beauty advisor, goes into people’s houses each morning, wakes them up, and does their make-up. The concept and benefits are clear, but will people buy her services? Probably not. It may be more realistic for her to schedule a one-time appointment with a client, during which she would go to the client’s home, analyze her current products and beauty concerns, and teach her to apply her make-up – and record it so the client could watch it again and again. People would be more likely to pay for this one-time consultation – the improved business model.
* Take concrete steps toward marketing to the newly defined target audience. Some Tenacity Janes have expressed that they know what they need to do, but have trouble following through. For Tenacity Jane, this almost always is a case of needing to change her mindset, habits, or environment, or to learn a new skill. Tenacity Jane may consider attending networking events where she can meet other professionals and discuss the possibility of affiliate marketing, which gains both partners and clients with minimal investment. She also may consider referral marketing, wherein existing clients get a small reward for referring their acquaintances to Tenacity Jane. Additionally, Tenacity Jane may consider rewarding her long-term or repeat customers with special incentives.
Go Jane Go is passionate about her work and provides excellent service, so she has plenty of clients – so much so, she’s struggling to keep up with demand. She may be a classic overachiever, taking on volunteer opportunities as well, because she’s eager to make an impact on the world and she often struggles to say no. Because she wants to say yes to so many people, she may even be in denial about how many hours she actually works during the course of a week. As a result, she may be running herself ragged and feeling guilty about neglecting herself and others who are important to her.
Since one of Go Jane Go’s primary challenges is that she feels overwhelmed with all the obligations she’s taken on in her work and personal life, it may seem like she doesn’t need to think about marketing. Although she will not likely want to enact a fast-growth marketing strategy, she needs to keep her marketing efforts active to sustain the business she has worked so hard to build – and to help others, which is another passion in her life.
* Go Jane Go’s desire to make an impact on the world gives her a unique marketing opportunity. She can combine her altruistic desires with her practical, professional responsibilities and donate time or money to an organization or charity she holds dear. Go Jane Go may be working to prioritize her activities, and charity work will undoubtedly remain near the top of her list. Whether she donates time, services or products to a cause, Go Jane Go can get personal fulfillment, give help to someone in need, and get her name out there at the same time.
* Sometimes Go Jane Go has trouble saying, “no,” when a client approaches her with a project. A crystal clear marketing message directed toward a specific group of clients may limit the projects coming through the door to only the most desirable for someone stretched as thin as Go Jane Go. This will better ensure that the company’s marketing message is attracting the right clients.
Whether a business owner is determined to define her marketing message, or resolute in maintaining her freedom while still growing her bottom line, marketing methods exist that meet an entrepreneur’s needs – and those of her company.
About the Author:
Michele DeKinder-Smith is the founder of Jane out of the Box, an online resource dedicated to the women entrepreneur community. Discover more incredibly useful information for running a small business by taking the FREE Jane Types Assessment at Jane out of the Box. Offering networking and marketing opportunities, key resources and mentorship from successful women in business, Jane Out of the Box is online at www.janeoutofthebox.com

When I first started coaching clients on their fees I figured they would follow my advice, begin to make more money and live happily ever after.
So you can imagine my shock and surprise when I quickly discovered that just because a woman entrepreneur makes more money, doesn’t mean she keeps more money.
Sounds silly, doesn’t it? After all, what’s the point of working hard to be successful, only to watch the fruits of your labor slip through your fingers?
But, after coaching thousands of women on their fees and on their relationship with money, I can assure you that this issue isn’t isolated to an unlucky few. In fact, nearly all of the women entrepreneurs I talk to have a secret issue with money that causes them to lose their power along with their cash.
Most possess a fear that somehow, having more money will change them or change their life in some way they can’t control.
So, while on the outside they do everything they can to be successful, on the inside, their mindset and beliefs are sabotaging their ability to enjoy the fruits of their achievements.
If you, too, struggle with never seeming to have enough money, even when you’re making more, then I trust you’ll find these 3 tips illuminate what’s really at the bottom of this pesky issue.
Tip #1: Are You Afraid Having More Money Will Change You?
You’d be surprised at how many women fear they’ll lose their values or become someone they don’t care for if they have more money. Let me reassure you, having more money in your life will magnify your core values and character, not turn you into someone you’re not.
While it’s unlikely you’ll become another Leona Helmsley (she was known as the “Queen of Mean”), I recommend you get clear now, on the values and traits about yourself you most enjoy…and those you wouldn’t want to see amplified. The more you allow yourself to express your positive characteristics now, the more confident you’ll be that having more money will only enhance your quality of life, rather than rob you of your humility.
Tip #2: Who Are You Afraid Of Offending By Making More?
I’m going to get pretty personal here, but experience tells me that it’s not uncommon to have someone in your life (often a family member) who you “think” will be threatened, upset or disturbed in some way if you make more money.
If this resonates with you, then the first thing you must do is acknowledge your fear. Next, ask yourself, “What is it that this person really wants for me?” The answer is likely to be security, abundance, happiness and a life of ease. Focus on their positive intentions for you.
Tip #3 What Is The Money For?
I’m frequently asked to speak about how to create and achieve empowering, bold money goals. One of the most powerful steps you can take to align money with your spiritual path is to have a clear money “why.”
At first, making more allows you to buy life’s little luxuries. But once you move beyond indulging in the deluxe manicure or splurging on private car service when you travel, you’ll want to connect your heart and spirit with your growing income. Knowing exactly and specifically what larger amounts of money are slotted for will help you value keeping more of it.
Money Is A Powerful Catalyst For Self-Growth
If you truly want to grow as a person, moving beyond any preconceived limits or self-imposed restrictions, then I highly recommend using money as a catalyst for your self-growth. Not only will you delight in how spiritually advanced you become but your new income will give you the opportunity to make a profound, positive difference in the lives of everyone you touch.
About the Author:
Kendall SummerHawk, the Million Dollar Marketing Coach, is an expert at helping women entrepreneurs at all levels design a business they love and charge what they’re worth and get it. Kendall delivers simple ways entrepreneurs can design and price their services to quickly move away from ‘dollars-for-hours work’ and create more money, time, and freedom in their business. For free articles, free resources and to sign up for a free subscription to Kendall’s Money, Marketing and Soul weekly articles visit www.kendallsummerhawk.com.

I often encounter entrepreneurs who see themselves as soloists, single individuals boldly taking risks to create new and imaginative products or solving problems in unique and unusual ways by themselves. Successful entrepreneurs know that in order to discover untapped markets, to develop new solutions, and bring a product to market requires a team of people who can add their unique talent and skill to the mix.
Many entrepreneurs try to do it all, and this is a recipe for failure. No matter how gifted, skilled, and talented an entrepreneur is there are still things that are required for a successful business that others do better than they do.
I live with the Vega Role Facilities Theory day in and day out and have for over thirty years. You could say that I have become so familiar with the theory and the power of its concepts to transform people’s lives that I wrongly assume that everyone else experiences what I do.
Still, it continues to surprise me when after I have delivered and interpreted inventory results someone says “This is very interesting, so what do I do with this information?” I could go on for pages, but let me focus my comments today on one area – entrepreneurs and team building.
VRFT is a powerful tool to help people see what they are skilled at doing and what things they do best. More importantly for this discussion, VRFT is uniquely positioned to provide the reciprocal information as well. By this I mean those things that a particular individual does not do well. In the case of an entrepreneur, this information may well be the crucial difference between success and failure. So when an entrepreneur says to me, “I already know this about myself. So what?” The answer is “Have you used this knowledge to build your team?”
Let me give you some hypothetical examples: An entrepreneur has the idea for a product but not the skills to manufacture it. Without someone with production skills, employee or contractor, the idea is only that – an idea. An entrepreneur has a network of influential people, contacts, and marketing but not the organizational or operational skills to manage the day-to-day operations of a business. Without the right person to organize and manage the business plan, entrepreneur’s schedule, and finances the end results is likely to be chaos. Or maybe an entrepreneur has a fantastic new idea but no strategy or plans to bring it to fruition. They need someone whose skill is providing advice, long-term strategy, and short-term tactics.
Without someone to fill these critical roles an entrepreneur’s business may stumble along, but it will not take off the way the entrepreneur envisions. VRFT not only provides the information the entrepreneur needs to understand their own skills and talents, but also the information necessary to know what skills and talents are needed to compliment the entrepreneur, how to position current team members’ talent to fill the gaps they are best suited for, and how to evaluate prospective team members to determine if the talent they bring fills the needs the team has. All this from a simple but powerful assessment.
About the Author:
Gary Jordan, Ph.D., has over 27 years of experience in clinical psychology, behavioral assessment, individual development, and coaching. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology – Berkeley. He’s the co-founder of Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., a consulting firm that specializes in helping people discover their true skills and talents. www.vrft.com.

Some business owners love to spend time strategizing and marketing, leaving the details to employees. Others simply don’t have the time to strategize, and therefore, they must implement marketing systems with maximum efficiency. Whatever they choose, business owners should be aware of the resources each type of system requires, and the results each type of system yields.
A recent study from Jane Out of the Box, an authority on female entrepreneurs, reveals there are five distinct types of women in business. Based on professional market research of more than 2,500 women in business, this study shows that each type of business owner has a unique approach to running a business and therefore each one has a unique combination of needs. This article outlines several considerations business owners should make, regardless of which type of business owner they are.
* Develop systematic, measurable marketing methods. Since every type of marketing requires a certain investment, a business owner will need to track any marketing she employs to know whether it’s worth the investment. For example, if she’s using Google “pay per click” to drive people to her web site, she should pay careful attention to how many people click on the ad that comes up with a certain combination of keywords. Is it producing at least the number of web site visits she desired? If an entrepreneur is using Twitter or Facebook to drive people to her site, she can keep track of how many of her followers or friends go directly from her tweets or her status updates to her site. These numbers indicate whether her efforts (financially and time-wise) are paying off.
* Determine exactly who the marketing will target, and which benefits this population seeks. In doing so, a business owner’s marketing will be as efficient as possible – so whatever resources she invests will produce a greater return. To easily and quickly determine her target market, a business owner can survey existing customers to find out why they chose the business and what they enjoy about working with the company. Meanwhile, business owners can gather testimonials from customers – this is a great tool for word of mouth marketing, and doesn’t require large investments of either time or money.
* Get clear on the business concept and business model. Boil it down. Being able to release a concise, powerful statement about the business concept defines exactly what the company offers and how it benefits clients. For example, an executive coach may say, “I coach professionals to help them earn a better profit and find a satisfactory work-life balance,” even if what she does is actually much more complicated or is completed in many more steps. Also, examine the business model to make sure it’s realistic to expect the business to make money.
* Get clear on the marketing message. If a business owner is feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of projects or clients, she should become very selective about to whom she is marketing her products or services so that she attracts a limited number of clients with whom she really wants to work – and therefore a limited number of very pleasant work hours. This will lead to a manageable workload of more enjoyable projects.
* Pair up with other entrepreneurs who offer similar or complementary services. Networking and affiliate marketing are inexpensive in terms of time and money, and provide opportunities for gaining new clients without much effort. By leveraging relationships with entrepreneurs who offer similar or complementary services, a business owner can successfully gain new clients. Similarly, by attending networking events with likeminded business owners, a business owner can get the word out about her own products and services, and can get advice from others in similar situations.
Marketing is one sure-fire way to grow a business. Depending on whether an entrepreneur wants fast growth, slow growth or maintenance, various marketing methods exist to meet various needs and desires.
About the Author:
Michele DeKinder-Smith is the founder of Jane out of the Box, an online resource dedicated to the women entrepreneur community. Discover more incredibly useful information for running a small business by taking the FREE Jane Types Assessment at Jane out of the Box. Offering networking and marketing opportunities, key resources and mentorship from successful women in business, Jane Out of the Box is online at www.janeoutofthebox.com

Whether you’re a burgeoning empire builder or simply want to have a successful home-based business, having a steady stream of ideal clients flowing in is essential to your success.
Problem is, many entrepreneurs make the process of getting new clients into a bigger deal than it needs to be. It’s actually really simple, once you know which basics to put into place.
Thing to keep in mind is this: people are happy to invest in you and your services if you are clear and confident about how you can help them. That means getting focused on your niche, making sure you can clearly talk about the results you deliver and making certain you have a step-by-step program you take clients through.
These are the same business essentials you must do over and over. Like shampoo, you know? “Rinse and repeat.” It doesn’t matter whether you’re brand new, have been in business for a year or are preparing to launch the next income stream of your growing empire; these essentials never change.
To help you get your next three clients, fast, here are three simple tips taken from the same system I used to leap from frustrating 5-figures to what is now a multi-million dollar coaching business in just a few short years. Truth is, I still use this same system, so you know it works!
Tip #1 How Clear Is Your Niche?
Undoubtedly, this is the single biggest reason most entrepreneurs stay stuck in low 5-fgures. Ladies, let’s get clear about something right here and now: your niche is not “women who want more clarity” or “everyone who wants to live their authentic truth.”
Think of your niche this way: It’s the intersection of:
* What you love to do, with…
* What people are having a problem solving or accomplishing, with…
* What people are willing to invest in to fix or improve
Your niche must clearly name who you work with, what the problem is that they’re experiencing and what solution it is that they’re seeking. Chunk down until you get to a very practical description of their situation. Remember, your description of your niche needs to be so crystal clear that when anyone hears it, they’ll know exactly who to refer to you.
Tip #2 Are The Results You Deliver Tangible, Specific And Measurable?
This may be a new way of thinking about your service, but the more you focus on the practical, tangible results clients get from working with you, the more clients you’ll have to work with.
Even if you offer a “softer” service such as energy healing or intuitive counseling you can still focus on the tangible results that show up for your clients. All it takes is a commitment on your part to look at the impact your service has on every aspect of your clients’ lives. One of the exercises I take my coaching clients through is discovering how their service impacts their clients’ finances, health and well being, relationships and their future opportunities. I love seeing the look of confidence on my clients’ faces when they realize just how far reaching their work truly is.
Tip #3 What Is Your Signature System?
People love to invest in step-by-step systems, which is why I innovated a process that helps you quickly uncover your Signature System, often in just a few minutes.
Keep in mind that with chaos, disorder and overwhelm rampant in our culture, people crave and are attracted to systems that make it easy for them to get their needs met and their problems solved. I recommend taking a good look at how you work with clients and transform what you do into a compelling, simple system. You’ll be surprised at how easily this helps your potential clients understand how you can help them.
Here’s How To Put It All Together…
You’re only three or four conversations away from your next three clients. All you need to do is put together your clear, specific niche description with a few of the results you help clients achieve and finish up by saying how you have a simple x-step system that helps your clients achieve those results.
So, what are you waiting for? Give this simple system a try and send me an email letting me know how well it worked for you. You have nothing to lose and new clients to gain!
About the Author:
Kendall SummerHawk, the Million Dollar Marketing Coach, is an expert at helping women entrepreneurs at all levels design a business they love and charge what they’re worth and get it. Kendall delivers simple ways entrepreneurs can design and price their services to quickly move away from ‘dollars-for-hours work’ and create more money, time, and freedom in their business. For free articles, free resources and to sign up for a free subscription to Kendall’s Money, Marketing and Soul weekly articles visit www.kendallsummerhawk.com.