Categories
Entrepreneurs

Why Hire A Ghostwriter?

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There’s no question about the many benefits of writing a book and becoming a published author. Writing a book gives you instant credibility with clients and prospects, solidifies your expert status and builds your personal or corporate brand. In fact, studies indicate that, while more than 80% of the population wants to write a book, only tiny 2% will ever actually do it! Why? Most aspiring writers cite lack of time, lack of focus or lack of knowing how to physically undertake such an ambitious project.
Enter ghostwriters. No longer those shadowy figures lurking behind the scenes, ghostwriters today are experienced professionals who help aspiring authors write the book of their dreams. These writers and journalists work with their “authors” for months at a time to make sure their book gets written right. Most executives call upon ghostwriters to write for them simply because they don’t have the time or resources to do it on their own.
The price and quality of ghostwriters span a wide range. Like anything else in life, you usually get what you pay for. You can take your chances and try to find a low-priced freelance writer on Elance.com, but you’re far better off trusting your project to a pro who comes recommended from a trusted source or referral. That said, you can expect to pay a good ghostwriter upwards of $50,000 for a full-length, non-fiction business book.
The writing process can take 4 – 6 months to complete your manuscript, but good ghostwriters also serve as an advisor during the process, making sure that you’re project stays on track and is ultimately marketable. However, most ghostwriters rarely get involved in the actual publishing process.
Ultimately, your book is only going to be as good as the material and creativity you provide to your ghostwriter. You’ve got to stay engaged in the process and provide ongoing feedback in order to end up with the book that you envision. Still, with weekly meetings and timely feedback, the process can go smoothly and quickly.
Remember, not all writers are created equal. Look for a ghostwriter who is professional, dependable, collaborative, discreet, easy to work with and not afraid to tell it like it is. Find the right fit and you’re on your way to becoming one of those elite 2% who actually write their book!

LouBortonePhoto.jpgLou Bortone is an award-winning writer and video producer with over 20 years experience in marketing, branding and promotion. As an online video expert, Lou helps entrepreneurs create video for the web at www.TheOnlineVideoGuy.com. In addition, Lou works as a freelance writer and professional ghostwriter, with a ghostwriting site at www.GhostwriteForYou.com and a blog at www.GhostwriteGuru.com.

Categories
Sales & Marketing

Want To Be Rich & Successful? Learn How To Sell!

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I always tell people that the number one life skill you must have if you want to be rich and successful is that you must learn to sell.
The trouble with a lot of people is, especially those who are highly educated, with a degree or honours degree say, “I don’t sell.”

Being a degree holder myself, I think that it is the most stupid thing in the world. If I were to ask you, “Do you know who the world’s greatest salesperson is?”

I’ll tell you who it is. I would say it’s the President of United States or any president or prime minister. You know why? He’s got to go out there and he’s got to sell himself, in order for you to vote for him.

Do you think it’s easy? Look at George Bush for an example, he won his election just narrowly by 51 % of the votes. This means 49% of people, said no to him, they hated him probably.

But do you think he cares? He doesn’t care

So if the president of the United States, who is the most powerful man on Earth can sell and take rejection, why can’t you?

I believe that the main reason why a lot of people are afraid of selling, is because of ego.

This is especially so for those who have an MBA or Degree. And that’s what holds most people back. And that’s why, I hate to say this. Most people with a Degree or PHD won’t succeed as much in business as to someone who doesn’t.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. I told myself that although I have a degree I will not let my ego get in the way. You just got to learn how to sell. And if you think about the irony of it, a lot of times we are already selling , we are just not aware of it.

For example, most of us would have probably been on a date, before. If you are on a date, what were you selling? You’re selling yourself.
This also applies even if you are a doctor. A lot of doctors in the medical profession, especially those in the GP arena, a lot of them are suffering.

Why? That’s because they are good at the technical aspects, but they can’t sell themselves, they can’t smile at you when you come into their office, they don’t know how to market.

So it’s the person who knows how to sell that makes the best doctor, the best lawyer, in whatever profession that may be. But again the substance must be there. That presupposed substance must be there and selling is like that huge cherry on top that makes people want to eat your cake.

Categories
Human Resource People & Relationships

During a Recession Is Not the Time To Cut The Training Budget

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While some guys lose their heads when faced with a tough business environment others stay cool, survive and prosper.
OK,Ok, the sky is falling so stop running around and instead use that energy and money to survive and to improve on how things are done and on how to prosper from the coming upturn…yes in time the sky will right itself.
Have you ever seen any business consultant’s card that didn’t claim that they could lead you to the pot of gold buried under the employees’ parking lot? But here’s where it gets funny…they can.
In a book he wrote in the early 60s…1960s not 1860s…Bucky Fuller writes that humans adapt quickly to change and soon space out the past. Bucky didn’t write this but I think that humans have limited RAM, and that many business managers are overloading the RAM they have …so they stop thinking about things and fall into habits and patterns…no thinking required. The name of the book? Spaceship Earth.
And to further muddy the water, humans don’t operate at their highest potential when stressed.
I’m tempted to start pointing out specific things a business should do during a hard economic time, but I’ve done that in other articles. This article is about new training and new thinking. The following is from an article I wrote during the last economic downturn.
A sales vice president of an international company had referred me to his region’s CFO. He encouraged me to contact this woman and explain the scope of my consulting and training services.
After leaving three messages over a two week period, I got a call from the regional A/R Manager, the CFO’s subordinate. I started to explain what I do when the man cut me off. “We just had the very prestigious firm from the U.K., Robem, Blind & Howe, do an evaluation of our business functions and with the exception of a few minor items, they validated our processes” .
On hearing the word “validation” the picture that comes to my mind is finding the right guy to stamp your parking ticket. Or maybe, if you’re lucky enough to still have her, calling your Mom for some kind words and reassurance. But to pay a consultant to come in and pat you on the back, or wherever, and tell you you’re doing good…never.
School Ties and the Intellectual Gene Pool
Keeping my thoughts to myself I said to the regional A/R guy, “That’s great, it’s always a good idea for a company to have an outsider come in and take a fresh look at things.” I then asked how my firm could participate in providing them with their next evaluation. “Oh no, we’re having R.B. & H. back again.” , said the regional A/R guy. After a few more minutes of conversation it was clear to me that I was wasting my time. You see, I learned from the A/R guy that his boss, the regional CFO used to work at R.B.& H. and that she was not interested in working with any other consulting or training firm.
When everyone sitting around the conference table went to the same school, has a common life experience and understanding of things; you’re not going to get a lot of new ideas, solutions and improvements. In fact, this kind of corporate inbreeding will limit the intellectual gene pool resulting in more of the same thinking. “Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.”
We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know
Mohandas K. Gandhi was once accused of having said something that conflicted with a prior statement. His response was something like, “I will not waste my time apologizing for what I’ve said in the past. I can only seek to be faithful to the truth as it reveals itself to me.” We don’t know what we don’t know.
No matter how smart a manager or management team , there’s no way he/she/they know it all. Sometimes the true value of having an outsider review how things are done is that they ask dumb questions, because they don’t know how things are done. Hiring a consultant who knows how you do things limits the potential payback. this excerpt is from an article titled “Corporate Inbreeding Hurts Profit”
An other thing to consider is how you spend the training budget, and if you don’t have a training budget get one. How to spend the money? Try something new like video training, or teletraining. I still think that the best training takes place face to face but airfares are, excuse the pun, going sky high. And not having to spend time traveling reduces the cost of the training and wear and tear on the trainer. And some of those guys are not as young as they use to be.
Recently a man in Dallas asked if I remembered him , that we had met 17 years before. And then he went on to say, “When we met I had hair and your hair had color.” And yes I did remember him…thanks for asking.
By now some of you may think that being that I’m a business trainer and speaker myself I have a vested interest in companies not cutting their training budget and you’d be right…but it’s still true.
When things slow down it’s time to prune and prepare for the next season. And it’s time to see some new faces around the table.

AbeWalkingBearSanchezPhoto.jpgAbe WalkingBear Sanchez is an International Speaker / Trainer / Consultant on the subject of cash flow / sales enhancement and business knowledge organization and use. Founder and President of www.armg-usa.com, WalkingBear has authored hundreds of business articles, has worked with numerous companies in a wide range of industries since 1982 and has spoken at many venues including the Shakespeare Globe Theater in London.

Categories
Home-Based Business

How to Start a Home-Based Virtual Assistant Business

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This article is by our guest writer Diana Ennen, who is also the Author of Virtual Assistant: The Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, & The Corel Word Perfect Office Ready Virtual Assistant Solution Pack. She also owns a website: http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com
Setting up a virtual assistant business is relatively easy, but it’s important to have a complete plan of action set out in advance. I’m a firm believer that the initial planning phase of a business is crucial to its success. This ensures that you don’t leave any vital steps unaddressed and also prevents any unexpected surprises down the road. Therefore, I recommend first writing a complete business plan for your business. Nothing technical, just how you plan to operate your business including advertising methods, pricing, business hours, equipment and supplies needed, etc.
The next step is to select the appropriate name. Take your time here as you want your business name to be an asset by appealing to your potential clients. Your name needs to clearly express what services you provide and not limit you if you choose to expand your business into other areas. Decide on a name that people would want to call if they have virtual assisting needs.
To operate a business you are required by law to have the appropriate licenses. This is your permit to do business locally. It’s a simple procedure that doesn’t require a considerable amount of time. Contact your city and county officials under occupational licenses for complete details or go online. Most VAs start out initially as a sole proprietorship and then might change later.
Now it’s time to set up your bookkeeping. I find that the most important ingredient to keeping good books is keeping it simple. If it’s easy to do, and doesn’t require a lot of effort, I tend it do it more regularly. You will want to keep track of all your income and expenses. Save all receipts and pay all your expenses out of your business checking account. A software program such as Quickbooks is ideal for our type of business. Not only does it allow you to keep accurate records, but it also enables you to track exactly where the most money is coming from. This enables you to target your marketing efforts more in that area.
Now you must decide how much to charge. Don’t undercharge your services. Many make this mistake. They feel if they price their services substantially below everyone else, they’ll get more business. That’s true–you might get more business, but you’ll also be working outrageous hours and not making the kind of income you should. Call others in your area and see what they are charging. The average prices being charge today are between $35.00 and $100.00, depending on the specialty. I personally recommend starting no lower than $35.00/hr.
Now you need to get those clients. The key to successful marketing is to tell clients what benefits they will receive by answering their main question, “What’s in it for me?” Keep in mind, you’re not selling your services, you’re selling the benefits of your services. What can you offer them that would make their business run more successfully? An example of this would be accurate dependable service done on an “as needed” basis.
It is also important to have an impressive marketing piece. Your brochures, letterhead, flyers, business cards, etc., should look sensational. Think back on what has caught your eye in the past. Now design your material with that in mind. The most important requirement is that it must be professional and convey that you are more than someone typing documents. Businesses want to deal with other professionals. They don’t want to risk their work, and possibly their clients, on someone who is not. Let them know this is exactly what they will receive when they seek your services. Places such as Vistaprints offer affordable printing.
Once established, word of mouth is your best advertisement. When people get professional, accurate, and friendly service they tell others. If you offer such exceptional service, you can be assured that you will need to advertise only at the onset to get your business started. From then on, your repeat clients, and referrals from them, will keep your business thriving.
Recognition is also a key to success, whether it’s through the press releases, articles, message boards, newspapers, chats, your website, radio or TV, when clients see your business repeatedly, they become familiar with your company and when the need arises, they will call you. Therefore consider where you can advertise that can keep your name out there.
Now that you’ve got the clients, you need to keep them. The best way to do this is to always provide them with more than they ask for. Go the extra mile on all assignments. Let them know that you value their business and are eager to help them succeed.
And finally, enjoy your business. Many start their own business to spend more time with their family. It’s the perfect way to stay at home and still make an excellent income. Firmly set your hours and learn to say no. Remember it’s your business and often your dream come true. By learning your limitations, you can keep it a wonderful experience that both you and your family will enjoy.

Categories
Communication Skills

Take 5 To Improve Listening Skills

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This article is contributed by Karen S. Sieczka
In the business world, it pays to listen and know how to ask the right questions. Miscommunication and misunderstanding can lead to problems… unhappy customers, lost sales, excess inventory, misunderstood instructions, shoddy work, and disgruntled employees … all influencing your company’s bottom line.
Face-to-face communication is still the foundation of many business relationships and good listening skills are an essential part of this communication. Listening skills can open doors and build working relationships. Use verbal cues, eye contact, and positive body language. Draw out information by asking open ended, non-judgmental questions. Reflect what the speaker is saying by restating and reinforcing what is said and asking for clarification if it is not clear. This reassures understanding for both parties. People feel more important when they perceive they are being heard.
A good listener can build trust, empathy, and understanding by practicing and improving listening skills. The ability to listen and actually hear what is being said is becoming rare as we spend more at our computers. Good listening makes for more open communications and prevents many problems before they start.
Here are some simple tips to improve your listening skills:
1. STOP: When someone talks to you, stop and give your full consideration. Focus. When you give your undivided attention, people feel they matter.
2. USE ACTIVE LISTENING: Show you are interested by your body language, using verbal cues, and making eye contact. Make sure your listening to talking ratio is 2:1; listen twice as much as you talk.
3. ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS: Draw out information by asking open ended questions such as: “Why do you think that is?”or ” That’s interesting. Can you tell me more?” Don’t just ask yes or no questions.
4. RESTATE AND REFLECT: Reflect what the speaker is saying by restating what was just said in your own words. Ask for clarification if you are not sure. This reassures understanding for both parties.
5. PRACTICE SKILLS BEFORE PROBLEMS ARISE: The time for improving listening skills is before there are problems. By building a foundation ahead of time, communications flow more freely during times of crisis.
Karen S. Sieczka is a training consultant and founder of Growing Great Ideas.com. Her latest training program is Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work. The program generates ideas, enthusiasm, and teamwork and can be customized to address particular organizational issues or challenges. She is also writing a book Growing Great Ideas: Unleashing Creativity at Work. The book will be in print in September 2008.