How to Be a Marketing Warrior, Not a Marketing Wimp

Last summer, I attended a remarkable five-day training known as the Enlightened Warrior Training Camp at which I learned eight essential attitudes of warriors-those who will stop at nothing to achieve the cherished, fulfilling life they want for themselves.

These warrior attitudes are adaptable to almost anything: finances, relationships, depression and much more. I find them particularly useful when applied to marketing for solo-entrepreneurs, professionals in private practice and small business owners.

First take this little quiz:

T/F 1. Marketing is hard, and I don't really know what works best for me, so I tend not to do much.

T/F 2. I know what I should be doing, from a marketing perspective (I've got a list a mile long!), but I just can't find the time to do it.

T/F 3. I don't feel comfortable doing marketing tasks (it always feels a little slimy), so I put off marketing for as long as I can.

T/F 4. I tend to neglect follow-up calls, figuring that people will call back when they're ready.

T/F 5. I resist doing a blog or writing articles on the grounds that I don't have enough to say, or that I'm not a good writer. (The old "not enough" belief that keeps many of us from marketing ourselves.)

T/F 6. I'm too busy working IN my business to get around to writing a newsletter (one of the all-time best ways to market yourself), so I don't send one.

T/F 7. None of the marketing things I've tried have worked, so I wonder why I should bother.

T/F 8. I'm not very technical. Consequently, I don't have a well-functioning website that generates me regular leads; it also keeps me from creating e-products that my clients would find useful.

If you answered true to even three of the above statements, I'm sorry to say it, but you are a marketing wimp.

Don't worry...you're in there with the best of us. We can all find ways that we're being wimpy about our marketing.

So what does it take to go from marketing wimp to marketing warrior? Here is my improvisation on the eight warrior attitudes learned at Enlightened Warrior Camp (with credit given to T. Harv Eker and Peak Potentials Training, who developed them).

1. A marketing warrior acts in spite of fear. Marketing warriors are not fearless, but they don't let fear stop them. In the past, I've let "What if it doesn't work?" stop me from trying new marketing strategies. Another common fear among professionals with a private practice is: "What will others think of me when I put myself out there?" What are you afraid of when it comes to marketing? What's the worst that could happen if it were true? What action can you take in spite of those fears?

2. A marketing warrior is willing to do whatever it takes. First, you have to ask yourself what that "whatever" is. What will it take to market your business? What will it take to learn what it will take to market your business? What will it take to get a newsletter out to your constituency every month? What will it take to make follow-up calls to every single qualified lead within two weeks? When you break it down, you can tackle it in smaller pieces. And then just frickin' do it!

3. A marketing warrior does everything at 100%. How often do we get distracted by little things or meander through a morning without the 100% laser focus that's essential to hot results? I know when I'm on a tight deadline, I can go like the wind through tasks that might take four times as long any other time. I've begun giving myself mini deadlines to complete tasks (and celebrating when I complete them on time!). What percentage of "full-on" do you typically do your marketing tasks? How can you bring that number up?

4. A marketing warrior is willing to do what's "hard." The definition of "hard" differs from person to person. For one, asking for referrals is unbearable; for another, networking lunches are of the devil. Sometimes what's "hard" is easily handled by someone else (as in our newsletter and article services for therapists and coaches); other times you have to tackle the hard stuff yourself-or live with mediocre results.

5. A marketing warrior acts in spite of his/her mood. My best trick to get to my marketing when I don't feel like it is this: I repeat to myself, in a dramatic whine: "I don't want to do marketing today. I don't feel like it. Today's not the right day for this. It's too hard. I just don't feel like it." And as I repeat this whiny "mantra," I'm sitting down to my desk. I'm turning on the computer and opening the file I need. I'm gathering the numbers to call, etc. Pretty soon, I'm into the marketing project I need to be doing. It works like a charm!

6. A marketing warrior is bigger than any obstacle. What is your biggest obstacle? Is it that you don't know how to market your practice? Is it money? Time? I guarantee you that whatever the obstacle is, others have faced the same obstacle and gotten around it somehow. Usually the obstacle is mental chatter that says, "I can't" or "It's beyond me" or "I'll fail."

7. A marketing warrior succeeds in spite of anything. If you're determined to succeed in your marketing, nothing-NOTHING-can stop you.

8. A marketing warrior never gives up. It's not that deciding to be a marketing warrior means everything you touch will instantly become gold. Marketing is all about trial and error. If you stop at error, you'll never find the gold.

These warrior attitudes are good to keep nearby, like taped to your computer, for regular viewing. When put into practice on a regular basis, they begin to form a rock-solid foundation for your business.

By: Linda Puig
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to Prevent Embezzlement in Your Practice

Recently, I had to fire an employee who had stolen money from our office. She wasn't caught in the act, and I wouldn't have missed the money. I only found out because she had a guilty conscience. She had overspent her bank account during Christmas, and had some personal financial problems. When I found out and offered to advance her a small loan on her salary-a bad idea which I rarely do-she broke down and admitted to the theft. I appreciated her honesty, but had to fire her immediately.

According to an article in the American Academy of Family Physicians newsletter, "a recent study of community health clinics found that more than 40 percent had experienced some type of financial crime during the previous five years." Not only that, this was supposedly underestimating the problem, as it is frequently an unreported crime. Fortunately, the article had six clear steps to help prevent embezzlement:

1. Check candidates' references and job histories – Supposedly, many embezzlers are repeat offenders, so a thorough vetting of all applicants is suggested; if you haven't got the HR department, you can always outsource this step.

2. Review individual expenses – It's smart to have one person order supplies, another to verify receipt, and a third to sign the checks for payment; also occasionally spot-check expenses to be certain they are legitimate; for a larger practice it even makes sense to have two people required for check signatures.

3. Prohibit pre-signed checks and signature stamps – At the very least, every time you write a check, know exactly what you are paying for.

4. Enforce job rotation and vacation policies – It is suggested that employees take at least five consecutive days off for vacation; having someone else who can step in to do their job is good in case of emergencies, and a fresh pair of eyes can usually spot any wrongdoing during someone's absence.

5. Bonding employees – Employee bonds are insurance policies that reimburse you for your loss if the employee commits fraud or embezzlement. Bonding also serves as a deterrent to financial crime because bonding companies prosecute perpetrators.

6. Issue receipts for cash collected – In this era of frequent co-pays, cash can accumulate quickly at a practice. Whether you use an automated receipt system or an old fashioned booklet with carbon copies, make sure receipts noting the date, amount received and the patient's name are scrupulously kept.

I found these steps both easy to implement, and very effective. Making each employee involved in the process accountable for their co-workers, as well as for themselves, left me feeling more confident that this problem won't occur in the future.

By: John Burke
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How to Promote Your Online Presence

Some websites are designed as an on-line brochure for your business, yet others really drive the customer to make their buying decision. But what is the point of having a fancy brochure if no one is buying your product or service. A website can be a cost effective public relations tool for your business. It can help you attract prospective clients who may not hear about you otherwise and increase sales without adding overhead.

Don't just launch your site and then wait for business to come knocking at the door – it may not turn up. If you're looking at creating a website or wanting people to know more about your on-line presence, here's a few public relations tips to promote your site on and off-line.

One of the first things you need to do is look at who your ideal customer or client is and who you want to attract to your site. It is important to know your audience so you can target your public relations campaign to them.

Send out a media release to attract interest to your site through the appropriate media. Is it a business magazine or a women's weekly? Perhaps the ideal avenue for you is your local newspaper. Of course just issuing a media release doesn't guarantee that you'll get a run so let's consider a few other points.

Spread the Word Off-line

* Put your web address on all your communication collateral such as brochures, newsletters and on business cards, postcards, flyers about your products, catalogues and posters

* Don't forget to include it on letterhead, fax cover sheets and invoices

* On stickers used for mail outs, packaging and products

* Include it on promotional products such as pens, caps, coffee mugs, fridge magnets, t-shirts or uniforms and key rings

* In your voicemail messages or your on hold message service

* Mention your website address during radio or TV interviews and speaking engagements

* At meetings suggest to clients they can find out more information about your company by visiting the site

* Put it on all media releases

* Include it in all your advertising – print, TV and radio

* On the company car or van

* Yellow pages, white pages and other business directories

* All your email signatures

Think back to your target audience and include your website address anywhere a potential customer is likely to see it.

You've sent out your media release but don't forget to let existing clients know your site is now up and running. Use direct mail, send them a note – a good reason to communicate with them – or send them an e-newsletter with the latest news. Or perhaps use in-store posters to announce the site launch to your existing customer base.

Consider running ads in the local paper or business magazines if that is where you attract your customers. In short, keep doing what you're doing to attract clients or customers to your business but add your website address to the mix.

How to Find You On-line

The way most companies promote their websites is by search engine submissions, but search engines and their effectiveness can be a bit of a maze. It does pay to talk to the experts on this one, try your web designer or web host first, as just registering with search engines does not guarantee you traffic. Also just because you have a lot of "hits" on your site doesn't necessarily mean they are your ideal target market.

Most search engine traffic comes from Google and Yahoo! By using a combination of these search engines and using the right words and phrases on your site you would optimise your chances of being found. You don't need to spend a great deal of money as some sites don't charge at all and others charge a nominal fee. Perhaps you could explore Google Adwords. Again it pays to seek advice from your web expert.

Once you do get that traffic to your site, here are a few ideas to keep them there and to encourage them to visit again and again.

* Keep your site interesting. Commit to updating on a regular basis

* Optimise. Again talk to your web expert on this one but make sure your site is user friendly so visitors don't log out because it's too hard to find the information they want or it takes too long

* Portray a professional image. Ensure consistency of your web design with your other marketing materials and don't forget to include your logo

* Present interactive features that keep visitors returning, perhaps a competition or an on-line survey. And don't forget freebies. You must give your visitors something of value such as articles or e-books

* Send out a regular e-newsletter to your data base that offers tips and information and a link back to the site

* Post articles on other websites with links back to your site

* Explore online advertising or sponsorship on another busy website

* One of the most effective PR tools to drive customers to your website is through link exchanges with sites of similar interest. Locate sites that make a good match to your own and contact the owner to ask if they'll link to your site in exchange for you linking to theirs

Like any public relations campaign, attracting visitors and potential clients to your website will take hard work, creativity, perseverance and commitment over an extended period of time. But don't let your website just sit there – make it work for you so you can allow your expertise to shine.

By: Sue Currie
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to Deliver Technical Support that Delights the End User

"Technology, like art, is a soaring exercise of the human imagination.", according to sociologist Daniel Bell in his 1980 book, The Winding Passage. The art of what we do, as information technologists, lies in how we deliver creative solutions to workplace problems. The truth of the matter is that our jobs, in information systems and technology, are not really about technology at all. Our jobs, instead, are about solving workplace problems. Technology is merely the vehicle we use to accomplish our true objective. Increasingly, the help wanted ads in our industry require not only technical skills, but also skills in dealing with people. People are, after all, our customers. The old jokes about the I.T. guys commenting about how great their jobs would be if only it weren't for the end-users can no longer apply. The few I.T. people who still believe that are at risk of being outsourced out of a job, automated out of their jobs, or otherwise replaced in the modern workplace.

Are people skills becoming more important than technical skills in today's workplace? Absolutely not! Are people skills as important as technical skills in today's workplace? Quite possibly, depending on the job. For example, most of us are not overly concerned with an airline pilot's human skills, but we're very concerned with her skills as a pilot. The commercial pilot, however, who doesn't consider the comfort of his passengers in how he flies the plane may soon find himself flying freight instead of people. Even the freighter pilot who fails to practice good customer service skills with her employer and her employer's clients may soon find herself replaced by another pilot who values human relationships. There may always be a place for the rare individual whose extremely high level of technical competence makes him so valuable that his absence of human skills is overlooked, but don't count on that for your long term career growth. The reality is that, if people like you, they're a lot more forgiving of human error and when they don't like you, they look for ways to get rid of you.

What are the skills that can help you in today's workplace? You can break them down into five fundamental skill sets:

-Dependable and Reliable Service
-Responsiveness
-Competence
-Empathy
-Professionalism

Dependable and Reliable Service means providing reliable and accurate service - consistently accurate answers and follow-through on your promises. Your users should get the same courteous, pleasant and knowledgeable service every time they contact the Help Desk. In part two of this series, I'll show you practical tips to make sure your end-users say you provide dependable and reliable service.

Responsiveness is the willingness to respond to customer needs by answering their phone or email requests quickly, and being willing to do what it takes to respond effectively to a service request. In part three of this series, I'll show you how to prioritize requests to ensure that the most important requests get the fastest response while still servicing the lower priority requests.

Competence means providing correct, knowledgeable service, performed with accuracy and confidence. Technical competence goes without saying, but how can you maintain your technical competence even if your employer doesn't pay for training? In part four of this series, I'll share with you realistic techniques to use to demonstrate your competence and some practical tips on maintaining your competence on your own.

Empathy means providing caring and personal service. You can convey empathy when you listen for the hidden meaning in what a user is saying, acknowledge the emotion, and offer caring assistance. In part five of this series, you'll learn key phrases to use to demonstrate empathy and techniques for conveying your empathy to the upset end user.

Professionalism means that how you speak and act and the emails or other materials you send reflect a high level of training and expertise. This becomes the professional image that you project to your end users. In the sixth and final part of this series, you'll learn five powerful, yet simple techniques for conveying professionalism in your dealings with end-users.

Delighting your user is really easy most of the time. When you find ways to help your users be more productive and creative in their jobs, you'll find your job is more satisfying and more rewarding. As a support desk propfessional, you have tremendous opportunities for personal growth and you have daily opportunities to make a positive difference in people's lives. That's powerful!

By: Don R. Crawley
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How To Create Your Own ‘Shatter the Myth’ Marketing

My experience has shown me that every person comes to this earth with a purpose. As an entrepreneur, you have the awesome opportunity to fuse your business with your purpose. As an Entrepreneur you *know* this is a must (because your clients benefit highly and so do your bottom-line profits). One great tool for moving purpose into productive profits is to get clear on what myth you are here to shatter and start marketing your business with it!

The first step to identify what myth you are to shatter is to tap into what really makes your passion juices flow. A great question I've found to jump-start this process is one I recently posed to my Advanced Entrepreneurs, "If you had the power to solve a pressing world problem or issue, what would you solve first? Second? Third?" The magic lies in your answer. Really close your eyes and go inside, and give yourself the space to answer this question. (I can always tell when someone is answering from his or her head, i.e., "this is what I SHOULD answer.") As the answer comes to you jot it down. Then walk away. Give yourself at least five minutes and then come back to your writing. When you read it over, if your heart starts pounding and you feel a tug in your chest-you're on the right path.

Next, begin to explore all the ways you can begin taking action on this in your business RIGHT NOW. See, it's common to tell yourself stories like, "that's such a big issue...what can I do about it?" Or, "Yeah, it means something to me, but right now I just need to pay the bills." And this one, "Some day." Now, my coach's challenge to you would be, "How can the putting off of your passions possibly serve your business (and I'll be bold, your life)?" When you actually begin to partner your passion for the BIGGER with the immediate-your energy moves mountains.

I'll share with you one the of the myth's that I'm here to shatter and a recent action step I took. Myth: It's impossible to be a spirit-oriented, financially profitable, female entrepreneur, when you've had a past of financial distress. First, I'm living proof: not true. But, more importantly, a very recent action I took also says this myth is not true…(drum-roll please...this is the first time I'm sharing this publicly…). I've created an Entrepreneur Scholarship fund! A percentage of all programs and products will go to supporting a budding, entrepreneur and her business success. This truly partners with my passion to change the way the world does business-from a place of reverence rather than fear.

When you get clear about which myth (or myths) you are here to shatter, and you begin to incorporate this into every business communication and interaction, your energy soars! Clients, prospects, and partners feel this and it makes you mighty attractive. It's a path paved with effortless success.

What myth are you here to shatter?

Call To Action: Ask yourself the question: "If you had the power to solve a pressing world problem or issue, what would you solve first? Second? Third?" Let the honest answers come to you. Begin speaking about it (no hiding!). Incorporate this passion into your marketing materials.

By: Heather Dominick
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How To Sell Yourself Life a Product at a Job Interview

Interviewing for a job is in many ways comparable to a sales person making a sale. If you were a sales person and were about to sell a product to a customer you would do some homework or research so that you could convince your customers that your product was the best product on the market to fill their needs.

If you think of this scenario and apply it to the job interview process you will find that it is a powerful tool to use for your interview preparation. What do you have to offer (as a product), to the customer (the employer)? What do you have that will fill their needs (the requirements of the job)? What can you bring that is unique or added value to the position/company? (that sets you apart from the pack)?

Let's begin with "what you have to offer." Think of ways to present your key qualities throughout the interview. An example of this technique is when interviewing for a position that requires "strong organizational skills." You will want to let the interviewer know you are not only organized, but that your organizational skills have made a significant difference in your performance. If you can give an example of a particular event that you organized and how your organizational skills made a difference in a past job you will make an even stronger sell. Anyone can say that they have "strong organizational skills," but not everyone can give specific examples of a time when they had a success using those skills. Don't tell them – sell them - with proof of a past experience or success.

Next, begin to think about what the employer's needs are and how your product can fill those needs. You can accomplish this by studying the job description or posting. Read through the posting or job description once for content. Then, read it a second time for specific words that are emphasized. There will be specific words used according to the job or industry that you are applying for. Make a list of these words to use as "key factors" needed. Now, return to the job posting and read it once more. This time read "between the lines." What would it take to do this job? If for instance, there is a statement such as, "Position will require frequent collaboration and interaction on all levels of staff and management," you can gather that "strong interpersonal" and "communication" skills will be needed to do this job. By making a list of "key requirements" you can match them against what you have to offer.

The last factor to prepare for your sale is to let the employer know that you have the ability to "fit in." and be a "team player." The interviewer will not only be looking to see if you can do the job, but they will also be checking to see if you will be a good addition to the team. Don't dismiss your personal traits in your sales "pitch" preparation. Identify skills that make you unique such as "interpersonal skills," "attitude," and "willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done." These skills could make the difference between yourself and an equally qualified candidate getting the job offer.

When you take the time to prepare for the sale of the product – YOU – you will have a better chance of convincing the customer or buyer that you are just what they are looking for. By the time you leave the interview the interviewer should have a strong sense of what you have to offer and why they should hire you – why you are the best person for the job to fill their needs.

By: Carole Martin
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to Sell Your Cleaning Services With a Marketing Kit

Handing prospective clients a tri-fold brochure is one of the traditional ways cleaning businesses get information out about what they do. Even though a brochure is a convenient marketing piece and might be a good way to first approach new clients, a complete marketing kit is a much better way to let your clients know who you are, what you do and what you have to offer. And it's likely that your marketing kit will make you stand out from your competitors.

A marketing kit takes a little time, but it does not have to be expensive. You can develop professional looking pieces on your computer and print them out on a good quality paper. Your cleaning company's marketing kit should include 6 to 8 educational pieces to give prospective clients in-depth information about your business.

Following are the key items that should be included in your marketing kit:

1. Pocket folder. You can purchase these at most office supply stores and there are styles that allow you to slide a business card on the front of an inside pocket. If you want to invest a little more in your marketing kit, you can also order pre-printed presentation folders with your company name and logo from a local printer or on-line.

2. General marketing page. This will include basic information about your cleaning company. This page should include your company's name, address, phone numbers, fax number, website and names of owners and key employees or supervisors. Also, be sure to include your company logo and tagline if you have one.

3. Services page. This can be broken down into your routine or daily cleaning services and the special services that you offer (carpet cleaning, window washing, etc.).

Does your cleaning company supply trash can liners, paper products, air fresheners, soap? Be sure to include these items at the end of your services page. Let your potential customers know they can save time by letting you order and restock supplies.

4. What makes your cleaning company great! Let potential cleaning customers know why they should hire your company. List three or four things that your cleaning company does that gives you a competitive edge.

5. Testimonials from satisfied customers. Get letters of recommendation or testimonials from current clients. You can title this page "Testimonials" or "See what our clients have to say about our cleaning services." If you don't have any letters of recommendation, then list your short, two to five sentence testimonials on one page.

6. Frequently Asked Questions Page (FAQ). Think of the routine questions that you get from prospective customers - how do you handle keys, who is responsible for supplying cleaning chemicals, how long will it take you to clean a building, what happens if the regular scheduled cleaning falls on a holiday, etc. Include this on a one page sheet in an easy-to-read format.

7. Company background or an about us page. Let your potential cleaning customers know how you got into this field, associations you belong to, education or training programs you've participated in, and certifications. Include the background of key employees or supervisors that your clients might also be dealing with on a regular basis.

8. Our clients page, or who are our customers page. This is not necessarily a list of your current customers, but a list of the type of facilities that you clean and a short description of the services you offer these facilities.

Once your kit is together don't send it out to every prospective client. As you are presenting bids or if you come across a potential account, or get a referral, give them your marketing kit. Not everyone will read each piece of information in the kit, but the marketing kit gives you the opportunity to showcase your talents. Let people know that you are not only good at cleaning, but that you take your business seriously by developing a professional looking marketing kit. A few pieces of paper might just give your cleaning company an edge when that next big account is looking for service!

By: Steve Hanson
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How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 8)

RUN CONTESTS & SPECIAL OFFERS :- How do I do that you may ask? Consult your favouirite search engine - a goldmine of information - check out Contests & Special Offers run by other businesses & get a feel for as contest or a special offer you can use to promote your own business oe create the idea & then wirk on its production.

DEDICATE AT LEAST 30 Minutes EACH DAY TO YOUR BUSINESS :- This is self explanatory, of course,, but I did want to include it. If you're an online entrepreneur, even part time, your need to set aside at least 30 minutes each day. In order to grow your business, you have to invest in it. Although you may not have much cash to invest, you can always find time.... and that's more valuable than money. Plus, after all the topics discussed in this article, there's plenty of time needed to get your business on the right track. So take some time each day and use it wisely towards marketing and promotion. In the long run, it will pay you back 1000 fold!

SIGN UP 4 MARKETING & AUCTION NEWSLETTERS :- Many entrepreneurs don't take advantage of the WEALTH of information available online... FREE! There are so many knowledgeable and successful people online willing to share their trials and errors and discuss what they've learned with you. Take advantage of it ! There are literally thousands of newsletters available to you just related to auction sales and marketing online. Take some time to research a few and sign up for some of them. Read each one you subscribe to... keep those you like... and dump those you don't. You'll come away with a lot of tips and resources you never knew existed. Running an online business is a constant learning experience. (I know from experience that I learn something new each and every day.) You should never stop trying to learn new and clever ways to promote you business to ultimately make more profits. That's the bottom line... PROFIT!

CREATE A SUGGESTION BOX FOR CUSTOMER FEEDBACK :- The more you know about what customers are saying about your business, the more you can improve on your overall performance. It's just you against the world... so find out what the world has to say. Put a questionnaire or feedback form on your website and find out what your customers like and dislike about your business. Offer a free gift to your customers (it could be as simple as a free report to download), for taking the time to fill out your survey. Their feedback could generate a lot more income for you. Take this example... Let's assume you consistently sell 20 products a day on your website. Great! - You're happy with that as a part time income. You're making an extra $100 a day from your site and there doesn't seem to be any issues you need to address. Heck, 20 orders a day.... you must be doing things perfectly...right? Then, one day, you decide to place a small feedback form on your website. You have someone design the form to pop up when someone exits your website (remember... you need to be creative with your pop ups and forms or their virtually useless). Over the next few weeks, you noticed that a lot of customers are filling out the feedback form (to get your free download about "How to create adorable stuffed animals out of old pillow cases") and many of them have mentioned that they were about to purchase something from you but couldn't figure out the shipping charges so they simply left your site.

Now remember... you're still getting 20 orders a day consistently. If you hadn't placed that form on your site, you'd never know this was an issue. You're still VERY happy getting your 20 consistent orders daily. But now that you've discovered there may be a problem with how customers find their shipping rates, you decide to address that problem and put a link to a shipping rate chart.

Chances are, once you take care of the issue, those 20 orders a day will soon increase to 50 in no time. And just think about it... You would've never known there was a concern if you didn't reach out and talk to your customers.

Without knowing what issues or concerns your customers have... you can't fix a problem! Therefore, you're leaving profits on the table for someone else (A SUPER SALESPERSON) to steal right out from under you. Offer Contests And Freebies - People browsing the Internet like to get involved. The Internet feels like a giant community to many. They are very willing to enter drawings and contests if they feel they're legitimately run and they realistically have a chance to win something. A great way to capture a visitor's email address (and we know how important that is) is to offer a contest where something FREE will be given away. Having said that, when it comes to contests, people won't enter a contest unless they are going to receive something substantial, something of VALUE! You can't run a contest and offer a free "How To Download". That just won't cut it. - You have to offer a REAL prize. I'm sure if you brainstorm a bit you'll come up with some great ideas. Again, use your own cleverness... And Do Things Ethically! Be sure to add a "PREVIOUS WINNERS" page on your site so that new entrants can view previous winners. This will also add legitimacy to your contest. Also, be sure to present the contest rules clearly on your site so everyone entering can read and agree to the terms. Stay Tuned.

By: David Newman
Credit:www.superfeature.com

Related Links:

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 1)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 2)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 3a)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 3b)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 4)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 5)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 6)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 7)

How to Ask for a Raise—and Get It!

When was the last time you asked for a raise? If you are like most people, you waited until you were frustrated, angry, and resentful. Not the best frame of mind for trying to make a positive change. You probably made some critical mistakes. You may have:

• Made your appeal based on emotion

• Given your boss an ultimatum

• Failed to plan ahead what to say figuring you could just "wing it"

And how did that strategy work for you? Did you get everything you hoped for? Probably not.

There is a better way to ask for a raise that doesn't involve emotions, ultimatums, or even slamming doors. The answer is planning. Be prepared with objective documentation that proves beyond doubt that you deserve a raise, and have a strategy that puts that information forward in the best possible light.

1. Research salary surveys.

If you suspect your current earnings are below average for your industry in your state, verify your suspicion by checking out salary surveys. Your state employment service agencies probably provide a salary survey for your industry. Average earnings can vary greatly from state to state, so be sure to get information that is appropriate for your area or region. Make copies of any salary surveys you find.

Additionally, if you suspect your earnings are low within your own company, ask your human resources representative if he/she can provide the normal salary scale for your position. Ask for a copy if possible.

These two documented sources will help support the fairness of your request for a raise. By providing a rational argument and proof of competitive salary in your request for a raise, you'll increase the likelihood that your boss will say yes.

2. Prove your worth.

Fairness alone won't convince your boss you deserve a raise. You'll need documented proof that illustrates your contributions to your organization. If you are waiting for your boss or supervisor to notice what a great job you are doing, forget it. No one is paying that much attention to you. It's up to you to prove how much you are worth-literally.

The best time to begin documenting your accomplishments is in your first week of employment. Keep a weekly journal of what you've done that proves such things as:

• Creating revenue opportunities

• Discovering costs savings

• Helping a coworker meet or beat a deadline

• Developing a better process

• Completing tasks ahead of time

• Generating good will with clients or customers

Use your list of accomplishments to update your resume, featuring a "Highlight of Accomplishments" section that illustrates the positive impact you've had on your company. An updated resume is your most convincing evidence that you deserve a raise. It will also put your boss on the alert that you are ready with an updated resume when a recruiter calls or when the right career opportunity presents itself.

If you don't have a record of your accomplishments and contributions, you are not ready to ask for a raise. A career coach can be a valuable asset in helping you compile your list of accomplishments. Trained in the art of asking the right questions, a career coach can help you quickly identify the contributions you've made to the company. This will build not only your case for a raise, but your confidence as well.

3. Plan your strategy.

Too often, people don't think about what they're going to say until they're actually in their boss' office. That's too late. You have to plan your strategy in advance, just as you would plan any business project. It's the only way to succeed.

With copies of salary surveys and salary scales, you'll have quantifiable evidence that your request for a raise is a reasonable one. And you'll be able to back that up with a strong list of accomplishments that demonstrates how valuable you are to the company. Practicing how you want to present your case can be the final key to success in getting the raise you want and deserve.

Choose a friend or family member who has been in the position of hiring others, and ask them to let you practice your request for a raise. If you're not comfortable with doing that, or if you don't know someone who is a hiring manager, a career coach can help you craft your presentation.

A career coach has real-world experience in hiring and decision-making, so they've been in your boss' shoes. They can provide you with strategic tips that will help you win over your boss-or provide you with a way to keep the negotiations open even if your initial request is denied. Creating a strategy with a career coach will give you guidance on how to ask for the raise, how to present yourself, and how to close the deal.

Once you have your documentation, your accomplishments, and your strategy in hand, you'll be ready to approach your boss with confidence. And you'll be well on your way to getting the raise you have truly earned.

By: Deborah Walker
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to Conduct Business Like You Kayak

We had a great time for the 4th of July yesterday, as I hope you all did. I took the whole day off and went kayaking with my husband. As I return to "business mode" again today, my heart is still enjoying the adventure we had yesterday and I think I can turn it into an analogy on conducting a successful business in the "wild river of commerce".

Before setting out, we did some research, some of which was conducted a month ago. We knew where we wanted to begin our trip and where we wanted to stop. We then drove that stretch of river we were interested in and did some scouting so we'd have some idea of what we were getting ourselves into. The important components were aligned perfectly yesterday: the weather, the river level and flow, and the amount of time we had available, so the decision was made to go ahead. If even one of those things weren't just right, we would have postponed our trip until we had those things in order.

How similar is that to being successful in business? Market research must be done ahead of time to be sure your message is on target. In business, as on the river, it could be an un-enjoyable ride at best, and disastrous at worst if you don't perform your "due diligence".

Once the decision was made to go for it, we began to prepare. While we know we can't plan for every eventuality, we are familiar enough with the experience to know the bare minimum that will be needed for success.

While I do like spontaneity in my personal life, I'm more comfortable with planning and preparation in my business. Again, not all things can be anticipated, but if you've prepared for the things you can prepare for, you'll be in a much better position for addressing the unexpected when it crops up-and it will crop up, you can plan on that!

Once we were in the water, it was a matter of making quick decisions with the information we had at the moment. We could usually see a good stretch of water ahead of us, but we never knew exactly what was coming after that. We had to stay flexible and ready to change direction at a moment's notice as the next stretch of river came into view. Did we always make the right choice? No, but we made adjustments as we went along and that's what got us downriver in one piece. A few minor mistakes in judgment didn't ruin the whole trip, and actually added to the excitement. We quickly learned from those errors and made better decisions down the river because of our experience.

In business, and especially in the ever-changing waters of Internet business and marketing, we must remain flexible and make constant adjustments to our plans to stay afloat. We'll surely find failure if we think we can mold the market to our personal preferences of what will work. We must always be ready to adjust and change with the market flow and the obstacles in our way.

There were many, many obstacles in the river to pick our way around and through. Fortunately, my husband and I travel well together, whether by land, air or water. We're pretty good at spotting obstacles, deciding quickly how to handle them, following through on those decisions and making adjustments to the rest of trip based on the outcome.

Don't successful businesses do the same? Find business partners we can trust, being able to foresee anything that could limit our chances of success, basing decisions on previous experience and current input, sticking to our course of action and making adjustments as needed.

Fortunately, we only made one choice that almost dumped our kayak and put us in the river swimming, but we quickly recovered and continued on our way. No time to pull over and calm our quaking nerves, or conduct a lengthy analysis of whose fault it was. We just continued to "go with the flow" and didn't make the same mistake again.

All told, our trip was thrilling, relaxing and just a lot of fun! It took us out of who we are in our daily lives and we accomplished something we can be proud to have done.

This morning I have a refreshed version of my business philosophy - there are obstacles around every bend that challenge us to overcome and learn from - and there are some smooth stretches allowing us to relax, look around and take pleasure in where we are and how we got there.

By: Cindy Dykstra
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to Sell or License Your Invention

When you have a patented product, or your invention has a paten pending status, meaning you are about to have it patented, it’s high time you decided where to go next. You can always keep it to yourself, but wouldn’t be a pity to deprive the rest of the world of your product, be it a utility product, a beautifying product, or any other product that could improve the quality of life, and receive some financial compensation in the process?

But before you sell your invention or license it, you have to make a presentation of your idea to one or more companies, and do so from a business point of view. There are some things that such companies expect of you and of your license invention, as well as there are some aspects they fear. First of all, each manufacturer that might be interested in buying your product is in business with a clear purpose, that of making profit. This is the reason why, above all other aspects, the presentation of your invention must focus on how the product will make them money. Second of all, no one is looking to promote something that the market is already saturated with, or something that is of inferior quality than similar products on the market. Manufacturing companies are more likely to be looking for unique products, whose quality exceeds that of the competition. Furthermore, such companies probably already have specialized channels for manufacturing, marketing, selling and distributing products. Therefore, the product that they are about to buy from you or that you want to license should definitely fit these channels, so that you can sell your invention as a moneymaker.

When it comes to what these companies fear, being sued for supposedly having stolen an idea is something is definitely want to avoid. This means you can relax, because you are most likely to be asked to sign some sort of contract or agreement, stating that you have sold or licensed your invention, and this contract cannot be signed unless it clearly stipulates your financial compensation or terms of payment.

If you decide to sell the invention, it means that you completely give up the rights that you have on your patent, and you receive one payment, which can be a considerable amount of money. On the other hand, if you decide to license your invention, you still own it, but you allow one or more entities to make use of it, and you receive royalties in exchange. The only disadvantage to licensing your invention is that you might not get any royalty fees if your product doesn’t sell.

Regardless of the path choose to follow, either sell or license invention, you have to find companies interested in your product idea. Doing that on your own can be exhausting and not have the expected outcome. You would have to take care of too many things, such as finding potential buyers, making professional brochures of your product, sending marketing letters to each and every one of them, etc. Once again, the wonder of the twentieth century, the Internet, comes to your aid, because you can use it to make all this work a lot simpler. Or better yet, you can allow a team of professionals to take care of your presentation and of finding the ideal buyer for you. They can even negotiate for you, following the indications that you have provided, after which all you have to do is sign and start enjoying the financial benefits of your invention.

By: Groshan Fabiola
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to Raise the Prices You Charge to Your Cleaning Customers

You started your cleaning business to make a profit and earn a living. Most cleaning businesses, whether they do residential or commercial cleaning, start out with the owner doing everything - marketing, cleaning, buying supplies, and even the bookwork. As your company grows and you hire employees and add more clients, your expenses grow too. When you started out you may have under-priced your services either to get new clients or because you lacked bidding experience. So now that your expenses are growing and you've discovered you under-priced your services, what do you do?

First off, understand that raising prices is necessary in any business. Just take a look at things you buy on a routine basis - gas, milk, cleaning supplies, electricity - prices do increase and sometimes take a big jump!

Before you raise your prices to your cleaning customers go back and take a look at your original contract. Does your contact state the original bid price will be good for a certain length of time? If it does you will not be able to raise your price until that time frame has expired. If not, how long have you been cleaning for that client? Even if you originally under-priced your services you may not want to increase your price if you have only been cleaning for the client for a short time. Most cleaning companies wait at least a year before increasing prices. If you don't have anything written in your cleaning contract about price increases, you should start adding a clause about it with your next client. Many companies guarantee their price for a year and state that they take cost of living increases each year (for example, 4%). Or they may state something like, "we reserve the right to increase prices after one year".

Before figuring out a new price go back through your original bid and make sure that you have everything covered so you are making a profit. If your supply costs have gone up dramatically or if you have added expenses (workers comp or more insurance because of hiring employees), make sure the price increase will cover the extra expenses.

Another factor to consider before raising prices is your customer's current satisfaction level. Are they happy with the job your cleaning company is doing? Most people understand price increases and will stick with your cleaning company as long as they are happy with the job you are doing. After all, looking for a new cleaning company takes time and your customer may not get a better price or the quality of work they want from someone new.

But don't be afraid to raise the price on a customer who is constant complainer, especially if their complaints are not justified. You may need to raise your price to cover the extra time you spend in their office (or home).

Once you have all your facts and the new price you need to charge, send a letter to your customer. Let them know that you are raising your prices, why you are raising your prices, and the benefits to them to continue using your cleaning company. Make sure you inform your customer at least 30 days in advance that the price will be going up. Keep in mind that large corporations and government agencies may need more time if they have to run the price increase through a committee or get approval by a board.

The phrase "you get what you pay for" is often true when it comes to cleaning companies. Too low of a price may mean the company is not doing satisfactory work or that the company has undervalued its services and will soon be out of business.

Pricing your services so you make a profit is not a bad thing! Your cleaning company's survival depends on charging your customers appropriately so you can stay in business and make a profit. Good customers will understand a price increase and be happy to continue using your services. And don't be surprised if a customer that leaves because of a price increase soon comes back! Many people eventually realize that a lower priced bid from another cleaning company means their building (or home) is not as clean as when your company provided their cleaning services.

By: Steve Hanson
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to Determine Whether You've Chosen a Good Niche

Choosing a niche-a small, focused target market-for your services can be very beneficial to your business. It will help your clients to focus on and identify the services that you offer, and it will help you to develop deep expertise in a single area-and "niching" will help you to raise your rates and create a successful business.

But to maximize the benefits you'll get, you want to make sure that you choose a good niche. To niche well, there are several questions to consider:

- Can potential customers in your target market afford your services? If you're offering a high-ticket item to a target audience that doesn't have much money, then you can run into trouble. Or if your target audience doesn't control the buying decision or isn't authorized to meet the cost of your product or service, that can also lead to trouble. In these cases, you might explore packaging your services in a more affordable way, creating payment options, or choosing a new targeted niche market that will be easier to sell to.

- Do they put value on your services, and will they be willing to buy? Do they think that they your services? Even if your target audience is able to afford your services, they have to also feel that your services have value to them and that they need those services. If they think that your services would not improve their lives or businesses, then they're unlikely to make the purchase. Likewise, if your customers think that they can do it themselves, or that they don't have a need that your services will fill, then they won't make a purchase.

- Do they understand your services? If your target audience doesn't understand what you do-if it's too technical or esoteric for them to even understand what you're selling or why they might want or need it-then you'll have a very tough time making any sales at all. Make sure that your target audience can at least be taught to understand your products or services and the benefits they provide.

- How hard is it to find the people who are in your target market? If you can't find the people who will make up your target audience, then they likely cannot find you and your offering. For example, the easier it is to find networking groups or mailing lists that have large populations of people in your target market, the easier it will be to market to them by speaking at events and sending out direct mails.

- Are there a lot of other competing providers in your niche? If so, is there enough market for you? If the target you're marketing to is served by many other providers, then it might be difficult to capture enough market share to sustain your business.

- Is this niche within your abilities to deliver, and are you credible in it? Do you have experience serving this niche... or can you get that initial experience easily? Some ways to do this include through pro-bono work, discounts, or aligning with a professional organization to offer discounts to its members. You might also be able to read about the industry you're planning to market to, to learn more about the specific problems and challenges they face.

- Is the niche big enough to sustain your business? Are there enough potential customer companies or enough need in that industry that you plan to serve? If you choose a very specific niche, you might find that there are just a few companies that you could serve. If that's the case, you might want to widen your niche.

If your niche fits these criteria, then it's likely that you've created a great niche, one in which you will make more sales and grow your business.

By: Erin Ferree
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to get the best value on calling cards

Calling cards are the perfect solution for reducing the phone bills of businessmen, tourists and students who make long distance phone calls when traveling abroad. Calling cards are safe, easy to use, convenient and more important of all, they can be used for calling almost all countries world-wide. For Chinese nationals traveling abroad, calling cards China give them a cheap and convenient way of calling home anytime and from anywhere in the world. With calling cards China, they do not have to switch their regular long distance carrier. Nor do they have to worry about having a pocketful of change in the local currency for making long distance calls when traveling abroad.

Get the best value on calling cards China

Doing a search on the Internet for calling cards China is one of the best ways to find the best value on China calling cards. Many online services offer Chinese travelers the convenience of comprehensive listings of all companies that offer calling cards to China as well their various tariffs and offers. This allows you to compare the many international calling cards and choose the one that suits your requirements. There are no hidden costs or unexpected extras. All you need to do is type in the country you are calling from to get the required information. China local calling cards as well as international calling cards can be bought online from any where in the world and also be conveniently recharged from anywhere.

Choosing the best Calling card China

Choosing the best calling card China is easy once you know what it is you require. Will you need to make mostly international calls? Or are you looking for China local calling cards? Will most of your phone calls be made at night or do you need to make mainly business calls during the daytime? Is it one number you are going to be dialing or many different numbers? Does validity of the calling card make a difference to you?

Once you’ve got the answers to these questions and decided what you are looking for, its relatively easy to choose the most suitable amongst the many calling cards China. Some calling card companies offer cheap nighttime rates, whereas others offer standard rates 24 hours of the day. Different phone card companies have different schemes for international calls and domestic calls. Some calling card companies give you the option of an automatic or a manual recharge. Many phone card companies offer you the convenience of “Speed Dial” where you can store frequently dialed numbers that can be accessed and dialed with the touch of a button. You should also check if there are any maintenance or service fees and if you will be provided assistance 24/7.

Compare the rewards that are offered by different companies. Registered members of CallFreak get a $5 bonus when they sign-up and they also earn 1 point on every $1 they spend to buy anything including recharges.

Benefits of using calling cards China

Using calling cards China can result in significant savings in international as well as domestic long-distance calls. Because they are pre-paid, there is no need to worry about having to over-pay on expensive long-distance phone bills. You can also decide in advance how much or how little you can afford to spend on your phone calls. Students living away from home find calling cards China perfect for keeping in touch with their parents without having to pay for expensive long-distance phone calls. They are also are cheaper than operated-assisted calls. Calling cards to China offer you a more affordable way to call home than calling long distance from hotel phones, which almost always levy a surcharge on long distance as well as domestic phone calls.

By: Thomas H. Lindblom
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to Make Sure Your Customer Never Says NO

It's easy to get the right answer from your customers - just ask the right question!

Elmer Wheeler was a marketing genius of the 1930s. Of course you've heard the expression: "Sell the sizzle not the steak." You may think that's so proverbial that nobody knows who said it first. Not so - Elmer Wheeler coined that phrase more than 70 years ago.

He coined many phrases, by way of marketing rules, and they made billions of dollars for Wheeler's clients.

Wheeler started as an ad salesman for several newspapers, trying to convince retailers that an ad in his papers would drive people to their stores. This, the retailers didn't doubt, but people just visiting their stores was not enough-they were not buying. Sound familiar?

This is an age-old, constant problem. People visit stores or they log on to internet sites. But very few of them actually buy anything. Interest, but no sale-why?

That's what Wheeler decided to find out. During 10 years of research, Wheeler tested over 105,000 words and phrases on more than 19 million people. His exhaustive research is simply and actionably summarized in his 1937 book, "Tested Sentences That Sell."

Wheeler derived a number of critical "Wheeler Points." Here's one of them… Always give the prospect a choice. But make it a choice between something and something, said Wheeler, not between something and nothing. He gives the example of the restaurant business… If the waiter asks "Wine with dinner?" the answer is NO most of the time. But when he asks, "Would you like red wine or white?" then wine sales take off.

Here's another of his case histories. A pharmacy was having difficulty selling shoe insoles. After some trial and error, Wheeler got the salespeople to ask the customers: "Are you on your feet much?" Then they'd hand them a shoe insole and say: "This will ease your feet. It's made especially for people who are on their feet a lot." These words sold hundreds of insoles every week.

Or look at this one. Wheeler dramatically increased sales of oil at a garage. He tried and tested 100 sentences until he found one that really worked. Salesmen were asking the naive question: "Can I check your oil?" This nearly always resulted in a "no" reply. So Wheeler tested and found that the question "Is your oil at the safe driving level?" worked 58% of the time.

Wheeler's principles are as unchanging as the problem of high traffic and low sales. It's the same problem, whether it's the sales script on a showroom floor or the copy on a landing page. Wheeler's "tested sentences" will keep on selling just as long as people keep on showing up but not buying. The right words really are magic, and the right questions get the answer YES.

What questions are you asking your customers?

By: Robert Greenshields
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 7)

Adding Signature Files To Your Email

I'm sure many of you have already setup a signature file for your email program, but have you set it up effectively to pre-sell your customers? Are you getting the kind of response from your signature file that you should? Do you even know what kind of traffic your signature file brings you? For most... NOT MUCH! These are legitimate questions that you need to answer.

First, for those that aren't familiar with a signature file, I'd like to explain what a "Sig File" is and how to set one up. Then, I'd like to go into a bit more detail about what you should and SHOULD NOT have in your signature file if you want to generate sales.

Setting Up A Signature File :-

A "Sig File" is that small block of text you see at the bottom of an email you receive. We've all seen this many times and you probably didn't even realize that this was prewritten text that goes out with every email sent from a particular email address. If you do not have a "Sig File" setup in your email... DO IT NOW! This is yet another form of advertising you can capitalize on very easily (remember - advertise on every page! Your sent emails are pages too! Each email program has specific instructions for setting up a signature file, but it's very easy to do. If you use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, simply go to the "Tools" menu and you'll see a link for a signature file setting. It may be under another sub heading such as "preferences" or "options", but I assure you it's there.

You can also choose the "Help" link in your email and this will have instructions for setting up your signature file as well. No matter what program you use for your email, there is a way to add a signature file to your outgoing messages. Find out how to do this and JUST DO IT!

CREATE An Effective "SUPER" Salesperson Signature File So many times I see it.... A signature file that reads: If you have any questions, please let me know. Thank You, Tom Smith Phone: 888-888-8888 Fax: 888-777-777 Email: "mailto:tom@mydomain.com" AND THAT'S IT! Granted, it saves "Tom" time on writing his closing in each and every email, but that's all it does. Is "Tom" a SUPER Salesman? I say NOT! Or, you receive his email and at the bottom it reads:-

**** SAVE $$$$$ ON OVER 20,000 PRODUCTS ONLINE. SHOP SAFELY AND SECURELY 24/7! FROM TOOLS AND APPLIANCES... TO LAWNMOWERS AND OUTDOOR LIGHTING... WE'VE GOT IT ALL ON SALE! CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR WEBSITE! ***** so on & so on - ?

Well guess what?... I'm not looking for a tool or lawnmower right now! Am I going to visit that website? NOPE! Am I going to remember that website the next time I do need a tool or lawnmower? NOPE! Well then, what could this amateur salesperson have done differently?

But, let's maximise our opportunity to get the sales massage accross ! How about something like this? ---------- If you have any additional questions or concerns, please be sure to let us know! Thankyou, Tom Smith Customer Care Representative ABC Products Phone: 888-888-8888 Fax: 888-777-777 Email: mailto:tom@mydomain.com

Your feedback is very important to us! If you have a comment or suggestion you feel would help us to better serve you, please send an email to:- mailto:support@mydomain.com

You'll receive a FREE gift just for helping us improve our service! Your satisfaction is very important to us. --- Is your outdoor landscaping the envy of your neighborhood? Do your neighbors wonder how you do it?

Download our FREE "DO IT YOURSELF" LANDSCAPING GUIDE TODAY! "12 Amazing Yet Affordable Ways To Turn Your Lawn Into A Tropical Paradise In One Weekend!" ---------------Have You Heard The BUZZ yet? Why Are So Many People Talking About Our Newsletter? Simply Put, It's Jam Packed With The Most Amazing "Tips & Tricks" Every Homeowner Needs to Know To Save Time And Money! Get Your FREE Subscription Today And You'll Receive Your First Issue Immediately!

Is there a chance one of these subtle ads in this "Signature Files" will grab my interest? ABSOLUTELY! Will I sign up for Toms newsletter? Mmm, Maybe - I'm very tempted - Yes!.

Do I want a yard that's the envy of the neighborhood? YES I DO!!! Do it now!

My point here is this... With a signature file created by a "SUPER SALESPERSON" in comparison to an amateur, the odds of obtaining a new prospect are 1000 times higher than just trying to sell something right out of the gate.

Any of the "freebies" (including the feedback email) offered in this signature file will get my name in their email list and as you already know, their autoresponder software will then kick into full gear, emailing me automatically without anyone lifting a finger. It's like having 1000's of salespeople out on the net daily, and all you did was setup your system once... And used your "SUPER" sales abilities to get a prospect to SIGN UP FOR YOUR LIST!

So, be sure to setup a signature file (or change your current signature file) to something more subtle but effective, and you'll notice a huge surge in sales once your autoresponder system goes to work.

By: David Newman
Credit:www.superfeature.com

Related Links:

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 1)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 2)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 3a)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 3b)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 4)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 5)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 6)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 8)

How To Rapidly Reduce Your Overhead Costs and Increase Your Profits Dramatically

All businesses should be constantly looking for ways to cut costs while maintaining their productivity and efficiency. There are many various ways to drastically reduce your business' overhead costs, and hiring freelance workers can help a great deal.

You can reduce your overhead expenses by outsourcing employee services to online freelancers on places like:

* Elance: www.Elance.com

* Rent A Coder: www.RentACoder.com

* Script Lance: www.Scriptlance.com

* Guru: www.Guru.com * Writer Lance: www.Writerlance.com

* Workaholics 4Hire - www.Workaholics4Hire.com

These websites are easy to use, and there are thousands, if not millions of freelancers in various specialties that you can contract work to. When you contract work to a freelancer you just pay them for the work when you need it, instead of paying them all the time like you would an employee. There are so many benefits to hiring a freelancer rather than hiring an employee.

Here are some benefits your business will get from hiring a freelancer:

* You do not need to give the freelancer the space to work in; they work in their own home Freelancers are able to work with little or no supervision

* You do not pay taxes for a freelancer; they are responsible for their own taxes much like a business is

* You do not have to give a freelancer any health coverage whatsoever * A freelancer will have his or her own equipment to use and replace as needed

* A freelancer will usually ask for a flat fee for their work, rather than an hourly fee

* You pay them for a certain project and contact them again for another project without having to pay them all the time as you would with an employee

Just imagine how much overhead your business will save by not having to pay taxes, health insurance coverage, supply equipment, no supervision needed, paying a flat fee, and paying for the work as it is needed. Just imagine how much money your business will save by hiring a freelancer! And it is as easy as posting your requirements to a job board on any of the websites listed above and waiting for a freelancer to bid that you find suitable for the project.

How To Avoid Time Consumption, Confusion and Loss When Hiring Freelancers:

A lot of first time freelance users make some mistakes that will cause you to explain further. In your freelance requirement description make sure you are clear on your needs and detailed in what you want from the freelancer you will hire. This will make everything much easier for both you and the freelancer. You will have less emails or phone calls back and forth from your freelancer asking questions to clarify what exactly you want. Be sure you can explain this as thoroughly as possible right from the start.

You should also get a contract from your freelancer to get everything in writing. This just makes everything safer for both you and the freelancer you hire. The freelancer should be able to provide the contract for you, unless you want to create your own.

You can hire a freelancer for nearly any type of work you need completed, such as writing, copywriting, coding, website creation, graphic design, web programming, flash animation, logos, branding, marketing, brochures, banner advertisements, web content, translation, editing, proofreading, data entry, transcription, and so much more!

About Hiring Full time Overseas Employees From Places Like:

Hiring overseas also has many benefits, and you might find that a lot of freelancers you meet online probably live in a different country than you do. Hiring a freelancer overseas can save you a lot of money on your business overhead because those living overseas do not need as much money to live off of than those here in the United States. They can work fast, and charge less. You can hire customer service representatives overseas for much less than hiring here. You can hire a customer service representative for your business for as little as $700 or less monthly.

Support Save: www.SupportSave.com

Consider hiring a freelancer for your work and save time and money for you and your business. Freelancing is on the rise and there are so many freelancers to choose from. You are sure to find one or more that you can call on to use when you need work completed.

By: Rasheed Ali
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to multiply the value of your marketing by seven

If you want to get the best possible return on the time and the money you invest in your marketing, here's the secret.

You need to harness the power of leverage.

Take the example of Bob Parsons, CEO of domain name provider godaddy. He gave a thoughtful answer to a question one morning at a breakfast seminar and didn't realize what he'd started.

Having been asked for some tips for someone starting out in business, he listed his rules for success. These rules later became the most visited post on his popular blog and are now available to buy as a poster.

However the big marketing lesson is the way he used the power of leverage.

Leverage is where you multiply the impact of a relatively small activity to get more out of it.

In this example, the answer could have been given just to the people who attended that breakfast seminar. However, Bob quickly saw the potential to do more with it.

Even if you're not the CEO of a global business, you can still use the power of leverage.

Suppose you are giving a talk to the local Chamber of Commerce, here are 7 steps you can take to get maximum return for the work you will put in to creating it:

1. Invite your contacts to attend: Asking prospects, customers, business partners, friends and associates to your talk is a great way to let them experience you and what you have to say in an informal way. It's a low-risk way of building relationships.

2. Use the preparation of your talk as a pretext for contacting people: People are usually willing to give you their time to answer questions and often will take an interest in what you are working on. They may also suggest others you can talk to.

3. Issue a press release announcing your talk: The media may even show up and interview you on the spot, or they may contact you afterwards. They might only put the release on file for future reference. It's still a great opportunity to promote your message.

4. Issue handouts, notes or a summary of your talk: These are all great ways to make sure you remain in people's minds after the talk. Remember to include your contact information on anything you hand out.

5. Use the talk as the basis of a magazine or newsletter article: Many organizations which you speak for will be delighted to publish your talk in their newsletters, which benefits their readership with valuable content and gets you additional exposure to their audience.

6. Use the talk content as the basis for a workshop: The content can easily be developed as a workshop - perhaps even as a follow-up for some of the people who attended your talk. You can charge a fee or just use it as an opportunity to get to know them better.

7. Customize the talk to other audiences: Once you have given the talk once, you can make small changes to make it work with different organizations.

Of course, there are many more ways you can leverage one activity. Using this as an example, consider how you can get more leverage from your existing activities.

You don't have to find seven ways but two or three additional activities - even just one - still gives you something extra for relatively little additional work.

By: Robert Greenshields
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How to Make Introductions in Business & Social Settings

Making introductions today are less rigid than in the past. However, to not make an introduction is a faux pas. Why are introductions so important? Introductions make everyone feel comfortable and at ease in both social and professional situations. Imagine going to a workshop where you know no one. You are walking around feeling a little uncomfortable and lost; then someone walks up and say "Hi, I am__________." Are you here alone? What happens? You start feeling more comfortable and at ease.

Making proper introductions in the business world require learning one basic rule and following a few guidelines. Practicing this basic rule and following these guidelines, when you have an opportunity will help sharpen your skill of making introductions. As a reward for your persistent practice you will feel more at ease and appear more polished in all situations.

Traditionally, in social situations gender determines who is introduced to whom, "the man is introduced to the woman, "Bridget Lee, may I introduce James Tilley". The man's name is mentioned last because the lady is receiving the man. In a business setting, rank and not gender determines "who is introduced to whom". The senior ranking person receives the junior ranking person. The lesser ranking person is introduced to the senior ranking person. The senior ranking person's name is stated first: "Mr. President, this is Donna Smith, our Human Resources Manager." The highest ranking person, (whether female or male, young or mature) is mentioned first. Guidelines for determining Importance

---Senior Executive to Junior Executive (example above).

---Your Boss to a client. Your client is always more important. "Mr. Client, I'd like to introduce, the president of your company, Eric Burhenn."

---Governing Official to a citizen. Mayor, may I introduce Mr. Joe citizen.

---Two persons with the same rank. Introduce the person you are less acquainted with to the one you are more acquainted. Ex. Jean Keller (works with you) and Greg Byers (Huntsville's office) are senior Executives. Your introduction will go something like this: "Jean Keller, I'd like to introduce Greg Byers. Greg is Senior Executive in our Huntsville's office."

---Introduce a younger person to a more mature (older) person. "Mrs. Fifty, I'd like to introduce Mrs. Forty." (Social setting) "Ms. five years co-worker, I'd like to introduce Mr. two years co-worker." ---Introduce a co-worker to a client or a worker from another company: Client, I'd like to introduce Ms. Co-worker. "Client, I'd like to introduce Ms. Co-worker."

---Introduce a party guest to the guest of honor. "Mr. Guest of Honor, may I introduce Mr. Party Guest". Making introductions can be tricky. If you learn one basic rule and few other guidelines you can introduce anyone in any social and/or business settings: Rank determines who is introduced to whom in a business setting, you are well on your way to increasing your confidence and making others feel at ease. Introducing others not only help others get to know one another but it also make others feel at ease.

By: Dorothy Duncan
Credit:www.superfeature.com

How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 6)

Get AUTOMATED :-

Now, onto the automation process.... There are so many aspects of your business that need to be automated. For instance, your subscription "Sign Up" form. This can be setup to automatically send a "Thank You For Subscribing" email to your new prospects without you ever lifting a finger. Hmm.... what a great place to also place a subtle BACK DOOR AD...

AHHH! Now you're thinking like the SALESPERSON you need to be!

AUTOMATION ! :-

So what about your newsletter subscription? This can be automated as well! Their system will automatically add and remove subscribers, and follow up with them at predetermined intervals (that are set by YOU !

And here's a clever idea... How about customer service? You can setup a variety of email addresses in "the system" and this system will automatically email an immediate response if an inquiry is sent to a particular email address. So how can you use this to your advantage? Why not setup various email address for the following: -- FAQ's -- FREE Reports -- Product Lists -- Pricelists -

An OFFLINE SALES CATALOG :-

WOW! Now there's an concept! You can have a special sales catalog that is only available through email! Now, you have a prospects email address and you can follow up with them through the SYSTEM - - AUTOMATICALLY without ever lifting a finger. Their system will even mail the attachment for you. -- !

COMPLAINTS DESK :-

We all know that we can't please 100% of our customers, 100% of the time. Customers like to know there's a way to contact the owner direct and voice their complaint. You could setup an email address for yourself personally, and draft a prewritten email letting an unsatisfied customer know that you are personally looking into their problem. They, in turn, receive an immediate response to their complaint, and you have some time to then look into the issue and follow up with them either via email or phone. I guarantee you, this unsatisfied customer will be a lot MORE satisfied with that kind of TOP NOTCH Service!

MARKET - Yourself And Your Products :-

I won't go into the whole "Marketing" subject here... .. Naturally, we all know how incredibly extensive the subject could be. But I do want to point out a few things that you need to recognize when marketing yourself and your business online. Marketing doesn't have to cost a fortune! Advertising, however, can become quite costly... and there is a difference!. When marketing your business there are a few things that should come to the forefront. You need to recognize the fact that traffic is your ultimate goal! More importantly, you need to be able to sell that traffic once they land on your website.

That's where you need to be a SUPER Salesperson! But how you acquire the traffic is just as important. We all know (or have heard about) Pay Per Click advertising ops :- but to be honest, in my opinion they are all a bit overrated and can become quite costly for a small business. Don't misunderstand me here, there certainly are effective ways to use the "Pay Per Click" search engines, but that's not something I'd like to discuss in this particular article save that subject

Your best efforts should focus on providing quality content and useful information related to your niche market. Once you do this, the search engines and other websites will pick up on this content and refer folks to your website for FREE. Now that's a bargain!

GET YOUR MAILING LIST Setup ! :-

That's when you'll really make the sales! Everything I've talked about in this article has to deal with effective marketing so take each topic and utilize what you've learned. Put a few of the ideas to the test. If you've implemented some of the strategies I've outlined here, you'll have become a much more effective SALESPERSON - NOW & in the long run... and that's what it's all about... ... Becoming a SUPER SALESPERSON!

By: David Newman
Credit:www.superfeature.com

Related Links:

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 1)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 2)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 3a)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 3b)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 4)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 5)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 7)

• How To Make Sale After Sale After Sale - For Ever ! (Part 8)