Is Procrastination Holding You Back?Written by C.J. Hayden
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If you ARE procrastinating, what then? Begin to change this habit by getting in touch with your motivation to do better. What rewards, tangible and intangible, do you get from your work? Remind yourself of that payoff on a daily basis. Post a picture or note that represents those rewards to you on your calendar, phone, or dashboard. Break down each of activities you are having trouble with into small steps. Pick what seems like easiest place to start, and block out time on your calendar to make a beginning. You may find that once you are taking action, rest seems much less difficult than you had feared. If you find that you really do have too much on your plate to have enough time for marketing, it's essential that you cut back on some of your other activities immediately. A business without marketing isn't a business; it's a hobby. Create more accountability for yourself by telling a buddy, support group, or coach exactly what you plan to get done each week. Ask them not to accept any excuses from you, and to remind you why you said you were doing all this in first place. You can partner in this way with a colleague by setting up a weekly check-in where each of you reports to other. It may take time to break procrastination habit, so give yourself permission to fail a few times. Remember that even a small amount of progress may be allowing you to achieve more than you ever have before.
C.J. Hayden is the author of Get Clients NOW! Thousands of business owners and salespeople have used her simple sales and marketing system to double or triple their income. Get a free copy of "Five Secrets to Finding All the Clients You'll Ever Need" at http://www.getclientsnow.com
| | Marketing In A Virtual World Written by Steven Van Yoder
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Business coach and teleclass leader Michael Losier set up a teleclass about exhibiting at trade shows: 'I had 60 students in my first class, which was very profitable, and many later hired me as a consultant." Also, it may be just as effective and less effort to participate as a guest lecturer in another professional's class rather than producing your own teleclass. Placing Articles Online Online articles draw upon your expertise by providing useful information that Web site visitors are actively seeking out. Online articles position you as an expert in your field and convey a level of authority that establishes trust and sets stage for sales. When high-traffic, high-credibility Web sites and newsletters publish your articles, you ride on coattails of their loyal relationships with readers. Your articles are seen by visitors as referrals from trusted friends. Some of most prime "real estate" in world these days is at top of search engine listings. The most widely used search engines rank Web sites by quantity of other Web sites that link to them. This means that every article you publish that links to your Web site can improve your search engine rankings. To find out about a new program that can help you quickly publish articles about your business on web sites that reach your target market, please visit: http://www.getslightlyfamous.com/services/article-placement.html Build Online Relationships Most business networking used to happen when we recommended an associate, swapped business cards, or connected with colleagues over lunch. But increasingly, social networking is migrating to Internet. Through social networking Web sites and online discussion lists, entrepreneurs can access virtual communities of prospects and associates while developing virtual "platforms" to generate leads and sales and establish themselves as recognized experts. Marketing consultant Max Blumberg credits his involvement in Ecademy.com, a business networking Web site, with elevating his business profile and generating new clients. "When I first encountered Ecademy I'd never heard of online networking, but benefits of a large community where I could share ideas and cultivate new relationships was very appealing." Blumberg started by posting a profile about his business, then started sharing his knowledge with other Ecademists. "I set up a club where members could get help with common marketing challenges. Many of these people became clients and friends with whom I socialize. We reciprocally use each other's services," says Blumberg, whose Ecademy presence has even been noticed by large companies who are starting to contact him. The key to building a niche community is identifying your ideal customers and communities they belong to. By targeting best, most favorably inclined prospects within a niche, you can become your target market's vendor of choice, and sell more with far less effort.
Steven Van Yoder is the author of Get Slightly Famous: Become a Celebrity in Your Field and Attract More Business with Less Effort. Visit http://www.getslightlyfamous.com/ to read the book and learn about 'slightly' famous teleclasses, workshops, and marketing materials to help small businesses and solo professionals attract more business. Get Slightly Famous is a trademark of Steven Van Yoder.
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