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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

7 Ways to Take Your Business from Blah to Booming!

Starting your own business can be a great way to earn some extra income.  And many home-based entrepreneurs are very content with that.  But if you want more - if you want to one day replace the income from you job - then it's time to step it up! 


Here are some suggestions to help your business grow!


1.  Get online!  By now, most business, even home-based businesses, have some sort of online presence.  It may be a website complete with shopping cart or other order mechanism.  Or it may be a simple blog.  So I almost feel like I shouldn't have to say it.  But for the few holdouts, here we go.  Get ONLINE!  Ecommerce is the wave of the future.  Quit stalling and just do it!


2.  Build a mailing list.  Preferably an email list.  You have surely heard it said that the money is in the list.  Truth!  If you aren't doing this already, start capturing the contact information of all your customers and prospects.  Then send a newsletter to your list a few times a month (at least) or even every day.  Use it to announce new products or services, provide company news, share helpful information about your niche and just connect with your customers and prospects to build that know-like-trust factor.  The mailing list is one of the most potent tools a business can have.  It can make the difference between just getting by and a six-figure income. 


3.  Get in front of your prospects.  With all of the technology available today, there is no excuse for not connecting on a more personal level with them.  Live streaming, video, and webinars are all great ways to get that connection with your market.  It enables them to put a face with the business and create that personal bond with you. Give presentations on your area of expertise wherever you can.  Marketing whiz? Teach social media marketing at a local  college.  Health and wellness expert?  Give a presentation on staying healthy as you age at your local senior center.  No matter what your area of interest is, someone somewhere wants to hear it.


4.  Attend networking events.  Not to hand out business cards.  95% of people you give your card to won't follow up.  But you are not part of the 95%,.  You DO follow up!  And so you go to networking events to collect business cards.  Get as many as you can.  Make notes on them so you remember what you discussed and any points of common interest you may have.  Wait 48 hours and then follow up with a short email or phone call.  Remind them where you met and then use the information from your notes start a conversation.  Do not discuss business on this first contact unless they specifically expressed interest earlier.  The goal is to schedule a face-to-face meeting, even if it's just for coffee.


5. Social media advertising.  Yes, you can now pay to advertise on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and a host of other social media platforms.  Learn how to do so effectively and then advertise!


6.  Referrals.  Ask your existing customers for referrals and reward them if you get new business from someone they referred.


7.  Article marketing.  Write articles for local newspapers, magazines, other websites and online article directories.  You should write about what you know and establish yourself as an expert in your field.


To learn more about ecommerce, creating an e-mail list, and other strategies that will bring you more customers and bigger profits, join the Tecademics Internet Marketing College.  It costs absolutely NOTHING and the training is invaluable!  Click here to register!

Monday, February 13, 2017

Ultimately It's All About Persistance

When opportunity knocks, how many times will you answer? 



We've all answered the knocking on our door.  Only to find it wasn't for us. Wrong job.  Wrong person.  Wrong business.  It's enough to make you want to give up.  Opportunity may be knocking, but it obviously isn't looking for us.  Right?



Wrong!  Disappointment is part of life.  Failure is part of success.  Success is all about persistence.  You must keep on "keepin' on" if you crave it.  You must press on, even on those days you feel like quitting. 



Patience and persistence pay off.  All the experts will tell you that.  And they are absolutely correct. You should listen to them.  Wrong job?  Stick with it until you find something better.  Use it as an opportunity to learn some new skills, get more experience, and pad that resume!  Your perfect job is waiting.  It might even be waiting right where you are.



Wrong business?  Okay.  So what?  Did you learn something from the experience?  Good!  Do you want to know how many things I tried before I found what I was good at?  And I even failed at that a few times before I finally figured it out.  And I'm not alone.  Google Sir Richard Branson and see how many businesses he's tried that have failed.  Or check out Bill Gates.  Yes, he's had a failure or two also.
   

Wrong person?  You'll have to figure that out on your own.  I'm a business success coach, not Dear Abby!



Babe Ruth said, "It's hard to beat a person who never gives up."  We all fail.  But what separates those who go on to win from those who go on to quit is one thing - persistence.  No one has enjoyed great achievement without it.



Do you have dreams?  Do you have the persistence, perseverance, patience, and discipline to realize them?  Yes? T hen the power to change your life is in your hands
.

So...when opportunity knocks, how many times will you answer?  The correct response is, "As many times as it takes!"



Sunday, February 12, 2017

De-Stress Your Home Office With Four Feng Shui Elements


The notion that clutter can distract us from our work and generally cause us to lose focus is not new. There are countless articles and books about how to de-clutter our surroundings to create a more productive work space. This is all very helpful. However, there are other elements to our environment that go beyond piles of clutter.

Feng Shui is a complicated system of spatial orientation used to create a favorable flow of energy. People who understand and arrange their homes and offices using these principles claim improvement in their overall well-being and productivity.

Now, I don't claim to be a Feng Shui expert. As mentioned, this is a complicated system, if one chooses to follow the ancient principles of Feng Shui to the letter. What I do know, I have learned from reading and research. However, there are elements that we can take from Feng Shui to easily and simply improve our surroundings.  Will these elements increase wealth and improve health? Maybe, maybe not. But, one thing is sure; implementing these four elements into your home and home office will make your working environment more pleasant!

Let's take a look at these four elements of Feng Shui and see how we can use them in our home office.

Wind

You may think of this element more easily as 'air.' As an essential element for life, we definitely want to incorporate air into our home office as much as possible.

Big windows open to a balmy breeze would be ideal, right?  An open window is certainly a wonderful way to bring in the element of fresh air. However, many of us don't have home offices in the most ideal location for this method.

Fresh air can be produced in other ways. An open door and/or a fan can be used to move air around in your office. If you have a small office that tends to get stuffy, consider installing an ionic air purifier. There are also small portable air conditioner units available to handle a larger office space.

Even the sound of wind can improve your mood and lower stress. There are many sound machines, either physical or computer programs, that produce soothing wind sounds. Make sure your office has fresh air to breathe and the sound of wind through the trees, real or recorded, and feel this Feng Shui element do its magic.

Water

Again, the trickle of a stream or the gentle ocean surf outside our office window would be ideal, but many of us are limited by our location to have these water sources available. Thankfully, it is fairly easy to duplicate this Feng Shui element.

There are many simple tabletop water features you can install in your office to create the sound and sight of water. Choose a bubbling fountain or tiny waterfall to add the water element to even the smallest office. Just make sure it is placed well away from your work surface and computer or other hardware.

Another option is to re-create the sound of water using a sound machine or computer program. Most will give several options from which to choose; a waterfall, surf, babbling brook, rain, etc. You can even combine several elements with most programs, allowing you to choose, for instance, wind and water together.

The sight and sound of water is only a part of this element, however. You should also include a water source in your office from which to drink. A pretty pitcher filled with fresh water is essential. Put the pitcher on a tray with sparkling clean glasses and you have a water element that would please the most ardent Feng Shui practitioner.

Light

If you are lucky enough to have a window in your office, take full advantage of all the light you can get from it. Pull back the drapes, pull up the blinds, and let the light pour in.

Of course, you will need to position your desk and computer so the light doesn't fall on the monitor. Facing the window or having your back to the window are not good solutions, since both cause glare on the monitor. Place your desk and computer monitor perpendicular to the window, keeping the light from the window on your left or right side. That way you can enjoy the light and the view while keeping your monitor out of the glare.

Unfortunately, home offices are often tucked away in a forgotten corner of the house, spare room, basement, or even a closet. When it comes to light in these situations, the choices may be limited.

If you have even one small window, make sure you utilize every bit of light coming from it by keeping the window clear of drapes and blinds. If you must hang something, choose a sheer panel. Even diffused light is better than none. Use mirrors throughout the space to reflect the light that comes in through the window, creating faux-windows on the other window-less walls. 

If you must use lamps for your only light source, be sure you light up all corners of your office. One lamp on the desk may be adequate, but those dark corners are not helping create a proper environment. You may also want to check into installing full-spectrum light bulbs which produce a light similar to natural sunlight. Again, installing mirrors to reflect any light you have will help lighten up your space, and your mood.

Beauty

This is an element that is open to interpretation. What is beautiful to you is not necessarily beautiful to others. You will need to decide how to introduce this element to your home office.

Many of the de-cluttering articles we read suggest the elimination of family pictures and other personal items from the home office. However, as an element of beauty, those personal items may be just the ticket. No, you don't want to have so much of this stuff that it becomes clutter, but a few family pictures and your child's artwork may be the beauty that is needed in your office.

Other people find beauty in fresh flowers and potted plants. Still others see classic sculpture, paintings, or photography as the element of beauty they seek. Perhaps the beauty of music is what your home office needs.

You will know what your particular element of beauty is when you feel it. Try placing a vase of flowers in your office, then place a picture of your family or friends over your desk, then hang a favorite painting, then play some music. The right combination will come to you in time. Add and subtract; subtract and add; until you feel the beauty.

Most of us have heard about Feng Shui and been intrigued by the principles. But, for many of us, studying and understanding the intricate details of this system is way beyond our needs. Using just these four elements is the simplest way to incorporate the Feng Shui method of spatial arrangement into our surroundings to help de-stress our home office environment - and ourselves!