My first Success Story webinar last night was fabulous! (And yes, I will be sharing the video here on my blog later. But if you don't want to wait, you can find it on Facebook in my Ninja Marketers Group.) Andy Shepherd was an amazing guest.
We talked about all sorts of things. But one of the things we spent quite a bit of time on was mindset. Because it's HUGE! If you are struggling - with your business, your health, your relationships, you LIFE - and you want to turn things around, there is a way. You have to flip how you think.
You can control how you see things. If you focus on the negative, that's all you'll see. But when you flip it and focus on the positive, it's just the opposite. It's like God suddenly decides to lay out all the pieces for you and you just have to pick them up. But the truth is they've been there all the time. You just couldn't see them through the cloud of negativity.
Let's start with your business. This is a business blog after all. I hear it all the time. "I can't _______!" (Fill in the blanks. Blog. Speak. Do Facebook Lives. Promote.) "No one will listen to me. I'm not successful yet." Well you know what? You're probably right. Because you don't have confidence in yourself and that will come through in everything you do. So if you are waiting to be successful before you have the confidence to put yourself and your business out there, you will be waiting for a very long time. But what if I told you that success doesn't make you confident. Confidence actually makes you successful! Think about it. Who would you rather do business with? Someone who is confident in themselves and what they offer or someone who seems unsure and hesitant about their business?
Or a theme that I see (no kidding) on social media repeatedly. "I'm so unhappy. I wish I could find that special guy (or girl) to share my life with. Then I would be happier." Really? That's all it would take to make you happy? Feel sorry for you. You're going to be alone for a long, long time. No one can fulfill all your needs that way. Which is probably why you're still alone. But what if I told you that relationships don't make you happy? Happy people make relationships. Again, think about it. Who would you rather hang out with? Someone who is positive and cheerful or someone who is needy and despondent?
"Yes, but you have been through so much. It made you strong and courageous." Well, yes...I have been through some STUFF! But it didn't make me courageous. Being courageous helped me face and overcome those challenges.
"I'm waiting for some results before I take more action." Well action breeds results. So what exactly what are you waiting for?
So here is the big mind flip that I got from my talk with Andy last night. Whenever you feel a negative thought coming on, turn it around to something positive. When you make a choice based on negative ideas, stop and make the opposite choice. If you do that consistently, you will soon be surprised at the person you have become.
Remember, results don't inspire to take action, action inspires results. This works, if you do it. Let me know if I can help you.
Have you experienced this in your own life? Please share in the comments. Let's have a conversation!
That’s the question on everyone’s mind when they land on
your site for the first time. Obviously, your header, tagline, and front page
should give them a pretty good idea about you and the services you offer, but
your services page is where you want to go into much more detail.
Service Page Slipups
to Avoid
While it’s obvious you need a services page on your site,
what’s not so obvious are the blunders you can make that might end up costing
you business.
The Kitchen Sink
Page: This is a page that lists every single thing you can do, want to do,
thought about doing, and have been asked to do. Simply put, while a big list of
services might seem like a great idea, it can be confusing for potential
clients. They won’t know what you’re really good at, or if you’re a good fit
for them.
Instead, list your core strengths, include some explanation
about each, and if you feel you need to expand, add a line such as “If you need
other services not listed here, please contact me for a quote.”
There’s one exception to a pared down services page, and
that’s if you’re operating business that truly does offer – either through
subcontracting or by partnering with others – a multitude of services. If
that’s the case, consider breaking up your services page into categories, such
as writing, technical support, graphic design, social media management, and
transcription. That will give your visitors all the information they need
without looking like a laundry list of jobs.
Lacking Detail:
If your services page includes packages, it’s important to spell out exactly
what is included in each. Don’t say “a) Member installation and configuration”
without listing everything that is included in that package, otherwise you’ll
wind up with “project creep” where clients ask for more and more time for
things you never intended to provide with that package. Be very specific when
promoting packages, and add a line such as “Any services not listed here will
incur additional charges.”
The Sticky Question
of Prices
Should you or should you not include your prices on your
services page (or anywhere else)? Ask a dozen service providers and you’ll
likely find they’re split right down the middle on what’s the correct choice.
Ultimately, it’s up to you, but be aware that if you choose not to include
prices, you may find that potential clients won’t contact you to request a
quote.
On the other hand, if you do include your prices, you may
feel you’re “scaring off” future customers.
Here’s the thing: Good customers know the value of a great
virtual service provider. Your hourly or project rate will not frighten away a
real customer, but they may in fact deter the “tire kickers” from wasting your
time.
If you’re not comfortable naming a set price, or don’t want
to be locked into a rate just because it’s stated on your site, you can simply
state, “Prices start at $XX per hour. Contact me for a custom quote.” That way
potential clients will know what to expect, and those who aren’t really serious
won’t bother you.
