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Business Strategy Coach Tip: NO Follow Up… No Sales

on January 18, 2012 in Relationship Networking, Success Institute, Uncategorized

How many networking events, seminars, lunches and coffees have you attended and afterwards you found yourself with a bunch of business cards that you politely place inside your top desk drawer?

Here is the thing… if you do not follow up you will not grow your business the way you wish.

What is your plan when you attend a networking event?  Do you have a systematic and automated way of following up?

Here are the some things to consider:

  1. Prior to attending a networking event, clearly determine your outcome or objective.  How many people would you like to meet?  Or is there a certain person you are targeting?
  2. Make sure you have time blocked out to follow up.  If you are attending a breakfast or lunch… schedule (1) hour in the afternoon on the same day to send personal notes, emails, or follow-up calls to schedule those all important lunches or coffees. If it is an evening event… schedule time the following morning before you begin your day.
  3. Place them into you autoresponder systems… with permission so that you can systematically drip on them.  I would highly recommend you checkout a service such as Monster Follow-Up.
  4. Make the appointment and keep the appointment.  I cannot tell you how many people who have called me to have coffee and then flake because something came up which was deemed more important than a new client.  Unbelievable but true.  Be a person of integrity and honor your commitments. Another great tool for scheduling appointments is TimeTrade which helps with the automation process.
  5. Determine how you can serve them while you are at the meeting.  If it is a connection… make the introduction.  If it is a book… send them a copy.  ADD value first and then work at nurturing the relationship.

These are just some business strategy tips that you can do to really impact, improve and skyrocket your sales.

Happy networking…or better yet “To the Follow-Up!”

Join the best-selling author of “The Juggling Act – A Step by Step Guide for Balancing Your Life”, Rae Major-Wildman on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday 01.24.12 at 1:30 pm CST as she shares The 5 Keys to Skyrocket Your Sales.

 

Join the conversation! What are some of your follow-up strategies?

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Quit Searching for Happiness…

on January 6, 2012 in Motivation & Inspiration, Uncategorized

By Connie Podesta

That’s right.  Cut it out.  Too often we spend SO much time LOOKING for something to make us happy.  Make us feel BETTER.  Make us STRONGER.  Make us more WHOLE.  GuessKeynote Speaker Connie Podesta on Happiness what?  It’s not OUT THERE.  It’s right INSIDE you.  Believe it or not you were born with all the key ingredients for happiness, success, strength and wholeness.  Sometimes you’ve got to just dig down and find it.  I’ve found that for a lot of people – the trick to that is to QUIT.  Not give up, mind you, but rather to quit getting in your own way.  Quit doubting.  Quit over-analyzing.  Quit sabotaging yourself. Quit denying yourself the things that you deserve.  Quit playing old tapes of people who told you that you couldn’t, wouldn’t or shouldn’t.

As we head into a new year where people everywhere are making resolutions to quit eating too much, drinking too much, smoking too much and the other bad habits – let’s get to the heart of what will help propel you to become your best you this year.  Quit looking outside for the answers and start looking inside for all the great stuff I know is there.  We’re going to have an incredible year ahead.  We’re going to laugh a lot and learn a lot and discover so much that’s just WAITING for us to explore.

So if you’re ready to quit the bad stuff and embrace the amazing stuff – I’m right next to you all the way!  What do you say?

Connie Podesta

Motivational Speaker

www.conniepodesta.com

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January is the time to wrap up the old and start with the new

on January 6, 2012 in Chairman's Circle, Uncategorized

This goes for all your 2011 and 2012 tax, accounting and bookkeeping work as well.

Now is the time to meet with your tax accountant, if you haven’t already, to calculate your tax estimate for 2011 so you can avoid penalties and interest for not paying your tax on time.  Remember, for self-employed individuals and partners or shareholders who receive K-1 income, January 17th is the due date for your 4th and final 2011 estimated tax payment (Form 1040-ES).  In addition, good planning now will help you avoid a big tax bill surprise in April regardless of whether you are self-employed or not.

Also, be sure when finalizing your bookkeeping for 2011 that you include any business mileage driven for the year.  Remember commuting mileage from your home to your work place is not deductible business mileage unless you have a home office that is your primary place of business. I have found the easiest way to accumulate mileage information is by including deductible mileage on my calendar throughout the year.  This method serves two purposes, first, to assist in the end of year calculation (it’s easier if you keep up with it while you are thinking about it or scheduling appointments), and second, to have documented support of your mileage if audited.

The IRS standard business mileage rates for 2011 were 51 cents per mile from January 1 to June 30, 2011 and 55.5 cents per mile from July 1 to December 31, 2011 (note, these same rates have been extended for 2012).    Other mileage that is potentially deductible includes charitable miles driven, medical mileage and if you have moved 50 miles or more for a new job.   Please consult your tax advisor and/or www.irs.gov for additional mileage rates and eligibility information.

Mark your calendars now for these important 2012 Tax Deadlines!

  • Tuesday,  January 17th Final Estimated Tax Payment for 2011 due for self-employed individuals and partners or shareholders who receive K-1 income (IRS Form 1040-ES).
  • Tuesday, January 31st Form W-2s for all employees and Form 1099′s for non-corporate service providers paid $600 or more in 2011  need to be postmarked today.  And, NEW for 2011, if you own rental property and paid non-corporate service providers $600 or more in 2011, you are now responsible for filing Form 1099s (this includes contractors, plumbing repairs, landscaping, cleaning services, etc.).
  • Thursday, March 15th 2011 corporate tax returns are due.
  • Monday, April 2nd 1st Quarter 2012 payroll tax reports are due.
  • Monday, April 16th 2011 individual and partnership tax returns are due.

Finally, start now to get a good financial system in place for 2012.   If you are not already, I recommend that you start with keeping track of your finances on a monthly basis, preferably using an accounting software system such as QuickBooks or Quicken.  Once you have perfected a monthly accounting system, then add your spending plan (alternatively, your “budget” which sounds restrictive, doesn’t it?  thus my preference in using the words “spending plan”).   And, finally, review your actual results to your spending plan each month to see what you have accomplished.  This is also the time to make updates and/or corrective actions for future months, if necessary.

Also, if all this advice is overwhelming and you regularly procrastinate with your finances, you need help!   And, please don’t beat yourself up because you definitely are not alone, I see it all the time in my accounting practice.  The difference is that the people who succeed in the long run, make small steps on a regular basis to improve their financial systems and ultimately their financial situation.

So, if that means hiring an accountant, a bookkeeper or a virtual assistant to help keep you on track, then do it!  This is the year to be proactive and get ahead of the game regardless of 2011 or years prior!   And remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong in asking for help!

Best wishes for a successful and prosperous new year!

Deidra Mills Ryan, CPA
Texas CPA Firm owner & QuickBooks Proadvisor
DMR Accounting & Consulting

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Goodbye 2011! Hello 2012!

on January 5, 2012 in Chairman's Circle, Motivation & Inspiration, Uncategorized

Wait a minute… Did I forget anything?
Over the holidays, as my family gathers to celebrate, we always sit down to watch a few good movies together. This year, my mom and I watched “Pearl Harbor.” In one of the scenes, droves of planes are seen flying over Hawaii, bombing and shooting everything in sight.  People are running for their lives in all directions, not knowing if they will live or die. This vivid picture stuck in my mind.  Later, while I was walking the dog, that scene came back to me and I thought to myself,

“If bombs were falling all around me right now, is there anything I would regret?  Is there anything that I should have done this past year that I haven’t?

Immediately the thought popped into my mind, “You should have talked more on The Value of a Life.”

As a motivational and inspirational speaker I spoke in November of 2011 on how precious the gift of life is, and how every life starts with such wonder and opportunity ahead of it.  As we grow up, I believe our job is to discover just what our purpose is in life and ultimately make the personal contribution to this planet that we are destined for.

Ok… so it’s not like I haven’t put forth a full-fledged effort in trying to fulfill my own purpose and inspire others to do the same.  With that in mind, I showed the film, The Glow Project in my city because I believe whole-heartedly in the importance of living your purpose and being in GLOW!  I’m also about to launch a teleseries on The Master Plan of Achieving Your Goals specifically designed to help people determine what steps are necessary to get to where they want to be in life, and optimize their chances for success.

Yet, somehow, I am still compelled to deliver that message to a wider audience.  It’s as if I haven’t reached everyone who’s meant to hear it… The Value of a Life.

In a recent keynote, I talked about how prescription drugs were robbing our young people of the opportunities that lay ahead for them to discover what they are meant to do with there lives and do it!  But now I’m thinking,

“What about the rest of us who aren’t battling addictions, but still aren’t doing anything to move forward with our lives and make the contribution we are meant to?”

Time is precious… and it’s running out…  So I ask You,

If bombs were falling all around you right now, is there anything you would regret?
Is there anything that you should have done in 2011 that you didn’t?

If you really want to know the answer to that, I challenge you to throw that question out to the Universe, and listen for what pops into your mind immediately.

Then, start off this New Year with that thought as #1 on your “Things To Do” list.

Don’t shut the door on 2011 with important unfinished business that the Universe is bringing to your attention.
For 2012…

  • Recognize that your life is valuable, and how you spend it is important.
  • Make it a priority  to discover your purpose.
  • Begin taking the steps necessary to make Your contribution to this world.
    Start today!

It all begins with a step in the right direction.

“One foot in front of the other, one step at a time, one day at a time. The days turn to weeks and the weeks to months.  Sometimes the months even turn to years, but eventually you will get there. “ -Gail Sullivan

Gail Sullivan is the CEO and founder of BECAUSE WOMEN, a company committed to helping established businesswomen reach the next level of personal and professional success through quality conferences, workshops, forums and events.   With the help of eWomen Publishing, Gail published her first book in 2010 entitled The Yellow Brick Road: A Woman’s Journey to the Edge and Back.  Continuing this theme, Gail is launching a series: The Yellow Brick Road:  Paving your Way to Success, Brick by Brick.  Brick One is a teleseries entitled:  The Master Plan of Achieving Your Goals.  Gail is a Platinum Member of the eWomen Network Chairman’s Circle 2011 – 2012.

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Top 10 Tips for Writing a Press Release That Will Get Noticed

on January 4, 2012 in Success Institute, Uncategorized

  1. Type, never handwrite. Double space, use BIG margins, and leave lots of white space. Editors use the white space to edit.
  2. Avoid BIG letterheads. They take up space on the page and can shout, “my message is weak, but look at my credentials.”
  3. Type the press release on your stationery.
  4. Name the contact. Skip a few lines below the letterhead and list the person to call for more information. Listing a home phone (or cell phone / beeper) in addition to the business number indicates your willingness to be helpful. It is best to have the contact someone else other than the President or owner of the business.
  5. Provide release instructions. Either FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE or FOR RELEASE MONDAY JUNE 8TH. Do not leave too long a time, though, or your release will likely be buried or forgotten. If possible, leave off the date so you don’t become dated.
  6. The headline should catch their attention, snappy without giving away the whole picture.
  7. The first two words are the place where the story originates (city, state)…put it in parentheses and put three dots after.
  8. Write concisely. The first paragraph should answer the 4W’s: who, what, where, and why.
  9. The mechanics: Keep the release to one single page, if possible. If you need more than one page to complete the release put – “more” – at the bottom center of the page and be sure the pages are numbered. The succeeding pages should be “slugged” that is, tagged with an identifying headline or subject reference, for example: “ANOTHER GREAT SEMINAR – 2″.
  10. When you reach the end of your press release, use either four # signs centered in the page or – END centered in the page.

Join the 3 Time Bestselling Author and publicity expert, Jill Lublin, on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday, 01.10.12 at 1:30 pm CST as she shares powerful strategies for getting your name from unknown to newsworthy in almost no time.

Share your thoughts! What are some tips you have for getting the media’s attention?

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How is your business navigating through this turbulent economy?

on December 21, 2011 in Success Institute, Uncategorized

Did you know only one out of six businesses started will survive to year five? There are 26 million small businesses nationwide and less than 5% of those businesses have more than $1 million in revenue. That represents a lot of risk!

90% OF BUSINESS OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF UNTAPPED GROWTH POTENTIAL

Would you agree that the majority of business owners are in business because they want to make more money and gain financial independence? Unfortunately, however, it has been our experience that not every business owner is equipped to recognize how to boost the value of his or her company. Statistically, 90% of business owners are unaware of the untapped growth potential waiting for them in their own companies.

Here are the three mistakes you must avoid if you’re serious about taking your company to the next level:

1.    Remaining unaware of untapped growth or value creation potential.
2.    Settling for less-than-ideal results in the current economic environment.
3.    Limiting risk-taking in your leadership role.

What can you to do avoid these three additional mistakes?

1.    Get more training or information.

Sign up for seminars, workshops and conventions to stay up to date in your industry and for fresh perspectives on running your business.

2.    Create more challenge.

Set goals, aligning them with your purpose/passion. Ask yourself if your business is aligned with your mission or vision statement, and if not, what can you do to make a change in that direction.

3.    Harness more drive.

Here are three additional mistakes you must avoid if you’re serious about taking your company to the next level.

  • Not setting expectations of turnaround time and deadlines with an outsourced partner.
  • Having no real-time access to your business data.
  • Having no ownership of your business data.

Best-selling author of “Show Me The Money” and columnist for WomenEntrepreneur.com & Fox Business online, Chia-Li Chien, focuses on repositioning small businesses for optimum return on investment and future financial independence.

Join Chia-Li on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday 12.27.11 at 1:30 pm CST as she shows you how to capture meaningful personal wealth, grow in value and position your business for future transitioning.

 

We would love to hear your thoughts! How have you navigated through this turbulent economy?

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SMART WOMEN BUY… They hold the Purse Strings

on December 1, 2011 in Chairman's Circle, Uncategorized

There is no question that women buy, purchases by women total trillions of dollars annually.

But, what you may not know is that, quietly and steadily, the number of women making six figures or more is rapidly increasing. Currently, over fifteen million women make $100,000 or more, and the number continues to rise at a rate faster than for men. These women come from every industry.

Just how powerful is the female market?

  • In the U.S., women decide $4.3 trillion in consumer spending each year.
  • Women comprise 51.4% of the U.S. population, but make or influence 85% of all purchasing decisions.
  • Women make 80% of healthcare decisions and 70% of travel decisions.
  • Women purchase 65% of new cars and 53% of used cars.
  • Women make or influence 57% of all electronics purchases.
  • In 31% of  marriages where women work, they out-earn their husbands.
  • Single women buy homes at 2.5 times the rate of single men – one out of every five homes purchased (20%) is by a single woman.

Working with women the last seven years I have learned some very valuable information.  They must TRUST and RESPECT you first and foremost. Trust begins with the eight seconds you have to make a good first impression. They don’t want to be pushed to close the sale or overwhelmed with too much information.

To earn their TRUST talk with them, not at or to them. Have a real conversation and show them the authentic you and that you are not just interested in the transaction. Start building that trust by actively listening to them. Treat them as equals and acknowledge that they matter. Learn where they’re coming from and where they want to go.  Continue to ask questions until you have a clear picture of what they need. When women think and feel they’ve been heard and understood, they will be ready to trust. They must trust you before they will move toward a purchase.

Empower them, build their confidence, and support them. Focus on helping them determine the solution.  Give them limited options and use examples and stories to reinforce your recommendations.

Always create a long-term relationship that allows for follow-up. The road to TRUST with women is not a one-and-done path.  It takes time and sustained effort to build and keep the relationship,  but the referrals will be worth it.

Join the conversation! What are some ways you build TRUST in your relationships?

Post by Jeanie Douthitt

www.smartwomenbuyhomes.com

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3 Ways to Be Found

on November 29, 2011 in Chairman's Circle, Uncategorized

All things have changed about connecting.  Whether you need a job, a tree trimmer the way we find anyone or thing has changed.

Here are 3 Ways that you can improve the odds of being found or finding those who need what you have to offer!

 

  1. Turn Your Light ON –  from a business perspective, job seeker or service provider putting your business information on Linked in is a great investment . Your professional profile makes you socially credible.
  2. Use KEYWORDS – If your title does not explain what you do – then use the words that would describe your experience or service. If people do not know your name then use the words they would use to find you.
  3. Rinse and REPEAT OFTEN – now that you have your keywords do a search on linked in looing for yourself using only key words.  Here is a trick to get you to the first page of any search…. look for the words that are highlighted in yellow on the peoples profiles on the first page, these are your key words.  Count how many times they used the same word and use that word ONE MORE TIME.  Now…you come up on TOP!

You are now FOUND!

All the BEST!

Vikki Loving

InterSource Recruiting

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Influence–How to Create it, How to Keep it to Catapult Your Business

on November 29, 2011 in Success Institute, Uncategorized

Do you have influence in your industry? Do people come to you for advice or follow you on your social networks? Do people read your blog and respond with questions and/or positive feedback? Are you an influencer on LinkedIn where people want to connect with consistently and engage in discussions you start?

If not, why not?

I have learned through the years that the more influence you have, the more what you want will come to you easily. When people trust, respect and remember you, they want to help, and go out of their way to tell others about you—now you have  influence. I remember just starting out many years ago listening to conversations during networking events and wishing I was the one they were talking about! Someone would mention an author or speaker and the person listening would light up and want to know more. The listener knew that person, or knew of that person and what they had to say would change how they did things. It created action.

Influence makes doing business and attracting clients easy. I love doing interactive sessions where I can teach people how to embrace the influence equation. Being authentic is one of the keys to influence, and it is more than being kind and giving.

The five languages of appreciation create authenticity and lead to qualities of influence and how to cultivate them. Understanding how influence can affect your life personally and professionally is something every woman should embrace to be a leader and create change all around her. It is what makes people give you a standing ovation when you walk onto a stage and off!

The highly sought after speaker, business coach and national best-selling author, Caterina Rando will be on the eWomenNetwork Success Institute Tuesday, 12.06.11 at 1:30 pm CDT to share her insights on Making 2012 Your Best Year Yet– Innovative Strategies to Embrace Today.

Are you a person of influence? What are some ways you have found to create influence?

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From Stage Fright to Spotlight

on November 16, 2011 in Success Institute, Uncategorized

A few nights ago I watched a speaker break a rule.

Our speaker was reading directly from her notes as she spoke, but that was OK because she was a good reader and she was still able to make it sound personal. That’s not where she broke a rule. Although I don’t really like it when speakers read from their notes, I wouldn’t say it was breaking the rules.

Where she broke a rule is when she made a mistake while speaking and drew direct attention to it making it seem bigger than it really was.

As our speaker finished on one page of her notes, she turned to the next page and lost her place. She had to pause for a second to find her place again.  Now, the “rules” say that when you have one of those “pregnant pauses” you’re not supposed to draw attention to it, you should just let the silence be until you find your place as if it was planned all along. But our speaker didn’t do that. She made a comment about how she saw me staring at her, got nervous and went blank. She broke the rule and drew direct attention to her error.

Afterwards, she told me she knew she shouldn’t have done that. She knows that drawing attention to a pregnant pause is the wrong thing to do. But what she seemed to miss was the fact that the audience roared when she did it. She did it with such personality that she broke away from her well read, but read nonetheless speech and just started speaking with us for a few short seconds, and we loved her for it.

Yes, rules can help you deliver a more effective presentation or talk. But by breaking them a little along the way you can ingratiate yourself with your audience.

Don’t be so distracted by those “rules” that you can’t see the most important thing; your audience.

Join master speaker and executive trainer, Steve Lowell, 0n the eWomenNetwork Success Institute as he shares his insights on “How to Change Lives from the Stage Even if You’re Mortified to Speak in Public”.

We would love to hear your thoughts! What are some of your tips on delivering an authentic message?

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