Girls on the Run of WNC partners with Eagle Soars Consulting

Girls on the Run of WNC announced today they will be partnering with Eagle Soars Consulting to help build greater awareness of the organization and its mission. As an Elite Sponsor for Girls on the Run of WNC, Eagle Soars Consulting will be providing marketing assistance to the non-profit throughout 2013.  The consulting firm will also donate 10% of every marketing contract back to the organization that comes about as a result of a referral from Girls on the Run of WNC.

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Team Building 101

When I was a kid and just starting to drive, I would jump at the opportunity to get in my first car and just drive. I wouldn’t have a clue where I was going, but I was looking cool doing it. With the cost of petrol today, I plan out my route to do my errands and meetings before heading out, That way, I can work smart to save time and money.

How does this relate to building you team you might ask? You must plan the day so you and your team’s time is not wasted and you get the most out of the day. When you call a meeting, make sure there is a good reason to call one. You should have an agenda on paper on what needs to be covered. Make sure the team is healthy and find out what their needs are and how can you help provide the necessary tools for them to do their job. Leonard Nimoy, Actor and best known for his role as Spock in the original Star Trek said; "The miracle is this - the more we share, the more we have." Make sure you share your visions, dreams and goals with your team.

Other thoughts are:

Continually develop your team for success. You could recommend reading or listening to motivational books in their down time. Today, books on a mp3 player are easily available. One of my favorite books and inspiration for this article and others is The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork by John Maxwell.

Whenever you offer up or implement a new policy and or procedure, get the buy in from the team. Answer any questions they have and make sure they know what is expected of them.

As a leader, you must be constantly reading to ensure you have the tools and mindset to help make the team run smoothly. If the engine in your care was running rough or firing on two less cylinders, you would take it to a car garage and have it repaired? It's no different with your team. To ensure team success, make sure they are running on all success cylinders.

Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey.  

Anne Lazo Joins AskPatty.com Women's Automotive Speakers Bureau

Ask Patty.Com, Inc., announced that Anne Lazo has joined the company's new Women's Automotive Speakers Bureau and will be speaking at events nationwide under the AskPatty.com banner.

A strategic resource to decision-makers in the automotive industry on how to effectively market and sell to the growing and influential base of women automotive buyers, as well as how to attract and retain more women as employees within their organizations, the Women's Automotive Speakers Bureau represents a cross section of outstanding, professional and dynamic speakers who specialize in a wide range of topics and services, including keynote presentations, brand spokespersons, workshops, coaching, video training, live and recorded webinars, facilitated panel session speakers and more.

We're a company that thrives on educating and empowering women as consumers, business owners and employees in the automotive industry," says Jody DeVere, CEO of AskPatty.com, Inc. "The expertise that Anne possesses will provide the industry with a fresh perspective from a woman's point of view."

According to Lazo, “I’m very excited to be part of a team of women who are top in their fields of expertise. I enjoy being able to speak with other women about their experiences. It’s equally rewarding to be able to share my knowledge of marketing with others.” For details and booking information, visit Anne Lazo's profile at www.askpatty.com/speakers/profile/anne_lazo.

About the Women's Automotive Speaker Bureau
The Women's Automotive Speakers Bureau is a strategic resource to decision-makers in the automotive industry on how to effectively market and sell to the growing and influential base of women automotive buyers, as well as how to attract and retain more women as employees within their organizations. AskPatty.com has a unique understanding of the automotive industry from a woman's point of view and aims to utilize the vast business experience and market knowledge of the women selected for the Bureau.

The Women's Automotive Speakers Bureau represents a cross section of outstanding, professional and dynamic speakers who specialize in a wide range of topics and services, including keynote presentations, brand spokespersons, workshops, coaching, video training, live and recorded webinars, facilitated panel session speakers and more.  For details and booking information, visit http://www.askpatty.com/speakers.

About AskPatty.com, Inc.
With international headquarters in Thousand Oaks, California, AskPatty.com, Inc. takes a two-pronged approach to revolutionizing the women's automotive retail market: For consumers, the AskPatty.com website, is a safe and reliable source for expert automotive advice and research. For auto dealers, tire dealers, collision centers, auto service and repair centers, the revolutionary AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly® program, designed from the ground up, trains and certifies automotive retail and service centers on how to attract, sell, retain and increase loyalty with women customers.

Women can find an Ask Patty Certified Female Friendly® auto dealer, tire dealer, collision center, auto service and repair centers using the location search at AskPatty.com.

Go here to learn how to become Ask Patty Certified Female Friendly®.

AskPatty® and Certified Female Friendly® are U.S. registered trademarks owned by AskPatty.com, Inc.

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The High Cost of Low Morale: It can Cripple Your Business

Low morale is like a disease that begins to eat away at the forward progress of any business. Tremendous time and resources are lost when employees are not happy. Some decide to leave while others remain and infect the morale of the coworkers around them. When there is a problem within a company, you will see low morale and high turnover. Low morale brings with it slowed progress, reduced productivity, and high rates of turnover. If allowed to continue, the company's ability to grow is severely hampered. It's fair to say that morale, high or low, is the driving force behind a company.

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Creating a Motivating and Productive Work Environment

Every business owner wants to believe they have created a great place for their employees to work. The problem, however, is that sometimes there is a disconnect between what senior leaders believe keeps employees engaged and what employees actually need to become engaged in their work environment. There is one simple fact and that is that employee engagement leads to more successful companies.

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Cause Marketing: The "Heart" of Your Business

There are so many facets to marketing a business. "Cause Marketing," often referred to as "marketing with a heart," is a great way for a business to develop a more personal and positive image -- one that shows you care about the welfare of others. But why and then how does one incorporate the marketing of a cause into their business plan? We'll tell you here.

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Anne Lazo to Join the Advisory Panel of Expert Women on AskPatty.com

Ask Patty.Com, Inc., announced today that Anne Lazo, owner of Eagle Soars Consulting, will give her expert advice as a member of the AskPatty.com panel of automotive expert women. These expert automotive women hold leadership roles in the automotive industry as woman owners, technicians, mechanics, finance managers, sales and service managers, tire dealers, DIY experts, and more.  They cover the entire automotive gamut on car tips and advice and are available via the Advice page on AskPatty.com to help with all your automotive questions.

Click here to read the entire article.

Spice up Your Leadership with Vision

Wayne Bailey

Have you ever heard the inner voice speak out to you? That’s the birthplace of vision. The inner voice that starts within and is asking “What is your mission in life?" Whatever you put your sights on, it will not come to pass unless you have a “Why that makes you cry.” What is your why? What is the very thing you can’t live with or without?

What makes you work day and night and reminds you of your vision? Perhaps sending your kids to private school? Having a second home on the beach? I’m not talking about becoming a slave to your job, but to what keeps you focused? Unless there is a strong enough reason and it comes from the depths within, you will not accomplish the task or goal.

There is the grumpy voice. It's the voice that that can take a lemon and turn it into lemonade. If you’re discontent with life, the very thing you’re disgusted with can bring you a vision to make life better. If you’re tired of sitting in traffic everyday on the way to work, you just might come up with a vision to work from home, change your work schedule to leave home early, or leave work early find a way to work from home or your favorite vacation spot. If you make positive changes in your life because of the stress, you have the catalyst for vision.

The smiley face voice knows you’re unable to accomplishment great things alone. John Maxwell said “If you want to lead others to greatness, find a good mentor, an advisor who can help you sharpen your vision.” No one man or woman has ever accomplished anything great unless they had help. The CEO of a Fortune 500 company needs their employees. Direct Marketing companies such as Avon, need their Distributors in the field. Even the richest men and women in the world need others to help fulfill their vision. Zig Ziglar said “You Can Only Get What You Want, If You Help Enough Other People Get What They Want," so practice giving before you ask a hand.
 
Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey. 

Your Company Brochure - What Should it Communicate?

A brochure is an integral piece of any well-developed marketing plan. It's a tangible item, and if well-written and designed, can provide a good way to summarize the benefits you offer your customers. Before you begin to create your brochure, there are a few items to consider.

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Do Government Agencies need to market?

Yes, if as a government agency you are directly serving the public, you need to market. Without a marketing plan in place, how would you get the word out about the services you offer? In a moment, we will discuss the strategies that are effective in marketing your government agency. Before we do, let us talk about the importance of a plan.

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7 Steps to Developing Talent in Your Company

To survive in a competitive environment, business owners must continually look for ways to improve the way in which they operate. If your business is unable to surpass customers' expectations for service, one of your competitors most certainly will. Because your employees are on the frontline when dealing with customers, a great deal of your success depends on how well they relate and respond to those customers. With this in mind, talent development becomes a "must" for any business owner.

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Delegation

Wayne Bailey, Send Out Cards

It’s a great time of the year. Fall is in the air and college football is on Saturdays.

Thinking of football. A common mistake, sometimes a fatal mistake is for a coach to misjudge the playing level of player. Pro basketball player Jeremy Lin comes to mind. He was playing in the D-League in the 2011-2012 season. He warmed the bench for the New York Knicks in the early 2011-2012 season and was put on the starting lineup in February 2012. At the time, he was sleeping on a roommate's couch. That opportunity in February gave the Knicks a unexpected winning streak.

From that winning streak, Lin coined the phrase, “Linsanity.” What made the difference? Did he really train hard for a few months to give him the added skills or did the coach over look his skills? I can only imagine the looks and conversations between the coach and the owner. Something like, “Why didn’t you have him on the starting lineup earlier/" He became an overnight star. Why? Because he was given an opportunity.

According to Ken Blanchard author of the “One Minute Manager," all team members fit into one of four categories:

1. Players who need direction. Players don't really know what to do or how to do it. You need to instruct them every step of the way.
2. Players who need coaching. Players who can do the job on their own will become more independent, but they will need a coach for direction.
3. Players who need support. Players able to work without your direction will need encouragement.
4. Players to whom you delegate. When you delegate, you know the players will get the job done. They only need you to lead. Provide them with vision on the front end and accountability on the back end, and they will multiply your efforts toward success. 

Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey. 

Excellence and Your Business

What is excellence? One dictionary defines it as "the quality of being outstanding or extremely good." Merriam-Webster defines "excellent" as "very good of its kind : eminently good : first-class." Okay, so we have a foundation. Let us now ask you -- How would you like to define excellence in your business? What is it you are looking to achieve? How will you achieve it?

We believe excellence in business is attainable. We also believe it is a process where you, as a business owner, are always learning. Let us explore what some notable individuals have said about excellence.

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The Benefits of Working as a Team

The essence of workplace productivity comes down to the ability of your team to effectively work together. "Teamwork" is defined as "cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group of persons acting together in the interests of a common cause." As a leader of your organization, you can either spread the message of cooperation or you can create competition between your team members. Teamwork is proven to increase productivity while competition between employees will breed counterproductivity. Which would you rather have in your company?

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The Ways of the Eagle

As a business owner, which would you rather be? An eagle or a pigeon? Don't misunderstand. There is nothing wrong with pigeons, but when compared to an eagle...

Let's consider the eagle for a moment. The Bald Eagle was chosen as our national symbol because of its power, strength and freedom. Often thought of as beautiful, graceful, and brave, an eagle and its ways represent ideals of courage, honor, and determination. So much so that the eagle has become an important symbol for leaders and achievers everywhere. It is for this reason we use the eagle as part of the image of our company. Like eagles, we have wondrous capabilities and when we can harness them, we can reach to higher heights...our pinnacles of success, whatever they may be.

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Low Morale in Your Team?

Have you ever worked for a company or led a team and morale is low? As a leader, we must do productive things to give the team an energy shot. When you first start as a team, any achievement is ended with high fives and a toast. To keep the momentum going, you have to provide the team with more victories. As the old saying goes, “You can't steer a parked bus.” It’s hard to achieve any victory if the team is not going forward.

What does it take to get the bus moving?

People will do what they see – The best way to get a big return is to model the behavior. If your team sees you out there serving customers with a friendly smile, they will too.  

Develop relationships – If you’re going to win a game, you need players who can put balls through the hoops and others who can make touchdowns. Start first with the team members who don’t need micro managing. Don’t give them too much work in the beginning. It’s often said that a leader will touch a heart before they ask for a hand.

Set up your team up to succeed – The more wins your team has, the more confidence they will develop the confidence they need to win the tougher victories. Start with people who have the best potential to win.

Communication - Keep the vision before your team. Thomas John Watson was a master at raising morale. Watson often motivated his employees through slogans and songs, a company newspaper and school, a country club that any employee could join for a dollar a year, and the promise of lifetime employment. One of his slogans was "World peace through world trade."

During the NCR years, to raise the morale of a dispirited sales force, Watson adopted his famous motto "THINK" and placed framed placards with that single word throughout the company's offices. Years later, he would use that same slogan at IBM, a company that was formerly known as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR). Today, you still see the famous motto on lap top computers known as “THINK Pads.”

Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey. 

The Role Color Plays in Brand Recognition and Purchases

We are visual people. That said, it is no wonder color plays a very important role in our everyday lives. When we get up in the morning, we decide what color clothes we will wear. Our decision may depend upon how we feel that day or it may be based on where we will be going or who we will be meeting. We paint the rooms in our homes to match our tastes. Often times, they are the moods we want to set to create a peaceful and pleasing environment. We buy our cars in a certain color to make a statement about who we are. We have our favorite colors. We may not even realize the role color plays in our lives, but it plays a very big role. Especially so when it comes to brand recognition and influencing the purchase decisions of buyers.

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Email Marketing - An Affordable Way to Market Your Business

A very simple and inexpensive way to stay in front of your customers and prospects is with an email campaign. There are several top-notch companies that can host your email marketing efforts so you can create and send emails very easily and without any knowledge of "html" programming.

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Educational Seminars are a great tool for marketing your service business

Have you considered showcasing your knowledge with an educational seminar? Real estate agents, mortgage professionals and financial advisors have been using this valuable marketing tool for years. It's a successful marketing tool for several reasons. First, people can see first-hand you know what you're talking about, and second, if done right, you develop rapport with your audience.

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Direct Mail - It's still a viable and valuable strategy for marketing

Direct mail continues to be a viable component of any business' marketing plan. Someone is going to get the business from your prospects. The question is, will it be your company of your competitors? For it to be your company, you must keep your company's name in front of your customers and prospects.

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Copywriting

Sometimes you just need someone to tell your story for you. Great copywriting takes time and experience. You know your business well, but how do you use text that gets your message across in a way that will motivate your prospects to choose you over the competition? Whether it's for Search Engine Optimization, brochure creation, article or press release writing, we can write copy that makes sense and gets results. At the start of every copywriting project, you give us the details of the message you want to tell. From there, we craft copy that matches your corporate personality.

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Thought for the Week

What would you like to accomplish this week? Have you set your plan on how you will meet your expected accomplishment? It takes deliberate planning and action to reach any goal. Sometimes the efforts don't seem to pay off right away, but they will in the end. Trust us, there's a cumulative effect on everything you do. It may take some time, but doing the right thing over and over will bring positive results. Failing to plan and doing nothing or doing the wrong things over and over will bring negative results. That said... Where will you be a week from today?

Integrity

Have you ever become angry, depressed, anxious, and declared your feelings openly? I know I have acted this way. I have found that someone with strong character remains consistent through everything.

Sometimes we have to be faithful in what we do even though we may not understand what is happening. We must maintain high integrity despite our circumstances. Here's why: As a leader, we must have a vision. I’m not saying we have to be psychic and know everything the future holds.

Bill Hybels said “Visionary people face the same problems everyone else faces; but rather than get paralyzed by their problems, visionaries immediately commit themselves to finding a solution.” They never pretend to be control because people can see right through us.

“We must model control, humanity and identify limitation of our their followers,” said John Maxwell. We should be an anchor for not just ourselves, but for others. We should act from character and not from emotions. To keep it simple, Mark Twain said it this way: "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything."

Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey. 

Designing a logo for your business

Designing a logo for your company is a very personal endeavor. If you know how to use graphic software, you may design your own logo, but it's usually best to work with a professional.

Before designing a logo, it's important to understand what a logo is meant to do and what it represents. A logo is not just a mark. A logo reflects your company's image and uses shapes, fonts, colors and images to get the point across. A logo is used to inspire trust and recognition for your company.

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Would you like to create an advertising campaign that gets you more business?

Have you ever looked at an advertisement for a company and said, "What the heck?" Yeah, we have too. Some marketing companies and ad agencies believe you've got to step outside the box and be over-the-top creative to attract the attention of the buyer. The problem with this... you often lose your prospects. That's because the message gets lost in the creative aspect of the advertisement.

Here's a fact: You are not going to convince someone to buy your product or service if they are not in the market for what you are selling. People don't buy because an advertisement, direct mail piece, web site or brochure is ultra-creative. They buy because they have a need and are looking for someone to fill that need.

Click HERE to read the entire article.

Do-It-Yourself Tips for Website Design

In business, first impressions are vital to your success. The manner in which you portray your business really does demonstrate professionalism and will tell your prospects how much they can trust that your business will deliver on its claims. It is so important to have logos, business cards, letterhead, brochures and websites designed by professionals, yet every day we see do-it-yourselfers designing their own websites and creating/printing their marketing materials. Trust us. Your prospects can tell the difference.

We understand budget constraints are sometimes a major factor. With that said, if you're a do-it-yourselfer and you want to put together your own website, there are some design tips and standard rules you may not know about. We're going to share them with you here:

Click HERE to read the entire article.

Where is Your Place?

What if you are a stand-alone person as you go through your days. You might ask yourself, "How do I find my own niche on planet earth?” First of all, be secure in what you do. Whatever you do, do it well and be known as the “Go To” person when it comes to your expertise. If you are secure in what you do, you will be open to change. If you’re not changing, you’re not growing. John Maxwell says “If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone.”

I suggest you take time to get to know yourself. I call it windshield time. The next time you’re on the road for an hour or more, cut the radio off or way down and get to know yourself. For me, the quiet time is an opportunity to think out my challenges and grow.

What are your gifts? Are you using them to the best of your ability? Gifts are talents like hospitality, sales, mentoring to name a few.

When was the last time you asked a peer or someone you trust about your shortcomings? If you’re short or curt with people, you may not want to go into or continue work in the hospitality field. We all need feedback and positive criticism. The key is not to take offense, but to work and improve in those areas.

When you do find yourself on a team, trust your leader. If he or she is mentoring you, they know that if they are to succeed, you must have success. Zig Ziglar says “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” You will know if someone has your best interest in mind. If they don't, find a new team.

Last but not least, rely on your gut feeling and experience. Oscar Wilde said, “Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes."

Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey.

Top-of-the-Mind Awareness with Jingles, Voice-Overs and/or Original Music Scores

When it comes to making sure your business is noticed, the name of the game is "branding." One of the most effective forms of advertising is the use of a jingle. Just think about the jingles you've heard over the years that still remain in your mind...jingles like Coca Cola's "It's the Real Thing" or Oscar Mayer's "I Wish I was an Oscar Mayer Weiner." I bet just at the mention of those jingles, you're singing one of them right now.  Those companies used this powerful and effective method to bring awareness and recognition to their products and services and you can, too!

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The Basics of Developing an Organizational Learning Culture

Companies that invest in the professional development of their employees benefit in many ways.  As employee motivation and productivity increase, so do profits. You create a workforce that is unstoppable at achieving your vision. But where do you start? You start by developing a learning culture in your company.

There are three main tasks that need to be completed in order to develop a learning culture. You must:

1. Identify the skills your team needs to do their jobs effectively;
2. Train your team in those skills; and 
3. Incorporate ways your team may develop and reinforce those skills.

Here's an example - You have taken the time to recruit a new sales force for your company. In their daily activities, each member of your sales team will be responsible for the following:

• Making presentations prospective clients;
• Sourcing solutions by working with your technical staff and contractors;
• Working with your technical staff and legal team to draft work scopes and contracts; 
• Negotiating the contracts; and 
• Maintaining good working relationships with clients.

Starting with the first step, identify the skills your team will need to do their jobs effectively. Using our example, at a minimum, it will be important for your sales team be trained in presentation skills, communication styles, building credibility, customer service skills, and negotiation skills. There may also be some industry-specific training you will want to provide for your team.

Once you've identified the types of skills they need to master, you will want to coordinate the actual training.  Do you have in-house training staff or will you need to hire an outside training professional? What is the priority for training? How quickly would you like to facilitate the programs? Are there any company-specific standard operating procedures that need to be incorporated into your training programs? When you work with a training and development consultant, he/she will ask the important questions so you can coordinate your training in a meaningful and organized manner.

Finally, it's not enough to provide the training, it's also important to reinforce the training. Create a library of resources for your team, conduct periodic refresher training sessions, and teach your managers how to coach and encourage their teams in the newly learned skills. As each member of your team develops their skills, they will feel a greater sense of accomplishment and worth. You will have created a learning culture foundational to your company's daily business operations, your employees will excel, and your business will prosper. 

Networking Isn't a Waste of Time

Many times we'll hear business owners say that networking is a waste of time. They have good reason for making this statement. They've clearly spent time going to networking meetings, and they haven't received a single new customer.

The problem with this statement is that it's false. We've said it time and time again. Networking is more than attending meetings and handing out business cards. It's about building relationships...real relationships. That takes time.

Here's an excellent article on Business Know-How that nicely explains our position on networking. Click here to read "Networking Strategies to Build Professional Practices." If you need assistance in any area, our marketing professionals can provide the guidance to create a networking plan that will get you real results. Contact us today.

Marketing Takes Planning and Effort

This past weekend I accomplished a goal I had set for myself about a year ago. I trained for and finished my first marathon. The conditions on race day were not ideal. In fact, the race was "red flagged" for unexpected high temperatures and they gave all the newbies the opportunity to defer to next year. How could I defer when I worked so hard for this day?

It was most definitely a hot day. Had I not trained properly and run the race wisely, I probably would not have finished. Even worse, I could have gotten sick and hospitalized like a number of the runners I saw along the course. Why do I bring this up? To brag a little, yes. After all, it was a pretty special accomplishment. But more importantly, I would like to highlight this week's article, "Marketing...It's Like Training for a Running Race." Anything worth doing is worth doing well and that takes planning. This article will explain in more detail.

Affordable, Powerful, & Professional Websites

A well-designed website is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can use to promote your business. Today's consumer likes to do their research on-line before making a purchase decision. When comparing two different companies, these consumers are more likely to select the one that has a professional website.

The key to building your brand image on-line is a professionally-designed website. We're always told that first impressions count. You can design a site yourself or you can work with "quickie" website design companies. If you promote your site the right way, you'll get visitors. But will they stay? Will they purchase from you?

Click here to read the entire article.

Who’s Hanging Around You?

When you hear the word "charisma," what comes to your mind? The online Merriam-Webster dictionary says the definition of Charisma is:

1: a personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure (as a political leader)
2: a special magnetic charm or appeal or the charisma of a popular actor.

Examples of Charisma are "The candidate was lacking in charisma" and "His success is largely due to his charisma." The Greek word for charisma is "favor" and "gift." Some people think you cannot define this meaning. They think it’s a gift at birth and not something you can learn. I disagree. I think it’s something you are taught along the way by reading, learning, and studying.

Ask yourself a simple question. Are people naturally attracted to you? What are some reasons from John Maxwell on why people will not follow you?

Cynicism – have you ever walked into a room with someone and you can’t wait to get leave? They are always in a hole and want to pull you down with them.
Pride – Someone that thinks they are better, more experienced than anyone in the room. You may even hear them boasting about a recent deal.
Perfect – This is the person that requires everything to be done perfectly. I can see this if you’re an airplane pilot carry 300 passengers, but even the landing is not always perfect.
Insecure – You’re not comfortable with your own skin much less others.
Moody – Are you going to be in a good mood today, and if so, will it change with the weather?
Insecurity - If you are uncomfortable with who you are, others will be too.

If you can avoid these traits, you’re likely to attract more people to your inner circle.


Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey.

The Benefits of Allowing a Creative Firm to Handle Every Aspect of Your Project

These are most certainly times when business owners are looking for ways to reduce costs and maximize investments in their marketing. Often times, in thinking they are saving, business owners will make their own arrangements for services such as copywriting, illustration, programming, printing and website maintenance. They may assign the projects to internal personnel who have other job responsibilities or they will hire individual vendors for each aspect of the project.

While the business owner may feel they have a better control when they handle a project themselves, there are actually more benefits to having a creative firm, like Eagle Soars Consulting, manage everything on a marketing project.

Click here to read the entire article.

7 Ways to Advertise On-Line for Free

Your company's marketing budget doesn't have to be huge for you to effectively market your business. As you will hear us say time and time again, to be effective in your marketing efforts, you need a plan and you must "work" that plan frequently and consistently. Everyone likes to hear the word "free." Employing a nice mix of paid and free marketing strategies can help you accomplish a lot to bring greater visibility to your business.

Here are seven ways you can advertise your business on-line for free.

Why Investing in a Professional Marketer/Designer is Good for Your Business

It is obvious that keeping costs down is important to the success of any business. In reviewing expenses, though, many will devalue the importance of developing well-crafted marketing materials. To reduce costs, these business owners will often write and design their own materials or they will assign this task to one of their employees. When a business owner ignores the importance of well-crafted and designed materials, they actually end up losing. We'll show you why this is the case and how investing in a professional marketer/designer is good for your business.

Click HERE to read the entire article.

What form of marketing works best?

We're always out on the web searching for the latest information in business marketing and employee training. We recently came upon the above-referenced article (link to article below) and would like to take note of certain items mentioned.

1. Yes, people did like receiving emails over all other forms of marketing communication. This applies to every age group, from the age of 15 on up to those who are 65+ in age. Don't discount the ability of older individuals to grasp technology. They are on the web and they've got the money to spend on your valuable products or services.
2. The not-so-close second-place winner was direct mail. Interesting about this category is that even though this was not the preferred method of contact, more people made purchases (or a very close second) as a result of a direct mail piece than those offers sent by email. What does this tell us? It's important to have an email campaign, but don't discount direct mail. It should still be part of your marketing campaign.
   

Click HERE to read the article: 77 Percent of Us Want to Get Marketing Via Email and There's No Close Second Place, Study Says

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

You all have heard the title used in many different ways, but it’s true. We’ve all listened to our parents say, “If you keep hanging around little Johnny, you will turn out just like him.” In Proverbs 11:14, it says “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” We all need accountability and counsel, but from everyone?

All leaders need an inner circle of friends that will add value to him or her and to their organization. Who would you pick for your inner circle? The author John Maxwell suggests finding people who are creative, loyal, same-vision, wise, and with complementary gifts, influence, faith and integrity.

Let me give you my definitions of Mr. Maxwell’s suggestion;

• Creative people. These people will paint a bright picture and come up with solutions unimaginable.
• Loyal people. These folks will be with you thick and thin. They are the ones who would get up at 3 am and bring you gas because you thought you could make it to the next exit for fuel. If you’re arrested, they may be in the same jail cell with you.
• People who share your vision. This person will be on the same sheet of music with your morals, character and integrity.
• Wise and intelligent people. Who says you have to be the sharpest knife in the drawer? Draw from others who have experience in the areas you lack experience.
• People with complementary gifts. This person would give-away the gift of hospitality, mercy, wisdom, and knowledge to name a few.
• People with influence. You’re looking for the E.F. Hutton guy. If you’re old enough to remember this man. He’s the one that “When E.F. Hutton talks, everyone listens.”
• People of faith. In times of sorrow, death, and sickness, having friends of faith to talk and counsel with are very important.
• People of integrity. When you’re ready to make a decision in your personal or business life and there is a gray area, this is the person you want to bounce off the idea.

In closing, who do you seek for counsel? Does your flock have the qualities above? If not, keep looking, they’re out there.

Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey.

Managing Change for Business Growth

How do you manage change within your organization? Do you often come up against resistance when you try to implement changes designed to spur growth?

Change is a necessary element for any company to grow and prosper, but many company executives will become frustrated when they try to implement change. Why? Because, like anything else, change needs to be managed properly so everyone understands its necessity and becomes a willing partner in seeing the changes succeed.

Click HERE to read the entire article.

Eagle Soars Consulting Celebrates 10 Years in Business

Ten years ago, Anne Lazo was faced with an opportunity to live out a childhood dream of owning a business. With a great passion and an entrepreneurial spirit, Lazo embarked on a mission to help other business owners realize their potential for success. When the occasion presented itself, Lazo founded Eagle Soars Consulting. The company is now excited and pleased to be celebrating 10 years in business.

Click HERE to read this entire article.

On a Shoestring Budget: Low-Investment and No-Investment Ways to Market Your Business

One of the biggest misconceptions for the small or mid-sized business is that you must have a multi-million dollar marketing budget to garner a strong brand awareness that brings in the customers. This is simply not true. A successful marketing campaign starts with a well-formulated marketing plan and includes implementing that plan frequently and consistently. Even in a slow economy, it's important to invest in marketing. And, if you make a commitment to getting your business' message out to your target audience, you’ll be able to take the market share from your competition.

Click HERE to read this entire article.

Am I investing my company's marketing dollars wisely?

As a business owner, you should be asking yourself this question all the time. Unfortunately, too many are just “dabbling” in marketing, hoping something will give them good results. Your marketing budget may not be the amount a large corporation can spend, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have the ability to market your product or service to your target audience in a way that gets results. It just means you have to be more knowledgeable about the strategies that do work. That requires creativity and a lot of testing and measuring.

Click HERE to read the entire article.

Change is Here to Stay

Change is never easy unless you’re responsive to change. Woodrow Wilson said, “If you want to make enemies, try to change something.” That’s the way some people look at change. It’s like working out. If I work out once a year, my muscles are going to really hurt the next time I try to exercise. If I work out every day, my muscles don’t hurt as much or maybe not at all.

Our brain is the same way. If we’re changing our habits from bad to good on a daily or weekly basis, then change doesn’t hurt as much. When change is coming, it would be easy to say, “We’ve always done it this way, why change?" Whenever change is happening, people usually fall into six categories according to the book, “Developing the Leader Within You” by John Maxwell.

I summarize them here:

Innovators-They are the ones who come up with new ideas, but are usually not a manager or policy maker.

Early Adopters-They are the ones who see it first as a great idea and embrace the change.

Middle Adopters-They make up most of the crowd. They respond and react to the opinion of co-workers.

Late Adopters-They are hanging on to the end and late to endorse the change. They are the ones who say under their breath, “I’ll never accept the new guy."

Laggards-Their motto is, “Change is never good.” They are the ones who would spend more time to rally the troops against the change then to accept the change.

Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey.

Creating a Motivated Team and Productive Workplace

You've selected a great team of professionals, now how do you get them to work together effectively and efficiently? One of the best ways to create a motivated and productive workplace is to invest in your team's professional training and development. When you take the initiative to show your team they are valued, they will wholeheartedly respond by working harder to bring greater success to your business.

Click this link to read how you can bring effective training and development to your business.

Listening is More than What You Hear

Most people, when asked, will tell you they are good listeners. Business owners will say they are adept at hearing the needs of their clients, prospects, employees and vendors. Being a good listener is important in every area of our lives, but especially so in business. After all, most of our time is spent at work. But listening is more than just what you hear. Listening is also about observing someone’s body language and comparing that with what is being said.

Click HERE to read the entire article.

How to Create a Brochure for Your Business

Creating a brochure that concisely tells your company's message and uses complimenting graphics isn't an easy task. If you're not a marketing executive, you may wonder where to begin. There are no short cuts and no easy do-it-yourself answers to creating a brochure that will get results. The best way to create a professional-looking brochure is to work with professional copywriters, graphic designers, and printers. To familiarize you with the process, here are the steps a professional should take to create a brochure for your company:

Click here to read the entire article.

Discipline

Self discipline is the ability to make yourself do something between inspiration. You do it whether you feel like it or not. It’s easy to do the things you want to do when you’re feeling good about yourself like take a vacation, play golf or ski on a Colorado slope. What happens when you don’t feel like making the effort to make the money to do these things? Well, you have to force yourself, especially if you’re self-employed.

What decisions do you have to make today to go forward and be successful? What is the “Why that makes you cry?" Understanding this will change the way you do life. Below are a couple of steps that will help get you started and be above-average in accomplishing your goals and dreams.

Be happy.
If you’re overweight, lose some pounds starting this week. Go join a gym. They usually have some great discounts this time of the year. When you’re looking and feeling great, it shows in your efforts.

What do you want?
Have a specific reason why you’re going to go out of your comfort zone to build a business. Write it down on paper and put pictures on the refrigerator to remind you of the things for which you are working. I have found money is not a motivator, but what is a motivator is what money can buy.

Set a time
Anything worth doing is worth setting a date to complete the goal. For example, if you’re going on a European vacation next year, start today to save money. You have a date you know you’ve got to pay the airlines or the hotel. This date is important if you’re taking your spouse for an anniversary. You don’t want to leave anything to chance and disappoint them.

To-do list
With iPhones and Blackberrys at our finger tips, there's no reason you shouldn’t have a to-do list to keep you on track to meet your goals.

Sort your list
If you’re building a house, how many tasks would you have written down? Would they be in any order? Sure. Think of your goal or dream the same way you build a house. Get the foundation built right and the rest will fall in place.

Action steps
To get something accomplished, get busy. Do anything to put effort towards your goal. Remember, even if you’re on the right track you will get run over if you're sitting still. Do something every day that moves you in the direction of accomplishing your dream.

My inspiration for writing this article comes from Brian Tracy. He says “First, decide exactly what you want, write it down with a deadline, make a plan and take action - on at least one goal - today! Second, determine the price you will have to pay to achieve this goal and then get busy paying that price - whatever it is.”

Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey.

Building Your Business with Networking

Networking... it's a word many people dislike. In fact, you may even have cringed when you read the title of this article. Before we get into giving you some tips on how to build your business with networking, let's talk about what networking is and what it is not. Networking IS building relationships -- good relationships. Networking is NOT standing around at a meeting trying to get business on the spot by handing your business cards out to as many people as possible. Once we get those ideas straight in our minds, networking won't carry the weight of intimidation that makes it seem so distasteful to many of us.

Click here to read the entire article.

Writing Good Copy

What is good copywriting? Obviously, it calls for a style that fits the subject, and in most cases, it's a natural-sounding and conversational style. Good copywriting should "speak" directly to the reader, listener, or viewer. Most importantly, it is focused on "you" (your prospect) and not "we" (which is known as "brag and boast copy"). Good copywriting is simple and it certainly doesn't include cliches like, "We go the extra mile" or "We know plumbing."

Sometimes you just need someone to tell your story for you. Whether it's for Search Engine Optimization, brochure creation, article or press release writing, we can write copy that makes sense and gets results. At the start of every copywriting project, you give us the details of the message you want to tell. From there, we craft copy that matches your corporate personality.

Click here to learn how you can utilize the expertise of copywriting professionals at Eagle Soars Consulting.

The Rights and Wrongs of Advertising

If you want your business to succeed, advertising is not an option, it's a necessity. If that's true (and it is), why do many business owners ignore advertising within their marketing strategies? The problem is that most business owners don't have a written marketing plan so they haven't created an advertising campaign that reaches their target audience. Even more, they don't advertise consistently, and when they do, they are placing ads in the wrong media. In the end, they become frustrated and think advertising doesn't work so they don't do it.

To read this article in its entirety, click HERE.

The Marketing Plan

Are you actively using a marketing plan to get the word out on the great products/services offered by your business? If you are, KUDOs to you! You're also in the minority. That's right. Many business owners don't have a plan. As a result, they end up running marketing/advertising campaigns haphazardly. They spend money unnecessarily and then they try to save where they should be spending...on professional services (like marketing, accounting, etc.). This year, make the commitment to plan for your business success. And if you need to use a professional to assist you in the process, do it right away.

Read this article in its entirety by clicking HERE.

Adding a Personal Touch to a Cold Web World

How well is your website performing for your company? Once someone finds you on the web, are you able to convert them into customers?

The world wide web can be a cold and impersonal place to do business. At the same time, people are doing their research on the web before they make a purchase decision. As such, your website must be easy to navigate, provide valuable information, and make it simple for someone to contact you. The more personalized you can make it to your prospects' needs, the better.

We recently found a solution that allows business owners to begin developing relationships with their prospects earlier in the sales process...workface. As they so aptly mention, "Workface empowers your sales force to dramatically increase their visibility and engagement potential with clients and prospects. It's our unique way of making Internet commerce a lot more human."

To learn more, go to their website (www.workface.com) and take a look at how their service can help engage your prospects to convert them into customers. They'll even be happy to give you a demo on how their service works and will let you know if it's right for your business.

The Future is So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

The title is from a song by Timbuk3 back in the 80’s. The future of a company or a family should be so bright, they all have to wear shades. How? This depends on the leaders mindset.

Leaders understand the importance of what goes into their mind. There are some great nuggets found in Proverbs 23 about our minds and vision for the day and the rest of our lives. Below are some nuggets to ponder as we go into 2012.

Your thoughts throughout the day will determine your character. Zig Ziglar says, “People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” It’s important that we have positive affirmations coming into our lives, minds, souls and spirits daily. A good way to make this happen is to sign up for daily email that provides the type of nourishment your mind needs. An author, John Maxwell, is an inspiration to me and the articles I write. He has a one minute video he sends out daily that inspires the mind.

We become what we think. Have you ever had a co-worker come up to you and say, “You don’t look well today.” Up to that point during the day, you felt fine. As the day went by, you kept thinking about the comment your co-worker made. You may have ended up going home early because you started to feel sick. You later realized that there was nothing really wrong with you. A “sick” seed had been planted and you nourished it all day until it bore (bad) fruit. What IF you had exchanged that bad seed for good seed? What would have been the difference? Be careful of your thoughts; they may break into words at any time.

Have you ever heard, “Go where you’re celebrated, but not tolerated?" Don't waste your thoughts on those who don't hunger for them. It’s like throwing seed out onto the pavement and expecting something good to grow. The rule of thumb is if you’re asked for advice, give it accordingly. Never give unwanted advice. A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.

In leadership, who is the first person you lead and the organ you master? If you said “You” are the first person to lead and the “Mind” is the first thing to master, you’re correct. As a leader, you set the pace and steps for others to follow. The leader also sets the temperature in the room. The leader is the thermostat, not the thermometer. If you come into a room looking in control and confident during trying times, everyone else in the room will follow your lead.

Mastering your mind and what goes into it will help you during tough times. Think of a football team that's down 21 points going into the locker room at half time. What does the coach have to do or say during those few minutes? The coach must change the mindset of the team to help them believe they can still win the game.

I encourage you to say confident in the new year and your vision will come to pass. Discipline your thoughts to remain steadfast in what you know is right.

Wayne Bailey is a Distributor with SendOutCards. He has recognized tremendous growth in his personal and business relationships by implementing the strategies he talks about in his articles. You can email Wayne at wayne_bailey642@hotmail.com or visit: www.sendoutcards.com/waynebailey.