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.

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.

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.

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.

Thriving in a Competitive Business Environment

Nationwide business owners are either working harder to thrive or they are cutting back to survive. Increased competition and economic uncertainties, often trigger business owners to cut back on their investment in marketing and advertising. While it may seem like a good idea in the short-term, this is a decision that can end up being quite costly...even deadly to your business.

Instead of cutting back, keen business owners are using the tight economy as an opportunity to re-think and re-work their product and service offerings. One of the most important things these business owners are doing is saturating every marketing and advertising venue with their message. After all, what better time to get the word out when other businesses are cutting back?

Slow and steady wins the race. And little actions over time add up to give you a big impact. When figuring out what you want to do with your company next year, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Develop a plan. It is always surprising how many small companies neglect to do any kind of business or marketing planning. Figure out where you want to go and how you are going to get there. Then write the plan down and update it periodically.
2. View marketing as an investment. The more you strategically market to the people who need your product or service, the more customers you will attract.
3. Evaluate what you are currently doing to make sure the money you are spending on building your business is working for you. Don’t use strategies just because they are part of a traditional marketing program. Focus your efforts on a program that will get you the best results.
4. Stop using strategies that are not working, and always remember to test and measure so you know whether you are effectively reaching your target audience.
5. Review your marketing message. You want to be certain it clearly and concisely demonstrates “What’s in it for me?”.
6. Don’t forget to have fun. If you love what you do and have fun doing it, you will have no choice but to succeed.
   

The Importance of Promoting "Team"

Business owners looking to create a stronger, more cohesive working environment are constantly searching for ways to motivate their employees. There are a number of things you can do to promote commitment from the people who work for you, like developing a learning culture in your organization and communicating your values and goals; however, there's more.

Click HERE to read this article in its entirety and learn how you can begin to create success in the workplace.

Fuel Success and Performance with the "Happiness Advantage"

"If you observe the people around you, you'll find most individuals follow a formula that has been subtly or not so subtly taught to them by their schools, their company, their parents, or society. That is: If you work hard, you will become successful, and once you become successful, then you'll be happy." Shawn Achor in The Happiness Advantage

For years we've all been lead to believe that by working harder, we'll achieve the success that will bring us the happiness we so desire. We push ourselves and our employees to do more, be more productive... achieve, achieve, achieve. The problem with this is that it doesn't work. We've now created a society of people who are burned out and unhealthy from stress.

Shawn Achor's book, "The Happiness Advantage" gives some powerful insight into happiness and how studies have shown that positive and happy attitudes fuel success. His book provides business owners with seven practical and actionable principles that have been tried and tested to improve performance and maximize potential.