Simply Business Coaching

I don't think I want to be a millionaire

I think I’ve overdosed on reading success stories - you know the before and after stories you find on so many websites.  Some may well be genuine, some are definitely exaggerated, and far too many are pure works of fiction ;)

I don’t want to know that you lost everything and had to sleep in your car under a railway bridge until you had that life-changing moment and became an overnight millionaire (puhleese, save it for the movie they make of your life).

Not everyone has an exciting story to tell - but it seems we must somehow find one to tell.

But what about the vast, quiet majority of people who take time to learn and set to work, then they learn some more and work a lot more - and slowly, at their own pace, build a profitable business they’re proud of? 

So the time has come to say a sad farewell to some of my favourite teachers online.  Not because they don’t have more to offer, but because they seem to have moved beyond my understanding.  They have become millionaires.

The more successful these gurus and teachers become, the further away they move from their followers’ reality; they mix in different circles.  But that’s OK, it’s a natural progression.  Yet, have you noticed how they continue to market to their original list?

(I have to admit that at the back of my mind is the niggling little question - “If you’ve made all these millions, why do you still want my money?”  I’ve already contributed enough to your fortune, go pick on someone else!)

Don’t get me wrong, I bought training materials from these people because I wanted to learn how to do what these teachers had already figured out.  And for the most part I’ve been more than satisfied with the quality and quantity of information provided.  Only a couple of products have failed to live up to expectations which isn’t a bad average over the years!

So the messages I read make me feel that unless I want to be a millionaire, I’m not serious about being in business.  But I am very serious, I just don’t want to jump on the bandwagons of hype, celebrity and bling.  They aren’t ‘me’ somehow. 

What do you think?  Am I not aiming high enough? Let me know in the comments below :)

Picture Power

An email last week from a client asking where he could find images to use in his newsletter got me thinking about how important it is to provide that extra visual interest element for readers.  Just one photo can lift your article and make it more attractive.  I know if I’m faced with screenfuls of solid text I find it difficult to stay focused and read every word - it has to be a really interesting subject to keep my attention right to the end.

But somehow, with a photo or screenshot image to break up the text, the same length article doesn’t seem as daunting.

My favourite source of images has to be iStockPhoto.  For a very reasonable cost, you can choose from an extensive library, safe in the knowledge that copyright issues are taken care of (although I’d still advise you to read the T&C). 

As you browse through your chosen category, you can easily see how popular each image is and how many downloads of it have already been made.  This is useful if you want to make sure you select something more unusual for your website, blog post or newsletter. 

Another useful feature of IStockPhoto are the ‘lightboxes’ where you can store images you come across to review later before deciding if you want to buy them.  I like to set up separate lightboxes for different client projects.

After you set up an account, you can buy a series of credits and ‘pay as you go’.  Images are charged by number of credits which vary according to the size of image you buy.  I quickly learned that the smallest size image is fine for most uses, especially online!

If you’re looking for completely free images, take a look at Flickr.com.  Chris Brogan’s blog post gives excellent guidance on how to use these images correctly (and how you might want to share photos of your own!)

Another resource I came across recently is a collection of 30 websites where you can download free stock photos which looks very interesting, although I haven’t had a chance to check them out yet.  Let me know what you think if you get there before me!

Do you have any image resources to share? I'd love to know, so please type them in the comments below.  If you found this post helpful, a retweet would be appreciated :)

When Processes Really Make a Difference

There’s often so much to do when you’re trying to grow a small business that it’s understandable when some tasks are forgotten during especially busy times.  Keeping track of what needs to be done with a traditional to-do list certainly helps for the day to day stuff - and  crossing out completed items as the day progresses is wonderfully satisfying.

I was working recently with a client who was creating an exciting new service to add to her portfolio.  There were several stages involved with this project - research, collecting together all necessary resources, production, pilot, revision, marketing, launch, sales and customer support.  Of course each stage comprised several smaller steps.  The whole project had begun to be overwhelming, especially as it had to be fitted in to my client’s already busy schedule.

Here was a case where simple lists weren’t enough to keep the project on track and it was also important for certain actions to be taken in a specific order.  Trying to make sure nothing was forgotten had started to cause sleepless nights!

An ideal solution for this project was to take the various lists for all the stages and carefully work out the order in which each individual step needed to be taken.  Sticky notes proved very helpful here!  Then, once the final sequence was agreed, a process diagram was produced.  This would act as a visual overview of the whole project. 

Here’s what an extract of what the ‘top-level’ process sequence diagram might look like:

More detailed process diagrams of each stage ensure that actions are taken in the correct order.  From these diagrams, to-do lists can be made if desired.  The project is no longer overwhelming and my client is firmly back in control.

Sometimes you need more than just lists! 

If you found this post helpful, please share it :)

Oh no, not another Opt-In Box!

Opting in to receive free reports and newsletters is an accepted part of doing business on the internet.  I think it’s a fair exchange -  contact details for good information. 

And double opt-in procedures are reassuringly professional - for the most part.

However, I’d like to share a less satisfactory opt-in box experience - perhaps something similar has happened to you?

I recently took part in an online survey.  The email asking for my input came from someone I’ve met in person, was been very polite and promised to share the results with all contributors.  As I was mildly interested in the subject, I answered the questions.

A month or so later, I got the email announcing the survey results were available with a link to get my copy, which I clicked on as I was genuinely interested to find out more ....

.... except when I arrived at the page, it was to be confronted with an opt-in box.  Huh?

This is the email I wanted to send:

“Dear xxxx

You already know I’m interested in the subject matter because I completed the survey.  You already have my email address because you’re writing to me. 

So why do you want to me to give you my email address again?

I really don’t want to end up on another one of your lists and possibly get twice the number of emails from you.

Please don’t make me double opt in just to get something you said you’d give me in exchange for my time completing your survey.  That isn’t playing the game.

Regards
Disillusioned”

No I didn’t send the email (because I know the person & like to think it was unintentional).  Yes I did opt in to get the report (curiosity got the better of me!) - but I’ll be opting out again the moment an autoresponder email arrives.  And I won’t be completing any more surveys for that person.

(Update:  Just got another email from same person......asking me to take part in another survey...)

Do you feel you’re being asked to opt-in too many times?  Let me know what you think in the comments below :)

Do You Find Daily To-Do Lists Good or Bad?

Most people I know keep lists of one sort or another.  I find if I go food shopping without a list I spend far more than usual and still manage to come home without the most important meal ingredients.  This usually means I have to go back to the shop!  So, in my opinion, a shopping list is a good list to make.

Another list I keep are reminders - birthday cards to buy & send; insurance renewal dates; doctor & dentist appointments to make - all the routine but vital stuff that can easily be forgotten when you’re busy.  I keep a list in the kitchen where I look at it every morning, cross out what I’ve done and add any new items on the bottom.  My reminder list is a good list to make.

The lists I really struggle with are Daily To-Do Lists.  You see, I always write down more, many more to-dos than I can possibly get through in one normal length day.  Optimism gets the better of me when I write the list.  And then, at the end of the day, I beat myself up over how little I’ve achieved.

What I find is, because all the ‘to-dos’ are hanging over me throughout the day, I don’t allow myself the luxury to just sit and daydream - there isn't enough time left free for doing that.  Which is crazy, because when I switch off from the busyness, I get some of my best ideas.

What I’m experimenting with as an alternative to the shackles of a daily to-do list is a weekly to-do list.  While some tasks are date sensitive, others just need to be completed before the end of the week.  The weekly to-do list is just as long as the previous 5 days worth of lists, but somehow it doesn’t seem as rigid.  There might even be time for a bit of daydreaming ;)

Do you find daily To-Do Lists good or bad for creativity?  Please let me know by commenting below - and if you enjoyed this post, I'd appreciate if you'd share it :)

How To Be Remembered After Networking Events

Networking is an important part of small business marketing, both online and offline.  With so many businesses vying for attention it can seem almost impossible to ensure you are remembered long after the event.  That’s because everyone is doing pretty much the same thing - so you need to be different.

Don’t go there to sell!
This is HUGE because just about everyone else is there to sell.  When you talk to new contacts, even if you know you have a product or service that would be ideal for them, resist the temptation to go into a sales pitch there and then.  Instead, practice being nonchalant and offer to send them an article which may be of interest, or details of something that might help.

Connect People
Act as an ‘introducer’.  Often small businesses with complimentary offerings can refer work to each other or carry out joint promotions without stepping on each other’s toes, eg. a decorator & a gardener, a VA & a book-keeper, a florist & an event organiser. 

Offer to help - be genuine
Because people are usually so busy trying to get their message across, they often don’t think to ask about the other person’s needs.  Being genuinely interested in how you can help them will certainly set you apart from the crowd.

Follow Up After the event
This is the part most networkers forget to do or get totally wrong.  After an event they either add the business cards they’ve collected to an ever-growing pile, or they use the contact details to send out spam email promotions & mailers.  Following up with a ‘nice to meet you’ email or better still, a handwritten note in the post, is both polite and respectful.

Doing just one of the above will make you different from most of your fellow networkers; doing all of them will make sure you are remembered, long after the event.

Estimates May Trip You Up

Running a small business means learning lots of new skills, quite separate to the products or services you offer.  There are many books and workshops to provide much of the information needed so you can plan out what you need to do, once you’ve learned how.  But all those carefully thought-out business plans, forecasts and to-do lists can count for little, if you get some basic estimating wrong, for example if you:  

Under Estimate how much time it will take to do the ‘marketing bit’
Marketing should not be an after-thought.  It needs to be planned out, preferably for a whole year ahead, so that every activity has a purpose and a goal.  Many of the marketing ‘gurus’ recommend spending 20% of your time on marketing.  It may seem like a lot – but when the alternative is a lack of business....

Over estimate the demand for your great idea
It’s easy to get carried away with enthusiasm when you think of that brilliant idea for a new product or service that EVERYONE is going to love!  You can avoid the disappointment when customers fail to beat a path to your door by doing some market research first.  Find out what people want – before spending time and money creating something that fails to sell.

Under estimate how difficult it will be to stay motivated – all the time
Even the most successful and driven entrepreneurs occasionally have days when they’d prefer to hide under the duvet!  It can be hard to stay motivated and moving at full speed all the time so plan in some contingency to take a little down time – for when you need to be kind to yourself :)

Have any estimates tripped you up?  Please let me know if they have!  And do share this post if you found it helpful.

Blogging and Article Marketing – What Shall I Write About?

This is a question I’m often asked when I suggest to business owners that they should start publishing an email newsletter, a blog, and write articles as part of their online marketing strategy.  The reason it’s so important is you need to take every opportunity to show off your expertise to existing and potential clients. 

While you can easily do this in person by going to local networking events and taking a stand at exhibitions, there’s a limit to how many people you can physically get to meet.

To take advantage of the reach of the internet and demonstrate how great you are to people you haven’t met yet, writing articles, posting audio and video recordings are the next best thing to being with them in person. 

What we all tend to forget is just how much we know about what we do – that others don’t know, but would be interested in learning, especially if you tell them what’s in it for them!

Research shows that the top 4 major motivators which influence buying decisions are:

• How to make money
• How to save money
• How to save time
• How to avoid effort

So you need to write articles which include a relevant motivator and are based around your products or services.  Give your reader some of your top tips; highlight mistakes they need to avoid; discuss the latest developments in your field; describe a few how-tos and even a list of reasons why they should (fill in the blank).  Writing articles will showcase what you do and the type of problems you solve as well as build relationships, even with people you haven’t met yet.

I hope you now have some ideas to get started, please let me know how you get on!

Is Success Avoiding You?

I wrote a post asking if you were avoiding success by not venturing outside your comfort zone.  One of the lovely people who retweeted it said she thought success might be avoiding HER!  That conjured up an amusing mental image of playing hide & seek with prospects and opportunities.   Then I started thinking of how we could unknowingly be giving out signals that we’re not ready for success to come knocking at our door.  Here are some I’d like to share with you:

What message are you giving?
Is it clear to people you speak with exactly what you do and for whom?  When I’m out networking, some of the business owners I meet are building more than one business.   Nothing wrong with that at all – except when they try to promote all of them within one short sixty second pitch.  Then I get confused and switch off.  It’s important to keep the message simple and clear if you want to be remembered.

Your personal presentation
If your business requires you to get ‘down & dirty’ – perhaps as a gardener or plumber – then no-one expects you to wear a suit & tie to networking meetings.  But if you want introductions to businesses as, say a book-keeper or sales trainer, looking the part will help.

Your marketing materials
With the internet there are many low-cost opportunities to promote your business and even printing costs have become more affordable.  But inexpensive doesn’t mean marketing materials need to look ‘cheap’ or amateur.  Again, it depends on what business you’re in, but think what impression that dog-eared business card with crossings-out might give to the person you hand it to. 

Order and Organisation
Some people just seem to be tidy by nature.  Everything about them is crisp and neat, from a freshly laundered shirt to that well-organised folio.  Other people appear rumpled and leave a trail of chaos behind them, unable to find anything in a bulging briefcase.  Which appearance gives you more confidence in their ability to do a good job? 

How you present yourself and your business to the outside world is often a very good indication of how ready you are for success. 

Has success been avoiding you?  If so, I’d love you to leave a comment below, and please share this post if you found it helpful.

Take It or Leave It

Are you a good host?  Do you welcome invited guests to your home, take their coat, ask them to be seated, and offer them a drink?  Or do you open the door, walk away and let them fend for themselves? 

The reason I ask is because I find so many website owners invite visitors and then abandon them.  In other words visitors don’t know what to do next.  And a lot of blogs don’t seem to actively encourage readers to subscribe to the RSS feed, it’s as if they can’t be bothered.

Make your visitors welcome
Explaining a little of what you do and for who will reassure visitors that they’re in the right place.  A brief guide to what’s on the different pages will encourage them to explore.  Telling them what to do next makes things easy.   I’ve seen some thoughtful sites with a ‘Start Here’ tab – a good idea as people may not arrive on your home page on their first visit.

Thank your visitors
Offering a free gift in exchange for contact details is a well-established marketing tactic.  Providing real value in that gift will ensure your visitors take away good memories of their time on your site – and encourage them to read future messages from you.

With so many millions of websites and blogs to choose from, it can be like being at a very crowded party.  It’s easy to get confused and feel overwhelmed without a guide or signs as to what’s available and where to find it.  Most people are too short of time to try to work it all out for themselves, so they click away, leave the site, and probably never return.

(I’m sure you’re an excellent host by the way :))

How do you make your website visitors welcome?  Please share in the comments – and if you enjoyed reading this post, a retweet would be appreciated.