Debra Kasowski

5 Secrets to Building Your List in the Next 30 Days

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Courtesy of photostock/freedigitalphotos.net
Courtesy of photostock/freedigitalphotos.net

Building a online community of followers was quite foreign to me when I first started my business. As I did some research, I became very excited.

Why?

Not only does having a website – give you a global presence, you can now build relationships all over the world. Talk about leverage and opportunities to make an impact world wide.

At the same time I became overwhelmed and did not know where to start. Perhaps you can relate to this.

Thankfully, I did not pull out any hair but began to focus on learning about one area every 30 days and giving it my focus. There are so many platforms to build upon. You need to choose the platforms that best suit you.

I am going to share the ones that I have used that have created the greatest traction for in my business.

1. Intentional Network Online by Building Relationships – Businesses grow when the focus is on the PEOPLE. People first! You can build relationships on Facebook and Twitter by not just accepting or requesting friend requests. Join in the conversation – respond to posts and ask questions. Discover how you can relate to the people you are chatting with. The relationships you build can lead to future collaboration.

 

2.  Cross Promote – Ask someone you know who has a list that they may share your product or service with and offer to do the same for them. If you have an affiliate program, the person you are cross promoting with could even make a commission. Most commissions run anywhere from 30 to 70 percent. Extra money in your pocket is always nice and even better while you sleep. Cha- Ching!

 

3. Guest Blogging – This is one of my favorite ways to build an online community. Guest Blogging is very powerful when you tailor your message to your host’s audience. You want to HELP and provide VALUE not sell. Ensure you include your bio after your blog post and it has a call to action that directs traffic to your website. Guest blogging is also a great way to ensure you have content on your website during busy times or while you are on vacation – consider hosting a quest blogger.

 

4. Article Marketing – Writing is a powerful way to get the word out about your business and having more people learn about you. Article directories like www.ezinearticles.com and www.selfgrowth.com are awesome places to build your visibility and boost your credibility in the marketplace. You want to write articles that will inspire, educate, empower/motivate, or entertain. If you do this, you will have customers coming back for more.

 

5. Teleseminars– Although you may think you may be technologically challenged, teleseminars are a excellent way to build the know, like and trust factor in building relationships. They are a lot easier to use than people think – just pick up the phone dial the code and begin! You can host a question and answer period or share information as if you were teaching a class all by teleconference lines like www.freeconferencepro.com or www.instantteleseminar.com Start promoting your teleseminar 4-6 weeks in advance and build the excitement!

Building your business profile does not have to break the bank. You need to create a plan or strategy to make this happen. It all comes down to who is taking action – I hope that person is you!

 

Marketing Isn’t Everything…It’s Everything!

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Marketing is the key for positioning your business in the marketplace.

Courtesy of ImageryMajestic/freedigitalphotos.net
Courtesy of ImageryMajestic/freedigitalphotos.net

Many small business owners are leaving money on the table for not effectively positioning themselves and getting the word out about their businesses.

Here are three places you should be marketing your message consistently:

  • Your Business Card – Use both sides! One side for your name, what you do, and contact information. You may even want to put a picture in there. The back side should ask the most common pressing questions you clients ask? What solution you provide? Or an offer to redirect them to your website and capture their name and email address so you can start providing value.

 

  • Email Signature – Your name – of course but do you have a call to action? Do you offer a free report, ebook, or audio download on your website? Perhaps they can find some free resources on your website.

 

  • Voicemail – Do you have the traditional? “You have reached…” Change it up…let people know what you do and how might you be the solution to what they are searching for. Promote an upcoming event. Always have a call to action! Invite them to contact you and set up a complimentary strategy session or go to your website to find out more about your products and services.

 

When is the right time to market your business in a down economy? The right time is always NOW! You must share with others what you do and how you can help them reach some of their goals.

You do not wait for a market to pick up because those who have been marketing all along are way ahead of the pack. They have been consistent in the efforts and the word has gotten out! Let people be talking about the value your bring to the market!

Share what your greatest marketing message method!

Why You Need a Piece of the Marketing Pie?

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Are you wanting to grow your business and taste how sweet success can be? You will definitely want to know how to learn about marketing pie! Marketing is an important part of your business operations. Your marketing strategy is the part of your business that attracts clients to you and your products and services – it is how they get to hear about you and get to know you. Marketing helps you build your list or database and then key in your follow-up.

The marketing pie is a tool that I use to help me focus on my business and plan for my day, month, and year. To help you understand the marketing pie, I want you to get a piece of paper and pen. Draw out a circle and draw a line through the middle horizontally and then vertically. Draw a few more lines dissecting the centre of the circle just like you would be slicing a pie. Let’s start with 8 slices. You can keep adding slices to the pie. Each slice of the pie is a marketing tool that you use to attract more customers by serving them with valuable content to boost their business’s bottom line.

Here are eight ways you can build your list and share your expertise with your potential customer:

  1. Opt-In Box on your website offer a free report, ebook, teleclass, video series, or podcast. If you do not have an opt-in box, you must get one as soon as possible and offer the guests to your site something of value. A way in which they get to know you and what you do.
  2. Ezine – An electronic newsletter keeps your clients and prospects in the know about what you are up to. They again have another way to get to know you and what you currently up to. You can share articles, blog posts, testimonials, and tips and techniques to help transform their businesses. If you do not know what one is or need some ideas about you should include, I invite you to sign up for mine. Ezines can be sent out every week,  biweekly, or monthly. I find biweekly is the best way to stay top of mind.
  3. Articles – You can create high value content for potential clients that has a bio that send them to your website to learn more.
  4. Blog – You can blog and showcase your expertise. This a great way for people to learn about your business.
  5. Video – Create videos that a less than 2 minutes offering 3-5 business tips related to what your offer your clients. This is a very powerful tool!
  6. Social Media – Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are the top venues for sharing yours events, articles, blogs, and other valuable content with others. Not only can people like or comment on your postings, they can share your posts with their followers.
  7. Direct Mail – You can utilize postcard marketing to get the word out about your business and provide a free offering to a special report, ebook, or download.
  8. Teleseminars – Offer a 30- 60 minute teleseminar teaching your clients and prospects about something that they can be doing in their business or their life. This a great way for them to also get to hear your voice and get to know you.

There are several more pieces to the marketing pie that can help build your list, expand your reach, and ultimately grow your business. I challenge you to utilize at least 3 of these marketing tools to launch your business to a whole new level. Learn one piece well before venture onto yoru next piece. Now what piece of the pie would you like? I hear they are pretty delicious!

Can You STAND Still, Up, and Out in Your Business?

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There are times when I feel like I am running a marathon and other times I feel like I am standing still even though many things are getting done because I delegated them. Continuous consistent movement is the key in business. You can STAND:

STILL: You should always have some reflection throughout your day, your week, and your month. Take 10-15 minutes to sit in silence and even journal to clear your head of all the brainstorming that is cluttering your mind. Ideas need to be transcribed onto paper otherwise they may remain as ideas and “Poof! They are gone.” You either forgot about them or someone else followed through on the same idea. Think about some of your upcoming decisions or about the one thing you can execute that day that would make a difference in your business or your life. You can stand still for short periods of time but you must move forward – you must take action!

“Playing safe is probably the most unsafe thing in the world. You cannot stand still.

You must go forward.” – Robert Collier

UP: Not only must you stand up but you must show up the way you wished to be viewed by the world. Think about how you dress, how you speak, and how you carry yourself. How do you want to be viewed by others? What would you like them to say about you to others? Ensure that you live what you want to hear. Would you do business with you?

The other way you “Stand Up” in the world is that you stand up for what you believe in and live with integrity. It is about doing the right thing especially when in matters most. There will be temptations, obstacles, and other challenges that appear as tests. Do the right thing.

OUT: Above all to get known in business, you want to be authentic! Stand out by bringing YOU to the world. You are unique. Position yourself as serving others in a different way. There may be many marketers out there in the world but “What makes you different than everyone else?” Why do your current customers choose you? Put those reasons in your marketing. You are YOUR brand so stand out!

 List the unique qualities you bring to your business and your customers. 

What can you learn about yourself and the things you need to do in your business by standing still? What do you stand up for? How you can stand out? – Be the change in the world!

 

Good Gossip – Be Known, Be Remembered, and Be Talked About

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Do you believe in moments of serendipity? Do you believe in the law of attraction? Do you believe that gestures of kindness go a long way in becoming known, remembered and even talked about? I want to share with you the tale of two purses. A couple months ago I was visiting my sister and her family. We were walking along a rocky beach when my purse strap snapped and my purse dropped to the ground. I looked around for a purse for several weeks and started to get a bit frustrated because I could not find one I liked.

One day a friend of mine handed me a gift bag and there inside it was a beautiful handmade straw woven purse from the Philippines. He and his wife were on vacation and they picked up this purse thinking of me. He did not even know I was looking for a purse. Wow! Talk about timing. I felt very blessed.

Fast forward a couple weeks another gift arrived, when I was at Marcia Wieder’s Become An Inspiring Speaker program, I met the most incredible vibrant woman. She was dressed to the nines and had a pin that said “Irresistible”. I fell in love with her energy and beautiful spirit. This fabulous woman is Lethia Owens of Live Your Brand. She truly lives her brand. She is classy stylish and graceful. I particularly loved her purse and complimented her on it. Lethia stated, “I will send you one.” Perhaps because we talked for only a few minutes here and there, I did not think that this woman I had just met would actually send me the purse.

Stylin' Purse

It was like Christmas! Everywhere I go people are saying,” What a beautiful purse you have!” I go on to tell them about this incredible woman who is true to her word and LIVES her brand. A lady at the pharmacy said, “You know there are very few people who would have followed through when only meeting for a short time.” Now I get to share a piece of her every day in my conversations. She made a difference in my life. I feel like we connected as if we had known each other for years and it was a reunion, however, I sense it is only the beginning.

What lesson is there to be learned about being known and remembered:

  • Be true to your word.
  • Share your energy and spirit in all you do.
  • Be passionate about serving others
  • Set yourself apart by doing something different. (Send someone a gift, give them a book, or do something special.)
  • Be true to yourself – You Are Your Brand so Live It!
  • Be Irresistible

You do not need to spend money to make a difference in a person’s life to make them feel valued and appreciated. All you need to do is pay attention to what resonates in your hear and act on it. An act of kindness ripples to many others in the world and may even change someone’s perspective of the world. “Everything you do matters.” This blog post is dedicated to all of you who make a difference, especially Lethia Owens.