Here's another piece of wisdom for you, if you feel that you are stuck and your business does not seem to move forward. (and this is mostly for solo professionals)
Some of us tend to get stuck in learning mode and we often forget all together to market ourselves.
I spent tens of thousands of dollars in the past 4 years on continuing education and getting certified in different areas of expertise. And that's really great. It's good when one is committed to continuing education and to further developing one's self. The problem starts when you do mostly learning new skills and neglect the day to day activities that would bring in sales.
Without sales, you'll soon be out of business. Sales are the fuel for your business-machine. No sales - no business.
What's the solution?
As Steven Covey would say, PUT FIRST THING FIRST!
Start each and every day with activities that lead to sales:
- send out your marketing materials
- keep up with your monthly postcard promotion (the wackier the postcard, the better)
- do a few cold calls (if you dare)
- definitely follow up on warm (and hot) leads
- provide freebies to your target market, such as top 10 tips, 7 Ways to..., E-books, or other formats. Get these in front of your target market by publishing articles in industry-specific publications, or advertising in their publications. Keep your ads simple: "FREE Tips to Employee Retention! Visit www.employeeretention.com (I made up that site, I don't know whose is it)
- design a simple E-zine and have a way to capture names & E-mail addresses on your website (notice, I said "simple E-zine" - don't get side-tracked by spending too much time on it.
Ok... these are a few suggestions. Bottom line is:
1. start the day with activities that have the pottential to bring in business.
2. track over time which activities bring in most business
3. keep on repeating the activities that bring in most customers
(ok... let me print this out, so I can follow my own advice. Lately, I do - but better hang it above my desk to keep reminding myself to keep up with this)
Question to ponder: What activites can I perform daily that will bring in most clients?
Write a list of activities that are most likely to result in sales, and follow it day after day, FIRST THING IN THE DAY!!! Then see what will happen.
Learning??? Is important - but maybe you know enough. Besides, the best learning happens while you do what you are supposed to do. Experience is your best teacher.
DO NOT GET STUCK IN LEARNING MODE!
Enjoy! And wish you success!
Some of us tend to get stuck in learning mode and we often forget all together to market ourselves.
I spent tens of thousands of dollars in the past 4 years on continuing education and getting certified in different areas of expertise. And that's really great. It's good when one is committed to continuing education and to further developing one's self. The problem starts when you do mostly learning new skills and neglect the day to day activities that would bring in sales.
Without sales, you'll soon be out of business. Sales are the fuel for your business-machine. No sales - no business.
What's the solution?
As Steven Covey would say, PUT FIRST THING FIRST!
Start each and every day with activities that lead to sales:
- send out your marketing materials
- keep up with your monthly postcard promotion (the wackier the postcard, the better)
- do a few cold calls (if you dare)
- definitely follow up on warm (and hot) leads
- provide freebies to your target market, such as top 10 tips, 7 Ways to..., E-books, or other formats. Get these in front of your target market by publishing articles in industry-specific publications, or advertising in their publications. Keep your ads simple: "FREE Tips to Employee Retention! Visit www.employeeretention.com (I made up that site, I don't know whose is it)
- design a simple E-zine and have a way to capture names & E-mail addresses on your website (notice, I said "simple E-zine" - don't get side-tracked by spending too much time on it.
Ok... these are a few suggestions. Bottom line is:
1. start the day with activities that have the pottential to bring in business.
2. track over time which activities bring in most business
3. keep on repeating the activities that bring in most customers
(ok... let me print this out, so I can follow my own advice. Lately, I do - but better hang it above my desk to keep reminding myself to keep up with this)
Question to ponder: What activites can I perform daily that will bring in most clients?
Write a list of activities that are most likely to result in sales, and follow it day after day, FIRST THING IN THE DAY!!! Then see what will happen.
Learning??? Is important - but maybe you know enough. Besides, the best learning happens while you do what you are supposed to do. Experience is your best teacher.
DO NOT GET STUCK IN LEARNING MODE!
Enjoy! And wish you success!
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