| There are a number of things you can do today to | | | | stay "fresh" in the eyes of prospects and current |
| create a successful business. The key to success is | | | | clients is to update your website at least weekly. |
| founded in adopting a positive attitude and investing | | | | Change something on your home page. If you make |
| your time and effort to take consistent daily actions. | | | | use of quotes or testimonials, change them or move |
| Here are some great ways to get started.1. Take | | | | them around. Add a new article or delete old content. |
| action. Successful business owners are people in | | | | Make sure that any time sensitive information is |
| action. They don't sit around waiting for things to | | | | properly updated. If you don't have new content to |
| happen. Instead, they make things happen. Adopting | | | | add, ask your colleagues if they have something that |
| a mindset of taking action is key to maintaining and | | | | you might be able to use. If you need articles to |
| sustaining the momentum you need to be a business | | | | post, you can go to any number of online article |
| success. Sometimes we don't feel like doing anything. | | | | banks, or even try Finally, don't forget to check all of |
| But, an idle business can mean financial disaster. You | | | | your links to make sure they are functioning |
| should always keep a list of simple things you can do | | | | properly.9. Return phone calls promptly. Now more |
| to either market your business, improve your skill set | | | | than ever, time is of the essence when it comes to |
| or to make your business operations run more | | | | doing business. You never know when you might be |
| smoothly. Taking any action, even one small step | | | | missing a time critical opportunity. Always return |
| each day, will keep you moving forward towards | | | | phone calls as soon as you can. Your prompt |
| accomplishing your business goals.2. Make sales calls. | | | | response demonstrates to prospects and your |
| Closing sales is the lifeblood of your company. First | | | | current clients that you value serving them and that |
| you must create a process for generating prospects. | | | | you respect their time and their deadlines. In today's |
| Making direct sales calls, implementing direct mail or | | | | competitive environment, if people don't get the |
| email marketing campaigns, offering teleclasses or | | | | prompt attention they desire, it's easy to do business |
| giving speeches are some of the best ways to build | | | | elsewhere. In order to make it easier and more time |
| a pipeline of interested prospects. Craft a | | | | efficient to return calls, set aside one or two times |
| well-scripted sales presentation that addresses the | | | | during the day when you can do so without |
| prospect's needs, introduces the features and | | | | interruption.10. Respond to emails promptly. Today, |
| benefits of your product or service, and handles any | | | | email is a more common method of communication |
| objections that might be posed. Finally you need to | | | | than the telephone. As with returning telephone calls, |
| close the sale. While strong skills are required in all of | | | | emails left unattended can send negative messages |
| these areas, the most critical part is developing | | | | about you and your business. When you don't |
| relationships with your prospects and customers. | | | | answer emails promptly, you are perceived as not on |
| There is no substitute for a face-to-face | | | | top of things, that you aren't detail oriented or |
| conversation with an inquiring prospect, and no better | | | | worse, that you don't care about your customers. |
| way than to begin building a personal relationship with | | | | Don't hesitate when it comes to communications. As |
| a potential client.3. Network. The best way to make | | | | with telephone calls set aside a couple of times each |
| sales is to create relationships with others who want | | | | day to respond to email.11. Get involved in your |
| to buy from you. Get out and meet others. Join | | | | community. Successful business owners get involved |
| groups that you enjoy that include members who | | | | with their community. You can donate your time, |
| would most likely be interested in your products and | | | | services, or products to local charities or social |
| services. By mingling with others, sharing about | | | | programs. You can offer to speak for free to various |
| yourself and your business, you'll feel more alive and | | | | community groups like the Optimists, Lions, and |
| energized. Not only will you have the chance to meet | | | | Rotary clubs. You can even start your own group to |
| new people, but you might also create some | | | | benefit the community and its members. Not only is |
| opportunities that can propel your business to a new | | | | this a great way to network and create visibility for |
| level. Networking is a great tool for increasing your | | | | your business, but also it's a wonderful way to give |
| visibility and a necessity for anyone who desires | | | | back and help those who need it most.12. Engage in |
| success.4. Complete the 90-Day Marketing Marathon. | | | | public speaking. Public speaking is a wonderful way to |
| One of the quickest ways to jumpstart your | | | | build visibility and credibility for your business. |
| business is to enroll in the 90-Day Marketing Marathon | | | | Whether you are speaking for a fee or for free, |
| E-course ( Available in editions for both coaches and | | | | speaking engagements are a great way to introduce |
| micro business owners, this intensive program will | | | | your products and services to others. More |
| motivate and inspire you to take daily actions to | | | | importantly, they provide a way for you to establish |
| market and promote your business. Each lesson is | | | | a personal relationship with prospects by providing a |
| carefully crafted to teach you something about | | | | face-to-face opportunity to interact. Consider public |
| marketing that you can implement immediately. You'll | | | | speaking engagements as "instant networking" |
| learn about crafting and sending letters of | | | | opportunities with you as the featured guest.13. Be |
| introduction, writing a top ten article or e-course, | | | | customer centered. Successful business owners are |
| asking for referrals, networking, writing press | | | | 100% customer-centric because they know they will |
| releases, and many more marketing tactics. You'll also | | | | be out of business without customers. Being |
| be able to enjoy additional helpful resources that | | | | customer-oriented means that you design, develop |
| accompany many of the lessons.5. Write articles and | | | | and market products and services that meet the |
| publish them online. Writing articles and publishing | | | | specific needs of your clientele. You design customer |
| them online is one of the easiest things to do to | | | | service programs that address questions and |
| generate business. Not only do they add to your | | | | concerns efficiently and effectively. You answer |
| credibility, but also they increase your visibility as they | | | | emails and return telephone calls promptly. Adopting |
| are disseminated all over the Internet. Go to | | | | an attitude of service to others is the best way to |
| websites like or to get ideas about articles currently | | | | ensure that everything you do is for your biggest |
| being written. You can write a simple top ten article | | | | fans - your customers.14. Surround yourself with |
| and post it on any number of free or fee article | | | | terrific people. Business owners who want to be |
| submission sites. These articles, along with your full | | | | more than average, associate, partner and network |
| contact information, subsequently find their way to | | | | with other highly successful and exceptional people. |
| various websites or are included in published | | | | The best way to learn the ropes of success is to |
| newsletters. Writing articles is a wonderful way to | | | | surround yourself with those who have already |
| get known far and wide in a short period of time. | | | | achieved it. By learning from the knowledge and |
| They also create "links" back to your site giving you | | | | wisdom of others, you will reduce your own learning |
| increased web traffic and exposure.6. Teach | | | | curve and make your own success much faster and |
| teleclasses. One of the best ways to build your | | | | easier. Consider partnering with others who have a |
| business is by offering free or fee teleclasses. A | | | | complimentary service and product or choose to |
| teleclass provides a way to share what you know | | | | create something new from which both of you can |
| with others while at the same time giving the | | | | benefit. Or you might engage in fusion marketing |
| audience an opportunity to experience your "live | | | | opportunities where you market and promote each |
| performance." By offering a course through a | | | | other's offerings.15. Adopt a learning mindset. |
| teleclass format, you can extend your reach to a | | | | Successful business owners are knowledge seekers. |
| global audience, opening up the opportunity to gain | | | | They are on a continual quest to improve themselves |
| clients from near and far. Teleclasses also offer other | | | | personally and professionally. You've probably heard |
| benefits in that they can be taped and repackaged | | | | the phrase "Knowledge is power". Seeking out new |
| for sale, showcased as a "special offer", or even | | | | knowledge, whether by reading a book, taking a |
| posted as content to your website. As an added | | | | teleclass, or learning from the feedback you receive |
| benefit, teleclasses are both time and cost efficient.7. | | | | from your customers or clients can be invaluable |
| Send out 10 letters of introduction each week. A | | | | when it comes to moving your business forward. An |
| letter of introduction is a great way to introduce you | | | | attitude of learning from everything we encounter is |
| and your business to your local community or target | | | | what keeps our perspective fresh and our ideas |
| market. If you are just starting out, you can mention | | | | flowing. We need new input to create new output. |
| the grand opening of your business and perhaps | | | | Surround yourself with interesting people, things, and |
| include a free offer for a complimentary consultation | | | | ideas. These are the roots from which successful |
| or a free product sample. You might consider | | | | businesses are born.© Copyright 2004 Alicia |
| enclosing a copy of a recent article you have written | | | | Smith Consulting & Training. All Rights Reserved.Alicia |
| or a complimentary assessment. Include a note that | | | | Smith is a Coach and Trainer whose specialty is |
| you will be calling in one week to follow up. This will | | | | helping business people to Make Money Now. She has |
| give you a reason to make telephone contact, which | | | | taught over 10,000 people how to improve their |
| might be the beginning of building a relationship with a | | | | business bottom lines. |
| future customer.8. Update your website. One way to | | | | |