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What Doesn’t Attract Clients and Customers

September 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This is a reprint from Barb Wade, M.A. who specializes in teaching Coaches to create thriving, 6-figure practices in under 20 hours a week!  For a FREE “How To Get Clients” BUSINESS BREAKTHROUGH KIT just for Coaches, visit BarbWade.com today and tomorrow gain new clients and customers.

Please note: Even though this post is targeted to coaches, every business owner needs to market their business. Remember, “You’re in business to solve a problem and market your business.” If your web content, blog posts, articles, newsletters, marketing materials, etc. aren’t working, perhaps it’s time to evaluate your target market and analyze if you’re targeting the right market. You may need to ‘tweak’ your market, even if it means losing Twitter followers, Facebook fans, etc. Think about the long-run versus the short run.

Some coaches just don’t like marketing. They don’t like to promote themselves and they may even find it distasteful! In fact, until I learned that marketing was nothing more than letting others know how I could help them with their biggest problems, I thought marketing was a “necessary evil” at best.

On the other hand, there are some coaches and entrepreneurs who have no problem with marketing – or so it seems. BUT they use it as an excuse for not moving forward or to “hide out.”

Do you know what I mean? It’s the endlessly tinkering with your website.

Or taking forever to craft your “elevator pitch,” and then never actually using it!

Or spending tons of time, energy, and money getting just the right logo… or business card… or… well, you get the idea.

Of course, doing this comes from good honest intentions. Those things do help support spreading the word about your services. But it’s all too easy to get stuck in an endless loop of tweaking and fiddling with the minutia.

The truth is, doing so can actually keep you from getting clients!

Here’s the big news: your clients aren’t attracted to your coaching practice because of your business card, logo, website, or any other collateral. Even if they are really beautiful and elegant and “cutting edge.”

Yes, those things can help get your potential client’s attention, but that’s not what holds them or compels them to come back.

Ultimately, your clients will respond to the connection you create with them. Those people that you are meant to help will resonate with your authentic and unique brilliance. It is you being willing to share your experience and expertise – in the way that only you can – that makes an impression on people.

Your clients want to be seen, acknowledged, heard, understood and helped by you. And the more they get to know the real you, the more they will want to continue to work with you.

This is the concept behind the “Know, Like, Trust” factor you may have heard of. It works like this. First, your potential clients hear about you somehow – on the Internet, at a live event, on a tele-seminar, etc. And the more they get to know you, they more they begin to “like” you (note: this is not a popularity contest. Instead think of “like” as “appreciate” or “value”) And the more they like you, they more they begin to trust you as a teacher, advisor and friend.

And what I have found is that when you cultivate that kind of connection with your market, it actually accelerates your ability to attract clients and it makes your work so much more joyful!

So, if you find yourself spending too much time “crossing all the T’s and dotting all the I’s,” try adopting this mantra that was taught to me by one of my mentors: “Completion Not Perfection.”

Get into action and get it done – perfection is highly over-rated!

Barb Wade, M.A. who specializes in teaching Coaches to create thriving, 6-figure practices in under 20 hours a week!  For a FREE “How To Get Clients” BUSINESS BREAKTHROUGH KIT just for Coaches, visit BarbWade.com today and tomorrow gain new clients and customers.

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What Business Are You in Today?

December 7, 2009 By 3 Comments

This blog will address the common mistake that most business owners, especially small business owners make. It applies to ALL business owners, this includes freelance writers!

When you ask a business owner, “…what business are you in?” and you’ll receive many responses from “I’m a photographer to I’m a dog groomer.” Unfortunately, those are the wrong answers. The business that you’re actually in is the “marketing” business. Furthermore, you are a problem solver!

Let’s review why you are in business. You are NOT in business to make a profit. You are in business because you are a PROBLEM SOLVER who solves clients’ problems. It’s that simple. Unlearn what you learned in college business courses, especially the MBA program!

success_marketing2

People seek your business because they have a problem. They are not coming to you because they have nothing else to do with their money; they need help! They are putting their trust in you to solve their problem in the most efficient and economical way. When you sell and over deliver your products or services, clients will be knocking on your door for a long time.

Many people falter when it comes to their 30-second elevator pitch. When you’re at a networking event, you’ll hear people tell you they are a lawyer, writer, journalist, real estate agent, hair stylist, doctor, chiropractor, or fitness instructor. The list goes on forever. There’s just one problem, you don’t actually tell people what you do. Are you lost yet? You are NOT a fitness instructor, you are a life changer. You are not a hair stylist; you are a beautification expert who transforms the look of men and women with the proper hair style and color. Are you beginning to understand? It boils down to MARKETING you and your business.

The next someone asks you, “what’s your business?” give them a solid response. Don’t say, “I’m a painter.” Say, “…I bring joy to peoples’ lives through vibrant imagery on canvas.” As a business owner, you want to convey an emotion within people, and of course, a sense of urgency that they must contact you NOW for your services.

Business owners, cultivate a 30-second elevator pitch that sells and attracts clients to your business. Hire a freelance writer who can write you a stellar 30-second elevator pitch if you’re not a strong writer. Remember, you are a problem solver and marketer. Remind yourself daily of this and your business will take-off in no time!

Rebecca

What business are you in today?

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Leave the Writing to a Freelance Writer

September 22, 2009 By 1 Comment

As an owner it’s not your job to perform every function of your business. However, it’s your job to make sure that certain functions are accomplished each day in order to grow your business. When you focus on all aspects of your business such as writing, how will the marketing get done? Hiring a freelance writer to write articles and blogs will save you time and money in the long run.

Freelance writers are skilled in creating copy for websites, newsletters, and brochures. When you feel pressured to write articles or blogs three or more times a week, you can produce low quality writing. Your readers will find another website that offers more informative, unique content that can help them. Before you know it, your profits and traffic can plunge!

Hiring a freelance writer is the best decision you can make for your small business. They adhere to deadlines because they know that your time is just as valuable as theirs. There’s no point in committing to a project if it will not be completed.

A freelance writer can save you time and money in the long run. How many hours a week do you dedicate to growing your business? What would you do if you had to scale back on networking? It means that you stand to lose referrals. When you hire a freelance writer, you can attend networking events and receive those referrals.

Small business owners believe they can do it all. The truth is that sometimes it’s necessary to ask for help. You may not even enjoy writing so it makes sense to hire someone that does. This is a great way to avoid mediocre content on your website. When you’re not passionate about your work it will shine through. Your customers will receive the wrong message about you and your business.

Hiring a freelance writer is an investment that can pay off for years. Some websites have been on the internet for many years and still receive traffic. Why? The content is outstanding and still pertains to what readers are looking for. This could be your business. All it will take is for you to make the decision to hire a writer who knows how to write with style!

Rebecca

How can you benefit from hiring a freelance writer?

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Search Engine Optimization Tagged With: , , , , ,

Don’t Miss 30 Second Elevator Pitch

September 15, 2009 By 2 Comments

Many small business owners advertise in the Yellow pages, online, and in newspapers. You’re throwing your money away if your ad doesn’t stand out from your competitor’s. For example, let’s say you own a flower shop and advertise in the Yellow Pages. Your ad is probably next to another flower shop advertisement. The ads probably use different words, but the message will be the same. Using an elevator pitch in your ad help you stand out from the crowd. More importantly, customers will look to you as the expert in the field.

An elevator pitch is “an overview of an idea for a product, service, or project. The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be delivered in the time span of an elevator ride (for example, thirty seconds and 100-150 words).”

Elevator Pitch

Elements of an elevator pitch

An effective elevator pitch answers the following questions:

  • How you solve the customer’s problem?
  • What is your product, service, or project?
  • What does it do for the buyer, investor, or sponsor (benefits)?
  • Who you are and why your organization will be successful?

If you’re not a strong writer, you may want to hire a freelance writer to create your elevator pitch. This could mean thousands or millions of dollars to you and your small business. This is why hiring a freelance writer is the best solution. Take the stress out of writing an elevator pitch so you can concentrate on growing your small business.

Example of an elevator pitch

Here’s an example of an elevator pitch for a flower shop from One Coach…

HOW TO GIVE YOUR WIFE EVERYTHING SHE WANTS IN ONE QUICK AND EASY 10-MINUTE STEP!

We solve the dilemma forever by starting with the universal symbol of love, the rose…and developing it into a “super rose” with bulbs twice the normal size and colors so dazzling they let that special someone know that you carefully selected the very best and that you love them no more than ever before!

All it takes is one elevator pitch to increase profits. You could create two different elevator pitches and see which one does the best. Analyze which one brings in the most business. If you receive a ton of business from the freelance writer’s elevator pitch, you may want to forge a long-term relationship with that writer before your competition “snatches” her away from you!

Rebecca

How is your elevator pitch working for you? Share your experience.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , , , ,