Blog

Build Your Network With Professional Memberships

Networking
Membership in professional organizations offer a HUGE opportunity to network and build connections. Yes, you most likely pay a membership fee, but this is a necessary marketing expense as you build your business. When researching organizations to join, think about the benefits you will receive from your membership. Sure, lots of organizations host monthly meetings, and in theory these are great networking opportunities. Uh oh, wait for it… I said "in theory" and here’s why: If you’re a member of an organization that hosts regularly scheduled live programming, you most likely need to arrive early or stay late to network. Does your schedule allow for this extra time, and are your fellow members hanging around as well? This is a big consideration as you use your limited resource of time.…
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A Quick 5 Point Checkup For Your Website

A Quick 5 Point Checkup For Your Website

Website Design & SEO
When is the last time you reviewed your website? Not just for aesthetic purposes, but I’m talking about the actual content? Of course you spell check every single time you post something on your website, but what if you didn’t catch a particular spelling or grammatical error? Are you certain all your links are working correctly? Oftentimes a link is broken on a website and the owner doesn't know. Can your visitors readily find the information they want? Have you told your visitors what you want them to do? If it’s been a while since you performed a page-by-page review of your website, why not schedule a 30 minute maintenance check? Even if you hire a professional to support your website, it’s still your business. It is your responsibility to make sure…
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Interview: Social Media With Females With A Mission

Social Media
Have you heard? I was featured as a guest on Females With A Mission Blog Talk Radio program, where we discussed the do's and don'ts of social media. Here's a snippet of the social media items and tips we discussed: Figure out your reason for joining a social media platform before you join. Next, take the time to learn a social media platform before you jump in. Each social media platform has its own bells and whistles that make it unique. Understand the features and decide how best to use them, then you can participate in a meaningful way. Hear a couple of tips to figure out where to start. Google plus profiles and business pages are relevant for SEO. It's Google, you need to learn how Google+ works! Cross-posting content…
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Don’t Go Broke Being The World’s Best Kept Secret

Don’t Go Broke Being The World’s Best Kept Secret

Marketing Strategy
If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, does it make a sound? I don’t know! If you have a great product or offer a fantastic service and no one knows about it, does it make a difference? Hmmm... Do you see where I’m going with this? If you have a great product or offer a fantastic service and no one knows about it, it really doesn't matter how great it is. I implore you to get your message heard and get your product out there to your market. Meet Me at the intersection of Marketing & Strategy You cannot hide behind your keyboard and expect the sales to magically appear. Posting motivational quotes and selfies on Instagram does not constitute a marketing strategy. How many people are using…
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Social Media Tips To Promote Your Live Event

Social Media Tips To Promote Your Live Event

Social Media, Strategy
You’re having an event and you want to use social media exclusively to promote the heck out of it? You have plenty of local friends and fans you engage with daily, so surely they will come to support you in person at your event right? Not so fast... Here’s what I urge you to remember when you’re promoting a live event in the social media space: getting people to leave the house is harder than you think. What will compel your online friends to leave their house, spend their time and money and come support you? Remember, it's easy to like or tweet with someone you’ve never met. Why? Social media has its own set of social etiquette rules at work. Think about it this way: you can befriend people on social media with ease and…
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Event Vendors Need A Promotional Strategy

Event Vendors Need A Promotional Strategy

Marketing Strategy
The holiday season is upon us, and many people host one-stop shopping events. For those of you in product-based businesses, this is most likely a busy season for you in terms of sales. The holiday season presents an abundance of opportunities for you to buy a vendor space and sell your wares. You spend extra money and resources to: build an inventory to be ready for mass sales pay for vendor/exhibit fees keep extra promotional marketing literature ready for distribution. Might I also offer a suggestion that will directly impact your sales opportunities? Develop a promotional event strategy. If you’re participating as a vendor, promote the event like you own it! Do not wait on the event host/promoter to promote you. You’re spending your time, money and resources to take part in an event, so…
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Is the Title “Published Author” In Your Future?

Is the Title “Published Author” In Your Future?

Authors
How many of you want to write a book? There are so many of us (myself included) that have the title of “Published Author” dancing around in our heads. What are you waiting for? Is it finances, work, family, outside commitments, etc? You know, LIFE. Well don’t let this deter you from your pursuit of the Published Author title. Your book will not write itself, so commit to writing daily or weekly. Remember, a book draft is just that, a draft. You don’t have to write in a logical order if you’re just starting out, but you have to start writing something. Daydream with me: You decide to commit 30 minutes a day to writing your book, just 30 minutes.  Not planning, not editing, but actual writing.  You stick to…
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Is Your Brand Strategy Effective?

Branding
Consider these 2 scenarios Scenario A Your brand strategy is at its best: Prospects and customers know exactly what you deliver. It’s easy to begin conversations with new prospects because they quickly and easily understand what you stand for. You  close deals more quickly because your prospects’ experience with you supports everything you say. You can charge a premium because your market knows why you’re better and is willing to pay for it. Scenario B Your brand strategy is a work in progress: The market may not have a consistent view or impression of your product and company, but in general you think it’s positive. You haven’t thought a lot about branding because it doesn't necessarily seem relevant, but you admit that you can do a better job of communicating consistently with…
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