Blog

Two Questions to Help You Position Yourself in Business (Audio)

Mon, 14 May 2012 03:18:00 GMT

Every entrepreneur must take the time to position themselves within their marketplace. To do this effectively you need to already know who your ideal clients are, as well as your competitors. In this week's Monday's Messenger, I provide you with two additional questions that will help you further clarify your position.

Click here to listen to today's Monday Messenger.

Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below.

Top Ten Productivity Ideas by Deb Pilgrim

Wed, 09 May 2012 22:43:00 GMT

1. Shift from Not Valuing to Valuing your Time.

This is an important change to make and when it happens you will never waste another minute! In a dollar sense - this means you are comfortable charging for your lifetime of knowledge, learning and experience - don't allow clients to take this for granted. You have invested a lot of time and energy and in life, we only get one chance with our time - we cannot go back and use the last 10 seconds!

2. Get the most out of your day.

Every now and then ask yourself: "Am I making the best use of my time?" If not, stop what you are doing , re-access what you are doing, and begin working on a project that will allow you better use of your time. If you are 'bogged down' or don't want to start a project, use the ten minute rule: set a timer for 10mins and start your project. If after 10mins you still aren't in the flow of this project -stop and move onto another project. If after 10mins you are in the flow of this project, then keep going!

3. Work with goals in mind.

It’s amazing how differently we work when you have goals to work towards. If you don't know what your goals are, stop now and spend some time working out what they may be. Use them as a road map for your daily 'to-do' list! Examples may be professional (project deadline, sales quotas, product development, etc) and personal (health, fitness, family relationship, financial, etc).

4. Handle every e-mail only once.

Use the '3 D' rule of Do it, Delete it or Delegate it. Use day-based folders to keep your inbox on track. Check your emails twice through out the day, and then either respond if that is needed, delete it or place it in the appriorate day-based folder. If you print a copy then use the '3 D' rule, for this as well!

5. Ask some one who is efficient - What their secret is?

Ask the most efficient person you know what their secret is and how did they develop these habits. Then see if it will work for you. Remember that productivity is a habit, so be prepared to give this new habit time.

6. Don't allow anyone to take your time from you.

Set up boundaries around your time. If you are constantly interrupted with phone calls - think about

forwarding your phone to voice mail, and then bundling your return calls at a certain time. If you work by appointments and someone is late for an appointment and hasn't contacted you - give them 15 minutes past the appointed time and then move on. It is up to you as to how you allow other people to use your time!

7. Build family and personal time into your day.

We all need to have the support of our family or friends - so make sure you build them into your daily habits. You don't want to get to the end of your working life and realise that you missed out on the closeness and development of your family.

8. Your health is important - isn't it!

Maintain your health and fitness because this is what will help you through in the long run. There are three things that I feel are valuable to us all - they are time [which we are talking about]; knowledge and energy. Take care of your energy and its levels. At the end of the day being overworked and stressed is only going to hamper your health. So take extra care of this - go for a walk, have a massage, spend time with your family, stop, breathe and smell the roses.

9. Dry clean the clutter from your office and home.

Take some time to remove the clutter from your life. The more you simplifier your office or life the more time you will have. Clutter zaps your energy and allows you to waste time on non-valuable tasks. So plug the holes today.

10. Work in your peak performance times.

Schedule demanding tasks to the part of the day that you work best, where your energy levels are at their highest. It maybe first thing in the morning or early afternoon - work out when it is and then see yourself moving ahead.

What are your favourite strategies for being productive? Feel free to share them with us here and over on our facebook page.

What's Happening In Your Small Business

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:41:00 GMT

Taking time to survey your community is always such a valuable process, and I would encourage you to survey yours especially if you've not done one for a while. With the available free survey tools such as Survey Monkey, it really is an easy and effective way of finding out, not only what is happening within your community, but what they are wanting from you as well.

I want to thank you all for taking the time to complete the survey, and sharing with me what your biggest struggles were in marketing and building your business.

What you've told me was very revealing....

More than 46% of you said that you didn't have enough clients. As you know, lack of clients means a lack of cash; a business can't operate without clients. I know you are passionate about what you are doing, otherwise you would not have taken this leap into starting your own business. No matter how long you've been in your business there are always ebbs and flows, and with cashflow an issue, I'm guessing that you are working long hours and are more stressed now than what you want to be or need to be!

Sometimes it's because you've come into your business as the technical expert, and the actually promoting of your business is something you're not quite sure of, or maybe you begrudge having to do it. I really understand that, because when I first started out nearly 20 years ago - I too came in as a technical expert, and also breaking new grounds into an industry that was just beginning here in Australia.

There's a saying: "You don't know what you don't know!". And at that time I didn't have any idea that to build a successful business, marketing and promoting was so important. I thought by delivering results that was enough! It was enough to keep the doors open, but it wasn't enough to grow and thrive.

40.2 % said you lack time.....which as you know becomes a cycle whereby you are always chasing your tail. This means you try to do the right thing by blocking out time in your diary to focus on getting more clients, and than become stressed when you don't have time for the other areas of your business.
The other interesting result was around products, 63% said you were not producing any type of information product at the moment. Does this mean you're stuck in a business model of working dollar for hour?

In the 'further input section', where you could write and tell us more, many of you said you want to build a successful business, but don't know where to start or who to get support from. You asked that we share articles and stories from other successful entreprenuers, and some simple tips to get you started.

I'm pleased to say that we have started to do this for you. I don't know if you've noticed but in our weekly Business Booster Inbox Magazine, we're gathering a panel of experts to provide you with informative articles that show you ways you can build your business, and look after yourself. Please let us know what you think of our new format over the next few months.

I also believe I've come up with something that will support you to get more high paying clients, and we will get to work together on this. Keep an eye out early next week for this announcement.

Best regards,
Deb

Ps., Thanks again for taking the time to complete the survey - I do really appreciate it!

Is The Story You Tell Yourself - Helping or Hindering Your Business? by Deb Pilgrim

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:01:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, when I asked you if we could have a private conversation - 'What two questions would you ask me?', many came back with the theme being around mindset, belief and confidence, and how can you think differently to have greater success within your business.

I was reminded of an article I had written last year after sitting in on a Mastermind Call with Rich Schefren of Strategic Profits, who is very highly respected in his work with entrepreneurs in the area of The Theory of Constraints.

And wanted to share with you the following quote that I read within one of his report:

“The potential growth and profitability of my business depends on what I put into it. The actual growth and profitability of my enterprise will be determined by the things that limit or cancel my return on that investment. Only when I eliminate my constraints – the things that block my path – will my actual success rise to the level of my potential success.” Rich Schefren

He then goes on to discuss three types of constraints that you can have in your business. The first being Rational Constraints, the second is Procedural Constraints and the third is Self-Imposed Constraints. It is this third constraint that I want to touch on in this article.

Self-Imposed Constraints – necessary conditions and rules that exist only in your mind!

What are the conditions and rules that you have placed on yourself, and how do these conditions and rules stop you from reaching your full potential?

We all have our stories, some of them are there to support us, some are there to protect us, and yes, some are there to hinder us. Is there a story that you are currently telling yourself that is in fact preventing you from moving forward? That is stopping you from being that one barrier away from success?

What is your story? Take a moment to write down the stories you keep telling yourself that are limiting you from reaching your full business potential. Once you have written them down, notice how you feel and ask yourself the following questions: “Does this story serve me well?” What is the purpose of this story for me?” For example: If I don’t change my story, I can’t fail. Nothing ventured, nothing lost.

Then decide which stories you don’t need anymore. Writing them down is one thing, getting rid of them is quite another. Deciding which stories no longer fit you can be as difficult as trying to cull your wardrobe! You know you should get rid of some of your things, especially that white double-breasted jacket with big shoulder pads that keeps staring back at you when you open your wardrobe each morning. It’s the same with your story: you keep it when you don’t need it any more. Some stories may have been with you for years. Despite the fact that they may be holding you back, you find them comfortable and familiar and you insist on continually telling them. Although, it is worth acknowledging that your stories sometimes hold you back as a form of protection, they may be there to stop you from failing, from making sure you don’t overload yourself or from gaining true success. However, if you want true success then you need to change your story.

Make room for a new story - one that will support exactly what it is you want in your business and in your life. Just as deciding to get rid of your old stories can be like culling your wardrobe, taking on a fresh story can be like restocking your wardrobe with exciting new clothes. So take a moment now and write your new story. Write it as if you are living it now. Once you are clear on your new story, start to tell yourself this story everyday. How does this new story feel? Does it serve you better?

Remember, that we are really only limited by our own thoughts. The greatest battle we often have is the batte between our ears!

Let's continue the conversation on our blog or our facebook page, and please share with us your thoughts around your very own Self-Imposed Constraints!

Ten Deadly Mistake That Entrepreneurs Make by MaryEllen Tribby

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:35:00 GMT

I absolutely hate it when I see smart people do dumb things!

Unfortunately, this happens all of the time in business. You see smart marketers who never leave enough time for a proper launch. Or the content provider who continually blows all their money by building out a product without any research or testing, only to find out it is NOT a sellable product. Or, my personal favorite, entrepreneurs who think they know it all and can go it alone. And to me the latter is the saddest.

Why . . .

Because so often their ideas are great. Plus, they work hard. But, they just don't know what they don't know. So, instead of being widely successful, their business fails. Unfortunately, I have seen this countless times over my 25 years of working and watching hundreds of entrepreneurs.

So I put together a list of . . .

The Ten Deadly Mistakes that Entrepreneurs Make That Destroy Their Profits, Morale and Reputation

1) Do Not Have Clarity of Vision: If you do not understand why your business exists, than how can your customers, your team, vendor and joint venture partners. You need to create a mission statement. Your mission says why you do what you do. Your statement needs to pass the tee-shirt test. And you can never subordinate the mission in order to get money!

2) Do Not Create Core Values for Their Company and Employees: You see your core values dictate how you do business everyday. Remember never subordinate your core values in order to get money.

3) Do Not Understand the Need for an Org Chart: An organizational chart not only adds structure and efficiencies to your business but it clarifies who an employee should go to solve a problem or present an idea. I know so many entrepreneurs that have an entire office full of employees yet the chart below still represents their hands on work responsibilities.

4) Do Not Create Job Descriptions: Entrepreneurs tell me all the time that they need help. Yet, when I ask them what the person would do, they look at me like a deer caught in highlights. You cannot possibly hire the right person if you do not know what you want them to do.

So, before you can initiate your search, you have to write a job description. If you have never done this before, start by writing down everything you think you want your new employee to do. List their responsibilities. And next to each responsibility, write down the necessary skill. Be specific.

Once you know the characteristics of your ideal employee and can define the job and the skills that employee needs... you start looking.

5) Confusing a passionate idea for a sellable idea: When people ask for advise on what their business should be, I tell them two things:

• Something you have experience in

• Something you are passionate about

Once you have narrowed that down - you must confirm that your idea is sellable. Just because you love it, does not automatically qualify it as a good idea. Your idea must be sellable - meaning do people want what you are selling. Just do some simple keyword research. If you have at least 10,000 look-ups a month, then go for it.

6) Do Not Pay Themselves: Must entrepreneurs do not factor their income into their financials and business plans. They live with the attitude that they will take what is ever left at the end of each month.

7) Do Not Know Their "Keep The Doors Open Number": Most entrepreneurs have no idea of the "real" cost to run their business. This is a big problem because it leads never understanding the health of your business. So right now sit down and write out EVERY fixed cost you have, including paying yourself.

Once you have done this divide that number by 375. And there you have it - the amount of money you need to bring in each day to keep your doors open.

8) They Suffer from Shinny Penny Syndrome: If you have a tendency to bounce from one "cool" project to another, you are not alone. However, this will break your business fatser than anything else. You see when you have several projects 50% done, that yields you zero revenue. However, one project 100% done brings money in then door.

9) Don't Understand the Value of Giving Away "Ownership" of the Company: Now this does not mean for every person. It means for someone (or a couple) that will take the business to the next level. Think about it you can't get past that 2 million dollar level. If someone could come in and take you to 5 million the first year, it would make perfectly good logic to give up to 50% away. It's a numbers game my friend.

Just remember 100% of nothing is still nothing. Don't let your ego prevent you from having a real business.

10) They Avoid Confrontation: Too many entrepreneurs are way too concerned about being liked and have a hard time being proactive when it comes to uncomfortable situations in their business. If there is a problem confront it.

Better yet, if there is a potential problem, jump on it before it comes a problem. Letting problems fester tends to lead to:

• Bad Deals

• Bad Employees

• Bad Company Morale

Remember, it is business and there are always ways to handle even the most uncomfortable situation with tact and respect. If you see yourself in even one of these items, now is the time to bring in someone to help you work through it.

When you stop making these basic mistakes you will see a spike in your bottom-line, your company morale and people will want to work with you. Let's continue the conversation on our blog or our facebook page, and share with us your thoughts around these ten mistakes.

MaryEllen Tribby is the Founder and CEO of Working Moms Only the world's leading website and newsletter for the empowerment of the working mum. For further information on, please visit her site at www.workingmomsonly.com

How Your Vision Statement Can Be Your Best Decision Making Tool by Deb Pilgrim

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:43:00 GMT

Leading a small business, doesn't mean you can't have a BIG vision. In fact - you want to extend yourself and have a huge vision. Don't fall into the mistake of thinking that vision statements are for big businesses only, it's not.

It’s for YOU – the small business.

The reason you want to take time to develop your vision is because it provides you with your end picture. It describes what you’re wanting to build at that higher level. Let’s not make this hard, because it doesn’t have to be. In fact once you’ve developed your vision, you want it to be no longer than a one to three sentence statement.

A simple way to begin is to ask yourself:

At the highest level, what do I want to achieve…

Be honest, what do you really want to achieve? Is it market dominance, or is it to be the best at what you do. There is no right or wrong here. It’s about you, your business values and where you want to end up.

To help you think about this, let’s have a look at some brands that you may already know:

Virgin Atlantic: “Our vision is to contribute to creating happy and fulfilling lives which are also sustainable.”

Amazon: "Our vision is to be earth's most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online."

Zappos: “One day, 30% of all retail transactions in the US will be online. People will buy from the company with the best service and the best selection - Zappos.com will be that online store.”

DebPilgrim J: “To help you start, grow and lead your business, so that you have the freedom to live the life you desire.”

Make it BIG. Make it something that others want to ask questions about it, want you to explain it further. And don’t feel you have to put ‘corporate’ words in YOUR statement – be proud of your vision.

Once you are clear on your vision, the other parts of your business will fall into place. From here you can develop your mission – that is why your company exists, what you do well every day? Your mission will describe the ‘how to’, ie., your level of service, how you will deliver your products, all those things that bring your vision alive.

You vision is important because:

It can become your decision making tool. You want to ask yourself when developing new products or services, or when asked to collaborate on a project, speaking engagement etc : “If I do X, will it bring me closer to achieving my vision?” If the answer is yes – perfect! If the answer is no, then you know what to do!
It helps you clarify your goals and objectives. If you have trouble developing goals, once you’ve got your vision it becomes so much easier. Your goals will lead to the achievement of your vision.
It keeps you focused. By looking at your vision each day – you will know exactly what you need to focus on. When the ebbs and flow of business occur, you will be a stronger position to keep moving forward and not be distracted by those bright shining objects, because you are very clear on what you are achieving.

Your Success Assignment:

Block out some time over the next week, take out some post it notes, and ask yourself:

At the highest level, what do I want to create…

Go bold!

For more accountability and support, why not join the conversation our blog or our facebook page, and share with us your Vision.

January in Review by Deb Pilgrim

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:03:00 GMT

As January comes to a close, this doesn't mean that your 2012 goals and objectives have too! I'm here to encourage and support you to achieve your best business this year. Whether you are just starting out, growing your revenue or ready to move from managing to leading your business, you will find something here that will support you.

In fact, you can help too! Share your strategies for achieving your 2012 goals and objectives with us here. The first five to share their goals and strategies will get a shout out from me in our Business Booster Newsletter.

If you are looking for strong accountability to reach your 2012 goals, then why not sign up for our Business Booster Newsletter or come over to our Facebook Page!

Here's to 2012!
Deb

Three Steps for Success Planning

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:23:00 GMT

Are you great at knowing what you want to achieve, but not so good at actually pulling your goals out of your head and writing them down? You sorta know what you want to do, but aren't quite sure how to do it.

Well I want to share with you a simple process that will make this a little easier for you.

First thing is to get clear on what your objectives are for 2012. Then begin by making a list of the objectives you want to achieve this year. Be specific and include time-frames for each one. So an example may be:

I want to increase my list size by 10,000 and before September 2012.

From here, the second thing you want to do, is ask yourself:

a) What are my strategies for achieving these objectives?

b) What type of programs/services will I be selling to reach my objectives?

Take time to list all of the different strategies you can take to achieve your objectives. The clearer you are here, the easier the next step will be. So an example may be:

To develop a value add free offer that will capture peoples names and contact addresses.

To produce high quality content to use in promotional activities

And the final step is to break your strategies down into actionable steps, that you can track.

Your Success Assignment:

Now you know what the steps are to pulling together your Objectives for 2012. It's up to you to take the time now and write our your objectives (if you haven't done so already). Make them real for you, and make sure that you feel excited about what you want to achieve. If you don't then you've got the wrong objectives, and I would encourage you to go back through and look at what the best ones are for YOU!

For more accountability, why not join the conversation here or our facebook page, and share with us your 2012 Objectives.

Doing Your Very Own Ironman Triathlon

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:34:00 GMT

I'm just back from a few days in Busselton, Western Australia where I took time out to support a girlfriend who was competing in her 9th Ironman. If you're not familiar with the Ironman Triathlon it is a three disciplined event, consisting of a 3.8km (2.4mi) swim, 180km (112mi) bike ride & 42km (26.2mi) run.

I personally haven't done an Ironman since 1998 or a smaller distance tri since 2004, and the last actual Ironman I watched, was my husband's last race in 2002. So after nearly ten years of being out of the 'scene' a lot has changed in relation to equipment and technology, as you would imagine.

What hasn't changed is how important it is to 'do the work' instead of relying on the 'latest craze'. So how does doing an Ironman relate to your business?

Firstly, you need to work smarter NOT harder. When you train for a race like an Ironman, you do need to make sure you do your required training. Your coach will show you, in the peak section of your training, that doing quality rides that are longer than the 180km, and some runs that hit over the 30km mark are important to getting the miles in your legs. But you also need to make sure you allow for the recovery sessions, the weeks when you are doing less miles and allowing your body to rest and recover.

It's the same when you run your business, you really do need to plan your recovery time. This may be lighter weeks planned into your diary so that you can catch up on items that are outstanding. A long weekend away from the business, where you are able to catch up with your family and friends.

Challenge yourself in 2012 to be clear on the number of hours you want to work each week, and put strong boundaries in place to work these hours only.

Secondly, don't rely on the latest and greatest. Trust YOURSELF! Watching the race, I saw a lot of amazing bikes out there (and yes, I've seen my next new racing bike :-)), as well as running and swimming technology. But believe me, this may help you in the short term and it may make you 'feel good', but at the end of the day, it is YOU who decides whether you are going to have a good or bad race.

It's what's inside you that counts - that belief in your own ability, that belief that you can do this no matter what. That no setback is going to derail you.

I remember when I raced, that the flat that needed to be changed quickly, is only a flat tyre, it's not the end of the race. That the pain you feel in your legs, and the negative self talk in your mind, that begins at the half way mark of the run, is just what it is - pain and your mind trying to derail you - nothing more. No compression socks are going to change that!

What's important is how you respond to this pain, that's what makes the difference. How do you respond to setbacks in your business, or in your life? Do you acknowledge them for what they are, make the necessary changes, and then move forward. Or do you allow them to take over and dictate to you what you do next? It's an interesting question...

Thirdly, make sure you have the right information and don't listen to every person and their dog. My girlfriend had a goal for this race, and that was to qualify for Hawaii again. For her to do this, she had to win her age group or if she didn't do that, then hope that she would get a 'roll down'. She knew her top competitor and what her strongest leg was, so I was given the role of letting her know where this competitor was at all times!

As my girlfriend came off the bike, she was leading her age group. When I saw her in the first lap of her run leg, I let her know that the other competitor still wasn't off her bike, so she had a good lead. The run leg for a four lap event, so it was easy to know where everyone was. When she came around for her second lap, she was slightly flustered and said that someone had seen the other competitor out in front of her, so could I find out how much in front she was. So to cut a long story short, the other competitor wasn't in front of her, but was in fact an hour behind her. But because of the laps, others where getting confused and passing this information on.

In your business, find the people you trust and listen to them. Don't get caught in the grey noise of everyone out there. Yes, there maybe time when you have to change your focus and direction, but do this when you have the right information. Your business is fluid, and you need to be able to respond to change according, but don't do it as a knee jerk reaction. Look at what's not working, and then identify your best course of action. Don't go it alone, have your support team around you, and ask that they are there for you 100%, through the highs and the lows.

So in 2012, when you do your Ironman, know that I will be here for you, cheering you on from the sidelines!

Oh & yes, my girlfriend not only won her age group and a spot to Hawaii, but she also came in 20th overall in the females! Not a bad day at the office...

Five Ideas That Will Help You Build A Quality List

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:30:00 GMT

Last week, we looked at your overall list building strategy to building a quality list. So in today's article I would like to share with you five ideas around how you can do this. This isn't an exhaustive list, but it gives you some ideas on how to get started.

Idea 1: Develop A FREE Value Add Offer.

This could be a report, e-book, or video that provides something of value to your clients. Once developed, you can then post this onto your various sites, using a landing page for people to subscribe to.

Idea 2: Article Writing.

Focusing on the area of your niche. When written, use these articles by posting them onto your blog and social media pages. Upload them to be published on the various f*ee article directories that are available, as well as submitting them to the print media for publication into your niche magazine. Using your author bio to bring them back to your f*ee offer landing page. Additionally, why not do some guest blogging by connecting with others within your niche, and offer to write an article for their blog, with a back link back to your landing page.

Idea 3: Forums.

Identify the key forums where your idea clients hang out, and add value to the conversations. You can also use these forums as a place of research to see what your ideal clients are looking for in ways of products and services. When you're ready to sell your new products, you can send people to the specific landing page.

Idea 4: Social Media.

Where is it that your ideal clients hang out? Is it on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin or YouTube, or is it all four? Either way take time to set up an account on one of these Social Media sites or all four, and grow your list here.

Idea 5: Advertising

There are so many different ways that you can advertise, and now a days it doesn't have to be expensive. Set a budget for advertising, identify the best places to place your ads, and then set up a campaign that sends clients to something you have of value.

What are some of the ideas you use to build your list? We would love to continue this conversation, so please feel free to share them with us on our blog or Facebook page.

The Money Is In Your List

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:52:00 GMT

You've probably have heard the saying: "the money is in the list",

well - it's true. It is in your list. And it's a frustration that a client brought to her mentoring call this week. She was all flustered because she keeps hearing that to do any good, you've just got to have a BIG list.

What I believe is more important is that you have a responsive list!

What's the point of having a list of ten or thousands if no-one is opening your emails, let alone buying from you. Wouldn't it be better to have a smaller list, filled with clients who can't wait to open your emails and read what you have to say. Who look forward to your latest product or service launch, and are happy to purchase from you.

No I'm not saying that you stay with a small list, you do want to continue to build it, but build it strategically. The way you can do this is by being very clear on your strategy around building your list. If you have a clear strategy, you build quality rather than a quantity.

Your first strategy is to be very clear on who your ideal clients are. The clearer you can be about this, the better understanding you will have around what you can share with them. If you've worked through our e-book on 'Identifying Your Ideal Clients', you will be clear on who these people are. Take time to really understand what their concerns, challenges and dreams are. Develop your avatar about these clients and have it somewhere you can see it regularly to remind you about them.

Your second strategy is developing a relationship with your clients through the content you provide. When writing, make sure you are conversational. This isn't the time to become a bureaucratic writer!

A tip to remember is when writing articles or emails imagine that you are sitting across the table having a coffee with your ideal client. Have a conversation with them, use conversation tones and make it easy for them to get to know you.

For those of us who aren't natural writers, it does take time to get use to writing in this style. I know for me it took a while to write more conversational, as having a Defence Force background my style was very militant and rigid. Even now after many, many years I still find I'm learning from each article I write.

The final strategy is to be aware of how you position yourself. You want your clients to see you as a leader within the marketplace. To see you as someone who is willing to take a stand on what you believe in and inspire others. Someone who is willing to tell your story to connect with your clients.

Think about the e-newsletters you currently open and read, what makes you want to open those particular emails? My guess is that it has less to do with the instructional information, but more to do with the individual person and how you see them...

Now you've got a strategy to follow, what are some of the tactics you've used to build your list? Please share them with us on our blog or Facebook page.

How To Get Your Article In Front Of A Magazine Editor!

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:12:00 GMT

This is another - grab yourself a coffee, pen & paper, and take 25 mins to listen to my interview with the fabulous Jen Bishop - Editor of Dynamic Business Magazine.

Find out the steps to take to have your articles published to greater credibility...

If you want to know a little more about Jen and Dynamic Business Magazine, here you go:

Jen is the publisher at Loyalty Media and editor of Dynamic Business, Australia's largest circulating small business magazine. Her work in the UK and Australia covers newspapers, magazines, internal communications and custom publishing. She developed fast, sharp writing skills during her professional training as a newspaper reporter. Since then, she has proven herself as editor of several publications. Her ability to manage the commercial side of a publication while balancing this with reader value and editorial integrity sees her successfully juggling the roles of editor and publisher on Australia's leading small business magazine. Her other assets are strong people management skills and excellent relationships with PRs and the wider business community. She is founder and organiser of the popular Sydney networking group PRJournoLove.

As Australia’s highest circulating magazine for SMEs, Dynamic Business Magazine is packed with critical information on how to start, manage and grow a small business, with expert advice from industry experts, along with all the latest business tips and tricks and successful entrepreneur profiles.

Listen here to Jen's advice...

How Facebook Changes May Affect Your Facebook Fan Page or Profile

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:06:00 GMT

Today's article is from our guest writer: Kim Garst of Social Media Branding...

Facebook Statistics Shows Changes are Hard on Average Page Owners

Recent Facebook changes have been hard on Facebook Page owners, who need the social engagement to drive their product and brand. But while the changes have meant some bad news for page owners, there seemed to be a silver lining.

Frustrated page owners might not see that silver lining though, if they are in an overwhelming majority of smaller pages with smaller fanbases.

Facebook statistics prepared by *Edgerank tell part of the story

Statistics released by Edgerank show impressions have dropped for most Facebook Pages on the heels of the social media giant's newest changes to the news stream last month. These preliminary findings show that Impressions--the number of folks in the regular

Facebook news stream who see your post--have dropped by about 22% overall.

Pages are receiving 14% more comments and even 16% more likes per post as well, according to Edgerank. The unseen benefit disappears upon closer analysis for the average page, Edgrank warns, and average pages might actually experience drops across the board:

"When analyzing the median of the data in regards to Impressions, Likes and Comments, we found a more dismal picture. The following was evident when analyzing the median data:

Impressions declined 24%
Likes declined 15%
Comments declined 20%

When looking at the median of the data, the results are obviously quite different. However, this data may more accurately paint a picture of what an actual average Page may be experiencing.

Well, that seems depressing. How can smaller page owners counter this problem?

Quality content is an absolute must!

The key, as always, is getting your content in front of more people, getting more shares to keep it in the news stream longer, and creating premium content that will make folks want to share.

How Facebook's Newsfeed works for and against page owners

The newer combined news feed basically gives users three ways to see your page content: because it is a "top story," a "recent story," or from "earlier today." What's this mean?

For your audience to see your posts it either has to be posted while or just before they are looking at their news feed (a recent story); it has to be something that they will read upon scrolling through the day's previous posts (an earlier story); or it has to be relevant enough to them and popular enough that it stays in their news stream.

Uhuh, and?

You can't control whether your story will be recent for most people (except by posting at optimal times of the day, but more on that later) or whether they will see it when they scroll through stories from earlier in the day, but you can capitalize on whether it shows in your audience's stream because it is a popular story.

How?

By creating content that receives likes and comments, content that is shared, quality content. "Top stories" shows updates that are liked and shared extensively, and updates that your audience's friends and Pages have liked, commented, or shared frequently.

Facebook's changes to the news feed mean that page owners will find it more important than ever before to have engaging content that moves their audience to comment, share, and like their posts.

What about you? Have you experienced a drop in impressions? How about likes and comments? How have you responded to Facebook's new changes?

*Statistics from: http://edgerankchecker.com/blog/2011/10/1-month-study-impact-of-new-hybrid-news-feed/

This article was first published by Social Media Branding. To receive Kim's "30 Fun and Creative Ways To Increase Your Facebook Likes", go to kimgarst.com and claim your free eBook NOW!

'Build Your Business & Get Results'

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:02:00 GMT

It's that time of year again, when it's important to start planning and making a decision about your business success for 2012...

Our 2012 'Build Your Business & Get Results'

Coaching Program Is NOW Open!

Are you ready?

In 2012, we are working with a limited number of clients to transform their businesses. Over 6 months, we will be working together closely in our one on one and group coaching program - this is for those of you who are serious about making a difference to your business in 2012.

We are accepting ONLY the following clients:

15 clients into our "The Essentials" Program
10 clients into our "Essential Mastery" Program
7 clients into our "The Maven" Program

For more details on each level - click here.

Don't wait to make your decision! Registration is OPENED, and with numbers limited - our programs will sell out...

These programs are going to be stronger than anything we've ever done before. And I'm looking forward to seeing your business grow like you could never imagine.

If you're ready to put yourself forward, and take the required action, then I'm ready to bring to the table all I know and have learnt about building successful businesses.

I'm looking forward to working with you in 2012.

Yours in success

Deb

Ps. Go ahead - let's work together in 2012

PPS. Feel free to forward this email on to others you think might be interested in attending...

Helping you to start, grow and lead your business, so that you can create the life you want...

Four Simple Leadership Questions To Ask Yourself

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:55:00 GMT

Be a leader, not a business owner!

Leadership I believe is one of the critical links to business success, yet often as small business owners we can struggle to see ourselves as a leader. We see ourselves as a business owner, as a doer in our business, as a motivator of staff (if we have any). It is something that needs to be focused on.

Leadership is about developing a vision, about developing your personal vision of success for you both professionally and personally.

I want to share with you four questions that I have used frequently over the past 10 years with my clients. These are very simple questions that I heard from a keynote speaker at a conference I attended years ago. These questions will help you to build your personal framework around being a leader.

1 . How do you see yourself as a leader?

Ask yourself: What is your leadership point of view?
How would you describe your leadership style?
What matters to you in terms of your leadership?
Do you see yourself as a leader?

2. How do others see you?

Ask yourself: Do you know?
Do you care?
Are you right? (i.e. is your information accurate?)
How do you assess this every day of the week?

Note: Some of the best leaders are extremely conscious of how people see them. They ask for feedback frequently and evaluate it. They think about it daily and ask themselves:
“Is what I mean being perceived the way I intended”? “ If not, how do I need to change my message?”

3. How do you want to be seen?

This involves needs and values. If we don’t know the needs and values we are driven by, they can wreak havoc in our environment. The best leaders are in pursuit of respect first and popularity second.

4. How must and should you be seen to be effective?

If you don’t know this, then working with a mentor can help you look at the gaps and help you to see what you need to do tomorrow to be seen as more effective.

Once you've answered the questions above, and if you're ready for it, I'd like to share with you an exercise that I do each year around December time.

It's an exercise that one of my Lecturer's recommended we do, when I was studying for my Masters Degree, and it's again a tool that has always stuck with me.

It's interesting because it's an exercise I would always use with my corporate clients, and these where in some cases jaded Senior Executives and CEO's who didn't feel as if they had much control over their lives. At times they would resist this exercise, but the ones who took the time out and completed it, always feed back how profound they found it.

When I moved my focus back to small business owners for some reason I stopped asking my clients to look at this exercise. I'm not sure why? But after my recent realisation that I had stopped leading my business, I looked at my current letter to the future, and it helped me regain my balance, and now I would like you to try it out...

Here's how it works:

Writing Your Letter To The Future

Find a quiet space to begin, and have your journal (or a piece of paper) in hand.

Write the date that is into the future. I normally do 31st December, speaking about what has happened in the year.
Write a salutation (greeting) to yourself.
Start of with your first paragraph explaining the reason you are writing the letter to yourself.
Then go into what has happened for you in the past twelve months - be specific! For each part of your life, create a new paragraph. The more specific you are, the more real it is. Take time to develop this letter. Once you feel that your letter is complete...
Sign off on your letter.

Place your letter in a safe place, ready to be read at that time in the future.

As always, please feel free to share with me your experience in writing your letter to the future.

Want to use this Article?

I would be honoured if you did, just be sure to use it in full and include the following information:

Deb Pilgrim helps you start, grow and lead your business, so that you can create the life you want. When you work with Deb, you get the results you always knew you could! To find out more about how you can work with Deb visit her website, and whilst you are there download her latest report that will show you how to be one of the Top 5% of Entrepreneurs who succeed.