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!

When we sent out a survey earlier this week, we wanted to find out what areas you were struggling in.  With the results coming in, you are telling me that the greatest struggle you have in building your business is not enough clients and lack of time.

In fact, more than 40% of you said that your key struggle in building your business was not having enough clients.

Another 40% said you didn’t feel like you had enough time….

Today, let’s focus on the area of you not having enough clients, and what you can do to change this.  There are numerous ways in which you can build your client list, and in later articles we will discuss these. For now I am going to focus on three strategies that you will be able to put in place that won't cost you the earth, and that can have immediate impact.

But before we go there, let’s just take a step back and make sure you have addressed the following two key areas:

1)  Do you understand who your ideal clients are, and do you speak their language?  This is one area that my clients have great success in – when they get into the heads of their clients and use their language.  Once you start to use your potential clients language, they will tell you the reason they want to work with you, is because when you wrote your newsletter or spoke on stage, it felt like you were speaking directly to them.  They feel you understand them.  If you want to take this a step further, and not only understand them from a head view, take the time to get into their hearts. This is were you can make a real difference for them.

2)  Are you sure that you are providing a solution that your clients need, and not providing a solution that you think your clients need? 

This one can be tricky! When was the last time you actually stopped to ask your clients what they need, or listened to what they are telling you, around what else they want from you.  Your clients are an endless source of information, so take the time to let them tell you want they want next.

Now lets say you have the two areas above sorted, what are three key steps you can take now, to make a difference in having enough clients for your business.

1)  Develop your signature speech, and present at meetings or conferences that are going to contain your ideal clients.

Now before you roll your eyes and tell me 'this isn’t going to happen', hear me out. 

If your service provides a solution for your clients, and you know your stuff, you will be able to develop a presentation that rocks! 

What you want to make sure is that as you develop your signature speech, you put in place a process that will allow you to effortlessly sell from stage. And, whether this is one of your big-ticket programs or your list building product, it doesn’t really matter. 

What you are doing is building more credibility, because you see, the moment you step on stage you automatically have authority, and people want to know more about what you do. In most cases, you’ve automatically gained their trust and as you know when doing business, trust is a must.

2)  Identify businesses or Joint Venture Partners who can refer clients to you.  

This particular action can create an influx of new clients to you, if done well.  Let me share a story of one of my VIP mentor clients, who when we started working together, needed to find new clients quickly.

What we did was brainstormed all the different types of businesses in their area that could possibly refer work to them.  Once we had a list together, my client committed to making contact with these possible referral partners.  At first she was sceptical as to whether this would work, so to support her, we developed a meeting script that she could use to make sure she was as effective as possible.  As she started meeting with these referral partners, a funny thing happened -  they began to refer their clients to her!  Now she wasn’t in competition with these referral partners, in fact her service provided a solution for them, so it was easy for them to refer to her.  

In your own business, who could be a referral partner for you? 

3)  Attend business clubs or networking functions.

There are lots of different referral groups, networking events and business clubs out there for you to attend.  Identify the right one for you and begin to engage and connect with other members.

Depending on what type of group it is, will depend on how quickly you may start to receive referrals.  Remember to engage and connect with other members, so that not only do you know better how to support them, but they will also understand how they can support you.

Now….time to take action!  What strategy will work best for you?  Once you decide then go off and put it into place.  What have you got to lose? 

I would love for you to share your thoughts with us!