Marketing Daily Tips

A seasoned networker knows the real meaning of networking –
being organized, efficient, effective, and, of course, work
the event to its fullest. Attending networking groups after
so many years can tire and drain anyone’s excitement.
Especially since these situations are not social events. It
is easy to have one foot in the event and the other some
place else. A major challenge for all networkers is to be
there with both feet.

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Hello everyone! Have you ever been curious about something, and wanted to learn about it? If you’re like me, I am a pretty curious fellow, I really like to learn.

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How to sell more and sell quickly online for your products and service? Here is the long list for your reference.

1. Turn your ad copy into a story or article. Your visitors won’t be as hesitant to read your ad and will become more interested in your product.

2. Give visitors a freebie for filling out your online survey or they usually won’t. Surveys will give your business valuable intelligence for your business

3. Enhance the power of your ad copy benefits by using attention getting words, highlighting keywords, using color, bolding key phrases, underlining.

4. Give your visitors tons of choices so they don’t get the feeling of being controlled. Offer them a variety of ways to order, contact you, navigate.

5. Put yourself in your visitors shoes. Design your site for them, not for yourself. Create your product around your visitors not because you would buy it.

6. Get free advice from successful online business owners. Participate in business chat rooms and message boards to chat with them.

7. Use your free bonuses to create an urgency for your visitors to buy. Only offer them for a limited time with your main product.

8. Offer your customers extra add-on products at the point of purchase. For example, if they are buying an electronic toy try to sell batteries with it.

9. Make your visitors feel good about themselves by giving them compliments. If they feel good they will also feel good about buying from your web site.

10. Add multiple profits to your web site. If you’re selling business books try to sell business services, courses and supplies too.

11. Maximize the effectiveness of your banner ads. Don’t just use the same ad on every banner, use a variety to attract the greatest number of clickers.

12. Make your web site load much faster by cutting down on banner ads and start using more buttons. Button ads are also smaller and take up less space.

13. Offer free advertising space to well known and respected companies on your web site. Sometimes people link their business credibility to yours.

14. People have been taught all their life to respect people in authority. Tell your visitors that you are the president or CEO of your business.

15. Offer people a free telephone consultation before they order your product. When they get to know you personally, it could convert to more sales.

16. Test the “bill me later option” on your web site. Most people are honest and will pay you. It is a powerful little niche and could increase your sales.

17. Find a charity your target audience would likely support. Tell people on your ad copy that you will give a percentage of the profits to that charity.

18. Hold a “buy the most wins contest” on your web site. Tell people each monthly winner will get their entire purchase refunded.

19. Attract visitors to your web site by offering them a free course. You could package the course on a follow-up autoresponder and send lessons daily.

20. Interview people related to your industry and get their legal permission to convert it to an article. Promote your web site by submitting it to ezines.

21. Make your reader visualize they have already bought your product in your ad. Tell them what results they have gotten and how it makes them feel. They’ll already become emotionally attached before they buy.

22. Turn your ad into an article. It could be a story, or how-to article. This will lead them into your ad without them knowing it’s an ad. They’ll already be interested when they get to your sales pitch.

23. Make sure you show your reader that they are getting a bargain. Tell them the usual price you sell your product for is $99. Then tell them if they order today they can buy it for $69.95.

24. Direct your ad headline to your target audience. Your readers will feel important and belong to a select group of people who buy your product. For example; “Attention! Accountants, Discover A New Way To Increase Your Client Base!”

25. Tell your reader how fast they can receive your product or service in your ad. Their buying decision may be based on how fast they can receive your product. They may need it by a certain deadline.

26. Use bullets to highlight your product or services benefits. Benefits are the key to selling anything, make them standout in your ad. You can use dots, dashes, or circles to highlight them.

27. Give a money back guarantee that surpasses a normal one. Instead of the normal timed guarantee, give them extra back. Tell them they can keep the free bonus or give them double their money back.

28. Tell your reader they’ll receive surprise bonuses. This’ll raise your reader’s curiosity and make them want to buy so they can find out what the surprise bonuses are.

29. Let your reader know this specific package will not be offered again. You must create urgency so people buy now. You may always sell the same product but not with the same bonuses or price.

30. Give them a couple tips in your ad that will help them with their problem. This will give your business credibility and gain your readers trust to buy your products or services.

For more techniques and promotional tools, you can visit http://www.best-internet-businesses.com

You can print this long list and put it besides your computer. It will be very benefit to you and remind you what you can use for your profit.

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Here are three alternatives to increase your testimonial numbers or their quality. Create an online diary or blog, use an auto responder method, set up a form on your web site or set up a survey.

1 — Set up an Online Diary

Usually an online diary is a fun way to keep friends and family up to date on what is going on in your life. Online diaries can also be used for testimonial submission with conversational style recommendations about your product/service. Online diaries are offered on many web sites, even famous persons like Oprah, Dr. Phil, or Tony Robbins.

You set it up on their site and paste the page link into your “thank you for purchase” auto responder, on your web site or into other marketing materials. Include a 1-2-3 learning experience on what is included in a good testimonial with various examples. People will appreciate the learning opportunity by taking the time to complete the process. In addition, their quality will increase.

Online diaries are updated frequently, thus giving a higher perceived value. They also have a warmer conversational style that increases reader connection. Because a diary is considered “private”, it increases curiosity and they will read longer.

Two additional blessings are that you will save transfer time and others will read the other comments.

The offside is that you will want to monitor the entries to avoid some kids having fun.

You can also enter regularly updated customer comments received through other means on the product/service improved their life.

You can increase credibility by including the customer’s profile. Include their picture or audio testimonial or a video segment of them using the product. You can also scan in and include handwritten letters or notes you receive.

A blog is an upgrade of the online diary with additional controls.

There was online diary software available to help you set up your own online diary, however, blog software replaced it.

Resources:

Set up your own diary at: http://www.diaryland.com/. They provide a personalized URL: your-name.diaryland.com. I recommend this resource because I like the personalization capability.

Here is a course on how to set up an online diary at: http://personalweb.about.com/cs/htmltutorials/a/310emailcourse.htm

Here is some great startup information on blogs: http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/writing/blogging.html

2 — Auto responder Method

After they make a purchase or receive a freebie set up an automatic auto responder requesting a testimonial. You can include a link to the online diary as the only choice or as part of multiple submission options.

If you offer an ecourse, forward them a progress report request. This can easily be set up in the auto responder system for easier production. Ask them no more than 3-5 questions that don’t encourage yes/ no answers. Ask them to rate their learning experience or make suggestions too.

Resources:

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Having a marketing strategy and marketing approach is very important. Thus, instead of recreating the wheel, here is a short, sweet, easy-to-understand marketing strategy template to help you place your ducks are in a row in designing your marketing strategy.

MARKETING STRATEGY FOR INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS …coaches, consultants, accountants, lawyers…

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Business Strengths

Our extensive knowledge of the adventure travel industry is our greatest strength, in addition to our positioning in the region.

Business Weaknesses

The greatest weakness our business faces is our ability to handle new competition. Currently, we are the only providers of our services in the area, and any competitor that moves in will pose a threat to our stability.

BUSINESS GOALS

Profit

Our current profit goals are: Year Two: $__________ post-tax profit Year Three: $________ post-tax profit We have not established any other long-range profit goals at this time

Sales

Our long-term sales goals are to operate at or close to cash flow break-even by Year Two and to be profitable from Year One onward. We would like our profit margin to be 7 percent by Year Three.

Marketing

Our long-term marketing goals are to develop an extensive Web site, to increase our public relations activities, and to create an informative store window to draw in customers.

POSITION IN THE MARKETPLACE

Description of Our Customers

Our customers are ___ to ___-year-old professionals, married or unmarried, without children, who are ___________.

Our Customers’ Needs

Our target customers are looking for customized planning services that will provide them with all the information necessary to take an adventure vacation in Europe. Often, they do not have the time or the resources to do the research themselves, so they turn to us for hassle-free planning services.

Why Our Customers Choose Us

Our well-informed, up-to-date staff, combined with our extensive knowledge of the ______________, allows us to surpass the services provided by other agencies.

What Sets Us Apart From the Competition

What sets our company apart from our competitors is the fact that we sell custom-designed packages for people. We ask them questions, find out exactly what they want and need, and direct them to the appropriate destinations.

MARKETING CAMPAIGN SPECIFICS

STRATEGY

Goals of the Campaign

We would like to increase our visibility, attract new customers, and display special offers that are currently available.

Campaign Focus: Specific Products or General Promotion?

Our primary focus is to expand our customer base. We would also like to keep our current customers aware of special promotions we are offering and secure their future business with us.

Products to be Advertised

We will be advertising our complete range of European adventure travel services, special discounts on travel packages, and sales on seasonal clothing and gear.

Measurements of Success

We will measure this ad campaign’s success by the number of inquiries received after its launch. This includes phone inquiries as well as inquiries made in person at the store.

Evaluation of Effectiveness

We will be reviewing the campaign’s effectiveness one month after its launch. We will evaluate its effectiveness based on the number of inquires we receive and any corresponding increase in revenue.

MESSAGE

Our Marketing Message:

No one knows more about [what] than [Your name]. TIME FRAME

Campaign Start Date

We will launch this marketing campaign in ________.

Length of Campaign

This campaign will run through __________, for a total of ________ months.

BUDGET

Annual Marketing Budget $40,000

Budget For This Campaign

$81,025. This includes $41,325 for Web site and database design, implementation, and hardware purchases, which will be useful for more than one year and will therefore be capitalized and depreciated accordingly.

Cost-Saving Measures

We plan to keep advertising costs down by targeting the most appropriate advertising methods for our business, which include online advertising, newspaper ads, and classified ads.

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Expanding your subscriber list, whether it be for your ezine, newsletter — printed or electronic — takes persistence, and commitment. Not to mention time and letting go of the frustruation of it all.

Marketing Master, Catherine Franz, is sharing with you twenty- one methods, strategies, and ideas all located in one spot on how you can expand your list.

1. Keep your subscription form easy to find on every web page. Preferably, add it on your navigational bar. If the form is to large for the bar or page, add a hyperlink and send them to a popup or a separate page so that the previous page on your site doesn’t disappear. It is easy for them to return.

2. Not only must the form be easy to see, it also needs to be easy to read. Label each field. I’ve seen a few where I didn’t know what to enter. Be kind to computer readers suffering from dry eyes, make the font large and easy to read.

3. Do you write your own ezine articles? Add a “please subscribe here line to your byline. Begin the line with a benefit they get from subscribing and then add a few invitational words along with a URL hyperlink. Example: “Learn more about this topic. Subscribe to [name of your ezine] by visiting….”

4. Generally, people are impulse buyers. So, give them that impulse. Give away a free ebook. Instead of letting them see that the ebook is free. Regularly charge for the eBook. Six dollars is a good price, just explain them that it is a limited special offer.

They will perceive it even more valuable when there is a price connected to it. An example of the wording could go like, “Normally this ebook sells for $6 at [your web site URL or even a middle man ebook site].” Always give them a reason why you are giving it to them free. Make the reason believable.

5. Do you belong to networking groups, or attend other events? Invite everyone you meet if they would like to register for your ezine. Give them a story about the free, but not so free, ebook offer. Always, make this offer limited.

In fact, have a list of these free but-not-free ebooks, written either by you, affiliates, or from resale right products. Move them around. Put one on the calendar for January through December and then repeat them the next year. Then in the third year, change it. Also, share with them how easy it is to opt-out if they don’t like the ezine and they can keep the ebook.

6. Don’t stop at networking groups, contact trade or professional organizations you do or don’t belong to that have a high percentage of your type of readers. Ask for the membership list. Look for the people you have identified as your gatekeepers (people that know lots of others in your target market).

For accountants, it’s lawyers and bankers. Call them and introduce yourself. Ask if they could recommend your ezine to a few of their friends. You can also attend their networking events and ask, ask, ask.

7. Instead, or in addition to, calling the gatekeepers you have identified on the membership lists, you can send them a letter of introduction — a direct mail piece. The piece can ask them (a call to action) to visit your web site for more information on your newsletter and/or receive a copy of the free but-not-free ebook.

8. Share the wealth. Exchange recommendations to each other’s newsletter. Be prepared for these so that it doesn’t cost you valuable time when you are working on a deadline. If you work with a virtual assistant, let them respond to these opportunities. Prepare three or four examples and offer the exchanger their choice to use one that they feel is appropriate for their audience. Ask them for a reciprocal and equal announcement.

9. Make comments and include your byline at the end. Comments can be product review on Amazon, ezines you enjoy, or local newspapers. Give suggestions, share your stories on how it helped you, ask questions, or give ideas that emerged from your reading. Blogs are also good places to comment on as well.

10. It takes 7 times before people start to trust. Present them 7 opportunities to have two-way conversations with you. Not one-way conversations (you write, they read). Provide the two-way with surveys, questions, contests, games, things that they need to ask for are just a few.

If you are offering a contest, send them a testimonial from the winner. If you can, create an opportunity for many winners. It spreads the hope and attraction.

11. Use a conversational writing tone. It makes a connection. Yet, don’t get lax on the grammar and spelling. Use personal pronouns (I, me, you and your). Limit the percentage of I’s to half or less of the yous.

12. Spread the knowledge even further by asking your readership to forward a copy of your ezine to family members, friends, colleagues, or co-workers. Create a “please forward this ezine to” line or two. Give them an incentive, offer a free but-not-free item. This can be challenging to design.

13. Do you give presentations with slides or a projection system? Add a paragraph about your ezine and how to get it on the test slide. A test slide is the slide you leave up there when they are seating themselves. Leave it displayed until a few minutes before your presentation and then turn it off.

By turning it off, it creates a “loss feeling” and they will pay attention to it the next time you turn it on. Turn the system on with the test slide displayed and then switch to the next slide. The next slide can explain how they can get your free but-not-for-free product and the directions on how to receive it. Return to this same slide at the end of your presentation.

14. At this same presentation, pass around a clipboard asking them if they want to register for ezine. Start passing at the beginning or even before you start. Use a short piece, different colored paper, with a note about the free but-not-free item. Give them three incentives to register at that time.

15. Send out a press release every time you have a new free but-not-free item available. Send whenever you have new context, new article published, or whenever anything else occurs. Since press releases require special writing, you might want to delegate this, especially if you are challenged with writing from another perspective.

If you choose to learn the lingo, you can learn the how-tos with a Google search: Search example: “press release” and “how to”. Leave in the quote marks. Don’t be nervous about sending out too many, some are always missed. http://www.prweb.com/ is a great place to post your press releases.

16. Locate web sites that give out awards for outstanding ezines. Apply and keep applying. Keep tweaking. Look at previous winners and model. When you do win one, post it everywhere on your site and on every issue of your ezine for a year. Also, send out a press release when you do. If they create a press release as well, ask to use that one. Make copies of theirs and give it out at networking events. Remember, you can’t win the lotto unless you play. So, get in the game, and apply. Try: http://emailuniverse.com/bestezines/ or search on Google with: “ezine award”.

17. I’m frequently asked, “How much information should I ask for?” My recommendation is to KISS your subscriber form — “keep it short and simple.” Ask for the e-mail address and/or their first name. If you ask for their first name, tell them why. Example: We like to personalize our correspondence with our subscribers.”

18. Set up section for past issues of your e-newsletters. I recommend just listing their main topic or name of the article and not by date. People don’t like to read things that they consider “old news”. If you use a pdf format to deliver past issues there are pros and cons. The pros are: pdf files are smaller to store and send. The con is that you loose the opportunity for tagging the item for search engine listing.

19. After you post your articles in the ezine, expand or submit as is to multi-media web sites. Possibility: http://www.goarticles.com. Locations where publishers and editors will pick up the article. Normally, there are no fees paid, just opportunity for visibility. When published send out a press release. Link their site, not yours, in the press release, Send them a copy of the release.

20. Readers are tired of not getting any value and are dropping off lists fast. faster than ever. To keep them there you MUST provide valuable information (their perception not yours). The 25/75% rule (you give them 25% and sell them the remaining 75%) is acceptable. After reading thousands of ezines, I found many publishers don’t come close to providing that percentage.

21. Add an invitation to all your automatic e-mail signatures. Also, mention the free but-not-free item of the month. Include an expiration date for that free but-not- free offer. Change the e-mail signatures weekly to maintain interest.

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If a nonexistent man can change the world and millions of people with a message of joy then his marketing plan surely works. Right? Then what has Santa been doing right all these years that we can learn from?

Santa’s message is short–joy. His target market– children and the young at heart. When you think of name Santa, you automatically associate it with giving, kindness, thoughtfulness, joy, magic, and usually a lighter heart.

Yet, his campaign began long ago in another country with a different brand. There have been songs about him, plays, movies, and more TV shows than any other brand.

Let’s examine how Santa markets. Afterwards, let take a few minutes and see how it compares to you. It is natural to feel intimidated being compared to Santa, everyone feels that way at first. First, kick the intimidation in the “ass”ets. You can’t compete and you don’t want to.

Be inspired. Santa’s given you proof it can be done. Santa looks invisible until you see the children’s eyes and smiles. Even as adults, we set aside our worries and allow joy in. And Santa does this without saying a word — proves the power of nonverbal communication. And let’s not forget his profitability!

Santa uses a solid yet standard psychological system that has stood the test of time and distance. His first main marketing principle is consistency. For hundreds of years he’s delivered one brand, one message and a powerful visual image. It works for him, thus, it will work for you. Consistency includes the ripple effect. Every one of your contacts ripples the world. The tree that falls in the quiet forest is heard.

Your message needs to be consistent everywhere in your business — voice service, web site, you’re your shopping, or sitting waiting for a bus. This means being consistent 24/7 and being whom you want to attract. It is walking our talk. Consistency makes bank accounts ring jingle bells.

Take another moment, think of where you are or want to be consistent in your business. Make a list of three each day and the go make the changes. Check your e-mail signature and tone, business card, and web site. Is it consistently saying the one word that you want people to remember? One uncomplicated word. People remember simple. KISS it — keep it short and simple.

Like Santa’s “joy,” what one word do you want people to walk away with every time they connect with you or your business? Mine is “inspired.” It is the one word that I want everyone to receive whenever they connect with me. What is your word? This is a word that tickles your Twinkie and you want it to ring bells whatever roof top it lands.

The word will have derivatives, like inspirational. If you look up “joy” in the “Flip Dictionary” (Barbara Ann Kipfer), its derivatives are: amusement, beatitude, bliss, cheerfulness, delight, ecstasy, elation, enjoyment, excitement, exhilaration, felicity, festivity, gaiety, gladness, glee, happiness, jubilation, mirth, pleasure, rapture, satisfaction, and solace.

Santa’s second marketing principle is his ability to leverage resources and spread his message. He provides the message, doesn’t wait until we figure out what to say, and tell you exactly what he wants you to say to others. Give others the tools to smoothly give your message away. People appreciate having the “right” words.

Third, when you connect the word with positive energy it becomes a trend. If you focus on the negative aspects then it is a fad. Words connect feelings and energy and can be rocky or smooth. Smooth is easier to share. Fads are still important because they help with short-term revenue and keep the trend alive and moving. Many toys are fads placed inside the Christmas trend.

Let’s take a look at Santa’s hat, furry red suit and boots. Do you know anyone who delivers their product on a sleigh, with reindeer, and gifts in the middle of the night? Yet, it’s made one heck of an impact in nonverbal communications, hasn’t it? The fourth Santa principle creating a difference. Santa, like FEDEX, stands out with his delivery system. The US mail carrier comes close but still misses the mark. Yet, their uniforms don’t compare, do they?

Okay, another “thinking” break. What do you that is different or makes a difference? Do you where a uniform or deliver your products in some different way? What can you do that would be simple, effective, and make a difference? Create a list of small and large. How about your phone or e-mail response rate? Maybe you only want to deliver one way, by FEDEX or by hand.

Make a list of your customer contact points. What difference can you make at those points that would make a difference in quality to your customer? Sell ebooks, offer a printed by mail version. How does your business card show your difference?

Here is a KEY point to the difference principle never mention. Shh…it’s our secret. The difference must also be customer-oriented.

Let’s brainstorm together. A professional organizer removes clutter. They could choose the words: clutter remover. Chuckle, similar to a trash remover. A coach could use Rudolph as an inspiration. Like the red-nose reindeer, they both provide a beacon for clearer navigation. Then isn’t a life coach a “life navigator”. Both Rudolph and a life coach also “lights the way for others.” Chuckle, love to brainstorm.

Fifth, Santa checks his list to see who has been naughty and nice. Do you have a nice list? What puts them on your good list or moves them to the naughty list? What are the “gifts” for the people on the “nice” list? Create a possible gift list, let your brainstorming powers jump all over the place. How do you treat your list? Is it in a shoe box or on the computer but not backed up? Do you stay in contact with your list? How often?

Sixth, Santa gives first and then receives his cookies and milk. Are you asking for the cookies and milk first? Psychologically, people like people who first give their time, money or knowledge. It sends the message, “Here I am, let me show you why you want to trust me.” Give and then be a gracious receiver. Tell them whether you like chocolate, 2% milk or a Diet Coke with your cookies.

Know where the boundary is on how much you give so that your energy doesn’t change to anger. Even Santa has boundaries. Stop now and create a list of gift possibilities. “What can you give?” Give with an unchained heart, clear boundaries, no attached expectations, and success will connect with you.

The seventh Santa principle is his loyal and life long customers. Even though the relationship changes with his customer’s age, his message of joy and good cheer remains generation after generation. Santa ties you into a solid loyalty program that people want to keep. His technique is “customer create customer.” Quite different from other marketing messages of “advertising creates customers.”

Deep breath, we coming to the close, how do your customers create other customers? Leverage this resource. It’s cheaper too. What happened to the customers that bought from you this past year? What are your loyalty building policies and procedures? None, then you need to focus in and create one. Don’t let customers fall of your sleigh. Go strap them in with seat belts. Yes, Santa’s sleight has seat belts now.

Okay, you’re sold. You want to market like Santa. Did you stop in-between each one, take notes, and know how you currently stand on each of Santa’s principles? Are you willing to play full out, as Santa does? Borrow Rudolph’s nose and get some support to help light your way. Or borrow one of the other reindeer and create a new direction?

Okay, find your Santa hat, sit down with milk and cookies, spread your notes out and make your priority list and make one decision. Which one do you want to tackle first? Which one will make the biggest difference? Make a list of messages with your one word that you want others to share.

Let my inspiration jump from my heart to yours. Then pass it along to someone else to inspire again — “customer to customer” or in this case “reader to reader.” Good tidings to all and to all a good night.

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As a business owner, you know how valuable being good at marketing is. Yet, I have found working with business owners for the past 20 plus years that 99.9% of them have never defined what a good marketer is — what it means in their terms.

Let’s take a moment right now and think about what you are measuring yourself against. Without a measurement, you can’t possibly know what you are shooting for and this will lead to a misconstrued representation or always believing you are never good enough or doing enough.

Yes, the best measurement of good marketing is the revenue you are receiving. Yes, there’s nothing like the confirmation that people are opening their wallets to your business. There’s also feedback — the testimonials — they are good for pats on the back or to show other people that someone cares about what you offer. Is that it though? To most big companies it always the bottom line — profit after taxes. It’s how much the stockholders make or some other reference to money.

Yet for entrepreneurs who purposes when their own direction because they “wanted something more” what is the measurement. What is the “something more?” Okay, you want to be happy and have fun along way. Oops and before I forget to have balance between the business and the rest of your life.

Hey, I think we’ve made good progress so far in starting to define what your measurement definition of a “good marketer” is, didn’t we? Not actually, we defined what you want for the whole business most of the time with a few exceptions, like the revenue. But what makes up a “good marketer” in your definition.

Great, I love challenges, don’t you? Today, let’s take a few minutes out sometime and ask ourselves, “What is my measurement of who I would be if I were a good marketer?” Here is a list of questions to guide you as you think through and create our own definition. On a scale of 1-10, give each of these a measurement of where you know you stand right at this moment.

1. How well do you think you know who you are selling to or who has purchased from you in the past?

2. How well do you KNOW the principles of marketing?

3. How well do you practice those principles?

4. How well does the public understand what you do?

5. How do you teach them what they need to know to understand what you do?

6. Are you leaving it up to someone else to do this, or have you taken it upon yourself to make sure you educate at every possible opportunity?

7. How well do you know what you are selling - your uniqueness, your product’s uniqueness?

6. Do you change your marketing strategy frequently whenever you get tired of it?

7. Is the change timing when the market has changed or when you are tired of it?

8. Are you enjoying what you have accomplishments or beating yourself up for what is left to do?

9. Are you enjoying the learning process as fun or frustrating? Are you allowing additional time to learn and grow? Are you including the learning time to be included in with the “this needs to give me results” time? How are you measuring that growth?

10. Do you repeat your offers frequently? Did you know that the “open” rate of emails is only 48% on a good day and 8% on a bad day? The 48% rate is for opt-in material. This means that there are a low number of people taking the time to read your material most of the time. This is why it is important to repeat your messages. Yes, a few will read it several times, however, they will use the delete key quickly.

11.Are you commitment 100% to marketing when you do it? Are you playing full out when you are in marketing mode, or is your heart only half in it?

12.Is it making the money you expected?

13.Do you take “no” personally?

14.Do you take good care of your health and other parts of your life as well?

There are lots more questions that you may want to ask yourself. What you want to come up with are 5-7 measurements for you to measure yourself against. If you still are having problems with defining this for yourself, ask other people who you feel meet that description.

Is all of it dependent on “results” only? When I get” when I’m over there” when I have $X dollars in the bank, then I will be a good marketer.

When you know what you are shooting for you will not ever come short or overshoot. This will keep you focused, clear and very attractive in the universe. Especially since most of it is competing against you.

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An inexpensive way to promote your services is to create various flyers and distribute them wherever you go — pin them to the bulletin boards at the library, bookstore, handout out at networking events, or playing tennis. Here are 10 tips on how to get your flyer noticed and remembered.

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Just like there are reverse dictionaries, there is a reason to create a count down calendar. A count down calendar starts with Franklin Covey’s philosophy, “start with the end in mind.”

The biggest advantage to a countdown calendar is that it makes you think and focus harder as well as makes the planning easier.

First, you write down the exact results you want or expect. Let’s say you have a teleclass, seminar, speaking engagement you are delivering on X date. This becomes your D-day — sort of speaking. It may be end of the event planning, however, it can also be the beginning of your follow-up plan. For simplicity sake, let us stop at the D-day point.

Now you can prepare a count down calendar in several ways. One way would be to use a calendar with the days of the month filled in. You mark down the D-day and then you back track from there to today.

Count down the days until __________. Number of marketing days to go until __________.

Example: Count down days until seminar. 20 marketing days to go until seminar.

Any doesn’t matter which calendar method you use, you will need to write down your measurements or your mini-results that will deliver the end results you want. I use the pivoting question, “What is it going to take to…” to get my thinking moving in the right direction. I like to think through and write these on the back of my calendars. This gives me a bird’s eye view for that particular commitment that my software does not provide.

Another way would be to use a blank form like this with the appropriate number of days in between. Then cross out the days that you will do any marketing — say Sundays or days filled with other requirements. For my teleclass programs, my D-day back to Day 1 is always 3 weeks, so I have created a regular calendar for these. In fact, I use green color paper to print out the calendar.

If you don’t want to create your own, visit your local office supply store, they have countdown calendars available for purchase (blank planning books).

A third way to complete a countdown calendar would be to complete it in a linear form.

Day 21: Speaking event results I desire — describe those results.

Day 20: Get handouts printed at Kinko’s.

Day 19: Write and send out reminder e-mail to organizer.

To Day 1: Today.

Again, if you have a reoccurring countdown, like teleclasses, you can create a linear countdown calendar like the one above. Eventually you will see a consistent pattern of to-dos.

At that point, don’t stop doing this with the thinking you have it down pat and you don’t need to. This will jump up and bite you in the assets fairly quickly by bogging down your mind and making you wonder if you are missing something. If that occurs, jump back into the habit, it is a great one to have. Even if it is frustrating because it takes thinking time.

Once you have your count down calendar completed then you can enter it into your automatic reminder calendar, like Outlook or Act. This will track all your deadlines, goals, and projects. You will have a separate count down calendar for each one.

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