Make it Super Easy for Your Clients to Work with You
Do business with your clients the way they prefer it. Not the way you prefer it. I just had a vendor insist I pay through PayPal. I have a PayPal account, but I prefer to write checks and have invoices in my hands. What this vendor, whose work I like, does not know is that one of her competitors has been knocking on my door. My lack of ease with payment makes me more open to her competitor.
Guess what. You do not know who has been knocking on your clients’ doors, who they are friending on Facebook or who they are running into at a networking or social event.
The more we do business with our clients the way they like to do business, the better they will like-or even love-us and the more loyal they will be to us and send us more referrals.
To find out what your clients prefer with communications, service, billing and delivery, all you have to do is ask.
Is It Revenue Producing or Not?
One of my VIP coaching clients I was talking to today told me she wants to begin to make a lot more money in her business. I said, “Great!” I love it when an entrepreneur becomes clear that the point of being in business is to both serve and build wealth, not just to serve.
Without adding new products or services, without adding more hours to your day, you can begin to earn more revenue right now by doing one simple thing:
Putting more attention on revenue-producing activities versus non revenue-producing activities.
Let’s first define revenue-producing activities. These include activities that bring in money like delivering a service, making a product for a client, talking with someone about hiring you or writing a proposal or project application. You’re not working on revenue-producing activities when you’re on Facebook, writing your articles or newsletters or doing other marketing activities. These support your sales and revenue.
This is an important distinction. A lot of people spend a ton of time marketing, and that’s great-it‘s far better than not spending any time marketing. However, marketing in and of itself does not always generate revenue. When you ask someone to hire you and that person says yes and signs up, now you have a revenue-producing activity.
Here’s the important point. Every day, start your day by putting attention on the revenue-producing activities. Who do you need to follow up with to bring in new business? What proposal do you need to get out to be considered for a project? Even when you answer your emails, start by skimming for the ones that are most likely to be revenue producing and then move on to the ones that are not.
Try this for two weeks and see how much more revenue you have generated over the last two weeks.
FYI, My Business Breakthrough Program starts Feb 16th. If you want to have a breakthrough year and grow your revenue and build a more stronger business this year click here to find out more http://www.attractclientswithease.com/coaching.htm
Get Your Productivity Pointers In Place
I was talking with a client today and she really wanted to talk about how to plan her day to get the best results, but thought perhaps it was too basic a conversation for our business breakthrough coaching time. I quickly pointed out that the more you improve your productivity, the more you can get done, and the more you can grow your revenue. Also, in this age of technology there is so much more for us to fit in a day.
Here are a few of my pointers to ensure your most productive day:
1. Plan today for tomorrow, plan at the end of the week for next week, plan at the end of the month for next month.
2. Use a paper or electronic to do list. On that list identify your top 3 priorities for the day that are a must to get done.
3. Get at least one of those top 3 priorities done before you do anything else with your day.
4. Do your best to get your other 2 top priorities done before lunch, when your brain is probably functioning at it’s best.
5. Always focus on revenue producing activities as early in the day as you can. For more on revenue producing activities- read my next blog post.
Reminder the next Business Breakthrough Program starts Feb 16th. If you want to have a breakthrough year and grow your revenue and build a more stronger business this year click here to find out more
http://www.attractclientswithease.com/coaching.htm
Keep Your Success Around You
Keep Your Successes Around You
I find that every boost counts, and that it is key to having a thriving business to do everything you can to keep your spirits up. Put representations or your success all around you. Of course I have diplomas on the wall, along with framed covers of the books I have published, all the books I am quoted in sit right behind me on the book shelf. You can frame pictures on a wall of a special day, make a list of all your successes to date and put it on your bulletin board. Often people pin up their thank you notes from clients and others they have impacted. Find some way of keeping reminders of all your successes around you. This is key for those days when you do not feel fabulous. For a day when you do not feel at your best all you have to do is take a deep breath and look around you.
Action to take:
Put together your special box or file or place in your office where you will post or display all of your accomplishments to remind you how wonderful special and fabulous you are.
Your Fortune is In Your Follow Up
Your Fortune is In Your Follow Up
Lately I have been talking to entrepreneurs a lot about follow up and finding out that they are not doing enough of it, often enough. Know that the longer it takes you to follow up, the less likely it is you will get the client, the order or the project.
Give yourself a quick follow up check up. Do you:
Call someone within 24 hours of connecting with them in person?
Follow up via email immediately after they reach out to you via email?
Have three times at least scheduled each week specifically for follow up?
Keep following up until you get a “No” or a “not now”?
Make phone appointments where ever possible to avoid phone tag?
Okay how did you do? Identify one area to upgrade after reading this and watch your follow up turn into more revenue for you.
Get Published Now! Join me tomorrow.
Get Published Now! Join me tomorrow.
I have written a best selling book, contributed chapters in four multi-author books and have published three multi-author books with http://www.powerdynamicspub.com
All this self-promotion is to say that I am good at getting words on a page, something you may want to get better at. If so join me for my free teleclass What a Busy Entrepreneur Needs to Know to Get A Book Done Fast. For info or to register for this free teleclass visit http://www.powerdynamicspub.com/teleclass.htm
Special Offer for Blog Readers
On February 16th my next business breakthrough program starts. If you have been wanting to double or triple your revenue then I have a special offer for you. Email me or call me by Jan 18th, tell me you saw the special offer for blog readers and I will give you a $325.00 discount on the Business Breakthrough program so you can benefit as many entrepreneurs have already done.
Check out the program details at http://www.attractclientswithease.com/coaching.htm
Radio Interview to Make Your Business Thrive in 2010
Purpose Without Limits is the new radio show to inspire you to be your best self today.
They just interviewed me and I think you will be both inspired and get some great ideas.
Listen now at http://tr.im/JOOu
Make Your Business Resolutions Stick!
Happy new year, I wanted to wait until the second week of the year to post this info because the first week most people are very focused and motivated. Now it is time you make sure you have your program together to make sure your business resolutions stick. This article has lots of great ideas:
http://www.attractclientswithease.com/articles/resolutionsstick.htm
Make it Thrive in 2010
Happy New Year,
When you have your own business, staying motivated and staying inspired is key. Almost every year I have sent my clients, to post on their wall for the whole year, a dynamic and colorful daily inspiration card that they can download and post on their wall to stay focused, happy and in action all year.
I am especially love this year’s version. Download it here.
The theme for my business this year is Make It Thrive! Make that your theme or come up with something else that will inspire you for the next 360 plus days. Expect Success!
Caterina