In today's business climate, one of your greatest assets as an entrepreneur is being AGILE, able to easily shift when a new economic environment or opportunity shows up.
Keep on continually upgrading your daily operating system – that is, the activities that run your business day after day. Become better at what you do as your business evolves and grows. There are lots of books that can help you at this stage of the game, and here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Manage your business by keeping statistics. You will first decide which statistics you will track …obvious ones are the amount of income flowing in, your dollar amount of expenses going out, the number of new customers, and number of continuing customers. Monitor these numbers at least weekly and monthly. You can even put them on a graph if you want to keep a visual representation.
2. Figure out which of your marketing avenues are producing the most amount of business. Whatever you are getting business from, continue to do more of that. Eliminate avenues that after 6 months are not generating sufficient business for the amount of energy (time and or money) you are putting into them.
3. Set new targets and goals. Celebrate when you hit a target, and adjust your course as needed when you don’t.
4. Make new contacts and add to your list. Find good new resources. Evolve!
*****
Would you love to stay informed and receive more tips and strategies to support your unjobbing experience? Join Your Unjobbing, Entrepreneur Support Network on Meetup.com® at http://unjobbing.com/
~ Devin & Maria
Showing posts with label entrepreneur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entrepreneur. Show all posts
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Step 5 ~ Deliver Beyond Their Wildest Expectations
Amazing service will give you something you cannot buy.
It will provide you with an endless buzz that passes on from person to person, and does not rely on any of your own marketing. Your goal is to whenever possible, deliver MORE than what is expected from your customers or clients, which will accelerate the buzz you most desire. Your outcome vision is to have your customers or clients telling their friends about you because they had such a great experience!
Maximize this energy by getting referrals and testimonials from happy and enthusiastic customers. Include these testimonials in all of your marketing, especially on your website and in your emails to other customers.
You can also create a monthly newsletter to provide new, helpful or interesting information to send out to your existing customer base. Find ways to show your appreciation of them, and include them in Polls and Surveys to solicit their input in order to fine-tune your systems and services.
Here are your primary keys to establishing a strong, ongoing base of happy and loyal repeat customers:
- Promise them something they strongly desire.
- Deliver it beyond their expectations.
- Keep them coming back by giving even more value beyond their “purchase.”
- Inspire them to refer new customers to you!
Rock their world!
~ Devin & Maria
It will provide you with an endless buzz that passes on from person to person, and does not rely on any of your own marketing. Your goal is to whenever possible, deliver MORE than what is expected from your customers or clients, which will accelerate the buzz you most desire. Your outcome vision is to have your customers or clients telling their friends about you because they had such a great experience!
Maximize this energy by getting referrals and testimonials from happy and enthusiastic customers. Include these testimonials in all of your marketing, especially on your website and in your emails to other customers.
You can also create a monthly newsletter to provide new, helpful or interesting information to send out to your existing customer base. Find ways to show your appreciation of them, and include them in Polls and Surveys to solicit their input in order to fine-tune your systems and services.
Here are your primary keys to establishing a strong, ongoing base of happy and loyal repeat customers:
- Promise them something they strongly desire.
- Deliver it beyond their expectations.
- Keep them coming back by giving even more value beyond their “purchase.”
- Inspire them to refer new customers to you!
Rock their world!
~ Devin & Maria
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Step 3 ~ The Money is in Your List
In Step 1, we asked you to consider ..."Who is your ideal customer or client?"
Another way to consider this is to ask yourself WHO will want to buy your product or service? You created your business to serve a need for a specific group of people. These people are called your "market." Who are they??
The sooner you can clearly identify your market, the quicker you'll be able to generate income. Knowing EARLY who you want to reach out to will save you lots of time, money and energy as you move into marketing what you do!
So before you begin your marketing, create an initial list of contacts. You can build your "audience" by starting with this list -- your money flow has the potential to start with this list, so it's essential to get these names, contact information, and other important data entered into a Contact Database. You can use the simple database that comes with your email program (Outlook, for example) or purchase ACT or other database-compiling software.
In your contact list, enter as much information as you know about each contact, including:
-- Name, phone # and email address
-- Address
-- Occupation
-- Personal and family information
-- Their website, if they have one
-- Where and how you met
-- Additional notes you want to remember
1. Start with EVERYONE you know who is old enough to buy your product or service, including family members, friends, and neighbors. Make that list!! Then think about who each of these people know -- everyone you know they know. Write those down, even if you don't know names. Just make a note about them.
2. Next, think of EVERYONE else you associate with ...including your hair stylist, dry cleaner, auto mechanic, real estate agent, attorney, veterinarian, doctor, dentist, insurance rep, store owners, barista, restaurant managers, etc. You get the idea -- make that list!!
Now think again about who will want to buy what you have to offer. You are ready to take it to the next level!
3. Do you know that there are dozens (maybe hundreds) of people who serve the SAME market that you do? What if you could tap into THEIR contacts -- people who will also want what you have??
Consider this: WHO CAN REFER BUSINESS TO YOU, DAY-AFTER-DAY? What types of people come into contact with YOUR ideal customers or clients every day? Which professions provide services or products to YOUR potential base of customers or clients??
Developing this additional list will lead you to a GOLD MINE of continual referrals. Make this list!!
4. And last (but not least) is the unlimited world of social networking! You can expand your market in a big way by joining social network groups that share your interests and are likely customers or referral sources for your product or service. Our favorite is Meetup -- go see what groups are set up in your area. You can even start your own group! Take a look at ours (click here)!!
Once you've completed Step 3, it's time to prepare to deliver. This is when you start marketing and letting the world know that you're OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Step 4 is when it all starts coming together ...
get ready!
Devin & Maria
Another way to consider this is to ask yourself WHO will want to buy your product or service? You created your business to serve a need for a specific group of people. These people are called your "market." Who are they??
The sooner you can clearly identify your market, the quicker you'll be able to generate income. Knowing EARLY who you want to reach out to will save you lots of time, money and energy as you move into marketing what you do!
So before you begin your marketing, create an initial list of contacts. You can build your "audience" by starting with this list -- your money flow has the potential to start with this list, so it's essential to get these names, contact information, and other important data entered into a Contact Database. You can use the simple database that comes with your email program (Outlook, for example) or purchase ACT or other database-compiling software.
In your contact list, enter as much information as you know about each contact, including:
-- Name, phone # and email address
-- Address
-- Occupation
-- Personal and family information
-- Their website, if they have one
-- Where and how you met
-- Additional notes you want to remember
1. Start with EVERYONE you know who is old enough to buy your product or service, including family members, friends, and neighbors. Make that list!! Then think about who each of these people know -- everyone you know they know. Write those down, even if you don't know names. Just make a note about them.
2. Next, think of EVERYONE else you associate with ...including your hair stylist, dry cleaner, auto mechanic, real estate agent, attorney, veterinarian, doctor, dentist, insurance rep, store owners, barista, restaurant managers, etc. You get the idea -- make that list!!
Now think again about who will want to buy what you have to offer. You are ready to take it to the next level!
3. Do you know that there are dozens (maybe hundreds) of people who serve the SAME market that you do? What if you could tap into THEIR contacts -- people who will also want what you have??
Consider this: WHO CAN REFER BUSINESS TO YOU, DAY-AFTER-DAY? What types of people come into contact with YOUR ideal customers or clients every day? Which professions provide services or products to YOUR potential base of customers or clients??
Developing this additional list will lead you to a GOLD MINE of continual referrals. Make this list!!
4. And last (but not least) is the unlimited world of social networking! You can expand your market in a big way by joining social network groups that share your interests and are likely customers or referral sources for your product or service. Our favorite is Meetup -- go see what groups are set up in your area. You can even start your own group! Take a look at ours (click here)!!
Once you've completed Step 3, it's time to prepare to deliver. This is when you start marketing and letting the world know that you're OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Step 4 is when it all starts coming together ...
get ready!
Devin & Maria
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The Self-Employed Home Business Journey
After a few short stints at various jobs, it was clear to both Devin and I in our early 20's that the employed life was not for us. Even though we were productive and well-liked on the job, working on someone else's schedule and being paid according to someone else's criteria did not fit into our idea of freedom and happiness. Neither of us EVER enjoyed punching a time clock, adhering to a dress code or having performance reviews.
Interestingly enough, Devin hired me when I was 24. He had already struck out on his own, a real maverick entrepreneur. We met on an interstate highway in a very bizarre turn of events (read the story, soon to be published in an upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book; watch this blog for details!) ...he hired me, and then made it a permanent contract.
Our 30-year journey of unemployment has been on a long and winding road. Of course, there have been road bumps, pot holes and dead ends. We have had a few major wrecks along the way, usually out in the "wilderness" with no one to help. It could be pretty darn scary during the fog, the storms, and in those moments of contemplating the vast UNKNOWN.
Have you ever taken a road trip through the Rocky Mountains? There are times on those switchbacks that you feel way too close to the edge, in danger of rolling down the steep precipice ...then, just moments after, the most awe-inspiring landscape takes your breath away and you're filled with immense GRATITUDE. It's the same with being on your own, being self-employed, self-responsible, self-reliant and along the way, self-fulfilled.
This road trip metaphor is perfect for the entrepreneurial home business journey ...being successfully unemployed is not a destination, but an ongoing adventure. It's never complete; it's like one great unpredictable itinerary with new and often exciting scenery around each twist and turn in the road. YES ...it can be gut-wrenching. YES ...you may sometimes wonder what in the heck you're doing this for.
The truth is, we wouldn't trade this self-reliant way of living for anything!
This blog is our way of providing some confidence-building SIGNPOSTS along your own
journey, whether you're just starting to consider breaking free and working for YOU, or you've been self-employed for a while. We can give you a general map to guide you on the way to being successfully unemployed and feeling free to do and be what is best for your life.
Stay tuned ...
your partners in self-reliant living,
Devin & Maria
-------------------------------------------------------------
**WARNING** --- the unemployment path is not for everyone! You probably know people who prefer going to the same vacation destination year after year ...the same hotel, same activities, predictable food, tried and true and SAFE. They take comfort in schedules, like it when someone else leads the way, and prefer not being responsible for what happens in their life. THIS BLOG IS NOT FOR SAFETY-SEEKERS.
Interestingly enough, Devin hired me when I was 24. He had already struck out on his own, a real maverick entrepreneur. We met on an interstate highway in a very bizarre turn of events (read the story, soon to be published in an upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book; watch this blog for details!) ...he hired me, and then made it a permanent contract.
Our 30-year journey of unemployment has been on a long and winding road. Of course, there have been road bumps, pot holes and dead ends. We have had a few major wrecks along the way, usually out in the "wilderness" with no one to help. It could be pretty darn scary during the fog, the storms, and in those moments of contemplating the vast UNKNOWN.
Have you ever taken a road trip through the Rocky Mountains? There are times on those switchbacks that you feel way too close to the edge, in danger of rolling down the steep precipice ...then, just moments after, the most awe-inspiring landscape takes your breath away and you're filled with immense GRATITUDE. It's the same with being on your own, being self-employed, self-responsible, self-reliant and along the way, self-fulfilled.
This road trip metaphor is perfect for the entrepreneurial home business journey ...being successfully unemployed is not a destination, but an ongoing adventure. It's never complete; it's like one great unpredictable itinerary with new and often exciting scenery around each twist and turn in the road. YES ...it can be gut-wrenching. YES ...you may sometimes wonder what in the heck you're doing this for.
The truth is, we wouldn't trade this self-reliant way of living for anything!
This blog is our way of providing some confidence-building SIGNPOSTS along your own
journey, whether you're just starting to consider breaking free and working for YOU, or you've been self-employed for a while. We can give you a general map to guide you on the way to being successfully unemployed and feeling free to do and be what is best for your life. Stay tuned ...
your partners in self-reliant living,
Devin & Maria
-------------------------------------------------------------
**WARNING** --- the unemployment path is not for everyone! You probably know people who prefer going to the same vacation destination year after year ...the same hotel, same activities, predictable food, tried and true and SAFE. They take comfort in schedules, like it when someone else leads the way, and prefer not being responsible for what happens in their life. THIS BLOG IS NOT FOR SAFETY-SEEKERS.
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