An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience Word for Week 29: Patience : A required quality for building a strong database. Definition: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. Insight: 1. the ability to wait for a long time without becoming annoyed or disappointed. 2. the ability to remain calm and not become frustrated when dealing with problems or with difficult people 3. the ability to give attention to something for a long time without becoming bored or losing interest (focus) You’ll notice I added the word “focus” and placed parenthesis around it. We’ve all heard the term, “Patience is a virtue”. Well in database building, patience can be the difference between success or dreary failure. And no matter how you work it, patience is required in building strong business relationships. Oh yes, words like “partner” and “associate” are floating in the air, But trust, confidence and consistency, can be a little more challenging to capture…and it takes patience. So what takes the most patience in building your database? EVERYTHING, and especially the basics:
It’s a serious process, but it doesn’t have to be difficult, and it doesn’t have to be all time-consuming. What is does take? Patience from you … the business owner, or from your designate. Let us help you develop a plan that will not constantly try your patience! We can help you make the best of your time. We use proven strategies, evidence-based and anchored with your business goals and expectations. Following our guidance, we will assist you in putting more ideal clients in your database in 60-days or you will receive 30-days of services at no charge. If you are looking for real results, schedule a chat to get started! We are here to confirm one thing … your database is your most valuable business asset.
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An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience Word for Week 28: Emotions - How colors affect the emotions of your potential clients. Definition: “…instinctive or intuitive feeling as distinguished from reasoning or knowledge.” Insight: We might be the master of our own thoughts, still we are the slaves of our own emotions – mostpharases.blog.spot.com This discussion could have easily been placed under “Branding”, but I choose to give it the headline of “Emotions” because first, the two have so much in common and second, both words work heavily into building your database. Which, as by now week 28, you must know is the primary focus here at DonPaul. If you are not already familiar with the importance and relationship between the colors in your branding and appealing to the emotions of your ideal audience, then I’ve got news for you. It is important. It helps build relationships and beyond that, the science of psychology and color in marketing is simply fascinating. Of course a basic search on the topic will tell you more than I ever could and it’s worth taking the time to learn about colors in your marketing scheme because getting new people into your database and keeping them is an arduous and ongoing mission. Using subliminal tools is way to make that mission more possible. For example, Printivity.com says: “A factor as small and seemingly simple as the color of a product or the color of branding may compel or discourage someone from a purchase or cause someone to choose one brand over another.” The chart I’ve included this week, will give you some insight. Think of the millions of dollars big companies have spent to learn this valuable info and it’s all available to small business owners. You have it at the tips of your fingers … but are you using it to your advantage? This is something that all business owners can tap into, especially start-ups … because they are just that …starting up with a clean sheet. So here we are ... the chart gives you an idea of how you can apply colors to attract more ideal audiences without saying a word! How super is that? What’s next? Now you turn to your branding, and some of you…not all, but some will see that you actually chose YOUR own personal favorite colors and not the colors related to the emotions you wanted to evoke in your prospective clients.
What can you do to change things? First, it’s not mandatory that you change anything; Color selection for better marketing results a is recommendation … it’s based on proven science, but it is still your business and it’s your decision. If you do want to make changes in your branding, there are lots of ways to make it happen, however my advice to you, is to take your time. Make a plan and think it over; especially if you’ve already been in business for a minute. If you’re already established, then you’ve already been building trust and you want to maintain that trust. We don’t recommend that you go changing overnight to a different look and feel. Typically, it takes 3 to 6 months for a complete brand makeover to catch on and smaller changes can take 4 to 6 weeks. Your clients’ emotions may be riding a roller coaster while changes are happening so everybody needs to buckle up and stay alert. At Team DonPaul we work closely with our clients to learn about their target audience, their goals and their expectations. Then we help them create a brand that will attract and engage new contacts, nurture and retain existing clients. It costs you nothing to find out more. Just schedule a complimentary chat with me and we’ll be on our way to discovering if you are using the best colors to appeal to the emotions of your potential audience. Here is a link to start the ball rolling. It’s a solid formula: Your database is your most valuable business asset, your branding leads subscribers to your database so be sure to touch emotions by using colors in the best ways possible. Until next time…bye bye. An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience Word for Week 27: Clutter – Is Digital Clutter blocking your ability to grow your database and what can you do to cut through it? The chosen definition of clutter: is a lot of disorganized stuff in one place. Insight: Clutter isn’t just the stuff in your closet, It’s anything that gets between you and reaching your goals. – EasyOrganizedHomes.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That’s a great insight, but I’m not going to peek into your closet this week, instead, I’m going to have you consider what happens when your potential client is browsing for a business service like yours, or when a social media group that you’re a member of makes a post, or any other activity that put’s the message you are trying to convey into a cluttered heap. I say “clutter” affectionately, because everyone has the right to believe their message is the most important. There’s a lot going on out there and I’m sure you are not posting or even sadder paying an agency to post for you in vain. You want results. And while it takes every business some time to get traction and build an audience, there are ways to project your business through the clutter. Many inquiries you receive for new business may come from referrals, but you also want to attract new people to your database from the hard work you do in your networks. You have absolutely no control over what appears to the right, left top or bottom of your messages, videos or images, however, you do have control of how your messages stand-out and get ahead of the clutter. Indeed, there are some really spectacular posts, ads and messages being presented …so what does that make your posts chopped liver? Well, just because your budget may be a bit on the challenged side, theirs is still plenty of opportunity for your messages to make an impression with your target audience. Here are a few tips to consider when you are planning your online communication strategy: 1. Use images that speak directly to the subject you want to convey. If there are words in your post …and I suggest there should always be a few choice words and at least one hashtag but no more than three, so even if there are words, the image alone will tell a story and the story should be the focus of the action you want the viewer to take. With all of the clutter surrounding your post, you may only have a split second to make a positive impression. 2. Use text on the image sparingly. Don’t clutter the image or banner with words. Again, whenever possible let the image speak for the subject and if having words is required (like an event or such) be sure to leave spacing and make it easy for your viewers to clearly get your message. 3. Don’t forget to include the correct URL or link. How many times have you noticed a post, took precious time to read it, got excited about it, wanted to learn more and there was no link to take you to the next level? Your call-to-action should be your primary reason for a business post and you should always provide an easy way for the viewer to take your call-to-action. That’s just three actions you can consider in combatting the clutter surrounding your messages online. I’ve got at least 20 more that can be tailored to fit your individual business needs. You can schedule a chat with me on this link and we can develop a strategy for making your online activity stand out from the digital clutter. We want new people to take notice of your business and follow your call to action. We want to help your database grow in a systemized, organized, and coordinated way…because your database is your most valuable business asset. Until next time, Bye, bye. An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience Word for the week 26: Reach Definition: to stretch out : EXTEND, to touch or grasp by extending a part of the body (such as a hand) or an object, to make an impression on, to communicate with, an individual part of a progression or journey. Insight: I uncovered hundreds of quotes relating to the word “reach” and then I found just one that actually reached me from Dr. Maya Angelou, who said: ”The desire to reach the stars is ambitious; the desire to reach hearts is wise.” – ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Down to business…in thinking of the word reach this week, I’m not intentionally imagining the stars or the hearts of others …I’m simply concentrating on growing your database. In the database fitness world, just as with physical fitness, you set goals and you strive to reach them. You’ll hear many people say …you can never reach too high. Well never is another word I may tackle in the future, and it must be used with care. I’ve found that when keeping your goals in line with realistic expectations you can reach more success. So I’m not saying don’t reach high…go for it, just put a realistic plan in place for success. And how does this grow your database? Well, start by asking yourself if you are doing everything possible to reach your audience, even when you’re when you are sleeping? Nothing is perfect, but it’s always a little disappointing to see a business owner who’s obviously spending money on marketing with a great Website or a nice looking social media footprint and then come upon a missing opportunity to reach them or an obvious lack of their attention to reach their audience. Little things can be big turn-offs in the process of reaching your audience such as:
1. Assuming your audience will take your call-to-action – Assuming you do have a clear CTA, of course you want to be positive about your efforts, but to assume that everyone you reach out to will take your CTA is not realistic. That is why (especially if you are working with a limited budget) you need to conduct double time on your outreach efforts. 2. Misusing the first few seconds or words to capture the attention of your audience – ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder comes with the title of entrepreneur and if you are communicating with other entrepreneurs or even other busy people, (that are not blood relations), they may not find your offerings as fascinating as you may think. This means you’ll want to quickly put them first in your appeals and keep them first in your CTA. 3. Neglecting to use a business data capture system – An email address ending in gmail, or yahoo or Hotmail or any other service not representing the actual business, is a sign of unprofessionalism. Your business or organization should use a professional business email address, because it can increase trust and trust is a big part of reaching your audience. That’s just three little considerations regarding ways to more effectively reach the goals you’ve set and in turn the audience you need to build your database. I’ve got a list of ten and I’d like to share them all with you so let’s chat! Schedule a day and time that’s good for you and we’ll get started. As you continue to reach for success, remember, whether it’s for the stars or for the hearts of others…your database is your most valuable business asset … Bye Bye An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience Word for Week 25 - Brand Definition - Your brand is the image customers have of your business, so take the time to define it thoughtfully and early, before the market does it for you. – The Hartford.com Insight – Code of the old West, RIDE FOR THE BRAND: that meant loyalty to the ranch and rancher that pays you. Cowboys took a great deal of pride in giving their all for the brand. - beefrunner.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This brings to mind a client of mine who sells a line of cosmetics for a popular brand name. As an affiliate, my client makes quite decent money, but then the company changed direction and my client doesn’t want to move that way. She has a large database of clients, but she cannot legally approach them because they technically belonged to the company she is selling for. My client has no distinctive brand of her own. She has been “Riding for the Company’s Brand”. Now she must continue doing that, or build a different business plan. The question is, how can you make money as an affiliate and stay true to your brand? There can be a conflict when it comes to building and maintaining your own brand and not becoming a “Company Man”. But before we get too far ahead here, let’s define Affiliate Marketing. Quite simply, It’s the concept of revenue sharing—paying commission for referred business. In other words, when one company pays another company or individual to make sales. The origin of affiliate marketing goes way back and it has become way too sophisticated for a detailed discussion here, but the point I’d like to leave you with is simple. If you have a brand you must nurture it; to keep it alive and to keep it strong over time. Otherwise, you’ll become known as an unknown, meaning no one will truly know what your business stands for there-in lies a lack of trust.
One way to ensure keeping your brand intact is to keep a close eye on your database. It can be easy to lose sight on ownership when your eyes are constantly being exposed to the bright shiny things being presented by your eCommerce partners. If you are an affiliate seller, and you have your own brand, then you need a system in place to keep your brand top-of-mind. If you don’t have your own brand, then perhaps you have not thought far enough into the future. Many affiliates call themselves business owners and may say they are self-employed. It’s okay and the IRS agrees. However, if your business plan was written for a self-sufficient, sustainable entity, then your brand should always come first and you should always have a way to capture and manage data, that is contact information. If you are an MLMer or an affiliate, just one step down from being employed, but with no employment benefits, I highly recommend you start “Riding for Your Own Brand”. We help small business owners build their brand …even when they are affiliate marketing. If that’s what you to do, schedule a strategy session with me and we’ll get started. Your database is your most valuable asset…and you must have ownership of it. An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience ---------------------------------Before we get to the meat of the message-------------------- I want to mention this; remember to update your Websites with your most recent post-COVID policies! Let your visitors know everything they need to feel confident and welcome. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Word for Week 24 – Engage Meaning – “…In Star Trek Next Generation terms it means: “Step on the Gas”! Insight – Did you know that Captain Jean Luc Picard was not the first and only Star Ship Captain to capture the catch-phrase “Engage”? - Craig Elvy of ScreeRant.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Of course , every one is not a “Trekkie”, but I dare say for those of us who are, it’s difficult to imagine anyone else using the word with the same conviction, confidence and coolness as Jean Luc. No doubt, you probably thought I was going to take you in the direction of social media and how to engage with your online audience. And yes, your online engagement is critically important, but that's not the path we are taking today...at least not entirely. I selected the word "engage" for the way it relates to the word “action”, because in order to “engage”, some sort of action is required. That’s what a Star Fleet Captain expected when they uttered the word, and as for you...a small business owner, that's the primary way to get your database growing. The thing is, there are so many ways to engage with your audience, it can be overwhelming at times to know just what to do, when to do it and how to do it. At Team DonPaul, we stay at the ready, to help you unravel the knots in your plans to engage, and I’d love to chat with you if you need assistance. To get you engaged with your audience and to stay engaged, consider these steps:
1. Take the time to make sure you are engaging with the right people. Inside your business, outside your business and all around your business … don’t be afraid to ask yourself WHY you are filling your circle with certain people and WHY are they attracted to you? If it’s personal then that’s all well and good, however, if it’s business you want to identify the balance, and use it to your mutual benefit. 2. Once you feel confident that you are getting in front of the right people, be sure you have a path open for two-way communication. What do I mean by that? Very simply, be ready to listen to them and be ready to answer their questions on the level that meets their needs. 3. Use the tools that will help you get the job done. The job depends on your goals and the outcome you hope to achieve. Try to avoid tools and trends just for the sake of appearing to be “trendy”. Use due diligence when depending on so-called free tools. Nothing is truly free, not to say that you should not use them…just saying read the fine print. And as far as that goes …always read the fine print no matter what. 4. Timing beats talent. I know it seems like a conundrum; the best method for determining the best time to engage with your audience, takes time to develop. Getting to know your audience takes time to develop and building trust takes time. The database system you use to build relationships with your prospective clients is often the key to success. In less time than you think, you’ll be creating a perfect-timing approach to stay top-of-mind with your most valuable asset, your database. Until next time bye-bye. An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience Word for week 23 – Trends Meaning – “…a general direction in which something is developing or changing.” Insight – Some trends are not to be ignored…they should be watched and used to your advantage – DPE. Every now and then you’ll hear terms like “Email is Dead”, or “Email is becoming obsolete”. If you’re a small business owner and you fall for that type of jargon, you're are missing out on one of the best tools to grow your business. In this message, I’m not going to take a deep dive into all the benefits of email marketing, but I will say it is still one of the most cost-effective tools on the market and if done with care, it can be the mother of all nurturing implements. My conviction on this topic was reinforced during a recent class I attended regarding digital marketing. The instructor was kind enough to share some research that made the importance of emails abundantly clear. Check this out: Statista is a German company, well respected internationally, and specializing in collecting market and consumer data.
According to the company, its platform contains more than 1,000,000 statistics on more than 80,000 topics from more than 22,500 sources and 170 different industries and generates a revenue of about €60 million. If you are reading this, you can see the trend of emails sent per day is rising… If you are listening then I can tell you the trend is rising by billions each year with no sign of stopping. When it comes to your business, you can be sure these rising numbers are relevant. What’s the best way for you to get the most out of the trend for the continuing rise of email use? Well for one thing, I’d advise you to stop taking it for granted. Your contact list is a very serious matter! Without a doubt texting, webinars and other communication tools are not to be ignored, by any means, however, email can be used to keep data flowing in your direction and keep business relationships growing in multiple directions. The key is learning to use the data you collect. Having an email list of hundreds of contacts is a good thing ….when you have a system to manage the list. Follow this link to chat about all the ways we can assist you in putting your data to good use. If you don’t already see the big picture, you soon will …And what’s the big picture? Your database is your most valuable business asset , let’s make it meet its full potential. An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience The Word for Week 22: Tracking Meaning: To follow the course or trail of (someone or something). Insight: Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. - Will Rogers Just by looking at this week’s insight, you’ve probably already figured out where I’m going with this marketing moment. When you are growing your business database, tracking the actions you take and the activity your subscribers generate will lead you directly to meeting your goals. There a delicate balance in having patience and taking action. Your database system should help tremendously in keeping you informed. Most email marketing systems or CRMs (Customer Relationship Management Systems) will at minimum give you the basics: 1. Knowing when your message is opened 2. Knowing if links in your message are clicked on 3. Allowing for automatic follow-ups Depending on your expectations, (remember, the definition I started out with was following the course or trail of someone or something), only you can fill in the blanks, but even with these bare-bones minimum features, you are ahead of the game when it comes to relationship building, if you are tracking the trends and using the data to your advantage. Everyone you track is not intended to be your client, however a System is supposed to save you time, energy and money … to help you reduce the clutter; therefore you need to use a system that will meet that criterion.
Even today with the most sophisticated and expensive systems in place, the term “garbage in, garbage out” is just a relevant as when it was first used reportedly in November 1957. You’ve got to get the right information into the system in order to extract the right information from the system. The keys to knowing you are collecting the right data lies in:
In Summary, if your database is between 0 and 500, not growing, and activity is dormant … consider letting us help you get back on track! We’ll help you determine if your goals, your audience and your expectations are in alignment with your current CRM system and if you don’t have a system, we’ll make recommendations on what you can do to get things rolling in your direction. Your Database is your most valuable business asset, and a well-managed database is even more valuable! An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience Word for Week 21 : Steps Insight: This message was published a while back, but every word is still relevant. It's especially relevant because it speaks to the steps that are required to grow your business. It an old conversation about bringing in new business and now that the pandemic is easing up, we really need to focus. Taking our business back to better health one step at a time…literally. Not much has changed in that you need a set of steps to start with, and some basic tools, but beyond that, If you already have a Web site and a data collection system, (meaning a way to collect and manage people's contact information), then you are well on your way to success! These three no-cost or low-cost steps I share with you are still good. It's the focus that you apply to grow your organization, and keep it “top-of-mind” with your audience. Build up your organization’s social media profiles. Don't open accounts on every platform on the internet, just the ones that cater to the audiences in your ideal realm. Then invite like-minded groups and organizations to share ideas and successes with you. Finding others who have been successful at what you’re striving to achieve and build honest relationships with them. Build your database by at least one new person a week! Most of us see or meet at least one new person on a regular basis, when we are “out and about”, or by design … at a meeting, etc. When you meet new people, who are willing to learn about your business, get their contact information and start communicating with them on a consistent basis. Build your content with newsletters and blogs. It’s not necessary to write an epic novel every time you reach out to your circle! A simple daily or weekly quote, (someone else’s quote is okay … with the proper acknowledgement), can provide your audience with awareness of your organization, insight to your passion, , a deeper vision of your vision and a sense of ‘wanting to take the journey with you”! Yes, simple prose can do that, but it must be applied thoughtfully, consistently and persistently. So there you are …. three actions, of many, that you can take to use your existing tools more effectively and increase the diameter of your circle. What’s stopping you? What’s holding you back? Would it surprise you if I told you that just 30 mins a day of working at only one of these actions could take your organization into a more positive direction? Give it a try. And if you do not yet have your Website or Database, then don’t hesitate to connect with me. All jobs require the right tools. We can help you get started. Schedule a chat today. I am excited to get your questions answered! Resource: www.donpaul.com/mmblog As Always ...Your database is your most valuable business asset. Team DonPaul An Audio Version Has Been Prepared for Your Convenience Word for Week 20: Milestones Insight: “Instead of focusing solely on the hard work and the challenges ahead of you, take the time to celebrate the steps you have made, the milestones you have passed.” ― Josh Hatcher _____________________________________________________________________ Here’s a question I received recently; “What the difference between Goals and Milestones?” Well I’d like to start with a definition that I like, given by the Small Business Chronical: “Goals define where you're going, and milestones let you know if you're actually getting there. Achieving visionary goals requires practical milestones that let your small business make realistic progress.” That makes sense, to me…how about you? Meeting milestones lets you to experience an opportunity to celebrate your victories. This all sounds good, but many small business owners keep and manage milestones inside their head. They don’t record them and because of this, precious milestones may not be acknowledged. But getting back to answering my clients’ question … I’ll try to stick with my experience on Goals -vs- Milestones. 1. Small business owners work so hard and focus so intensely that they don’t give themselves credit for their accomplishments…like milestones. 2. Small business owners may not accurately set goals, which can affect recognizing accomplishments. 3. Small businesses and start-ups may not use a business plan, another tool that can highlight successes. 4 . Small business owners are more likely to believe milestones are typically set by larger companies. Consider the following facts provided by the US Small Business Administration and you may see that a “pat-on-the-back” is due to you and your business:
If your business has avoided some of the typical pitfalls, then you reached and passed some critical milestones. Congratulations to you! Whatever your stage in business, don’t allow milestones to become a casualty. Just keep in mind, goals and milestones are two different aspirations, and as a small business owner, you should take the best advantage of both. A certain way to know if you’re reaching your goals is the growth of your database. As you fill it with ideal clients … well, those are milestones. Celebrate them. If you finding it challenging to define your goals or setting up milestones, we’re here to help. Just follow the link to set up a chat. I look forward to hearing from you. Until then, there’s no doubt …your database is your most valuable business asset. |
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