by Kelli | Jan 8, 2017 | Business Strategy, Entrepreneurial Lifestyle
Don’t you just love new beginnings. They can renew your enthusiasm and make you feel like you’re getting a chance to start all over, clear out the cobwebs and forge a new year for you and your business. But before you dive in, you’ll need to take a little time to declutter for a clean start to 2017!
Electronic Folders
Most of us let these get at least a little untidy during the course of the year — out with the old and outdated! How quickly can you find a file that you need? Are your files scattered throughout the computer in any number of places such as the hard drive, documents, the cloud or portable storage? Electronic folders that are not filed in their right locations can be just as messy and cluttered as paper folders.
- Go through your desktop and delete unused folders.
- Ditto for Google and/or Dropbox.
- Going forward use a hierarchal system to organize your files. File: Clients >Folder: Client Names > Subfolder: Topics such as Communication, Projects, Contact Info
Email Inbox
The email inbox can easily get unruly. Time to choose and junk those sales pitches and subscriptions and anything you no longer want to receive. Block them and/or unsubscribe. Goal: 0 emails. Don’t spend longer than 30 seconds deciding what to do with each. Put things that’ll take time to do on your to-do list. Don’t forget the file folders. Clean them out or delete whole folders that are no longer relevant or necessary. Sign up for unroll.me to help you unsubscribe and have a system going forward.
Facebook
Reconsider how much time you want to spend on Facebook. Unfriend people who are friends of friends or casual business acquaintances. Move the business acquaintances to your Facebook page or group. If unfriending seems too harsh in some cases, at least unfollow that person. Be deliberate with your time on Facebook. Set a timer if you need to so you don’t end up going down a rabbit hole. The goal for 2017 is maximum productivity!
To Do List?
Has your to-do list reached monster proportions? Do what you can to simplify it and test potential improvements to your system. If you have properly planned out your 2017 goals you should have 3-5 top goals that you want to accomplish this year. Always keep those visible. If you have a long to-do list, ask yourself which tasks will contribute to accomplishing your top goals. Those are the priority. For everything else, either put it in a parking lot folder or delegate.
Down to the Nitty Gritty
One pile at a time, get rid of any old notes, correspondence, etc., that you no longer need to reference. In fact, do a relentless purge of anything that doesn’t contribute to the productivity of your business. Get rid of the little things that pile up that have absolutely nothing to do with business, period!
A year-end purge reinforces the “ready to go” attitude that feels strongest at the start of each brand new year! Amazingly, your office and electronics won’t be the only beneficiaries of your efforts — your head will feel amazingly clear as well!
by Kelli | Dec 31, 2016 | Business Strategy
Goals operate like clockwork; they are the behind the scenes mechanisms that keep your business driven towards success. With the new year approaching, it’s the time of aspiring after resolutions and tactics to not only better yourself, but your business as well and the perfect place to start is looking at how you go about creating your success plan. Let’s take a look at four surefire ways to tweak your goal-setting regime for maximum success.
1.) Break it Down into a Clearer Path.
Simply identifying a goal and keeping it locked in the back of your mind won’t help you bring it life. That’s because majority of goals aim for the long haul so they require more work, more time, and more of your attention. You should always write your goals in a step by step format that breaks down all the necessary actions as well as shows how SMART your goal is (and by SMART we mean specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time.)
2.) Track Your Progress.
When you’re in the stage of working towards your goals and feel like you’re getting nowhere, tracking your progress is a great way to refrain from getting discouraged and giving up. Checking off what you complete daily, weekly, or monthly will provide you with a sense of accomplish as well as allow you to see where you need to focus next. Trending, free apps for iPhone and Android like GoalsOnTrack or Lift are great places to begin keeping an organized check list.
3.) Don’t be Overwhelmed by Setbacks.
The ironic truth about creating plans is that nothing ever goes exactly how we think it will. But even when things unexpectedly happen, the very circumstances we see as setbacks can also open new opportunities. Walk into your goals with an open, flexible mindset instead of one closed off and rigid that way you can handle adjustments and changes like a champion rather than letting setbacks hold you back.
4.) Surround Yourself with Other Goal-Getters.
The best way to achieve your goals, other than creating a Success Plan, is to surround yourself with other high-achievers on the same “make shit happen” path. You could join a group of that is following the goal planning strategy or take it a step further and join a mastermind that is designed to move the needle on your business.
5.) Remember to Stay up to Date on Rising Business Trends.
Although there are ageless strategies in achieving your business goals, whether they include creating more leads, closing sales, or enhancing your skills, there are even more techniques on the rise every day from utilizing e-commerce marketing tactics to going green. Engaging in these trends and using them in your goal-planning will surely push you towards the finish line and the trophy that is your final result of perseverance and dedication.
As you can see, having the right goal-planning technique will keep you focused and assist you in reaching your top potential! For more of the best advice, tips, and information on successfully running your business, feel free to check out our blog!
by Kelli | Dec 19, 2016 | Business Strategy
With only days left in 2016, there is still time left to create some quick wins in your business! If you act quickly and make a concentrated effort to focus your attention to “on the ground marketing” techniques, you’re sure to get some last-minute deals on the books before the clock strikes midnight!
Follow these tips for some quick successes:
- Focus on low-hanging fruit.
It’s time to pick up the phone and/or send out personal messages to hot and warm leads. I’ve defined both categories below. You should always have a list of these leads.
Hot Leads
These are leads who are in the purchase stage, and are likely to make a purchase with just one more contact from you. To identify your hot leads, make two lists:
- Leads that fit your ideal client profile
- Leads that have shown past interest through discovery calls or free trial downloads
The names that appear on both lists are your hot leads. Reach out and set up a call with them today; they are your likeliest quick wins!
Warm Leads
These are leads that are close to being in the purchase stage. To identify these leads, make the following lists:
- Leads that have downloaded a lead magnet
- Leads that have shown a high level of engagement via social media and e-mail open rates
The names that appear on both lists are your warm leads. To move them to the purchase stage, create compelling content that will further convince them of your value!
- Hold Discovery Calls
One of the most important things that you can do to increase conversions is get your potential customer on the phone. The goal is to listen. Most people get this wrong. They spend more time talking at the customer and outlining their own offers versus actually listening to what the person and needs. You want to ask questions to uncover your potential customers’ pain points. That is, you need to find out what they need and what problems they need solved. Then, you need to convince them that you understand their problem, and ultimately, that you can help them solve it. The potential customer needs to understand what’s in it for them to hire you. How do develop that deep understanding? By using the “5 – Why Method”. Have you ever had a five year old ask you multiple times, “But why?”? They are fully committed to the process of understand. You have to show that same level of interest (just less annoying). So, summon your inner five year old and keep asking WHY until you feel you have reached the right answer.
Uncovering pain points is done through discussions and relationship-building. Pay close attention in your discovery calls to the things your leads say about their goals and needs. Then map your solution to their needs.
- Ask for Referrals
Reaching out to current or past clients to ask for referrals is an excellent way to grow your business. Clients who need your products and services likely know others who need you, too! And there is no better marketing than a referral. It takes so much of the selling pressure off of you as they already have social proof and see you as a potential trusted advisor. You can incentivize referrals by offering your clients discounts, commission, or bonuses.
- Create easy content
Depending on where your prospects are in the buyer journey create a quick piece of content that will move them to the next level. That could be a one-page checklist, a blog or a vlog that will guide them through the funnel. No need to recreate the wheel..you can repurpose old content. Maybe you have 4 cohesive blogs that you can turn into a quick eBook. Take a quick inventory of what you have and see if you can update any of it to re-engage some prospects that may have gone silent at some point. Timing is everything.
The bottom line is to TAKE ACTION…get those prospects on the phone, find some new ready-to-convert leads. Here is a Quick Win Workbook that you can use to work through finding which leads to reach out to.
Need a fairy godmother to help you? Sign up for a Cinderella Session through the end of December.
Want 2017 to be your breakout year? Join the 2017 Mentorship Mastermind.
by Kelli | Nov 27, 2016 | Entrepreneurial Lifestyle
Top 5 Advantages to Being a #Mompreneur
The outdated idea that women can’t have both a career and a family is thankfully starting to become obsolete. More and more mothers are striving to balance their businesses and family lives, proving that the two can be done simultaneously–and done well, at that. Many women find the term “mompreneur” to be insulting. They cringe when they see it as a hashtag. But I say – why not own it? Why not be proud of the fact that we are capable enough to juggle two challenging jobs? I would argue that many of the strengths that make a good mother help build the traits needed to be an amazing entrepreneur, such as:
Patience. Just as your baby will one day sleep through the night and your toddler will eventually get the hang of potty training, so, too, will your business hit the major milestones you’re chasing. Being a mother cultivates enormous reserves of patience, which is a huge asset to have when it comes to building a business. The next time you are frustrated about the lack of perceived progress with your work, remember to treat your project like you would your child–with love, care, time and attention. It will be standing on two feet before you know it!
Building support systems. Becoming a mother has a way of forcing you into building a solid support system. Just as you call on your network of fellow mom friends and family, you can cultivate the same sort of support system in your business, whether it’s a VA, a coach, a mastermind or just a few fellow entrepreneurs that you trust. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and the same can be said of nurturing a fledgling venture. Putting yourself out there and building a team of people to be in your corner benefits both you and your fellow entrepreneurs.
Negotiating effectively. Nothing teaches good negotiation skills like having to reason with a child (or meanager) having a tantrum! The tactics you learn in your daily interactions with children (such as compromising, reasoning and communicating calmly in emotional situations) can help a surprising amount when it comes to dealing with all kinds of people in the business world (and vice versa).
Working under pressure. When you have kids, you are constantly thinking on your feet–taking care of injuries, fielding off-the-wall questions (But WHY) and navigating all kinds of unexpected twists and turns. Being able to manage many pressures at once is a huge advantage when you’re running your own business.
Nurturing. As a mother, you’re naturally sensitive to your child’s feelings and instinctively know what they need in order to excel. You know what it takes to love something unconditionally and how to gently push it in the right direction. Once you get to know the flow of your business, you will soon develop the same kind of intuition for what is needed for your venture to succeed.
These incredible crossover skills can hugely benefit you and your business, so wear that #mompreneur badge proudly! You earned it!
by Kelli | Nov 22, 2016 | Business Strategy, Entrepreneurial Lifestyle
It’s hard to believe that 2016 is almost over. For most people, these last few weeks of the year are filled (for better or for worse) with holiday preparations and family relations. As a business owner, though, it’s also time to prepare your 2017 strategic plan. Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be as stressful as the holidays themselves, especially if you include joining a mastermind group as part of your plan.
A mastermind group is a form of peer-to-peer mentoring where group members share their particular knowledge and advice to other group members who would like some help. Its benefits are many, but here are a few of the best:
- Experienced Mentors. Mastermind groups let you meet up with entrepreneurs who have been exactly where you are now. They faced the same problems you face now and successfully overcame them and will have tips and advice to help you do the same.
- An Exclusive Community. Great mastermind groups limit their size number so they can better focus on everyone getting the help they need. Made up of diverse-minded people, they are a great resource to tap into without getting overwhelmed or simply annoyed.
- Collaboration. Moving your business forward often includes strategic collaborations. A mastermind group helps you easily find those fellow entrepreneurs that will be mutually beneficial to work with.
- Girl Power! Female business owners have their own (awesome) business sense that really sets them apart. Get a group of them working together and the creative power is unstoppable.
- Personal Development. Not just a source of great advice, mastermind groups also help you learn new skills to grow as an individual. Many groups also have opportunities for outside training.
- Resources. When you need to seek outside resources (i.e. a graphic designer), mastermind groups save you time and trouble. In other words, instead of starting from scratch and searching on your own, you can safely rely on recommendations from your trusted colleagues.
2017 will be here soon, but you don’t have to face it alone. Facing it as part of a mastermind group is not just great strategic planning, but a fabulous way to grow your business as well as your personal self.
I have teamed up with Jamie Palmer of Outlier Marketing Group and we have created a Mentorship Mastermind called Modern Female Entrepreneurs. It is a six month Mentorship program. In addition to the benefits of a traditional Mastermind Group, MFE will offer the following:
- Two-hour content creation calls each month (in addition to the weekly calls)
- Monthly training webinars with highly profile women business owners already killing it in their area of expertise.
- Two-day LIVE retreat in Boston, Ma (travel and hotel not included)
Fast Action Bonuses
First 10 registrants receive:
- 10 Hours of technical support (website creation, sales pages, course creation) (Value: $1,000)
- 90 – minute 1:1 private coaching session ($500)
Sound awesome? It is!
Click below to learn more.
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