NETWORKING WAHM

Posts Tagged ‘growing business’

Networking  is the most solid way to grow and develop yourself  as a business professional, by networking your business will naturally grow. You can do both at the same time, most of us learn almost through osmosis just by being around others. You not only meet potential clients, but also friends you’ll learn from. Networking is a tried and true method of growing any business. Networking doesn’t have to cost a lot,  you can become your own advertising and marketing consultant. You just have to be sincere and yourself. How great is it to know, you yourself, are your own best marketer and salesperson ever!

With a new year around the corner, many of us are making new plans for growth and change. The New Year is coming up, how are you planning on changing your business and social  life. Have you given thought to adding  any new networking groups to you marketing plan in the new year? Your should try to add a few groups each year. Drop out of  networking groups which have not worked in the past year in helping you grow your business.  Try to find the networking groups which will be more effective in your growth. Seek out the groups which are not far for you to travel to. Time is money and money is time, including travel time. If you start your research online try to find the groups in your area which will best serve you.

In thinking about joining more groups in the new year. Also think about professional organizations, entrepreneur groups, and technology groups. Think outside of the box, maybe join the groups you can learn from in addition to offering just networking opportunities.  Think about your own skill set and what you could benefit from learning when looking into groups. Classes are also a great way to network.  In doing so you can grow your list of contacts, from an ample group of contacts to a new substantial group. Just think of how much you could grow your business, if you substantially increased your contacts in one year. How much would you grow?  Really contemplate on doubling your contact list over time.

Positive Visualization -  Dream it and develop an idea into reality. How would anything happen in life without positivity and having dreams?

Positive Visualization is key in attaining any goal.

If athletes and business people are all use visualization tools, so why can we all use them too?  Why are companies big believers in using a company motto and affirmations for their employees to benefit from? They simply work! The ending result is the product of  the desired goal.  How do all these things happen? Great customer service, a great end product, and a happy work place.  Think about it? Why else would so many companies be using them?

Visualizing your goal and believing you can succeed is the first step in  any goal.  We dream about weddings and graduations long before they happen for a reason We plan every last detail out, far in advance and make it become a reality.

An easy step in attaining our goals is just by really willing it to happen, by using positive energy to manifesting  the goals. It’s simple isn’t it.  You just have to have the knowledge of how it happens.

Tip: To help focus and develop your idea and organize it, use a vision board. Vision boards have helped many to see and attain their goals regularly. Basically a vision board shows you  the steps to achieve the goal, so you don’t loose focus, a visual outline of sorts.  Oprah is a big believer and user of vision boards.

The more you focus on your goals, the faster you’ll achieve them!

Do you have a Mom Business? If you would like to share with my readers, please contact me? I would love to learn more about what you are doing ?  I get the most interesting emails and love to learn what others are doing these days!

Please feel free to contact me so we can connect.   My email is  networkingwahm@gmail.com

So many of us would like to be great at networking or really want to be better at it? In  many of the networking groups you stand up and present your business to others. So do you have any anxiety about doing this? I know I do not like it, but will do it when needed.

So how can you become great in business if you  can’t do any public speaking? I really do think there are many people have stage fright and many us suffer from this. Many people have a real  public speaking anxiety issue, just the thought makes many nervous.

I know many people who really dread the idea of walking into a room of strangers at new meetings, events, etc. Are you one? A great tip is to get there early, so when the people start arriving they meet you first and you’ll feel more comfortable knowing a few people a little before it starts.

Many of us have public speaking fears. Do you hate the thought of getting getting up in front of a group.  You can take a class to work just on public speaking, it may just really help you in your business.

So the first step is learning about your fear or fears and facing it.  You can take small steps to face your fears. So you can network in all situations.

So you have a new business you want to start? Great! I’ll share you, others helped me early on. Some of which are still helping me, as I need it.  I thought I’d share this list of  “must be done” to get started.

Once you get going with the day to day of your business,  you loose the direction you once had. All the plans you initially had in your head will be  gone.  You don’t think so, but it happens, write everything down in a notebook or or better yet out it in a  spread sheet.  Believe me once you start doing the actual business part each day,  you’ll  never remember all the creative things you thought of in the beginning. I recently found a piece of paper with some of my early ideas.  I was amazed how great my early ideas were!

It so important to have many things in place before your up and running. You will not have time later!

1. First, Research and read up on what your thinking of doing. Learn everything so there are no surprises.

2. Do a business market analysis of your area or on the net,  for what your planning on doing. Make sure there are not too many others doing the same thing.

3. Get all the tax, business name,  checking accounts, credit accounts, permits, licenses,  etc. all set up and taken care of early.

4.  Set up social networking sites. Start making new contacts and advertise for free your new business.

5.  Set up a Business plan.

6.  Set up a  Marketing plan.

7. Get good business lawyer. Look  some offer great deals!

8. Get an accountant to give you advice,  you’ll need to know for you taxes later.

9.  Make a business check list to follow.

10. Find the vendors you’ll need and who are you going to sell to?

11. Find the materials you’ll need to run you business?

12. Funding where is it coming from?

13. Think about getting an business advisor!

14. Insurance you may need some.

15. How about copyrights, trademarks or patents with your business?

16. Buy a computer, phone, scanner, etc.

17. Domain name purchase, hosting and  website development  all needs to be done.

18. Software which ones to use?

19. To much to list and the list goes on, but this a start!

Write your business plan very early on with goals – 1 yr, 2 yr, 5yr, 10yr etc.  Really think about and develop you marketing plan,  so you can really get started.

Make lots of “to do lists”,  so you don’t miss anything. I even color code mine to importance, OCD like, but hey it works, right! Do not skip ahead in steps. Figure out the order of events and how they need to be done.  Some things can be done much later and some have to be done first to build the other steps on.

As a mom take small baby steps each day towards your goal. Slow and steady gets were you want to be just fine.

I recently had a interesting conversation about just this.  We talked about how a business can grow too fast and become out of control fast. You don’t want to have hire people right away, just in case do you have some informal help? You also don’t want to forced to  sell the business you have worked hard to develop, because it’s bigger than what you can now handle.

Slow growth is important, believe it or not. You can control the business growth yourself!

If I missed something just let me know,  I’ll add it to the list. This list is just to get you thinking and planning for your future. You can be a mom and run a business, I know many who do successfully. It’s all a matter of time management and putting out the big fires first.

Perseverance is needed,  but we have this quality,  we’re Moms!

Good Luck and happy brainstorming for you new adventure!

So I had a conversation the other day, I thought I’d share.  The conversation was about business timing.  The question I was asked was – When do you know it’s the correct time to start a business? Then I was  asked,  Is  now a good time to start one?

Wow! What loaded questions! I guess I need a disclaimer just on this post! I think it depends on who you ask. Depending on if your think half full or half empty on the economy.  Your own views of the economy would reflect in the answer you’d give, I guess.

Well I have a few thoughts on this. A very humble opinion from a very humble lady.

Well we all know the economy is way down. On the other hand we all know of some businesses who are  still doing well. If your very fugal with running your business, your OK.  If  your business is a necessity, you can do well. I know of a few businesses who are doing great. They may have a business on the dirty side, but it’s a necessity.

We all know the free following money period, we went through as a nation is gone for good.  The free money for mortgages, having fun spending your home’s equity, and the easy  loans are all gone.

That being said, people who are willing to think outside the box and try new things can make it. If you have a more modest approach to doing business, you can do fine.  So if you want to start a business on a shoe string and think smarter about your spending, you may just make it through this rough time.  If you want to run out and spend tons of money on a start up company, I would hold off . Right now doing so would not be the time, you’ll be belly up in no time. Think smart and act smart with your money.

I do think this is a great time to put your ideas and thoughts together, while taking it slow. The pace to take is slow steady – baby steps. Think things out very well  before you act. This is a great time to wait out and learn as much as you can, if you want to start a business – Research, Research, Research.

We are all watching and waiting to see how the economy is improving here and there. We are seeing small signs of some improvement. I’d be real savvy.  I approach my business at all times like it’s a savings account more has to go in than out.

On a personal note, I am a talk radio fanatic. I’m a big Dave Ramsey fan http://www.daveramsey.com I love to hear all the opinions of others.  Some on talk radio, just follow with the common sense of our previous generations, Dave does. Dave Ramsey gives common sense business advice.  Radio talk shows are a great place to at least get you thinking.

I’d would love to know what your thoughts are too. So really please email me and/or comment. I’d really love to hear what your thoughts are on this matter.

Hiring an online Business “Expert” – Many people in the world today are trying to make money in all different ways. Your trying to make money online or you may be interested in it, correct?

In my opinion, there are two types of business people in the world. The real ones and the  scam people.  The real business people are very honest and open about their business and they have selected goals.  Real business people select certain areas to excel in, develop them and become great in select areas. Often they work on a few projects at a time and  work till completion.

Real business people tell what their expertise is.  If they don’t know about a topic, they’ll tell you. When they are not familiar with a topic and don’t know an answer,  they’ll often research it for you, because they want to know the answer.  Often getting back with you with the answer. (A good Networking Tip for you : You can become a true friend and great contact by doing this for others)

The real ones will their build their knowledge base and share it with everyone. (A good Networking Tip, it builds real connections) Networking comes in by sharing your own knowledge base, you build a great network of like minded people to bounce ideas off of and share.  You both grow professionally. Exactly what I do everyday. I try to learn as much as I can to help others.

The scam people will say they’re an expert in everything to get your money. Scam people willl be an expert on everything from A to Z (E-commerce, Site Analysis,  SEO, Coaching, Affiliate Marketing, Social Networking, Direct Sales, Advertising, Shopping Carts, Virtual Assistants, etc)

Believe me when I say,  being on online is so complicated and complex, you can’t be an expert in it all. The fact is the trends change and the what people are doing online is always changing.  If someone is saying their an expert it all, STAY AWAY. Th fact is,  most of the people who I know who work with online businesses  specialize in a few areas of concentration. Having concentrated for years on the same thing and really building their knowledge base. Be it SEO, Affiliate Marketing, Virtual Assistant, Coaching, etc. To be truly great you need to really focus on a few topics, learn and watch constantly the changes which are happening.

You know the scam people want your money, just be smart.

I guess what I want to say is, be careful and educate yourself first.  Use good online resources or  go to the library or bookstore for a few hours and sit and read. Learn about certain topics. Start with the topics which you are in the most need of knowing about.

Money Saving Tip:  Educate yourself first on topics and you can spot the scam people and have your questions ready to interview potential consultants!

If  you want to learn about how to increase your  SEO. Start first by try to build up your own SEO number yourself. Free ways exist to increase your SEO number. If you want to improve  your SEO and what your are doing currently is not working, you have researched and try it all. Then find someone who is a SEO specialist.

I would talk to you local contacts first, ask them who they have used as a consultant. Ask about which books they have read on the topic. You may be able to do it yourself, if does take time. Blogging helps your numbers and there are SEO keywords. On topics to do with being online, there are “go to guys or girls”on it all. Your local contacts may know of someone in your area you can talk to or someone online they trust.

Be smart. Good luck. Please don’t get ripped off.

The large learning curve exists, but it can be overcome with baby steps and learning everyday.Invest the time, learn yourself and you’ll Thank me.

Hang in there and read, read, read.

Networking WAHM

Yes we are work at home moms (WAHM) but that doesn’t mean that we can’t work our businesses locally.  Here are 7 great tips for jumping out of your comfort zone and really furthering your business.

7 Ways to Build Strong Networking Relationships

By Kim Isley
1) Go out of your way to welcome new members and visitors

We all know how difficult it can be to walk into a room full of people we don’t know, and we all know how comforting it can be to have a friendly person welcome us right away and put us at ease. Remember that as a member of a networking group you are not only representing yourself, but you are also representing the group. It benefits all of us to promote the group in a positive way and attract new members. If you make an extra effort to welcome new members and visitors you will be encouraging new membership, creating goodwill, and making a special connection with a person who will probably remember you for being so kind when they joined.

2) Come early and stay late

When you plan some time before and after a meeting to mingle and visit, you open space up for good things to happen and deep conversations to take place. Conversely, when you feel rushed people will sense your stress and will be less likely to approach you. The 20 minutes before and after a meeting is the perfect time to further build relationships with people you already know, and make new connections with people you don’t.

3) Support other members’ events and workshops

A lot of time and energy goes into planning an event or workshop, and supporting other members by attending one is sure to build your relationship with them. Many events like open houses and seasonal parties are free, and some members are willing to trade for the admission to their workshops that have a fee. When you go out of your way to attend the events and workshops of other members, it gives you a better understanding of what that member offers, gives you an opportunity to meet new people, and the member giving the event or workshop will be more likely to support you in the same way in the future.

4) Make coffee dates

Inviting a group member to coffee is the perfect opportunity to build a new relationship. Approach the date with the goal of finding out a lot about them rather than just promoting yourself and your business. You never know what you will discover about someone, and chances are you will find some way you can help each other in your business or personal lives.

5) Refer, refer, refer

Each of us has an extensive network of friends, family, co-workers, business associates, and community members we know and talk with on a regular basis. Chances are, during any given day one of those people in your network needs something a group member offers. When you are talking to people, always carry your mental rolodex of members with you, and think of that list first when you sense the opportunity to make a referral.

6) When in doubt, ask questions

Networking with strangers often feels difficult and awkward for many people. When you feel weird about approaching someone new at a networking meeting, a really great way to build a relationship almost instantly is to ask questions about the person you are approaching. People generally like to talk about themselves, and they will think of you in a positive light because you expressed interest in them first. And, often you will find out something interesting that can help you continue the conversation.

7)Volunteer

Networking groups are sometimes member supported and member run, creating a need for many jobs to be filled by volunteers. Volunteering for a board position or greeter at a meeting not only supports the group as a whole and makes you more visible to other members, it also creates a bond between you and the other members who donate their time.

Kim Isley is the founder and director of Trees for a Change an organization that plants trees as gifts in U.S. National Forests that have been destroyed by wildfire. Find out more about Kim by clicking here.

10 MORE Ways to Use eBooks to Boost Your Business

The response to our previous blog post about 26 Ways to Use eBooks to Boost Your Business has just been awesome. So awesome that I’ve been inspired to think of even more ways to use eBooks – 10, in fact.

But before I get into that, let me just remind you that you don’t have to write these eBooks yourself. If your business is related to Mommyhood, check out Mom PLR eBooks. With your monthly membership, you’ll get private label rights (PLR) to an eBook, articles, blog posts and everything else you need for marketing.

1. Use content from the eBook to post meaningful and valuable comments in blog posts related to your niche.

2. Write a blog post about each topic in the eBook’s table of contents. Use on your own blog or as guest posts in related blogs.

3. Use the eBook as the basis of an online survey, to help you learn more about your market such as what type of information they want.

4. Create a FAQ page or special report with links to your site and/or affiliate links. Then make it go viral.

5. Distill the key points of an eBook into a poster – to give away or sell.

6. Use information in the eBook to create high-quality landing pages for your Pay Per Click campaigns.

7. Based on the eBook contents, develop a set of comics you can give away to build your list.

8. Pre-load a USB flash drive with several related eBooks and sell at a premium.

9. If you have a membership site, offer the eBook as an unannounced bonus.

10. Organize a webinar around the eBook. Record the webinar, have it transcribed, and you’ve got a brand-new product to either sell or give away.

Whew! With our previous blog post, that’s a total of 36 ways you can use eBooks to build your business. If I’ve missed any, please feel free to let me know by posting a comment below.

There’s so much you can do with content, but it takes time, effort and money to create it. When you have access to high-quality PLR content for a specific market, such as Mom PLR eBooks, then you’ll have plenty of time and energy to get maximum profits from the content. If you want to try out Mom PLR eBooks, use coupon code “ebookboost” (without the quotation marks) to get your first month for only $5. After that, it’s $29 every month and money well spent. I’ve been a member for over a year.

Click here to try Mom PLR eBooks for only $5 (with coupon code “ebookboost”.

I have given you so many ideas for building your biz with eBooks – which one will you do first?

26 Ways to Use eBooks to Boost Your Business

eBooks are one of the most popular forms of content on the Internet today. They’re easy to publish, eco-friendly, and virtually free to distribute.

Done-for-you private label rights (PLR) packages like Mom PLR eBooks make publishing and marketing them easier than ever. No wonder, many Internet marketers are making fortunes from selling eBooks.

But did you know that an eBook can boost your business in so many ways, other than by selling it as an eBook?

Here are 26 ways one eBook can boost your business:

1. Break up the eBook into blog posts or articles for your site. Publishing fresh content frequently is a good way to build up traffic.

2. Use content from the eBook to respond to questions in Yahoo! Answers and discussion forums in your market. Of course, add a link to your site.

3. Turn the eBook into a training tool for your affiliates. Good affiliates are essential to your business.

4. Pull out content from the eBook to create a Squidoo lens, Hub Page and Google Knol. These Web 2.0 platforms are excellent sources of back links to your site.

5. Rewrite parts of the eBook into unique articles and submit to Ezine Articles, Lady Pens, Associated Content, Go Articles, and other article directories. More quality back links for your money pages.

6. Break up the eBook into an e-course. You can either sell or give away the e-course.

7. Take parts of the eBook and use them in your email newsletter or Ezine.

8. Give away the eBook to build up a mailing list. Readers will gladly give their email addresses for an eBook that addresses their problems.

9. Offer the eBook as a bonus for a paid product. Increase the value of your product.

10. Give the eBook away as an unannounced bonus to your customers. They’ll love you for it and will be happy to buy from you again.

11. Take the most actionable parts of the eBook and create a printed promotional postcard, flyer or newsletter.

12. Rewrite the eBook for a more specific niche, such as “stay at home Moms,” “Moms of multiples,” “Moms of teens,” “homeschooling Moms,” etc. Create a new stream of income from another market.

13. Sell the eBook as a printed book through Lulu.com. Be where few Internet marketers are.

14. Expand the eBook into a self-study course, by creating mindmaps, cheatsheets and step-by-step guides.

15. Break up the eBook into an audio or teleseminar series, which you either sell or give away.

16. Transform each chapter of the eBook into a podcast via iTunes. Podcasts increase your authority, drive traffic to your site, and warm up listeners to your offer.

17. Use the eBook to create a slideshow or screen capture video. Use the video to market your product or service on video sharing sites like YouTube.

18. Read the eBook to create an audio product. Sell it as a digital product, or a preloaded mp3 player. You’ll stand out from your competition.

19. Translate the eBook into another language, and sell it in other countries.

20. When preparing for a media interview, get content from the eBook to build your key messages.

21. Distill the eBook into a special report to either sell or give away.

22. Get the best nuggets of content from the eBook and turn them into Twitter tweets. Add a link to your site or squeeze page.

23. Use the eBook as a reference material when writing a press release.

24. Transform the eBook into a white paper, which explains your product or service to your target market.

25. Bundle the eBook with other eBooks about related topics, to create a comprehensive home study course.

26. Break the eBook content down into group coaching sessions you give through teleconference, teleseminar or webinar format. Charge for the group coaching, or give free access to build your list.

As you can see, an eBook can boost your business in so many ways. If you’ve only been using an eBook as an eBook, you’re missing out. That eBook can be repurposed, transformed, re-targeted and monetized in so many ways. Even a single eBook can do so much for your business.

If you don’t want to write your own eBook or hire a ghostwriter to do it for you, then using PLR content is your answer. PLR is the most affordable and fastest way to get an eBook and other content for your biz.

If you’re in the Mommy market, then you have to check out Mom PLR eBooks. Your monthly subscription gets you one brand-new, professionally written eBook every month, along with everything you need to market it:

- a special report to give away
- a sales letter to sell the eBook
- 5 articles
- 5 blog posts
- 1 squeeze page to build your list of readers interested in the eBook topic
- 6 emails to follow up and promote to your list
- eCovers for the special report and eBook
- 6 promotional banners
- list of affiliate programs related to the topic of the month
- checklists and other guides to help you make the most of your PLR package

Because you have PLR on everything, you can edit, rewrite and transform the content any way you like – and even put your name on it. All the graphics are in PSD format, so you could easily edit those as well.

Can’t wait to try it out? I don’t blame you. Use coupon code “ebookboost” and get your first month membership for only $5. Use it to join Mom PLR eBooks now.