E-mail Newsletters that Make Dollars & Sense - Part 1

Posted by Wendi Liechty

Tags: email, email marketing, newsletters
Posted in Creativity, E-Newsletters, Finding Your Way, Marketing Ideas, Money | No Comments

Cure for a Bad Day
We All Have Em…

Posted by Wendi Liechty

Today is not a bad day… but I have had them and so do many of the business owners I talk to.  Days where nothing seems to go right… whether you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed or you experience a series of unfortunate frustrating events.  We’ve all been there!

Often though when you are in the grips of a bad day many of us give up, surrender to the fact that today is not our day.  This is why you need a bad day plan… I don’t recommend creating this while in the midst of a bad day, but on a good day.   Come up with 1 to 3 powerful “save the day” ideas that can shift your energy and day from the dark side to the lighter side.  Only you know what can save your day… here is one of my favorites ( Tom Hanks in the Money Pit)  I now refer to it as the Money Pit Moment and prescribe it regularly.  I wanted to share with you, it seems to have a universal effect!
object width=”425″ height=”344″>

Enjoy and remember to plan to save your day rather than surrender to it, even if it is as simple as sharing a laugh!

Wendi

Tags: bad day, cure, funny, laugh
Posted in Coaching, Cures for a Bad Day, Finding Your Way | No Comments

The New Economy
Invest in Your Thoughts

Posted by Wendi Liechty

Have you ever had words or a book jump off the shelf right at the right time?   Open pages or an email to see the words that you needed to hear?  This week I received one of the many email newsletters I subscribe to by Cheryl Richardson (A fabulous coach).  She described just that, she wasn’t sure what to write about but opened the pages to Mike Dooley’s,  Notes from the Universe and this is what she found.  Which seemed timely for all of us and good enough to spread the word.

“Did you follow your hunches during the 90’s in the stock market? Did you hear what I was telling you about huge yields in real estate? Did you “stumble” across those itty-bitty public companies with stock offerings that made penny investors millionaires?

Phew, I was slammed doling out golden opportunities to anyone I could reach. It became kind of a hobby, you know, to fill in the gaps of boredom that go along with being the Universe.

Truthfully, though, you didn’t miss a thing. Those fortunes were chicken feed compared to what I offer on a full-time basis through my day job. Are you ready for real opportunity? Do you even have room for the returns? No, you don’t. But that’s a good problem.

Thought. That’s right. Thought is the greatest vehicle of all time for burying one’s self, family, and friends in wealth and abundance - no matter what’s going on with the economy.

Thoughts have their own economy, and now is a super-great time to get in on the ground floor. With my patented trade secrets, I can take any old invisible thought of yours and turn it into a mine of gold, a mountain of cash, a well of prosperity.  It’s not too late! The best is yet to come. Invest in thought, follow your hunches, and live the life of your dreams.

Tags: economy, investing, law of attraction
Posted in Coaching, Finding Your Way, Money, Motivation | No Comments

Tap Into Your Network and
Get Clients Now - Part 2

Posted by Wendi Liechty

continued from Previous Post…

Most entrepreneurs and service and sales professionals feel like they are on a treadmill that never stops when it comes to marketing.  While it may be the most important activity in your business it doesn’t have to be difficult and consume all your time and well earned dollars.  The best way to do this is to tap into your network and create your very own sales team.

So here is how to set up your very own free, credible, dynamic sales force, also known as Power Partners, Referral Partners or a Strategic Alliances: (Call it what you like but use it, it works)

Determine Who Your Best Partners Would Be - Start small with say 5 to 10 professionals that you know, like and trust and  who offer complimentary services or products to the same target market you do.
Set Up A Meeting - Over lunch or coffee and share your compelling win win plan.  That you would like to exchange referrals on a regular basis to help each other grow your businesses.  Give them a stack of your cards and take a stack of theirs.
Learn From Each Other - Teach them everything they need to know about your products, services and ideal clients and in return learn about theirs.  Power Partners also make great mastermind partners as they could probably tell you more about your target market and may even shed some light in areas you never thought of.
Give What You Expect To Get - It’s best to make your expectations clear from the beginning and come up with some strategies to help promote and refer one another.  For the system to truly work you also have to be willing to work for your Power Partners the same way you expect them to work for you.
Keep in Touch Regularly - It is great to check in and update your Power Partners regularly, let them know what your looking for, any changes or additions to your products or services, or special promotions.  This gives them better information to share you with their network.

Once in place it is much more effective than cold networking and one-to-one marketing strategy I shared in the previous post.  The more you create Power Partners the more access you have to hundreds if not thousands of prospects.  Power Partners are walking talking testimonials, what could be better?  Not to mention now that you have cloned yourself you have more time to do what you do best.

Here is to growing your business the easy way!

Wendi

Tags: Get Clients, Referral marketing, sales, service professional
Posted in Coaching, Finding Your Way, Marketing Ideas, Referral Partners, Uncategorized, networking | No Comments

Want to Get Clients Now?
Tap Into Your Network - Part 1

Posted by Wendi Liechty

Most entrepreneurs, service and sales professionals are always looking for an easy affordable, time saving way to market themselves.  In fact if there was a magic pill, and believe me I’ve looked… I would be a bazillionaire.

As magic pills go this is the closest I’ve come… it’s free, it’s the easiest way to market, it does take some thought and effort, but the payoff is long term and it makes getting clients effortless and fun.

Here is what I saw happening:  Most people who come to me for marketing help are doing a lot of the right things, one of them typically being networking where their target market hangs out.  This of course is what every book will tell you to do and it is usually the way we all get started. 

The problem was that most clients I worked with told me they were working on one person at a time.    If you have a goal to meet a lot of ideal prospects and grow your network as most of us do, you can imagine how long or hit or miss this process could  be.  This is what I call one-to-one marketing and it is something we all do whenever we have the opportunity but you do need more tricks in your marketing bag.

You need to be looking for your very own, free, credible, dynamic sales force.  That’s right there are people who will promote you and work for you for free.  You probably even already know a few of them.  I call them my power partners, they are also called referral partners, strategic alliance and this is what works better than any other marketing strategy I have ever tried.  

Power Partners work with or have access to your target market but are not competitors.  This type of business relationship can do something for you that a business card or a cold meeting couldn’t.    They can create, trust, rapport and credibility in an instant and they can connect you with not just one but their whole network.  Imagine how that might bring you a steady flow of clients starting now, not to mention the time it will free up.

Sound good?  There are a few more tricks to making this work for you.  I’ll share them in my next post so stay tuned.

Tags: Business Relationships, Get Clients, networking, Referral Partners
Posted in Coaching, Finding Your Way, networking | Comment 1

No Shoes, No Suit… No Problem!
Casual Networking

Posted by Wendi Liechty

So what is Casual Networking?  It is all the business you receive as a result of not trying, that’s right the business you get just from showing up, being yourself and doing what you do best.

Have you ever noticed this phenomenon?  You went to your sons soccer game struck up a conversation and next thing you know this person knows 10 people that need to talk to you and because your son and her son play together you’re the best guy to call all of a sudden.  Success as a result of a well ived lifestyle.

It’s nice when it happens that way, when work becomes effortless, when marketing becomes easy, when your lifestyle crosses over and blends with work.  It happens more than we think. In fact when I look back my best clients and referrals have always come this way and that counts for a huge portion of my business.

It makes sense when you think about it. We work with people we like, it’s easier to like people when they are having fun and enjoying themselves and we trust them more when we see who they really are and can relate to them.  It may not prove you’re an expert or great at what you do but it will most likely give you the first opportunity when the time comes to show what you can do.

If you like an opportunity to grow your business without trying I hope you’ll join me for my Casual Networking Event on October 23, 2008 at Aliso Creek Beach.  You can CLICK HERE to learn more and you must RSVP, please don’t just show up ;0)  There won’t be anymore S’mores reserved for you!

Bring Your Beach Chair & Business Cards!

Wendi

Tags: event, laguna beach, Marketing Ideas, networking
Posted in Fun at Work, Work Environments, networking | No Comments

Money… Motivation or Distraction?

Posted by Wendi Liechty

In my experience the answer is both, but usually we are operating from one or the other never fully aware of both and what role they play in our decisions.

Most service professionals, sales people and entrepreneurs use money to set goals and measure success and while this can be positive as a motivator and a clear measurement it can also distract you and hinder your energy, creativity and talents.

It doesn’t take a lot to see how true this is in what’s happening in our world today.  While I think there is enough news out there about the state of money today… I will say that the feeling that everyone is holding their breath is palpable and without breath there is no life… everything stops flowing.  The same is true for the life of your business, the money you want to receive, the value you want to give and ultimately your success. 

Take a moment and let you and your business breathe by asking yourself…

What would you create or do in your business right now if you were not worried or motivated by money?

What is the value or impact of what you would do?

How would it make you feel?

What’s stopping you?

If you are already doing what you answered, chances are you are not too distracted by money.  If on the other hand you would be doing things very differently if you acted on your answers above… you may be a bit distracted.  Imagine all the creativity, originality and productivity that is lost everyday over the worry or limits money places in our minds.

When you rely on money to motivate you and to measure your success you will always be at its mercy and so will your creativity, talents and energy.   If on the other hand you look at money as a by-product of your talents, creativity and energy you will find a value and currency that cannot be measured but felt as true freedom and success.

Remember to Breathe!

Wendi

Tags: distraction, Money, Motivation, worry
Posted in Coaching, Creativity, Money, Motivation | No Comments

Entrepreneur That Rocks
Leslie Blodgett - Bare Essentials

Posted by Wendi Liechty

Imagine my surprise when I was perusing this months issue of Glamour magazine when I stumbled across the phrase “The Entrepreneur Next Door”.  It was a story about the Leslie Blodgett the Founder and CEO of Bare Minerals makeup which has become a household name and makeup trendsetter.

She definitely is a entrepreneur that rocks and she has some qualities to keep it real in business even when you are a household name.  You can be sure that this quality that she is known for helped her get to where she is. The article goes on to mention that she is famous for:

Being approachable… even now that she has a multi-million dollar company she still makes herself available to the public and their customers. She even answers as many customers emails personally and includes in the article “If you have any questions or need advice, just call… Really just call me” I can tell you from having worked with many entrepreneurs and being one myself that this is an area that tends to get lost in the details, literally. Often the personal touch is first to go as soon as the busy and overwhelm take over. It’s also easy to forget that this personal touch has a lot to do with our early successes. So what can we learn from this entrepreneur that rocks? When we are caught up in all that is going on, what we should have done or have to do next or when we are to afraid to let go or delegate… we miss the opportunities right in front of us and often appear too busy or unapproachable. It is like having the closed sign in neon lights in your real or virtual window.

I also had to love this quote … “The best beauty product is confidence. When a woman shows it, you think she’s hot, even if she’s not a beauty queen”. Just goes to show you that the Bare Essentials are really what it’s all about… even in business.

Wear it well and Happy Monday!

Wendi

Tags: Confidence, Entrepreneur, Quotes
Posted in Confidence, Entrepreneurs That Rock, Marketing Ideas | No Comments

Ignite Your Business with A Spark
Out of the Box Business Cards

Posted by Wendi Liechty

Sometimes all people are left with after you meet them is a business card… is yours memorable?  I have thousands of business cards after years of networking, events and tradeshows and I can tell you there are very few that stand out or have me take a second look.  So here is what I noticed and it might just make you look at what you have on your business cards in a different way… I did!  This is what I learned and what I asked for on my new cards (sneak peak at bottom).

Size – A lot of the cards I put aside were a different size or format.  Either they folded over or were slightly larger or were shaped differently than the rest. Most the time they contained more information which leads me too…

Information – The ones that stood out chose a larger card size so it could contain more information than the basic contact info you normally get.  The key was this extra information helped me understand what this person was about and often went the extra mile to show they understood their prospects as well.  When appropriate they also included visuals which are very powerful.

Design – In the beginning we often start with the basics by ordering generic cards or printing them ourselves, while this is better than nothing it usually does not stand way in the way we would like.  It is great to brand yourself with materials and graphics that represent who you are and what you do in a powerful, memorable way that not only speaks to your prospects but gets you excited about giving out as many as possible.

Photo – If you are in a service industry your biggest challenge is to build trust and rapport and professional photo included on your card can go a long way in helping you connect with a stranger.

Call to Action – Out of all the cards I scanned I only saw this a couple times… but I think it is pure genius to give your prospects some direction.  One card specifically had a banner at the bottom telling you to visit their website for a free gift.  Easy and attractive and they may even take you up on it. 

Who knew that business cards could do more than sit in a shoebox? .  My friend and graphic artist Tammi Spruill of Fruition Design truly put her genius to work on all these elements for me and created what she likes to call the “Spark” card.  It is trading card size and includes all the elements above and has ignited business and conversation every where I go. I admit, I shamelessly pass it out every chance I get because I love it!

You can check it out below, and if your looking to create a “Spark” of your own Tammi’s the girl to call, she is working on my exploded business card as we speak and that’s another article and visual to be shared later… stay tuned.

Actual Size is 2.5W x 3.5 H

Front & Back

Here’s to leaving a lasting impression!

Wendi

Tags: Business Cards, networking
Posted in Business Cards, Finding Your Way, Marketing Ideas | No Comments

Work or Play?

Posted by Wendi Liechty

Casual Manifesto # 1

If you believe business can’t be fun your right!

Do you ever feel like you have to choose between success, prosperity and security at the expense of fun, freedom and flexibility?   I know for me and the many people I have worked with over the years that we usually fall into one category or the other never truly believing that we can actually have both. 

Manifesto # 1 for The Casual Entrepreneur is knowing and looking for ways to have both success and fun at the same time and it requires some courage and originality to live and work outside the box.

Here is one example of how I combined work and play and the results were fantastic!  Over the summer months I have received more referrals and business by moving my boardroom to the beach and I have invited some of my long term local clients to have their ½ day session here as well and you know what happened… it was powerful, moving and it was FUN!  I now have people requesting to meet me at my favorite location and I don’t even pay rent for an office.  It was also the environment that supported my best work to show up and I have since had some of the best brainstorming sessions with my referral partners as well.

So what is your work environment like… do you compromise your genius, your expression, your service to others to follow rules or do the same thing the competition does?  Business can be fun but it takes creativity, originality and an effort to think outside the box and possibly doing something that has never been done before.  Sounds like the attributes of a true entrepreneur and an opportunity to change the way we all think about business.

The beach may not be your boardroom but ask yourself what would make your business more fun and freeing?  Imagine the best environment for your best work and share it in the comments we could all use the ideas and inspiration to make work more fun.

Here is to having more fun at work!

Wendi

Posted in Casual Manifesto, Fun at Work, Work Environments | post a comment (2)