Exclusive Interview With Silver & Young Partner, Angelo Argryos

We are excited to have Angelo Argryos from Silver & Young Chartered Accountants join us for our Marketing Spotlight. Watch this brief video which uncovers his success and how he rapidly increased his referral rates in one easy step.

Feel free to leave a comment and share this video with others.

Is Your Database Making You Money?

Sitting on the other side of the table is always fascinating. I think perspective is the word. There I was running a marketing strategy session with my client when I made a rather alarming discovery. In her 6 years running her printing business, not once has she taken the time to even touch base with any of them over the phone - no "thank yous", no "Is there anything else we can assist with?"

Now I don't know about you, but sometimes it's true when they say you don't have to look very far to find gold. And sitting there across the room, it amazed me that we'd just struck an untapped gold mind within her very own business - especially with a database size of over 500 customers! 

Where's Your Database?
Call it boring and old, but your database is so essential that if your business was to burn to the ground today along with your database of clients (knock on wood) you're almost as good as starting a new business. On the flip side, having an intact and up-to-date database will enable you to continue interacting and communicating with the people who buy from you which is absolutely key. It could be as simple as a contact name, phone number, address and perhaps a few comments on what they've purchased from you - maybe even likes and dislikes. Remember, information is power.

Out of Sight - Out of Mind
Yes yes. It's another old cliche. But if your not interacting with your existing clients then they've most probably forgotten about you. In a world where many people have succumbed to laziness, sending emails instead of posting hand written letters, chatting online instead of calling... this leaves plenty of opportunities for a heart felt "Hello." Now what you choose to talk about when you call is totally up to you - but the key is to be genuine. Anyone can smell a fake even though people can't see you, they can certainly hear you.

Consistency Is King
How often should you keep in touch with your clients and customers? Well it varies from business to business. A mechanic may only see their clients once a year, so a quick call every 3-6 months could suffice. On the other hand, an accountant could see their clients possibly upwards of 4 times a year - in which case a quick call every 2-3 months could do just fine. Whatever the time frame is for you, be consistent. 

So What Happened To My Client?
Well aside living happily ever after, within a week of gathering her database and contacting her clients she not only created a warmer relationship amongst them, she more importantly won back some old clients and created a window of opportunity to quote up new jobs. And the cost to her? Some time, a few cents on phone calls and a warm smile. 

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Too Busy To Be Marketing?...

You're probably already aware of the importance of marketing in any business. And regardless of whether business is going through the roof or dwindling through to the floor, you probably already know that it's best to be marketing all the time. In fact, you probably know all the secrets there is to marketing your business. But there's one thing that I should probably let you in on - and that is, knowing marketing is one thing, but doing it is another in itself.
 
The Difference Between Knowing And Doing
 
Not too long ago I was listening to Jack Canfield, who is the famous author of "Chicken Soup For The Soul". He was saying that no matter how much time or money a person invests in a swimming coach, if that person never jumps into the pool then they'd probably never know what swimming is truly about. And so it's not until we get our hands dirty that things start to progress. And your marketing is very much the same - regardless of what business you're in.

"I'm Too Busy To Be Marketing"

The good ole famous "I'm too busy" to be marketing. The irony is that 9/10 times you can ask any business owner whether they'd like to grow their business and they'd answer "Yes!" So on the one hand, they'd like to grow the business but on the other, they have no time to. In my opinion, what one person spends their time on is done through choice. And in my experience business coaching and marketing for businesses, I've found that the ones that achieved the best results are always the ones that make time for important things such as marketing. It's cliched but if you don't plan for your marketing, then you're planning to fail!

Do it the "Nike" Way And Just Do It!

The Nike slogan has genius written all over it. Why? Because, they knew that the very thing that stopped people from taking action and working out was this thing called 'excuses'. And just like your workouts, it doesn't matter how tired you are or whether you're busy as can be, it's an essential component of business that needs to be done.

Now if you don't have time to implement your marketing strategies, then fair enough. Why not hire someone that can do it for you? Or perhaps have one of your staff assist you with this. Unless you do something about it, your marketing won't budge. Most crucially though is that you need to have a marketing plan and implement. And if you don't already have one, then you know that this is a great place to start.

Need Help With Your Marketing Strategy?

If you're a little stuck with your marketing or would like a fresh perspective on how to market your business moving forward then you've come to the right place. Just send us an email (you@youcoaching.com.au) and we'll organise a free marketing appointment over the phone where we'll help devise some strategies to get things moving for you at no cost!

Marketing Spotlight With Kendra Strudwick

This week Kendra Strudwick, Director of Inspiraction coaching and Assistant Director of BNI in Australia, joins us for our Marketing Spotlight. Inside this video Kendra to shares her secret to growing her business from scratch by growing her network. Feel free to 'like' and share your thoughts on her tips.

Search Engine Optimisation Made Easy - DIY SEO

Is "SEO" just one of those "buzz" words of the 21st century?...  It's become one of the most talked about phrases in internet marketing. But I've recently made an alarming discovery... one that terrifies me to the bone. Around 4 out of 5 business owners who I've spoken to recently did not have the slightest clue on what search engine optimisation (SEO) really is let alone implement it. And what's more, while these business owners may not realise it, this could be costing them hundreds and thousands in potential sales!

Understanding SEO In Less Than 67 Seconds

In practice, when we do a search on Google, say for example "white business shirt", the websites that you see located at the very top are ranked there because they are recognised by Google as being relevant and popular. This is a good thing!

A Google search for "white business shirt"

And if you're not convinced that being ranked towards the top is a good thing, here's the approximate distribution of clicks based on position:

1. First Position: gets 40% of clicks
2. Second Position: gets 10% of clicks
3. Third Position: gets 5% of clicks

The short of SEO is that every so often, Google conducts regular scans of all websites on the internet. And based on Google's 'algorithm',  it'll determine the relevance and popularity of a website and then ranks it accordingly.

How To Make Google Fall In Love With Your Website

Here are a few quick things you can do to your website immediately to improve your ranking in Google. If you're expecting your ranking to go from no-where to first position overnight, prepare to be disappointed. SEO is one of those tactics that needs time to get to work so be patient - sometimes taking weeks, and even months to progress to first page. The key is to be persistent. 

So here's 4 super-fast ways to start your romance with Google:

1. Use Relevant Key Words

Writing key-word rich content is among the most important out of the 4 ways for creating a SEO optimised website that'll get Google's attention. In the example above, if we clicked on the website positioned in number one, sure enough, we'll find a number of white business shirts. 

This is what we see after clicking on position #1 - www.rivers.com.au

Now imagine if you arrived on the site and there was every single colour besides 'white'... you'd be out of there in a jiffy! Google rewards key-word rich websites so make sure you target a specific area of your business that you want to stand out. The best way to do this is to determine what the most commonly searched words and phrases are and then integrate these key-words into your website. Google offers a free key-word tool at www.adwords.google.com where you can find out what the most popular words are (see image below).

Basic "white business shirt" search shows most common searches

 
Be warned - do not try to just 'slot' in key-words into your content for the sake of slotting it in. Google will easily recognise this tactic and will penalise you for it! Instead, write different variations of the same key word. For example, instead of repeating "white business shirt" over and over again, you can use variations such as "business wear" or "work shirt". 

2. Relevant Headings

Headings are another commonly overlooked SEO trick. By targeting words that are relevant in your main headings and sub-headings you'll be given bonus points because a visitor to your website can quickly identify whether your website is relevant.

3. Add Links

Creating relevant links will improve your website's SEO because Google rewards any value adding content. In the website example above, having additions such as "black business shirt", "blue business shirt" and "business ties" will assist in your SEO efforts.

4. Tag Images

Tagging your images can assist with improving your website ranking. Rather than using vague file names for images such as "image one.jpg", use relevant descriptions instead such as "white business shirt.jpg". If you're not sure what to name them, refer back to your key words that you're targeting. 

The above tips can definitely get you started on elevating your website's SEO and moving you one-step closer to a better Google ranking and hence, more clicks!

Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question about the above - and remember to hit "Like" if you've found this valuable. Good luck!

How To Profit From Your Website

Last week I caught up with a old-time friend who recently opened up his own restaurant. And within a matter of minutes he was giving me the low-downs of the restaurant industry. One thing in particular that caught my attention was when he mentioned that owners can rave on about whatever they like about their food just to get customers through the door. But the one thing restauranteur's can't do is fake the quality and experience that their restaurant offers because sooner or later, their customers will unravel the truth behind it all!

A Marketing Lesson From A Restauranteur

The chat I had made me think about online marketing, and how it's quite often that you'll click on Ads on Google because it 'looked' like the right match, only to be taken to a page that has nothing to do with what you were after - it's frustrating!… 

While there is no denying that having volumes of people visit your website is important, even more crucial is to ensure that your website gives them what they were after. This means happier visitors that stay longer and are more likely to take action - whether that would be to download a free report, e-book or contact you directly to enquire about your offer.

6 Instant Strategies To Optimise Your Website

Here are 6 quick tips on how you can improve the response rate from your website.

1. Clearly state the benefit of your product/service upfront
No wishy washy business here. Just get straight to the point using relevant headlines that link to your ads because the reality is that the average visitor only stays for 7 seconds!

2. Address your prospect’s emotional pain or desire
Acknowledge your potential customers pain or desire and position your business as the 'go to' people for the solution to their problem.

3. Write content as if you’re talking one on one (conversational language)
People absorb a whole lot more when you write in conversational tone so keep it simple and avoid any complicated words (unless your potential customers use those words)
 

4. Make it look appealing and trustworthy
Avoid having plenty of highlighted words, flashing sections and underlined text. Aim to have your page 'clean' and simple in design so as to not distract your visitor.
 

5. Use testimonials to build credibility fast
The more the merrier!… Go for video testimonials if possible and use pictures if you have them.
 

6. Provide up-front value for FREE
This could be in the form of an e-book, consultation, report etc. This is a great opportunity to also capture the prospect's details which will enable you to keep in touch and connect with your prospect.

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Google Adwords Really Works (Plus $75 Free)

Not too long ago I chatted with a bookkeeper who had a client that was pouring thousands of dollars in a good old yellow pages ad. Why? Because they were told that they were given a good price and that they’d get more business out of it!...

6 months passed by and as luck would have it, my bookkeeper friend approached her client and asked “so how’s that ad working out for you?” In which her client replied, “I don’t know… in fact, we have no idea if we got any clients from it!” After a few quick phone calls, they discovered that over a 6 month period they had a total of just 2 phone calls that came from the ad of which neither resulted in closed business. What a bummer.

The moral of the story is this. While these type of ads may be effective for some businesses, for the most part, it is often too expensive to maintain and the good news is that there are now more cost effective ways of advertising your business. In particular, Google Adwords.

Why Google Adwords?
In short, Google Adwords is fast, effective and measurable. In traditional newspaper and other forms of paper advertising you typically pay a set price for your ad regardless of whether you get 100 leads or none!... 

In my view, marketing is not just about ‘exposure’, it’s about attracting qualified leads. And that’s where Google Adwords does such a great job because you only pay for the amount of clicks that your ad gets. And the best part about it is that your ad only appears when someone has searched for a particular phrase which means the clicks that you receive is super targeted!

How Do I Get Started?
The first thing to do is to ensure that your website is up to scratch and that your content is optimised for maximum response. The next thing is to workout a set budget for your Adwords campaign so that you can easily maintain your cash flow.

Now for a limited time only, Google is offering a $75 free trial with Adwords for all first time users. To take advantage of this just jump onto https://services.google.com/fb/forms/adwordscoupon/ and complete the relevant details.

I Want My Ads Running Now
I recently wrote up a guide called “The Definitive Guide To Small Business Marketing” which details the steps on how to get your Google Adwords campaign up and running in minutes. If you haven’t already read this I highly recommend grabbing yourself a FREE copy at https://www.promo.youcoaching.com.au and filling out your details to get instant access to it.

Whatever you do, remember to always track the performance of your campaigns and that way, you can measure how effective your Adwords campaign truly is.

Feel free to leave a comment and share this article with your friends and colleagues. Happy Adword-ing and feel free to email me if you have any questions! 

3 Reasons You Need To Be Using Email Marketing

Have you ever noticed that the good old days of paper marketing is becoming more and more like olden day cars? They still do the job but boy it's expensive to run. And that's because there are now better ways of marketing that work just as well and in some cases, even better! Straight off the cuff I can tell you that there are 3 main reasons why you need to be using email marketing. It's cheap, it's easy and it works!

1. It's Cheap… did you know McDonald’s provides free wi-fi?
2. It's Easy… click, click, send!
3. It Works… a client of ours recently scored 5 new clients from this

You may not realise this but in Australia alone, over 80% of our population are frequent users of the internet. So it's quite clear to see that by not harnessing email marketing as part of your online strategy you'd be missing out on plenty of extra money making opportunities. And we wouldn't want you to miss out.

Who Do You Rely On?
I know that it's common for people in business to rely on mediums such as Gmail or Microsoft Outlook to handle all their emails - including their marketing campaigns. And while it's totally cool to be using it for general communicating between colleagues and clients, you simply shouldn't be leaving the task of marketing to these mediums! It's the equivalent of trying to mow the lawn using a whipper snipper because it takes a thousand times longer to do and the results aren't quite the same.

The Right Tool For The Job
For anyone that's a veteran of email marketing you'd know that using a specialist email marketing provider is key in the success of your campaigns. Some of the advantages of using these providers is that you're able to create cool and unique looking emails (especially if you have newsletters), schedule campaigns to run automatically and most importantly, track the success of your campaigns. And I don't know how many times I've said this before, but I'll say it again anyway, tracking and measuring your performance is essential to improving your marketing.

Getting Started Is So Easy
In the online marketing world we've been spoiled for choices because there's plenty of excellent email marketing services out there. In particular, if you're new to the game of email marketing, I'd recommend having a look at MailChimp (www.mailchimp.com) because it's a totally free service and would be more than adequate for anyone with less than 2,000 email contacts. It takes less than 5 minutes to set up and you can be sending emails to your clients immediately. It's got plenty of great features too and once you familiarise yourself with this system, you can truly spread your wings and start sending regular emails to keep your contacts up to date with great freebies and special promos.

The Golden Question - How Often Should I Send Emails?
There is no definitive rule to this however, in my opinion your email marketing strategy should aim to add value to your contacts and have you positioned as the go-to person when the time comes for them to buy what you have to offer. So whether you email once a week, 2-3 times a week or once a month, so long as you are achieving your purpose then it warrants the frequency of emails.

I'm a feedback lover so share the love and leave a comment or a thought. And remember to 'Like' this post... thanks and happy emailing! 

The Game of Sales Has Changed

I recently caught up over coffee with a close friend of mine, Seb,who is a top sales trainer who has worked with some big names here in Sydney, such as General Pants and Citi Bank. What I love about our catch-up’s is that I always walk away learning something new... and this time was no exception.

Within minutes, Seb's already telling me about how the game of sales has changed. And I'm thinking, "How? We're still working with people, so the principles must be the same!" That's when he elaborated on about how people often think selling is about how good we are at regurgitating product info. But there's more to it. It's now about how well you connect with your customer and the experience you create for them. And this totally made sense to me because over the years, I've noticed an uprising overlap between customer service and sales roles in many businesses. It’s become so grey that you wonder who’s actually in customer service and who’s part of sales.

How Good Customer Service Can Boost Your Sales
It's been studied over and over that a majority of people often choose to purchase a product or service not soley on price, but rather on how much they liked and enjoyed their experience of your service. This means that the better your customer service is, the more likely you are going to convert customers into paying ones, which enables your business to grow faster. The bonus behind your efforts is that people love referring their friends and family to you if they found your experience enjoyable. So below are three things I believe every business must know about providing an exceptional customer experience.

Become An Exceptional Listener

I used to think that listening was all about thinking about a reply whilst the other person is talking. Well it's not. And neither is just sitting there with a smile without anything to ask your customer. True listening involves a combination of asking the right questions and listening for the things that truly matters to your clients. Because the old 'one size' fits all approach to selling doesn't work any more. Which means our role has taken on more of an advisory role where we'd recommend particular products or services based on your customers genuine situation. Without listening, you can't provide the customer with the right solution. But if you do listen, you'll be amazed by what you'll discover and how easy it is to connect with them.

Don’t Wing It Because You’ll Crash

It's too often that people try to 'wing' their meetings hoping that they'll do a good enough job. Well, ‘good’ is not good enough. In today's business world, we need to be exceptional to stand out. And knowing about what you have to offer isn't just about knowing the features. Instead, you need to learn the benefits of each feature and how that relates back to your customer. For example, a phone feature is that it comes with a built-in camera, whilst the benefit of it is that you can always capture special moments on the go.

Offer Only Genuine Value

Once you’re absolutely clear on your customers needs, it’s only then that you should genuinely offer them a solution that is of clear value to them. For example, there is no point trying to offer a swimming pool to a couple who live in an apartment. The reason why this is important is because by providing solutions that are a fit for your customers, you earn their trust and as this pool of trust grows, you become their trusted advisor in your area of expertise. Remember, don’t be tempted into making a quick sale because it’s important to view your clients for their life time value. So always think long term and don’t rush them.

So just as Seb pointed out that the game of sales is changing, take this opportunity to review your approach to your customers because a little adjustment goes a long way in business.

If you found the content of this article interesting feel free to leave a comment for us as well as hitting the “Like” button. You’re also welcome to share this amongst your friends. 
 

Why Being Comfortable Is Risky Business

I absolutely love travelling. And recently I had the great fortune of touring around Thailand's infamous Phuket,where every street is oozing of adventure. One thing that particularly stood out for me is the willingness of the local businesses to speak to you and invite you to buy from them. In fact, 'persistent' and 'determined' are the only words that come to mind because they really put themselves out there - and they do this every day!

Are You Too Comfortable?
Imagine this, what if every single business owner had the same willingness to put themselves out there and the determination to keep going no matter what?... For many, I know that just hearing the words 'no' or 'not interested' can quickly shift a persons state around, and even cause them to throw in the towel. And it's been in my experience that the reason why people repeat the same old patterns of business is because they're too comfortable. Being comfortable is a real business killer because the moment you become complacent in your business, innovation gets put to a screeching stop and doing 'just enough' becomes the new culture. It's very risky.

Should I Be Worried?
The question to consider is, "am I getting too comfortable in my business?" If you have no idea whether this is you, be on the lookout for the simple symptoms that comes with being complacent. If you find yourself merely repeating the same old patterns, shying away from new opportunities or starting to grow at a turtles pace, then it's possible that you've gotten too comfortable in your business. Is this wrong? Absolutely not... Is this good for business? Not if you have intentions of growing your business and living the life of your dreams.

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
I once heard someone say "learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable" is one of the great gifts you could give yourself both personally and in business. And while being uncomfortable may have the appearance of being somewhat "risky", the truth is, its the exact opposite. If man did not take risks, we would not have had the wonderfall advancements in technology such as the internet, mobile phones or even television! Being uncomfortable is the only way to ever discover the true greatness of you and your business.

But how do you start? It's a lot easier than you think. When you feel a funny churn in your stomach, you know that it's only because you're in new territory. And the more times you allow yourself to feel these feelings and take action anyway, the more muscle you build up in this department. It's really not rocket science at all. And the best time to start is now. So look into an area of business that you know you've been a bit slack on and take this opportunity to be different.

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NEW: The Dangers of Shiny New Ideas

Everybody loves new stuff. It feels good. It sounds good. But is it really a good thing in business?

The Hottest Word In Sales
I was recently catching up with my older brother Phil, who is a sales executive for a prestige European car dealership. And it was then that he asked me, "Daniel, what do you think is the hottest word in sales?" To which I replied "hmm, I know many words, but I don't know one word that makes things sell like hot cakes!" Phil chuckles and with a sneaky smirk on his face, he blurts out the words "NEW."

At this point, I'm thinking, "What?… New?… That's it? Not very mind blowing!" But the more I thought about it, the more it began to make sense. People are addicted to grabbing hold of new stuff and forgetting the old. And in business, this can be a very dangerous thing to do, especially in your marketing.

Why 'New' & 'Marketing' Often Clash
When a business owner learns a new strategy, naturally they're super excited and keen to implement it into their business. Now people being people, we're not the most patient of creatures. So anxiously the business owner would twiddle his thumbs and count the days that go by.

Soon enough, two weeks have passed and only one measly phone call comes through. WHAT? Only one? And in one swift moment, the business owner 'cans' the strategy because he hears that there is now a newer and easier way of getting more business. And just like a house dog would chase it's tail aimlessly, the business owner repeats this cycle until the business eventually gives in.

Years go by, and the number of new marketing plans increases from half a dozen to hundreds. But you see, it isn't the number of marketing ideas that you start that determines your business success. Oh no… It's how many marketing ideas you follow through with. And as a business owner, resisting the temptation to jump ships and totally abandoned the old can be the smartest thing you ever do.

Slow & Steady Wins The Race
But what do you do if a new idea looks irresistible? Create what I call a "marketing inspiration" folder, where you slot in all your big marketing ideas. And each time you come across something that is useful to you and your business, just slot it in.

And remember, only focus on one idea at a time and get it right before starting on the next. There is absolutely no point in trying to implement 10 different things at the same time if you're not going to follow it through 100%!

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Are You Focusing On The Things That Really Matter?

Your Focus Equals Your Outcomes

In business, what we focus on is what we tend to get more of. Whether you’re business is at its peak or going through the uphill stretch, its simply because of your focus. Your focus is a like a flash light in that what you choose to shine it on is what you get more of. And just as focusing on the bad creates more of the bad, the same is true for focusing on the good.

Now I want you to imagine for a moment that you’re cruising along in your car when suddenly, the car breaks down on you. It’s a frustrating feeling knowing that a simple check-up of the vehicle would have revealed the problems. And sometimes, the problem could be as small as not having enough fuel in the car! Sure enough, the momentum of your cruise slows down and you find yourself painfully pushing your car along the road to the nearest petrol station.

The situation I’ve just described is how many businesses are experiencing life. Just as the driver steers their vehicle, a business owner steers their business. Often they are so busy focusing on the day to day running’s of their business that they forget to check-up on the vital signs of their business. They get so caught up on the little tasks that never seem to end with no results to show for.

Shift Your Focus, Shift Your Results

I’ve recently had the privilege of meeting a number of successful business people from various trades. What I really took notice of was their ability to consistently create momentum for their business. And they did this through being busy working on their business rather than in their business. Without fail, they’d always allocate time for thinking up and implementing new systems that create momentum for their business.

What I realized was that many business owners are too busy dedicating a majority of their time on the nitty gritties of the business, such as responding to emails, solving complaints and putting deals together. Whilst it’s important to devote time to these tasks, it’s even more crucial to dedicate time to innovating and implementing plans that create true business momentum.

So where to from here?

So ask yourself, when was the last time you sat down and reflected on what your business really needs? Are there things that need innovating that are currently hurting your business’s momentum? Remember that the best time to create momentum for your business was yesterday. The next best time is today! 

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Why You Should Stop Complaining And Start Marketing

A consistent flow of clients and customers are an essential component of life for business and there is no denying this single fact. But the reality of business is unusual. Even though many businesses know the importance of marketing, they just aren’t doing it! The simple fact is that if people don’t know about you then you don’t exist. And if you don’t exist, you don’t have a business.

Marketing. What’s The Big Deal?
Not too long ago I caught up with a good friend of mine who's in the business of design. His talent and passion for his craft is really inspiring to me, and to top it all off, his work is outstanding. But here’s the interesting thing – despite the stunning work he produces, he struggles to get new clients. This intrigued me. So much so that in that moment I couldn’t stop myself from steering the conversation to find out what the missing piece was. I came to realise that having a great product or service is only one part of the equation. Well let me explain. You and I could own a restaurant that makes the best food in town, but if no one knows about our restaurant, who’s going to eat there? And in the world of business, if we have no customers, then what business are we running?

Build Your Business One Customer Experience at a Time
So the missing chunk of the equation is getting your business recognised through marketing. And even though marketing has evolved tremendously with technology, one of the most powerful marketing tools is still word of mouth. And whether you are 5 years into business, or just started out, you have the power to build your business one customer experience at a time, starting today. A great place to start is to ask your self this, “when was the last time I experienced world class customer service that ‘wowed’ me?” I’m talking about service so great that you couldn’t help but tell the world about it. Some call it word of mouth business, but I like to call it creating raving fans. Having raving fans is definitely a good thing for your business because they tell all their friends about you which means more business for you! And the best part is that you have the power to recreate this experience for your customers, which doesn’t even cost you a cent in your marketing budget!

Create The Mindset of “A Customer For Life”
The journey to building your business one customer experience at a time starts by creating the mindset of ‘a customer for life’. Just imagine for a moment how differently you would treat a customer for a day versus a customer for life. You probably noticed how much more care and extra attention to detail there was when viewing the client as a customer for life. Now multiply this through to all your clients and watch in amazement as raving funs start to emerge.

Determine The Life Time Opportunity of Every Customer’s Interaction. 
Super successful entrepreneur John McGrath once posed a very powerful question that transformed his business. That is, “What’s the life time opportunity of every customer’s interaction?” And what he meant by this is sometimes you don’t know how well you should treat a customer until you know their worth to your business. So what may seem to be a $10 customer of a restaurant today could actually translate into hundreds and thousands of dollars in business over a year. And this doesn’t even take into account the fact that this very same customer will refer their friends and colleagues to your business! This shift in perspective can make all the difference in your business, from the way you greet your next customer to the way you attend to their requests.

Taking It Away

• Build your business one customer experience at a time
• Get into the habit of creating ‘wow’ experiences and raving fans. 
• Develop the mindset of ‘a customer for life’.
• Determine the life time opportunity of every customer’s interaction.

Did this post spark a thought within you? We'd love to hear from you so share a comment.

Work In Your Strengths And Delegate The Rest

Delegation – it’s Simple & Logical. But Why Aren’t Businesses Doing it?

Too often business owners are too busy trying to fix things and be everything to their business. They are the marketing executive, sales manager, project coordinator, customer service manager, lead consultant - and the list goes on. These people are the ones that are often heard saying “I can do it better than anyone else,” and “I don’t trust anyone with my work.” This is literally a recipe for disaster because it limits your effectiveness.

The best way to understand this is to think of a game of competitive team sport. It could be basketball, soccer or even volleyball. Logically, the position that each person plays should always reflect the individual’s area of greatest strength. For example, in a game of soccer, the best striker should play striker and the best defender should play defender. This strategy makes total logical sense, especially if the team wants to have any chance of being competitive.

Now in the business context, the same strategy holds true. Unfortunately, here is the bad news. As logical and practical as this strategy is, businesses simply aren’t implementing this. They’ve mixed up the strikers with the defenders; the sales people with the managers; the financiers with the administration. And the worst part about it is this – they aren’t even aware of it and as a result, they’re paying the price for it.

Being Great Is All About Working In Your Strengths
I want you to consider all the great sports stars that ever existed. One particular individual I have in mind is Tiger Woods. The strength of his game was always going to be in his amazing long game and putting – never his out of bunker shots. Not to say that Tiger Woods totally ignored his weakness, however, his likelihood of dominating the golf arena rested upon his ability to maximise and continually work on his strength rather than fixing his bunker shots (weakness). The same can be said about business.

The reality is that you are only one person. And at any given time, you can only do one thing or another – but never both simultaneously. By the same token, you can either focus on developing and stretching your key strengths, or work on fixing your weaknesses. Now if you’re serious about creating extraordinary results, then you have probably already realised by now that this can only be achieved by working on your area of greatest strengths. And the way to do this is to start identifying and noticing the things that you do in your business that only you can do, and that you excel in.

Putting It Into Practice
So for example, if you’re noticing that you have a talent for attracting new clients and building long term customer relations in your business, then you are going to want to devote more time in this area. And at the same time, if you are noticing that there are areas that are clearly weaknesses, be willing to manage around this by delegating these roles to other team members or outsourcing it. For example, accounting may not be your forte, so it is as easy as finding a suitable book-keeper or accountant to work along side you.

Make The Most of You
The momentum that this strategy will create for you and your business is phenomenal. Because in the moment you are able to manage around your weaknesses, you have just freed up more time so that you can shine and be at your best. This translates into more results for your business, more growth and therefore more money. Always have the mindset of being in the role and doing things that allows you to capitalise on your strengths rather than fixing your weaknesses. This also gives the right of way for other people to shine in their area of strength and together, you are able to create a much more effective, efficient and healthier business financially.

Taking It Away
• You can’t be all things to your business.
• Devote more time developing your strengths.
• Manage around your weaknesses and consider delegating where appropriate.

Let's hear from you. Why not share a quick comment with us. 

3 Easy Ways To Get More Web Traffic Absolutely Free

You've all heard similar stories about websites. People get super excited about having their new website pieced together and ready for launch. Then comes the launch date, followed by plenty of complements from friends and family. But not too long down the track they find themselves scratching their heads wondering why they haven't gotten any enquiries from their website. 

The biggest difference between a website that works and one that doesn't comes down in part to the website itself, and secondly, the amount of people visiting your site. Now you can't have a website without traffic and you can't have traffic without a website. They work in unison and if you execute both very well then you're left with a website that drives in bucket loads of traffic and captures plenty of leads that will become paying clients. 

Today there are so many different ways to drive traffic to your site, some of which are free and others are paid for. In my opinion, the best form of marketing is always free marketing. Simply because it works and it doesn't cost you a cent! The biggest mistake a business can do is to commit more funds than it should into marketing that doesn't work. It's just plain silly to do so because the goal of business is to make a sizeable profit. 

Regardless of what type of marketing you engage it, I believe that your marketing needs to allow you to communicate with your target market and consistently stay in front of them. So here are some quick tips on generating more web traffic without costing you a single cent.

1. Social Media

Social media has gotten a tremendous amount of attention in the past number of years and at this rate, it's only going to get bigger. There's not a day that passes that I don't hear or see someone talk about social media giants such as Facebook, Twitter and Linked In. And the reason why this has become such an effective and viable way of generating traffic for your site is because of the sheer number of people who are actively using this medium to connect with one another. In fact, statistics have recently shown that there are over 500 million active Facebook users around the globe!… So don't underestimate the power of social media. Study it. Understand it. And utilise it so that you can connect with your target market and have them directed back to your website which means more potential leads and sales. 

2. Blog

Blogging has been around for quite some time and only now has it become so easily accessible, user-friendly to set up and it's absolutely free. The most popular providers include Word Press and Blogger by Google. The goal of your blog should be to connect with your target market and provide them with blog posts that add value into their lives. When you can consistently blog quality information that is perceived to be of great value to your prospects then you will start to develop a loyal fan base. Every now and then, you can add in offers and promotions that your business is running. For the most part, just follow the rule of 80:20, where you need to add value 8 times before you can direct them to any other site such as your own website. 

3. Email marketing

This has been a long standing strategy which for some business is the core medium for doing business. Communicating and connecting with your target market is a powerful way of creating trust with them which takes you one step closer to getting the sale. Remember that your emails, just like your blogs, need to add value to your prospective clients in order for people to continue reading your stuff. Avoid spamming people with masses of irrelevant information and offers because people do not like being sold 'in your face'. Take your time because there is no rush. The great thing about email is that not only is it free, but you can direct your mailing list to wherever it is that you'd like them to go to on your website. 

Always remember that when re-directing traffic to your website, send them to a page that is relevant to what they are looking for. For example, if you were looking for a torch and I gave you a wrench instead, how would that make you feel?… It's frustrating to say the least! So don't do this to your prospective clients and instead, show them what they want. 

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Is Your Business Ready For 2011?

Stop. Plan ahead and thrive. With the new years still very fresh on our shoulders there couldn't be a better time to set the scene for your business in 2011. And if you're looking to create a bigger and better year in your business, setting clear goals will have the power to fuel your vision and turn your business desires into the real thing. Time and time again I find that business owners who fail to plan simply plan to fail. Can you imagine hopping onto the latest airplane filled with all the latest gizmos and navigational equipment, but not having a specific destination? The airplane’s technical marvel would serve no purpose without a destination.

The first thing to do is to have your goals written down on paper. Don't just have it stored in your mind because the physical act of writing your goals out establishes a strong level of commitment and is like a declaration to yourself. Ask any person who has achieved some major level of success, whether in their personal or business life, and they will tell you that the simple act of writing your goals makes all the difference. And once you've set your goals you need to get clear on "why" these goals matter to you. Your "why" is the backbone to achieving your goals because it keeps you going when the going gets tough. And it's true that even the clearest and most amazing goals would have no power and momentum without it.

To help you set goals that'll make 2011 your best year ever, i will highly recommend that you implement the SMART method of goal setting which is by far, the most effective and simple goal setting method that I have ever come across.

S - Specific
Often times when I ask business owners what they’d like to achieve, they give waffley responses which may sometimes sound like “I want a better business, more money, better staff” and the list goes on. But the question is how do you define each of these? Does earning an extra $1 qualify as ‘more money’ in your mind? This is why having specificity in your goals helps tremendously with giving you laser beam focus. Follow the ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ model. That is, define ‘what’ your goals are, clarify ‘why’ this is important to you and then detail ‘how’ you are going to achieve it. For example, it could be that you want to increase your net profits by 25% or earn an extra $50,000 in business.

M - Measurable
You want to make sure that your goals can be measured so that you can keep track of your progress. Most major goals (especially year long ones) would normally involve a number of shorter term goals in order for you to reach the final one. So instead of writing down “I want to make more money”, you can write “I will increase our business’s weekly sales volume by five a week”. The key is to monitor your progress so that you continue to work towards your goals.

A – Attainable
This is to ensure that your goals are within your reaches of being achieved. For example, aiming for a 1000% increase in sales volume in one week is not practical and can only set you up for disappointment.

R - Realistic
Having realistic goals gives you momentum and the rule of thumb is that there should be a 50% chance that you can achieve your goal. For example, if you’re currently earning $70,000 and your goal is to earn $1 million in the next year, this is highly unrealistic. However, if you say you’re looking to increase your earnings by 50%, then there is a higher chance that you will achieve it.

T - Time
A goal without a time frame becomes a nice wish. In order for things to become real, you need to schedule in a time frame that’ll have you getting off your back side and working towards that goal. Make sure that the goal is not set too far out because it loses its sense of urgency which breeds complacency.