WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS - Blog

Marketing 101 - Tip # 14 Collect Testimonials

 Collecting testimonials and developing case studies about your work are great confidence boosters. If you haven’t been asking for testimonials up to now, it’s time to get started!

When you’re working with new clients you don’t need to wait till the work is completed to ask for a testimonial. People will be full of enthusiasm as they start working with you and results can occur early on. So when your client says something is amazing, ask to write down what they’ve said. Get permission to use it on your website and in your marketing materials.

Marketing 101 - Tip # 12 Trust Your Intuition

We all have access to our own powerful intuition and we ignore it at our peril. Trust your gut when it comes to deciding what niche to specialise in, which clients to take on or who to go into partnership with. If money is involved and you get a nagging doubt or warning from your intuition, pay close attention!

Of course we'll do our homework and research but if the niggles are worrying you, don't ignore them. Think of a time in the past when you paid attention to your intuition and avoided a problem - or maybe even more likely you ignored the hunches and went ahead only to kick yourself later.

My first feelings about a person or situation are rarely wrong and I've learned the hard way that I really need to listen when my intuition sends me a warning! This may seem a little esoteric for a marketing tip, but do give it some serious thought. It could save you time, money and trouble along the way.

We all have access to our own powerful intuition and we ignore it at our peril. Trust your gut when it comes to deciding what niche to specialise in, which clients to take on or who to go into partnership with. If money is involved and you get a nagging doubt or warning from your intuition, pay close attention!

Of course we'll do our homework and research but if the niggles are worrying you, don't ignore them. Think of a time in the past when you paid attention to your intuition and avoided a problem - or maybe even more likely you ignored the hunches and went ahead only to kick yourself later.

My first feelings about a person or situation are rarely wrong and I've learned the hard way that I really need to listen when my intuition sends me a warning! This may seem a little esoteric for a marketing tip, but do give it some serious thought. It could save you time, money and trouble along the way.

You're The Expert!

Sometimes we forget that we really are experts at what we do. How many people do you know personally who know as much about your area of expertise as you? Too often we take our own skills and knowledge for granted.

How many years have you been doing what you are doing now? How many books have you read about the subject? How many training course have you attended? How many clients have you helped?

Are you starting to think - "Well, yes I really am an expert at this!" Why not make a list of all your credentials, qualifications  and experience with your specialist subjects. As well as giving you a confidence boost, you may find some fresh ideas for your marketing and your website.

Imagine someone else with this much experience in a different area - wouldn't you be impressed? Just because we've been doing something for years, it doesn't mean everyone knows how to do the same thing - far from it. You have a unique mix of skills and experience  and it's good to remind yourself of that every so often.

Sometimes we forget that we really are experts at what we do. How many people do you know personally who know as much about your area of expertise as you? Too often we take our own skills and knowledge for granted.

How many years have you been doing what you are doing now? How many books have you read about the subject? How many training course have you attended? How many clients have you helped?

Are you starting to think - "Well, yes I really am an expert at this!" Why not make a list of all your credentials, qualifications  and experience with your specialist subjects. As well as giving you a confidence boost, you may find some fresh ideas for your marketing and your website.

Imagine someone else with this much experience in a different area - wouldn't you be impressed? Just because we've been doing something for years, it doesn't mean everyone knows how to do the same thing - far from it. You have a unique mix of skills and experience  and it's good to remind yourself of that every so often.

Marketing 101 - Tip # 8 Ask Questions First

It always pays to ask questions first - whether you're networking or you have a prospect on the phone.

Ask pertinent questions and really listen to the answers. So few people feel truly  heard these days. The temptation may be to jump in with ideas and solutions, but be patient until you have a clear picture of what your prospect  needs. By asking follow up questions and not making assumptions it won't even feel like "selling."

Think about the last time you were networking. Did most people jump into their pitch when they met you, or did anyone take the time to find out more about you and your requirements. Treat prospects the way you'd like to be treated! You'll be remembered for the right reasons

Strengthen your business boundaries

If you want to have more energy and more confidence it pays to have strong boundaries.

If you say yes to too many requests from other people you could find yourself feeling harassed and even resentful. Not a good combination for your confidence levels!

There are several things you can start to do right away which will have a positive impact in this area.

You’ll find that a lot of these suggestions are really about controlling your time in one way or another. If we feel in control of how we use our time it helps us to feel more confident that we are in charge of our own lives and businesses.

• Get really clear on your business and personal priorities. Only say yes to requests that fit into your own priorities.
• Have set days and times for client appointments rather that saying yes just because you have a space in your diary. This one action can radically reduce your stress levels and give you clear time to work “on” your business.
• If you work from home ensure that friends, neighbours and family members know your core working hours. Don’t fall into the trap of being everyone’s errand runner or doing the car pool most days. Remind people that you are running a business and your time is important too.
• Say no to requests politely but firmly – you don’t even have to say why. Just practice saying something like: “That won’t work for me.”
• Buy yourself time by not saying yes to requests when you are first asked. Say you’ll get back to the person when you’ve checked your diary. This gives you breathing space to make a considered decision. We all love to be helpful and can find ourselves saying yes and regretting it later.
• Remember you don’t have to answer the door or the telephone if you are busy.
• Get help in the form of a cleaner, baby sitter, order groceries on line etc.

Think about what bothers you in this area. Is there something that others take for granted that is bugging you? Is there a negative friend who drains you every time they phone? Are you doing most of the housework and cooking? Are you the one who always seems to be picked for committees? Make a list.

Now go through your list item by item and decide what you can do differently in future to strengthen your boundaries.  Pick something easier to start with as this will give you the confidence to work up to the more challenging items. Not everyone will be happy with your new way of doing things, but trust me, the freed up time and energy will be well worth it!

Collect Client Testimonials

Collecting testimonials and developing case studies about your work are great confidence boosters. If you haven’t been asking for testimonials up to now, it’s time to get started!

When you’re working with new clients you don’t need to wait till the work is completed to ask for a testimonial. People will be full of enthusiasm as they start working with you and results can occur early on. So when your client says something is amazing, ask to write down what they’ve said. Get permission to use it on your website and in your marketing materials.

The best testimonials will have the real name, business and location of the person.

A great format for testimonials is: present the problem or issue that the client came to see you about, explain what has changed as a result – being very clear on what the new outcomes were. Maybe they have saved time or money, or they have learned a new skill, got new clients or are less stressed. It’s not enough to just say how great it’s been to work with you. Include some kind of measure or list of changes.

If you already have some testimonials gather them up and decide what you are going to do with them. Do you need to add more to your website? And here’s a useful tip – don’t just put up a page saying “testimonials” – scatter them throughout your website too. You never know which page people are going to land on first.

If you are starting from scratch do this exercise:

• List current clients who have had great results
• Write down a draft of what they might say based on feedback they’ve given you so far
• Ask permission to use it once they have had a chance to comment or edit what you’ve written. Ask if you can use their name
• With new clients ask for feedback early and whenever they have something great to say ask if you can use it
• List past clients who said really good things
• Get in touch again and ask if they would be happy to provide feedback
• Remind them of the results they got working with you
• Turn it into a testimonial and get approval
• Make it a habit to get and use positive feedback from your clients

It’s usually better to ask for “feedback” and “results” rather than for a “testimonial.” People can get stuck in the formality of a testimonial but are usually more than happy to chat on the phone and give you feedback that you can then turn into a testimonial for their approval.

The added bonus of doing this is that you get a huge confidence boost when you are reminded of the difference you have made for your clients. The testimonials are evidence of just how good you are!

Collecting testimonials and developing case studies about your work are great confidence boosters. If you haven’t been asking for testimonials up to now, it’s time to get started!

When you’re working with new clients you don’t need to wait till the work is completed to ask for a testimonial. People will be full of enthusiasm as they start working with you and results can occur early on. So when your client says something is amazing, ask to write down what they’ve said. Get permission to use it on your website and in your marketing materials.

The best testimonials will have the real name, business and location of the person.

A great format for testimonials is: present the problem or issue that the client came to see you about, explain what has changed as a result – being very clear on what the new outcomes were. Maybe they have saved time or money, or they have learned a new skill, got new clients or are less stressed. It’s not enough to just say how great it’s been to work with you. Include some kind of measure or list of changes.

If you already have some testimonials gather them up and decide what you are going to do with them. Do you need to add more to your website? And here’s a useful tip – don’t just put up a page saying “testimonials” – scatter them throughout your website too. You never know which page people are going to land on first.

If you are starting from scratch do this exercise:

• List current clients who have had great results
• Write down a draft of what they might say based on feedback they’ve given you so far
• Ask permission to use it once they have had a chance to comment or edit what you’ve written. Ask if you can use their name
• With new clients ask for feedback early and whenever they have something great to say ask if you can use it
• List past clients who said really good things
• Get in touch again and ask if they would be happy to provide feedback
• Remind them of the results they got working with you
• Turn it into a testimonial and get approval
• Make it a habit to get and use positive feedback from your clients

It’s usually better to ask for “feedback” and “results” rather than for a “testimonial.” People can get stuck in the formality of a testimonial but are usually more than happy to chat on the phone and give you feedback that you can then turn into a testimonial for their approval.

The added bonus of doing this is that you get a huge confidence boost when you are reminded of the difference you have made for your clients. The testimonials are evidence of just how good you are!

Get these free resources today!

Get these free resources today!

Sign up for our regular business building tips and articles and you''ll also get these bonuses. Simply enter your email address in the blue box on the top right.
(You can subscribe safe in the knowledge that we hate spam as much as you do and we will never under any circumstances share your contact details with any one - ever!)

And as a valued subscriber you'll be eligible for exclusive money saving offers and special free tele-classes and audio recordings to help you create a business you'll love!

 

MARKETING MASTERY

This special report  explains 12 key steps you need to take to successfully market your business. No matter how good you are at what you do not a lot will happen unless enough people know how good you are! So master the marketing and the clients will follow.

You'll discover what might be missing from your own marketing efforts and get some fresh ideas you can start to use right away. These are no-cost and low cost strategies - no expensive advertising  involved!

WORK EFFECTIVELY FROM HOME

If you work from home you'll want to get your hands on this special report. Learn 10 ways to maximize your productivity and how to keep your motivation high if you work from your own home.

In this report you'll find tips on managing your time, diary and email; avoiding interruptions and reminding yourself why you went into business for yourself in the first place! Get instant access when you sign up for our regular business building articles.

 
57 CONFIDENCE BOOSTERS

I believe that a strong, confident, personal foundation is needed to support a strong business.In my work with hundreds of female entrepreneurs, I realised that what was often getting in the way of a client’s success was a lack of self confidence and self esteem. As a result of this I created the special CD and workbook programme “Self Belief for the Self Employed.”

These 57 tips are practical ideas you can use to strengthen your confidence. As someone who has had to work on her own confidence levels, this is my gift to you, taken from my Self Belief for the Self Employed programme.

When you sign up you'll also receive our monthly SUCCESS STRATEGIES newsletter full of business building tips and articles.

Each month I'll share tips and articles specifically written for small business owners like you.

Recent issues have covered topics like:

• 7 Strategies to boost your business
• Effective writing for the web
• Confidence
• Using testimonials
• Getting clear on your niche
• Business boundaries
• Not giving away free sessions

You'll also be the first to hear about  about any new programmes or special offers. So go ahead and sign up today for these valuable business building resources and get  immediate access for free.

Get these free resources today!

Sign up for our regular business building tips and articles and you''ll also get these bonuses. Simply enter your email address in the blue box on the top right.
(You can subscribe safe in the knowledge that we hate spam as much as you do and we will never under any circumstances share your contact details with any one - ever!)

And as a valued subscriber you'll be eligible for exclusive money saving offers and special free tele-classes and audio recordings to help you create a business you'll love!

 

MARKETING MASTERY

This special report  explains 12 key steps you need to take to successfully market your business. No matter how good you are at what you do not a lot will happen unless enough people know how good you are! So master the marketing and the clients will follow.

You'll discover what might be missing from your own marketing efforts and get some fresh ideas you can start to use right away. These are no-cost and low cost strategies - no expensive advertising  involved!

WORK EFFECTIVELY FROM HOME

If you work from home you'll want to get your hands on this special report. Learn 10 ways to maximize your productivity and how to keep your motivation high if you work from your own home.

In this report you'll find tips on managing your time, diary and email; avoiding interruptions and reminding yourself why you went into business for yourself in the first place! Get instant access when you sign up for our regular business building articles.

 
57 CONFIDENCE BOOSTERS

I believe that a strong, confident, personal foundation is needed to support a strong business.In my work with hundreds of female entrepreneurs, I realised that what was often getting in the way of a client’s success was a lack of self confidence and self esteem. As a result of this I created the special CD and workbook programme “Self Belief for the Self Employed.”

These 57 tips are practical ideas you can use to strengthen your confidence. As someone who has had to work on her own confidence levels, this is my gift to you, taken from my Self Belief for the Self Employed programme.

When you sign up you'll also receive our monthly SUCCESS STRATEGIES newsletter full of business building tips and articles.

Each month I'll share tips and articles specifically written for small business owners like you.

Recent issues have covered topics like:

• 7 Strategies to boost your business
• Effective writing for the web
• Confidence
• Using testimonials
• Getting clear on your niche
• Business boundaries
• Not giving away free sessions

You'll also be the first to hear about  about any new programmes or special offers. So go ahead and sign up today for these valuable business building resources and get  immediate access for free.

Why Do Women Struggle With Self Belief?

Excellent article in the "Sunday Times" on women in the work place struggling with self belief. Read it here

This issue also affects self employed women. I've created a special CD and workbook programme to address this - "Self Belief for the Self Employed: How Boosting Your Confidence Can Boost Your Business". Learn More HERE

You can also get a free copy of 57 Confidence Boosters when you sign up for my regular business building tips in the blue box on the right.

Often, low self belief is the main thing standing between us and the business we say we want. What would you do differently tomorrow if you had strong self belief?

 

 

Keep on marketing!

Now is not the time to be a shrinking violet! Keep right on marketing. I know it's scary when household names go to the wall, but as small business owners we're in a really good position. We can trim costs off our business and still remain viable, and if we don't employ any staff it's even easier for us to keep on going even with a tighter budget.

So try to remain optimistic. Don't batten down the hatches waiting for this to pass, because the people who'll succeed and not just survive, but thrive and still be there at the end of this crisis are the people who have continued to market and keep their business profile high. Pick the lower cost options but keep right on marketing.

What gives you energy? Finding the right fuel

I blogged in my previous post about my daily walking regime and the many benefits I'm feeling as a result. It got me thinking about what we use to give us energy. All too often we get a quick energy fix from caffeine or chocolate then hit an energy slump half an hour later. To say nothing of piling on the pounds!

No, I'm not turning into a kill joy - I still love chocolate and coffee, but I'm trying not to rely on them for quick energy fixes. I'm choosing healthier snacks some of the time  - like oatcakes,nuts, bananas and other fruit.

It's not only the food we eat and what we choose to drink that affects our energy levels. How about the constant diet of negativity from the news. These days I minimise the amount of news I listen to or read, which is saying something for an ex journalist! I am so tired of all the news concentrating on the darkest and nastiest goings on in the world. I don't need to know about every single bad thing that happens world wide every day. No thank you! Try a news diet for a few days and see how much more positive it makes you feel.

Do you have some really negative people in your life who are all gloom and doom and who drag you down every time you speak to them?  Can you minimise your exposure to these people? You can also try countering each negative remark with a positive one of your own and they might get the message! Otherwise you really would be doing yourself a favour by withdrawing from their negative influence.

And let's not forget what we say when we talk to ourselves! Are you being a kind, supportive friend to yourself or can you sometimes be your own worst enemy? Replace your negative self talk with more supportive language starting today!

See my audio and workbook programme: "SELF BELIEF FOR THE SELF EMPLOYED - How boosting your confidence can boost your business" for more on this topic. More information