We all collect business cards. When you’re out networking and meeting people, you get their business card and you give them yours. Then you get home or back to the office, you put their business card in a nice little pile and often never look at it again unless you need something, right?

How can you make sure that this doesn’t happen to YOUR business card?

One of the most important pieces of marketing collateral you can have is a high-quality business card. Take the time and effort to make this an impressionable marketing tool so that it will talk to your ideal client, even when you’re not there.

Traditionally, the problem with most business cards is that they are boring. They have a logo, a name, a phone number, physical address, email address and website…that’s it. So no one really gives it a second look or wants to keep it around because it doesn’t really “say” anything. There’s nothing on that business card that makes someone stop and say, “I need to save this card because I’m going to need these services soon.”

Here’s how to ensure your business card isn’t thrown away or forgotten:

1. Spend some time designing your new business card. Really take the time to make it look polished and include all the necessary information. (I’m always amazed when I get business cards without a physical address!) This isn’t the time for “do it yourself” by just using the software that comes with your computer to create a business card and print it on your home printer. Hire a graphic designer who can incorporate style and function into your business card.
2. Don’t go cheap! Your business card shouldn’t have any other companies information printed on it. Your card is a reflection of you and your business, make sure it leaves a good impression. Spend a few extra dollars on the good card stock and color printing. It makes a big difference!
3. Utilize the space of the entire card, both front and back, but don’t put too much info. Maximize the back of the card too by speaking directly to your ideal client. Consider printing your targeted tag line on the back of your business card, or a few open ended questions that speak to catch your ideal clients’ attention. You may also include an offer for the compelling freebie you have posted on your website to drive traffic there. When prospects see you as a solutions provider, they will keep your business card.
4. Resist the urge to put a lot of information on your card, people simply won’t read it. Don’t overwhelm them with details right away, make them contact you for more information.

After you’ve designed a great business card and have them printed on high quality card stock, the next step to ensure your business card isn’t ignored is to follow simple business card etiquette. That is, don’t give your business card to a person unless they ask you for it.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when they are out networking and meeting people, is that they automatically shove their business card in the other person’s hand. They haven’t even had a chance to find out their name or what kind of business they are in and they are already “assuming” the other person “needs” them and their services.

Wrong.

Networking is as much about building relationships as it is about building business. But you have to have a good relationship first. Make sure to wait for someone to ask you for your nice new business card before you give it to them. You will be glad you did. This gracious gesture helps create a solid foundation for the beginning of a great relationship. And, it ensures that people will want to remember you and keep your card because of their positive experience with you.

It’s hard to believe that more than half the year is over.  It seems like time moves faster than you can keep up with when you are a solopreneur.  There is so much to do and yet so little time. 

If you have felt "stuck" with where you’re at in your business, especially as it relates to accomplishing the goals you’ve set for yourself,  I want to assure you that it is possible to get "un-stuck", breakthrough the challenges you’re facing and get back in gear.

How?

First, stop being so hard on yourself.  Many times when I start working with a new client, I find that they’ve been spinning their wheels trying to move forward and are feeling very frustrated that they aren’t making progress.  It’s all too easy to put undue pressure on yourself and to feel buried under feelings of guilt.  All this is doing is draining your energy and distracting you from moving forward.

So, if you’ve been feeling this way…let it GO!  Stop being so hard on yourself! Getting distracted can happen to the best of us and if this has happened to you, it doesn’t mean you’re a "failure".  You can’t change the past, but you can most certainly take control of your future, starting today.  Forgive yourself, make the commitment to change and open your eyes to see all of the possibilities in front of you.

Second, take stock of your assets.  You likely have a lot of good things going for you in your business.  (You may have been too busy focusing on the "negative" things to see this.) So make a list of all the things that are going RIGHT.  Also, make a list of all the opportunities you have at your disposable.  The prospective clients that have expressed an interest in working with you.  The referral partners who would like to partner with you or send client leads your way.  The request you had to speak at an industry event or conference.  Also, I want you to start capturing all of your great ideas in one place so you can refer to them again and again.  Once you’ve organized your thoughts and opportunities you can start to see clearly what your next steps should be to take advantage of them and grow your business.

Next, set some achievable goals for yourself for the next 90 days.  This isn’t the time to focus on your long-term goals.  While I wholeheartedly agree that you should have a BIG vision for what your business can become and steadily work towards that, what you need to get back in gear right now is a few "small" victories.  So make a list of 5-7 things you’d like to accomplish that seem manageable, achievable and inspiring to you.  Then break this list down into actionable tasks and schedule these on your calendar so that you have dedicated blocks of time for working on your business.

Finally, I want you to reach out for support.  Just because you are a solopreneur, doesn’t mean you have to be "in the trenches" alone.  No one who is successful in business has become so on their own.  We all need a helping hand.  If you feel overwhelmed by all that you have to get done in a day, partner with a Virtual Assistant to whom you can delegate.  Consider working with a coach to keep yourself accountable and on track with your tasks.  If you really want to leap ahead and overhaul your business within the next six months, contact me about my VIP Coaching Program and enjoy the support of working one-on-one with me AND a group of likeminded entrepreneurs.

At certain times in my business I have faced feelings of being "stuck" and have had to work my way through the challenges I was facing.  By implementing the steps I just shared with you, I was able to breakthrough my difficulties, get re-aligned with my goals and start making progress.  If I could do it, so can you! 

I’d love to hear about how you’ve conquered your own challenges and how you can implement today’s strategies in your business. Comment below and let me know your thoughts!

Leveraging different ways to market your business is important to keep your name and service offerings on top of your target audience’s mind.  It also helps you diversify your marketing portfolio and measure the results of your activities to determine which methods work best for your business.

One way to market your business is through sharing your expertise through public speaking.  By sharing your expertise with others, you are helping your target audience solve problems, but more importantly, you are establishing yourself as the expert.  Once your target audience sees how knowledgeable you are, they will likely want more information from you because they see you as the best service provider for the job.

If you are shy or not quite ready to be front and center on stage, consider joining a panel of experts.  By participating in a panel at a networking event, or even a local radio show you will have a chance to speak to your target audience without having to prepare a formal presentation and have “all eyes on you”.  Panels offer you the chance to answer questions and share your point of view with the other participants; yet still showcase your expertise.

For example, we have an annual home and garden show in the Bay Area.  If you haven’t been to one of these shows, there is typically one major project where many companies can participate.  This project is usually a model home built in the event arena.  So this showcases the builders, interior designers, alarm installation companies, landscapers and home theatre stores (just to name a few).

During the event, visitors can tour the home and there are business cards placed throughout the exhibit.  Then, on the last day, there is usually a Q and A session with the participants about the home they built, the materials they used, the cost, etc.  With everyone joining in on the panel, it’s a great way to educate the audience on the project and their expertise.   Additionally, this gives the panelists a way to interact directly with their target audience and find out what their challenges are by listening to the questions they ask.

I’ve had the opportunity to participate on a number of panels and have really enjoyed the experience.  It’s a great way to connect with complimentary service professionals and create “Power Partner” relationships.  (“Power Partners” is a concept taught by BNI that entails complementary service providers partnering together to serve each other’s clients).  In addition, each event has created great exposure for my business, allowing me to further build my subscriber list and attract new clients for my programs and private coaching services.

Put forth the effort to seek out panel opportunities either in your local area, via online radio shows or industry events.  Let those in your network know that you’re open to sitting on a panel.  And reach out to event/meeting planners to offer your support.  This will give you the opportunity to share your expertise without having to worry about being in front of a live audience on your own.

Have you ever participated in a panel or been interviewed? If yes, how did it help your business? How did it help you connect with your target audience? Share your thoughts with me by posting your comments below!

One of the best strategies you can implement to have a successful business is attending live events, both to further your professional development and to connect with ideal prospects.  Doing so will allow you to stay abreast of current trends in your industry, to connect with like minded professionals and to interact with individuals who are actively seeking the solutions you offer.  With a bit of advanced planning, you can turn these events into powerful opportunities to attract new clients and/or joint venture partnerships.

As a solo business owner, you need to take the initiative to research the events that are best suited for your business.  Be sure to stay connected with the organizations that support your industry and your ideal clients.  Take the time to review their event outlines, speakers and guest list to determine if you should attend upcoming events.  Remember, the key to finding new ideal clients is to “hang out” where they are.  So if your ideal client will be at the next big industry event – you should be there too.

You’ll want to allocate funds for your continuing education on a monthly or annual basis.  This should absolutely be part of your business budget!  Attending events can cost $1,000, $1,500 or even $2,000 or more when you add in travel, food, lodging, and of course the cost of the event.  While you will have some upfront costs to attend, if you choose the right events the return on investment will more than pay for the expenses involved.   If you have the option to purchase a VIP ticket or host a book, that can increase your visibility and give you access to connect with the speakers and event coordinators.

For example, if your ideal prospect has paid the same $1,000+ to attend the event like you did, it shows that they are willing and able to invest in their business or their personal development.  This is a major pre-qualifier!  So if you provide a solution to a specific problem they’re facing and you showcase that value, it’s not unreasonable to assume that they would be willing and able to pay for your services as well.

Plus, when attending a live event, you get to meet your target audience in a more relaxed setting.  There is a spirit of eagerness and excitement, so the foundation of your new relationship is built on this shared experience.  That is very powerful — and makes it an easy “sell” when you talk about the services you provide and the problems you can solve for them because you already have that connection.

So, consider attending such events part of your overall marketing costs and a fun opportunity to get out of the office and work ON your business for a few days! Take the time now to research events, conferences and seminars for the fall or early winter.  This will give you a head start on finding out where your target audience will be and give you time to budget the costs involved to attend.  It will be more than worth your while to attend; you’ll learn something new and get to network with your target audience.

Have you attended any events this year?  What type of opportunities developed as a result? Post your experiences on the blog and let me know how this has worked for you!

For most solo service professionals, in-person networking is a significant piece of their ongoing marketing strategy. Getting out and meeting the right people is often the quickest way to enroll new clients into your practice and generate additional revenue.

Though networking can open the door to numerous opportunities, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s one of your favorite activities. I know a fair number of entrepreneurs who dread networking and consider it to be a necessary “evil” of running a business.

Whether you LOVE networking or do it out of sheer necessity, I’m confident you want to enjoy the best possible results at every opportunity. Following are some of my proven, Smart, Simple Tips on how to use this strategy effectively to connect with your ideal clients and create opportunities to grow your business:     MORE

Most of us started our business because we were passionate about a particular topic and found that we are REALLY good at helping others with their related challenges. That is a great reason to start a business!

Unfortunately, it often happens that once you start your business, you realize that you really in the business of marketing. You need to make a living. The only way to do that as an entrepreneur is to sell to clients and customers. And to get clients and customers you need to market.

ARRRGGG! M-A-R-K-E-T….

For some folks, hearing this word creates an instant frown. Perhaps you’ve thought, “I don’t want to market…. I just want to do my ‘thing!’”

I know that this thought has crossed your mind at one time or another, because it has crossed mine. When I first started my business as a Virtual Marketing Assistant, I just wanted to work comfortably in my cozy little home office and to have people send me checks. It never really occurred to me that I’d have to actually get out there and sell my services…I just expected clients to show up knocking on my door.

Perhaps you can relate. I think entrepreneurs who have an aversion to marketing feel that way because to them, marketing represents something pushy, sales-y, and difficult. In the back of their mind their thinking “used car salesman” and that’s not who they want to me. MORE

At the beginning of each year, we set our New Year’s Resolutions.  We want to lose weight, we want to exercise, we want to travel more, WE WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

Some of us are really good at setting goals, and we know exactly how much money we want to make – down to the last penny.  But, on December 31st, you’re sitting back and thinking about the last year and  you realize, hey I didn’t make the big bucks this year like I wanted to.

Why is that? MORE

When I start working with a new client, one of the first tasks we work on is identifying their target marketing and creating their ideal client profile.

Most of the time, the client will say something like, “if I focus on just one industry, I’m going to be missing out on working with other people. I’m going to be leaving people out, I’m leaving money on the table, Sydni I’m not doing that.” My response to them is that you don’t have to walk away from opportunities; you don’t have to leave anyone out. That’s not what this is about.     MORE