Article - Business Tips Part 4

91. When you first start to advertise, make sure you have everything set up to go and start out a little slow. There have been some who couldn't handle all the responses that they received and have actually had to stop advertising. Can you imagine the money they lost for not be prepared and the customers they lost because they didn't get taken care of?

92. Take at least 15 minutes of still time each day to close your eyes and let your mind unwind. For those who say they don't have time I answer - do you take time to stop for gas while on a long trip? If you work with your brain it's the same principle.

93. Give yourself credit. At the end of every day, identify in writing, in your time management tool, three things that you did well or caused you to feel proud.

94. Be Prepared. Networking happens in lots of places at scheduled and unscheduled times. It is essential to have networking tools available at all times...especially business cards. Be prepared for as many situations as possible with marketing material in all of your cars, in all purses/wallets, and at home AND your office.

95. Be a Good Listener. People give lots and lots of clues about help they need. Great business opportunities abound for those with good listening skills. A good example would be the loss of a client. Are you losing a client because they are moving away? If so, that client is going to need a Realtor, a moving and storage company, a title company and lots of other services to make this move.

96. Now's a chance to help a client AND build relationships with companies who may refer YOU work in the future. Make those referrals to the client that's leaving you. Call the companies whose services your client needs. You will be building relationships with companies that will still be around after your client has left.

97. Give Before Receiving. The building of relationships is a give and take process. Be prepared to give of yourself FIRST. Be the first to pass a referral out. Be the first to share new information. Be the first to make the initial contact. Make it your responsibility to start the networking process by giving of yourself first.

98. Follow -Up. Consistent, focused contacts build strong relationships. The follow-up process is like the relationship's courtship. Follow up on that referral you sent. Did it turn into business for the company you recommended. If not, why? Here's a chance to find out more specifically how you can help fellow business professionals. Follow-ups should have a purpose- to learn more information that will solidify that business relationship.

99. Be Specific. When speaking to other people about your firm, speak in specifics. Real specifics. Help them focus on the faces of people and companies that they know. Don't say "I'm looking for everyone who needs financial planning services" if you are an investment advisor. We will have a hard time focusing on that big of a group.

Instead, say "I am looking for people who are having a baby". We can focus on those faces. Or, "I am looking for people who are getting divorced". We can focus on those faces, too. Specifics help people focus on faces and therefore help others help you- FASTER!

100. Choose Contacts Effectively. There are certain fields of business that can help you on a regular basis with referrals, the sharing of information, and on supply sources. Those would be firms that offer products and services that compliment yours. In our example above, a moving and storage company can get lots and lots of referrals from a Realtor. Every sale for the Realtor is a potential sale for the moving and storage firm. Learn what fields of business could best help you with referrals and build strong relationships in those industries.
And don't forget your competitors. In busy times, it's nice to have a place to refer work to that you can't handle, and to have a source for supplies or inventory if you should run low on something. Build good relationships with some of your competitors. After all, they are business professionals just like you.

101. Make sure the goal you are working for is something you really want, not just something that sounds good.

102. Focus Your Thinking - Decide what success means to you. Establish a clear goal or a destination for your life and/or business.
103. Visualize Your Destination - Put in your mind a clear image of your destination. Constantly and vividly, imagine reaching your goal, doing what you want to do.

104. Take One Step At A Time - Make each day count and let it bring you one step closer to your goal. Write down on paper a specific plan that includes the steps and actions necessary to accomplish your goal.

105. Tear Down All Obstacles - Obstacles are a natural part of a successful journey. Obstacles are cleverly disguised as handicaps, age, and negative thought patterns and bad advice. The only limitations in life are those you place on yourself. In overcoming obstacles, I have found out it is easier to ask for forgiveness, then asking for permission.

106. Failure Brings You Closer to Success - I have found failure is the gateway to success. Do not allow defeat, disappointment or failure stop you. Accept failure as a natural part of success. Be quick to capture the opportunities failure brings.

107. Constantly Improve Yourself and Others - Stop learning, stop reading and shake hands with stagnation. Continuous improvement must become your lifelong goal. You have unlimited potential. Education and information gives you the motivation and know-how to achieve your ultimate destination.

108. Have Faith in All Your Do - Don't put all your faith in yourself. Without a true direction in your life, you are only expending energy and time. Tremendous strength and power is available from God. He has given me the energy and strength to solve the problems in my life. He keeps us on-course and heading in the right direction.

109. Take an Ethical Stand - Our life should contribute something to the world, not take away. Helping the world, contributing to society, are worthwhile and acceptable goals in life.

110. Maintain A Balance In Your Life - Refuse to allow the urgent to interfere with the important things in life. Provide time for family, friends, and giving to others.

111. Start The Journey Over Again - Every person has a limitless capacity for achievement. A successful life begins at its last destination and looks for a better way.

112. REMEMBER to follow up. According to studies, 93% of all sales are lost because of failure to FOLLOW UP.

113. Send your customers gifts of information that will help them better understand how to use your product and to get more of what they want, while improving their lives/business at the same time.

114. Do NOT lie. When you say: "can you just wait a second", you are not telling the truth. Begin with honesty.

115. SIT UP. Does the person on the other end think you are a marshmellow or a leader? 55% of communication is physiology, and trust me, they can hear if your body is slumped or sitting upright.
116. 35% of influence in communication is how you manipulate the tonality of your voice. Add a little passion behind your voice, and you will quickly be better than 97% of everyone else who is in a trance behind the phone.

117. If you promise to call someone back, LIVE UP TO THE PROMISE.

118. Every day, for 21 days, when you wake up in the morning, before you get out of bed, jot down on a piece of paper at least 7 new ways you can make money today or increase your earnings. If you've got the discipline to really do this, I encourage you to go for it, as something magical will begin to happen near the end of the 21 days, not to mention that you will become a WEALTH MAGNET.

119. Know your competitors products BETTER than your customers do.

120. Dress sharp. Keep your shirts pressed, shoes shined, and attitude buffed.

121. Do you want bigger sales? You must start thinking bigger. Ask these questions: "how high is high? What is my maximum potential?"

122. People buy from people they feel are like them.

123. Folks are attracted to that which makes them feel good. Make sure that everything you do, makes the customers purchase a fun and easy experience, and makes them feel good about themself.

124. Remove ALL doubt and ALL negative thoughts about the possibility of failure to achieve 100% of your sales via attracting them to yourself. You MUST have conviction even if you have to make believe at first, that you will succeed.

125. Make it easy for folks to reach you in the mode they prefer to buy in, whether it means in person, by phone, by email, by coffee, by lunch, or whatever the "mode" of favorite purchase. Also, recognize that this is different for each person.

126. Rotate your promotions or specials, or reasons why to buy, more frequently, possibly on the day of each week your client is most likely buy.

127. Make sure your clients are happy first. Happy clients tell 3 friends, and we all know unhappy campers, usually tell 15-20+.

128. Make it easy for friends to refer friends. Put up a web page signup where they can refer leads to you.

129. When sending out invoices or bills to your clients, include a small 1/3 piece of paper that asks them for the name of 1-3 friends who they know who might benefit from your service/product.

130. At the time of sale, once your client has made the "buy" decision, offer them ANYTHING additional to add to their smart purchasing decision. You will find that up to 30% will buy on impulse.
131. Sell an inexpensive product to sell an expensive product. If people like your inexpensive product, they'll be persuaded to buy your expensive one.

132. Email owners of targeted ezines and ask them to do a joint venture with you. Ask them to run your ad, and in exchange they get a percentage of the profits.

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