I don’t tend to send out newsletters every single day. That isn’t just because it takes a lot of work to put a newsletter together; it’s mainly because I know that I don’t need to inundate my audience with information.

In my line of work, I can wait to blog every few days and send a newsletter every week or two. Unlike a news outlet, my information doesn’t change hourly. I realize that and so I use social media to stay connected, but not to inundate my readers with STUFF.

Unfortunately, there are many companies that haven’t gotten that message yet. Those places practically spam their customers and prospects with daily “news” that isn’t really news at all.

In order to avoid becoming a pest, you need to use social media to your advantage. And that means you have to keep a few factoids in mind:

1. Social media success happens over time. Be patient. You can’t send out 100 tweets today and expect to be a success by tomorrow.

2. You want to build real relationships with your social media contacts. Don’t just “collect names”. You can have 1,000 fans on Facebook and not one of them may be really reading what you write. Develop true partnerships and make sure you reciprocate.

3. Spam is hated. It really is. So stop spamming. Always ask yourself, “Would I want to receive this information?” If the answer is “no”, you might want to rethink your strategy.

4. Oh, and that brings us to the point that you NEED a social media strategy. If you’re just blogging, sending out newsletters, and doing Facebook updates “when you feel like it”, you’re not taking advantage of these powerful marketing tools.

There’s nothing wrong with hopping on the social media bandwagon. Just make sure you pay your dues or you’ll be seen as a hobo just riding the rails!

Many people don’t immediately think about hiring a business coach to help them; after all, shouldn’t all business be handled by using one’s “common sense”? 

Well, not really.

Sometimes, “common sense” isn’t so common.  (Those of you who have been in the workforce for more than two seconds know exactly what I mean!)

So how do you know when it’s time to pick up the phone and reach out to a business coach?  Below are 5 indicators that the time is ripe:

1.  Your Business is Booming… but You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

Clearly, you’re doing a lot right, but you need an objective voice to help you prioritize your goals and keep you from burning the candle at both ends (not to mention the center!) 

2.  You Are Starting Your Own Business

Entrepreneurs can always use a helping hand, especially at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journeys.  Business coaches can provide much-needed assistance in practically and efficiently moving forward.

3.  You Have Lost Your Inspiration

Have you “lost that lovin’ feelin’” when it comes to your work?  A business coach can help you rediscover the joys of a fulfilling career!

4.  You’ve Had a Number of Life Stressors in a Short Amount of Time

Gone through a divorce?  Had a child?  Experiencing “empty nest” syndrome?  These are all stressors that can make daily working very, very difficult.  Business coaches who have the hands-on training to deal with situations like yours can direct you to a better place mentally… and professionally.

5.  You’re Not Living Up to Your Potential

Be honest.  Are you really living up to your potential?  Are you using your innate gifts and talents every single day?  If not, you could benefit by the accountability working with a business coach can provide!

If any of the above connected with you, I urge you to contact me at julie(at)jadcc(dot)com.  The initial consultation is FREE (no strings attached).  You have nothing to lose and a whole lifetime of profitability and personal satisfaction to gain!

“I don’t have time to market my company all the time!  It’s too much of a commitment to track it every month!”

Let’s just say that I’ve heard that exclamation more than once.  So I’d like you to meet a gal who proves that anyone can (and should!) commit themselves to a marketing campaign.

This story just hit the cyberwaves and it shows the way an innovative idea (handled professionally, creatively and with gusto) can make a big splash… although maybe not at the beginning of the process.  (That’s why patience is critical!)

For 365 days, Sheena Matheiken dressed in the same outfit but pledged to make it look different every day.  And boy — did she succeed!  For her efforts, she raised almost $77,000 to send 200 Indian children to school.  (These are kids living in the extremely impoverished rural India areas; without help from Matheiken and her donors, they would most likely never get an education.)

Now, Matheiken loves fashion.  So this was a passion for her.  But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t tough.  She committed to changing her look every single day despite the fact that her basic outfit remained the same — a simple black dress.

I ask you this — would you have the stamina to commit to a marketing project for a full year?  If you said yes, then it’s time to just do it.  Find something you’re excited about and let’s make magic happen for you!

To find out more about Matheiken’s “Uniform Project”, visit her website:  http://theuniformproject.com/.

This is just a quick exercise to get you thinking about how you can take your business to the next level.  I hope it provides you with some ideas!

If you were the best business in your field…

→ What kind of marketing would you do?  Where would you market?

→ How many clients would you realistically have?

→ What would your website look like?  How about your business cards?

→ What would your monthly income be? 

→ How would you get new sales?

→ How would you handle “down” times?

→ What would your customer service philosophy look like?

→ What tasks would you outsource?

→ What would customers say about your organization?  What would competitors say?

→ What kind of community service would your business do?

→ How would your office space look?

→ What would a potential client’s first impression of your company be?

→ How would you approach every single day?

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Ready to take on 2010 and make more money for your business?  Join my Marketing Made Easy for Small Businesses Program! 

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The average consumer is bombarded with around 3,000 different product advertisements in one form or another every single day.  So what makes you think that your merchandise or service offerings are going to stand out?

While you might adopt different marketing tactics to get a temporary surge in sales — a coupon, a time-limited price reduction, a 20% off sale — it’s not enough to help you in the long term.  What you need is a strong brand.  But that’s something most businesses, especially small businesses, seem to lack.

Branding is important for a number of reasons:

• It instantly sets you apart from your competitors.  After all, your brand is unique to your company.
• It establishes who you are and what you do immediately.
• It encourages people to begin to associate you with a service or a product.  (Not convinced?  Think of the words “fast food”.  Did McDonald’s “golden arches” instantly come to mind?  That’s powerful branding!)

If you don’t have a brand (or you couldn’t define your brand to save your life), that’s telling you something.  You need to get a handle on what your brand is.  From there, your advertising and marketing will be much easier to develop, not to mention more lucrative.

So… what’s your brand?

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Don’t miss out on my Marketing Made Easy for Small Businesses Program! 

Join with a friend and earn a special discount!

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