Good Stuff for You in 2014

Most of you know that I've been a business owner for 20 years, I have seen quite a bit in the industry both good and bad, however one thing is for certain out of anything I have done this is by far the most rewarding and income earning industry out here. While it does take a little accountability, drive, persistence, trail blazing at times, but most importantly real faith in yourself to know you can do it regardless of what is against you. It will happen! We have a stove full of GOOD STUFF for you....

For those of you that don't know... Send Out Cards has a contest going on for the month of January. It's called Sponsor Ten Win a Ben. This simply means that for every 10 customers, distributors in any combination that you sign up you will receive $100. I don't know about you but for a person to try your product for only $9.80 for the month, you sign up 10 of those you receive $100, $200, $300 or more for a product that everyone enjoys anyway! If your a distributor send your family and friends to your personal website. If you are not a distributor and need a link, visit www.printstuffstamp.com and click on "ways to get started" and click on the selection of your choice. If you need help getting started reply to this email or info@teampureintent.com for more information. Find out how easy it is to send real cards and gifts and gift cards right from the comfort of your laptop or phone.

Tax season is upon us! Yes family this happens once a year, however why are you so happy in getting a "tax return"? Do you know what that really means? It simply is an overpayment in taxes. Yes you basically are getting a little bit of your money back that you overpaid in the last tax year. So tell me why are you so excited about that when you could be allowing more of your money to work for you during the year, spending less and saving more. There is nothing happy about this time if you really know the reason behind it. I will be sending out a series of questions about what you may or may not know about paying your just do not a penny more or less.

Prepare yourself this tax season by equipping yourself with more information. Challenge yourself to learn more and pay what you are suppose to and not be led down the wrong path of what is owed to you as a w-2 wage earner. This easy to read book at www.howmuchdoyoukeep.com will give you some very key ingredients to helping you maximize your returns this season and beyond. Ron Muller is a gentleman that has now a 7th edition book on how to become more knowledgeable in something that either some people are scared of or they are happy for all the wrong reasons. We are building a page that will have information on how to become more of an asset to yourself using key methods. These will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars!

Are you a level 4 individual or group in whatever you do? 

We will be talking about how to get to and start living at a LEVEL 4 in every part of your life. This will be an important piece to make your 2014 the best year that you have ever had. We are putting together tools for you to utilize on a daily base as well as simple ways to implement this into your already lifestyle as you help others do the same.

One more thing, please engage more in our post whether it be on Facebook's fan page or even the team site. We need your help because this valuable information needs to get in someones hands and you can be that person to make the delivery by having them sign up for our newsletters, posting remarks, questions or even answers. Get involved after all its all about you. Help us to spread the word!

Have a great rest of the week and know that you matter whether you like it or not! You have a purpose and destiny that must be fulfilled, let's all work together to make that happen!

Let's Game Change Together!

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Catching the Big Niche Fish

Think of a niche market as a hook that will help you reel in the potential customers that you have identified as the most profitable and likely prospects for your business. Niches are described as either Operational Niches or Customer Niches.

Both approaches are effective but the differences between the two are that operational niches focus on specialized products and services that will ultimately appeal to a narrow customer segment (they are designed for that particular niche market). A customer niche focuses on one or more specific and profitable customer bases. The business centers its attention on tailoring its marketing efforts to a specific audience.

Catch and Release

It would be to your benefit if you can find a way to incorporate both approaches but you’ll need to do some “catch and release” first. As most entrepreneurs know, you may not always reel in the “big fish” on the first try. It takes awhile to get consistent income from your niche. Sure, immediately maximizing the income from your niche sounds great, you may want to explore around it a little. Consider ‘catching’ your niche customer slowly by devoting an hour or so a day to putting your new business model together and letting it take off. A niche is all about learning and experimentation, so don’t get frustrated by initial failure. A successful niche business will rely heavily on the contacts you will make, and this takes time.

Let’s Game Change Together!

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Gratitude

Team Pure Intent is truly about the importance of gratitude. It is very important to understand that
without this powerful word and action the world would most likely be more chaotic than what it is
today. Whether it’s in business or family we must show how much one to another is appreciated. This sends a powerful message to the inner spirit that it is OK and that we’re fit to go the extra mile. If you know it or not we’re all in need of some sort of encouragement, mental stroking of importance and acknowledgment among other positive building blocks of edification.

We should be unconsciously thinking about what we can do for the next person. In the upcoming days, weeks and months, I will be breaking down more of why this is a necessary component to our lives. Even though it is a beautiful thing to celebrate each other around holidays, birthdays and special occasions, it is even more important to do it on a daily base. Whether you know it or not you think about many people though out the day. You’re either reminded by hearing a name from someone else speaking about a totally different person, but you know a person with the same name. Some may come across your mind in ways of remembering the good ole times.

Whatever it maybe you are always thinking about someone. We can’t afford to allow those thoughts to go unanswered, or ignored. To act on something positive or negative will be the same result that thought will come back to you regardless. So why not make it good so that you can continually find yourself in a good atmosphere or place in your life. You may say well I’m already in a good place, well now it’s time to help someone else get into the same place because we all deserve it and if there is any time in life it surely right now. Contact the person right now that comes to mind act on it by calling them, NOT TEXTING, but giving them something tangible. Remember it never has to cost much but the cost behind the giving is huge.

Let's Game Change Together!

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Give ’Em What They Want

Provide long-time customers with a surprise, one-time special service or product for free or at a reduced rate. The surprise element of the #11 Ways to Show Gratitude in your Business by offering a product or service FREE to your client that they need but couldn't afford, makes this special. If you offer products or even services that certain clients have to pick and choose what they can invest into, you know this idea would make them howl with excitement. You could feature a few clients per year that could use an upgrade of products and services that could benefit them and make you like their fairy godmother. Now don’t over think this or overdue it! Just identify those clients and what they are needing to help make them successful.

Check out Gratitude in your business
#1 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Show Some Gratitude 
#2 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Pick Up The Phone 
#3 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Create a Loyalty Program 
#4 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Send Some Swag 
#5 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business:  Spotlight Team Members
#6 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Be respective of Time and Deadlines
#7 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Give Random Acts of Kindness
#8 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Keep a Journal
#9 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Share the Wealth. Give Free Information.
#10 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Put Gratitude on your Calendar 

 Let’s Game Change Together!

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Gratitude Day. Why Not?

Pick a day on your calendar when you can express gratitude all month long to your clients and potential customers. By doing the #10 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business by putting gratitude on your calendar, better yet throughout the month, you could offer significant discounts on your products and services, give clients “freebies”, or offer bonuses for trying new products and services. Whatever you choose to do, make sure your incentives really show off your heart-felt appreciation.

Check out Gratitude in your business
#1 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Show Some Gratitude 
#2 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Pick Up The Phone 
#3 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Create a Loyalty Program 
#4 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Send Some Swag 
#5 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business:  Spotlight Team Members
#6 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Be respective of Time and Deadlines
#7 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Give Random Acts of Kindness
#8 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Keep a Journal
#9 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Share the Wealth. Give Free Information.

Let’s Game Change Together!

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Spread The Love Digitally

Everybody loves free stuff, Right? One of the best ways to show your appreciation is to do #9 of the Ways to Show Gratitude in your Business and that is to Give Free Information. This doesn't mean that you have to create some type of free giveaway that doesn't fit in with your brand. The beauty of the internet provides ways for you to create a digital product that can be emailed or downloaded for promotional purposes. You can offer a BOGO (buy one, get one) promotion, you can hold a contest, you can give something away to potential clients if they “Act Now”, etc. Giveaways are a great way to show “Instant Appreciation.”

Check out Gratitude in your business
#1 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Show Some Gratitude 
#2 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Pick Up The Phone 
#3 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Create a Loyalty Program 
#4 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Send Some Swag 
#5 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business:  Spotlight Team Members
#6 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Be respective of Time and Deadlines
#7 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Give Random Acts of Kindness
#8 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Keep a Journal

Let’s Game Change Together!

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Write It Down

Keep record of those times when you experienced overwhelming joy in your business. It could have been those times when your staff went above and beyond the call of duty, or when you received that “praise report” testimony from one of your clients. The #8 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business to keep a journal of all the wonderful things that happened in the year of your business and designate a month when you can give back to what you've received. This is a great way to acknowledge those staff members and clients that went out of their way to make sure your business was a success. I would even write down those times that may have been challenging and record how you overcame them. The journal makes for a great keepsake and a reminder to thank those people, situations, and challenges that made your business better.

Check out Gratitude in your business
#1 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Show Some Gratitude 
#2 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Pick Up The Phone 
#3 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Create a Loyalty Program 
#4 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Send Some Swag 
#5 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business:  Spotlight Team Members
#6 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Be respective of Time and Deadlines
#7 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Give Random Acts of Kindness

 Let’s game Change Together!

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Get Random with It!

When you do something for someone else, especially when they never expected you to, doesn't make you feel all gooey inside? Well, when you Give Random Acts of Kindness, #7 of Ways to Show Gratitude in your Business, it cultivates good will as well as inspires others to follow in your footsteps. Now think about ways where you can give random acts of kindness in your business that evokes your customers to refer your business products and services to their friends and colleagues or creates more business for you because of your generosity.

Check out Gratitude in your business
#1 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Show Some Gratitude 
#2 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Pick Up The Phone 
#3 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Create a Loyalty Program 
#4 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Send Some Swag 
#5 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business:  Spotlight Team Members
#6 Way to Show Gratitude in your Business: Be respective of Time and Deadlines

Let’s Game Change Together!

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What Makes You Stand Out From The Competition

The single most powerful asset we all have is our mind. If trained well, it can create enormous wealth. ~Robert Kiyosaki 

Video 3

Now that you know your WHY, what’s so unique about you that causes you to create a business that gives a unique experience to customers and potential clients? Honestly there is a business inside us all but in order to bring that business idea from invisible form to visual form, we must be strong in our thinking. We must not only feel confident but know we are capable of bringing these ideas to life. As an entrepreneur, small business owner, or simply business owner, you must rise above fear. You must ask those hard questions about how you see your role in this world, your community, and in your immediate family/friends. How do you harness that perspective and fuse it into your business, so that it lives, speaks, and demonstrates it in every action your business takes.

It’s Your Passion. Now Make It Your Business. 

Les Brown asks many questions in the video but one stands out. He asked do you give before you ask? Are you giving value to your customers or potential clients before you ask for the sale or ask them for the opportunity to do business with you? I encourage you to launch or re-launch a business idea that was harnesses from your passion. The world is waiting on that “something special” product and service that only you can create. Make it happen no matter what the obstacles in your mind may think...You have something special and that is YOU! 

Let’s Game Change Together!

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Slow Your Thoughts Then Launch

So now that your passion has been lit or reignited, how do you define your business mindset? Are you the careful type that has to write everything down, read all the books you can find on the topic, and weigh your options before you act? Or are you the take action type that leaps at every opportunity that presents itself and cuts their losses if the idea didn’t pan out the way you had thought? Maybe you are the brimming in wisdom type that seeks out opportunities that resonate with your passion and go with those opportunities that seem to be the best fit?

How Do You See Yourself?

Whether you are the careful type, action type, or wisdom type, you have to be in think-mode about how your business is going to exist. When you break down the word “Business”, it can read as Busy-ness, having a great deal to do with diligence and a sense of persistence. When we are launching a new business or relaunching one, we have to consider our thoughts.

“Thoughts Become Things.” -Unknown 

Here are a few videos from Les Brown that breaks down the discovery of the entrepreneurial mindset. Before we can launch we must consider how we think about ourselves and what we think about the products and services we are getting ready to give to the world.

Start With Your Dreams and get busy

Video 1

Tell Your Story 

Video 2

Those who have never considered owning and operating a business would probably find inventing, designing, building, growing, and maintaining a thriving company overwhelming and exhausting. What is so unique about an entrepreneurial mindset? I have to say it has to do with perspective. No matter how long you've been in business, it's important that you take on the perspective that you're starting it anew today. Overall, your business is a product of how you, the designer of it, thinks about what it sells, what it does, how it does it, and how you help it grow. So, you must know exactly what you want, where you are going and how you plan to get there. 

 Check your mindset Before Launching

Here’s an assessment by Success Magazine to help you understand how you see yourself in business. 

Let’s Game Change Together!

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Ignite Your Business Rocket with Passion

For some the title “entrepreneur” can be a tagline and not necessarily the true essence of what the person is or doing with their business. So what is the definition of entrepreneur? An entrepreneur can be defined as someone who starts a business or businesses and is willing to risk loss to make money. Hmmm? The word entrepreneur sounds so destructive and not on purpose. How about the definition of small business owner? A small business owner is someone who thinks within a limited capacity and are more concerned with minimizing risk and mistakes. Hmm? That seems frightening and dull! What is the difference? I believe the difference is in mindset. However you visualize yourself to be, entrepreneur or small business owner, it is how you see yourself owning and operating in that role.

 "If you can dream it, you can do it." -Walt Disney 

To be a business owner means to encompass both of what is described of being an entrepreneur and a small business owner: a risk taker and risk minimizer. You have to enjoy the creative process of imagining a better way to do business or help your fellow man, be resilient with making mistakes, and strategic enough to take those mistakes and design a plan for that business to prosper and thrive financially. I found a few inspiring videos by Les Brown that really cut to the chase of what it takes to have or develop a mindset for business. Here he describes the #1 ingredient to light and reignite your business mindset: PASSION!

Let’s Game Change Together!

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Do You Know Your Products Value?

So lets go a little deep today on assessing how customers view your products and services. You may have toiled over how to position and bring your products and services to market but how you view them may not be how your customers view or value them.

Make Them Saleable 

Having your own testimony and interaction with your own products and services makes it easier to explain to your audience why they need your products and services. But what if you are launching something new or this is the first time you've launched your business? How do you create value for your business and it’s products and services? Definitely your enthusiasm should be high and overall you should be excited about what these products and services can do for your audience as well as how they may ultimately change their lives. If you’re confident and believe in your product, so will your prospective client.

 GET BACK WHAT YOU PUT IN 

Value Propositioning 

Most of you may ponder on what your clients and potential customers read (or don’t read) when they look at your products and services features and benefits. Some of us might even write long summaries on how these products and services can help our clients but what we fail to do is realize that our audience may not have the patience to read our dissertation. The concept of value proposition can help.

Value proposition is an organizing model that helps you drill down the “promise of value” that can be delivered to a customer before, during, or after they experience your products and services. Any business can use it and utilizing a Value Proposition Builder can help you create a value proposition. Futurecurve.com has a diagram that organizes the six elements that lead directly to the creation of a compelling value proposition.

Here are the six stages to a value proposition analysis: 

1. Market 
2. Value Experience 
3. Offerings 
4. Benefits 
5. Alternatives and Differentiation 
6. Proof 

In the end, your business should have a persuasive but enticing view of the value of your products and services that your customers will buy into. Remember to highlight the features and benefits a customer will experience with you as well as your products and services, simply state what you and your products/services can do, and what problems your business can solve or avoid for your customers.

Let’s Visualize Value Proposition

 

Hope this really helps you define your product and service value. What is your take-away from this?

Let’s Game Change Together!

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The Expert in The Field: Tony Stark Didn’t Hesitate To Be The Expert

Be the Expert of What You Know 

To truly become the expert at what you know means that you have mastered the skills and talents that the almighty gave you. It is your deep understanding of what trials and tribulations you may have endured to be at this place in your life as well as your career. To be the “expert” means that you have tested and figured out what works and what didn’t work and now you are prepared to share it with the world; those who need not repeat those mistakes that you did. One easy way to becoming an expert is to actively engage with your followers and potential clients. By spreading your expertise through blogging, creating newsletters, testimonials, and teaching your experiences of what worked and what didn’t work in your business helps to position yourself and your brand quickly online.

We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. Each varying in how good we’ve mastered those areas over another. 

The Truth of the Matter 

It is more likely that you have a passion about an experience you had within your industry that may have had your head turning. You are probably that person who figured out the problem and preserved on to the next challenge and never shared with anyone how you did it. Well guess what? You are the expert of taking that particular problem and solving it. You have a better understanding of how to overcome that situation and you need to write it down and share it with your peers.

People are more likely to stop and listen to what you have to say when you add “expert” to your business title. They will want your opinion and will try your strategies to success. They will want to buy your products and services especially when you are living proof that your solutions worked.

When you market yourself as an expert in your industry, other businesses and peers will want to meet with you and pick your brain. Some will even ask you to become partners with them and collaborate with you because you have mastered that problem, found solutions, and you are (in a sense) speaking their language.

Overall, becoming the expert in your field means people will pay more for your products and services. You are recognized as the “authority” of what you know. So stop dragging your heels and begin to sit down and pinpoint those areas of expertise you have mastered within your industry. Market your natural strengths and build up on your weaknesses by honing your skills through reading up on your industry, attend viable seminars, and find a mentor that is willing to bring out your hidden treasures. Your expertise will build a profitable business that benefits your potential clients, customers, and peers.

Fake it Until You Make It! 

Be grateful for all you have. Your skills and your talents are yours alone. Don’t get caught up in the label “expert” because if you do it may put a halt on you moving forward in becoming one. Use the word as an empowering statement, a validation if you will. You are recognizing that you have something to offer to those in your field that could help them get to the next promotion, avoid mistakes, and save them some time and sweat-equity.

Need More Convincing? 

Checkout this video series by ExpertizeU. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider becoming an expert in your industry:

Become an Expert Reason 1 - Recognition

 

Become an Expert Reason 2 - Avoid Price Competition 
Become an Expert Reason 3 - Stop Cold Calling 
Become an Expert Reason 4 - Opens New Business Opportunities for You 
Become an Expert Reason 5 - Start to Dominate on Search Engines 
Become an Expert Reason 6 - Improves your Sales Conversion Rates 
Become an Expert Reason 7 - Helps Build Your Brand 
Become an Expert Reason 8 - Secure Your Market Position 
Become an Expert Reason 9 - Gain Free Exposure to The Media 
Become an Expert Reason 10 - Gain Partnerships 

Let’s Game Change Together!

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Natural-born Hustler: Some Call It Self-Promotion

 

As a self-employed business owner, it is hard to keep the "sales pitch" out of our daily conversation. The person pitching your products and services is YOU. Not the you who may have a hard time balancing your checking account, we’re talking about the “superpreneur” YOU! The YOU who knows their products and services inside and out, the YOU who probably got the idea about your products and services because of personal experience and needed these products to improve life for yourself. The YOU who had a life-changing moment after using these products and services.

You are the first visual representation of your brand. Most would consider you the brand of your business. Remember, when introducing your products and services to the world it should be a gradual process. Customer relations are no longer a short-term interaction. It is long-term meaning you are nurturing potential clients and building customer relationships while giving people a choice to buy from you. Think about your audience, your market, your customers and what you can bring to them as well as what you can do to improve their lives and truly serve them.  Here's a great example of an entrepreneur who utilized her passion and branded her business with not only her name, Sparkle Myer, but with answering the "needs" of her potential customers.

Avoid being aggressive, pushy, controversial and insulting. Being the self-promoter of your brand should be a walk-in-the-park since you are intertwined with your products and services everyday, but for some this is a scary thing. If you are hesitant about being the face of your brand the best advice is to not overthink it. Plan out your approach and think about your audience (what do they want and need?). Ask your audience how you can be of service and then answer their question(s) with the features and benefits of your products and services. More often than most, you have exactly what they want and they are ready to buy from you.

The 3 ideas superpreneur tips bring people to your brand: 

1. Give advice 
2. Write interesting stories or blog about how your products and services can help someone or inspire someone. 
3. Promote the work of other people and businesses that are similar or compliments to your business. 

Let’s Game Change Together!

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Get them Talking

You deserve the reward of having loyal and satisfied customers. When they take it upon themselves to tell everyone about the excellent work that you do, new customers want to become clients with ease and your business marketing efforts won’t be as hard tasked making a successful business. Before scoring any testimonials, commit yourself to not only providing the best possible product/service, but also you need to strive to go above and beyond your customer’s expectations each and every time. There’s nothing like hearing about a “job well done.”

   

Leverage Testimonials 

Collect Testimonials from Past Clients 

If you have been in business for a while but have never collected testimonials, then start by making a list of all of your customers who have used or are currently using your products and services. Make calls and follow up with emails requesting if they’d be willing to give a testimonial about their experience. 

Ask When Offering a New Business Product or Service 

When you are offering a new service or just starting your business, start by contacting business associates, past customers, and/or friends to offer them a free session or sample product to try. Then, ask them for a testimonial about their experience. 

Quantity vs. Quality 

For testimonials to be an effective marketing tool, they should be chock full of specific benefits that support the claims you are making about your products and services. When was the last time you saw an advertisement about dieting products without a picture of the before and after? No one would try it without a tried-and-true testimonial. Whenever you can provide a testimonial that has quantifiable results it only boosts credibility of that product or services ability to do what it claims to do.. For example, “I saved $500 on my car insurance by switching to...,” “We cut waste by 13% once we took the workshop on recycling by Waste Management,” “Our company increased our revenue by $250,000 last year after applying the tips given to us by Ms. Scott’s Consulting Firm,” and so on. 

Take some time to cultivate the testimonials you've received and begin to generate more quantifiable testimonials. Position your marketing to “sing” the praises of your products and services and get more automatic sales. 

Onward and Upward!

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Untapped Marketers

If you are a business owner, builder, or even a newbie to enterprise, you’ll soon learn how powerful testimonials are to your business. Testimonials come from all aspects of your business like employees, customers, team members, or board members. Basically all that either use your company’s products or services should be “testifying” about how great (or bad) their experience has been.

Your satisfied customers, employees, team members, etc. are an untapped marketing asset that can give a boost to your business. Using their testimonials to describe how a products works and its benefits is an inexpensive way of displaying evidence of your company’s worth and convinces new customers, employees, and team members to purchase or better yet become loyal fans.

Get Social Proof 

The most accurate way to explain the potential of a testimonial is through the concept of “social proof.” Social proof is what happens to products and services when people tend to believe what others think about something. Customers will be less hesitant to purchase your products and services if a current customer recommends your business to them.

Ask for Feedback 

Not all of your customers will give their feedback so you’ll need to give them opportunities to provide you with their testimonials. Here are three simple questions to prompt testimonials:

1. Did you receive any benefits from the products and/or services my business provided? 
2. Did you have any reservations initially about the products and services before trying them and what are your feelings about them now after trying them? 
3. Would you recommend these products and/or services to a friend and if so, what would you say to convince them to try them out? 

You’ll be able to market your business, strengthen your branding, build credibility, and strengthen your reputation with testimonials! 

It’s a good idea before you start marketing campaigns with your testimonials to ask your customers for permission to use them in your marketing efforts like your business website, social media, or offline marketing like brochures and flyers. Once you have permission, use images with the testimony (If you have permission to use their photo even better) to convey a humanistic side. With testimonials, you’ll be able to market your business, strengthen your branding, build credibility, and strengthen your reputation. Another way to social proof is to ask or post testimonials on your social media pages like Facebook and Twitter. If you are confident enough, you could post a testimony that could be deemed as “bad” and answer it with a solution to fix whatever the customer may have been unhappy with.

What efforts are you using to get testimonies for your business? 

Onward and Upward!

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It Takes a Village of Customers to Raise a Business. TESTIFY!!

 So you have this exciting business opportunity.  You've been telling your friends and family, "Hey!  I've just started this new and exciting venture and I would like for you to check it out."  You begin your journey learning the products and/or services and you can't wait to get them out there in front of someone.  Guess what?  You get your first sale!  Hip, Hip, Hooray!!

You are on fire!  You tell a few more, and a few more, and a couple more sign up.  Your are feeling real good that you've accomplished your goals, but something happens... A new potential customer asks you, "What has been the response of others in regards to your products and services?"

You've gotten so good at hearing "I LOVE THE PRODUCT" you are stunned.  That potential customer continues to ask questions like, "What are some of your customers, clients, subscribers, or distributors saying about the products, services, and company?"  To your dismay you've been so focused on selling and bringing on new team members that you haven't inquired about how others are using the products and services as well as how the business is serving them?

Testify!

This week we will take a good look at testimonies and how crucial they are to have ready at your disposal especially for moments like these.  Testimonies are one of the major keys to your success.  You may have the best products, presentation, solution, and business income plan but giving a testimony about the experience that is not your own can help someone who may be looking for additional streams of income and need to see how this potential opportunity could fit in to their lifestyle.

Here is a hilarious testimony video that I found on youtube that I know you'll enjoy!  This young boy received a box of fudge brownies and card to celebrate Halloween.  Please send in your testimony video links on facebook in regards to your products and services or leave your comments if you have a Send Out Cards testimony you'd like to share!

Onward and Upward!

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Appreciation: The Antidote. What's Appreciation Marketing?

Now You’re Speaking My Language 

Most of our marketing efforts are done to attract customers but imagine what could happen if you added the value of appreciation marketing to your marketing mix? So what is appreciation marketing? Basically it’s about making people feel unique, and not just another sale for the week. It’s about doing the obvious thing, saying thank you, but presenting that “thank you” in the most unexpected way.

We all have stories about how our parents, aunts, or even grandma corrected us as little children when we forgot to acknowledge someone with a “thank you” when we received something. But what use to be common knowledge and etiquette in our society is somewhat an afterthought in our personal lives as well as our business lives. Let’s get inspired right here and right now to apply appreciation marketing as a part of our daily business communications and use it to not only keep customers but build loyalty to our brand.

There are many situations where you can use Appreciation Marketing and the key is to be sincere without obvious expectation of return or acknowledgement. But before I go there, I’d like to rename Appreciation Marketing to Gratitude Promoting. Now I know this doesn’t sound as sleek as Appreciation Marketing, but I want to get you focused on the “Action and Feeling” of what appreciation does for you the business owner and how that positive energy affects your customers. For instance, when you send someone a gift and do it not expecting them to reciprocate in the same manner, you receive an overwhelming sensation that gifts back to you time and time again without costing you millions of dollars. That sensation is Gratitude.


Go ahead! Start setting up and sending Gratitude Promotions to everyone: your employees or team members, your customers, potential customers who you may have had a 15 minute conversation with, suppliers, vendors, people who you see everyday like the UPS guy, or the waitress at your favorite restaurant. Saying THANK YOU doesn’t need to break your bank account but when it done successfully, it can overwhelm your marketing efforts with new sales leads and potential buyers because of your sincere generosity and attention to the things that matter most to any business.

I Double Dare You 

The biggest reason we lose customers is that they don't feel appreciated. Some of us have never acknowledged our customers outside of the generic, “Thanks for your business.” We live in a society of ‘Likes’ and quick email taglines. I dare you this weekend to go through your mailing lists and send a card or even a postcard to your customers and even those who were not ready to buy into your products and services and send them a Gratitude Promotion simply saying, “I’ve been thinking about you and hope you are doing well. If there is any questions I can answer for you or someone you may know in regards to (your business), please don’t hesitate to call.” Or how about, “I’m so glad we had the chance to connect.” Either way you express it just make sure it’s sincere and don’t make it a one-time-thing. Be consistent with you Gratitude Promotions and be prepared to receive so much more than you have given.

Share with us your results and if you’d like to start today with sending a Gratitude Promotion customized with your greeting, logo, or picture all done up in a simple card, just click here.

Onward and Upward!

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Accolades: Humble Thyself

Get ‘Em Buzzin’ for Your Business 

Many business owners don't realize the value of awards. Did you know that you could capitalize on your accomplishments by using them as a way to market your businesses products and services? Most start-ups and “small businesses” have a hard time creating awareness around their brand as well as building credibility. One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways for you to stand out from your competitors is to win industry awards. You can gain recognition for yourself, your business and your company website just by taking advantage of this lucrative marketing strategy. Awards bring you prestige and overall more traffic especially to your website or storefront. Don’t underestimate local business contests or even online awards. Whatever accolades you as a business receives can be used to position your company for a lot more recognition and customers.

They Really Like Us 

Customers want to see accolades. They want to know something good about you. Awards provide valuable third-party corroboration of your value propositions. Customers like to be associated with a winning company, and potential customers often make their purchasing decisions based on the decisions of other businesses like theirs. When prospective customers see that you've won an award, it can sway them to choose you over your competition.

Winning awards can improve employee morale. When employees are proud of their company's achievements, they have an excuse to tell prospects and customers why you won a particular award. If they're selling your product, it makes their job easier because of the "stamp of approval" from an unbiased source. can actually help you attract the best new employees. People are drawn to award-winning businesses because they want to work for a winner.

Step by Step

It can take a considerable amount of time to apply for industry awards but winning can lead to measurable growth so make sure you research the appropriate awards within your industry and plan ahead how you will apply for the nomination. If an award is marketed properly, they can instantly establish credibility without even having a “real-live” client to vouch for your business and having won accolades gets your business “in-crowd” rights because now you're in league with some great companies and remarkable leaders. You can use this to your advantage when networking, because you have something in common with those big-time companies and believe me they want to get to know you and your business.

Take Ground with Accolade Marketing 

Before you start applying for every award out there, make sure you qualify. Most awards will focus on companies and products launched within a specific time frame or fit a certain business structure criteria so make sure your business meets the award terms and conditions when applying. After you've taken the initiative to apply track the status of your application by signing up for email updates or visit the awards website for weekly updates. Once award is in hand, here are a variety of ways to Promote Your Accolades: 

• Send out Press releases 
• Include a link to your award page in your business email marketing - Share the story behind your award and why you won. 
• Use the award logo on Your Marketing Tools - Use the logos and the phrase "award-winning" in your online advertising, put them on your direct mail pieces, business cards, and on your website home page. 
• Go Viral with Social media - Include quick links on Twitter and post the press release on Facebook as well as list the awards you have won on your LinkedIn company page. 
• Use the award in your sales pitches 

Routinely seek out awards and ratings in your industry. A great starting point is your local Better Business Bureau where you should apply for membership and maintain that all important A+ rating. Also, make sure to check industry-specific publications as well as general business and entrepreneurial publications as they often have awards for various criteria.

Onward and Upward!

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It’s A Big Deal: Recognition

The Fruit of Happy Employees 

The success of any business mostly leans on the motivation of its employees. But there is no exact formula to determine how to motivate any particular team of people because we are human and we are all motivated by different things. Creating an employee recognition system is not only a great way to encourage your employees or team to go beyond what is expected of them, but it can increase productivity and is a cool way to spotlight someone with a sincere award. Still, there are some key concepts to keep in mind when developing a plan to motivate employees or team members within your business.

Recognition programs are nothing new, but you should strive to make your recognition system different from all the rest. You've got to know that employee recognition is a planned strategy that should be in place before your business brings on employees or team members. Recognition has to be consistent and your team should be aware of the benefits of being recognized. It’s time to stop seeing employee recognition as a “nicety” to a necessity.

5 ways to provide recognition for your team 

Consistent Employee Evaluations - Give goals that can be measured and achieved and remember to stay consistent with the process.

Peer Recognition - Get your team involved and maybe have two awards given, one from management and another from the team.

Team Testimonials - Share stories from your employees that highlight any achievements that have happened out in the field or tactics that boosted sales, etc.

Have an Annual Award Ceremony - Have an event with awards that encompass a “yearly” theme like Employee of the Year, etc.

Give Unexpected Praise - Spotlight those efforts of employees or team members that go above and beyond the call-of-duty.

Onward and Upward!

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