Posts Tagged ‘Business’

Now, Imagine Your Business and Where You Really Want It To Be.

It is challenging to have the lucrative 6-figure business you really want in today’s economy. Creating exceptional premier services, programs and products is only part of the equation and the truth is it’s no longer “business as usual”.

You need real solutions that work TODAY not just theory.  

You need to know the promotions and offers that will excite your customers and have them say “YES I want to buy that!” You need more than a cartful of tricks and techniques that you’ve been told will turn prospects into clients.  You also WANT them to KEEP coming back. You want ALL of your marketing that will speak directly to your IDEAL clients. It’s just a fact that old ways of doing business just don’t work anymore.

I’m a master coach and a business marketer who has the full knowledge of what is really working NOW!  You’ll have the most current and the most up-to-date strategies, tools and tactics, so you can experience accelerated business growth. By combining your compelling vision of a rich, lucrative and successful business with a marketing plan scaled and designed to match your unique premier approach, you’ll experience the kind of results you’ve only been dreaming about until now.

My goal for you is to empower you, so you have the knowledge base to make more money, more profits and have more time to enjoy your luxury lifestyle.  Bottom line: create your lucrative high 6-fugure business!

How can that be accomplished?  I accomplish this with my proven business model that incorporates High-Level Instruction and Training coupled with Live In-Person Masterminding.

Click here to learn more about my specially designed programs. 

Whether you’re selling a product or service, the 5 tips below are your keys to writing great copy that communicates and persuades… to get results! These guidelines can apply to Web copy, e-mail, sales letters, brochures, direct mail, and more. As long as your goal is to elicit a reaction from your reader, you’ve come to the right place.

Tip 1. Tune into that well known radio station WIIFM.

Many entrepreneurs talk endlessly on and on about how great their business is and what great their products they have. Hello? Client, anyone? What’s your prospect or client thinking, “So, what? What’s in it for me?” Start being client centered. If you can, talk with some of your current clients and ask them:
1) why they chose you, and
2) what they get out of your product or service.

Tip 2. Put your focus on the benefits.

Way too many small biz owners get so into the fact that their product or service offers a lot of neat features is great, but what do they DO for your customer? Do they cover the BIG 4? 1) Do make her money? Save her money? Save time? Avoid effort? Think about what your clients are REALLY looking for.

Now, what does a life insurance agent sell? Policies?

Nope — peace of mind. (You’ve got it NOW.)

Tip 3. Draw them in with interest.

The first thing your prospect or client hears can mean the difference between success and failure. have an interest (your clients interest) based conversation. Forget the jargon because most offend those conversations aren’t effective. There are many ways to have an attention holding conversation. REMEMBER to make it the conversation client centered — no one gives a hoot about your company. So if you are a financial adviser don’t talk with a prospect about what a new amazing financial program you have. Instead talk with them about turning their finances around in 30 days! Make sense?

Tip 4. Nix the buzzwords.

Avoid industry jargon and buzzwords — stick to the benefits. An easy way to weed out buzzwords is to think of dear old Grandma listening to your conversation. Would she get it? If not, clarify and simplify. (Unless your target audience is a business audience then you’d want to upscale your conversational style and upscale your words.)

Tip 5. Use client’s stories as OFTEN as you can.

Let your prospects know they won’t be the first to try you. Give results-oriented stories from your clients who have benefited from your product or service. Give your clients names (as long as you have permission to use their name). Your prospects and clients want to know they’re not the only one. HINT: Use this magical sentence. “I have a client just like you” and go on and tell the story).

© 2008-2010 Ileana Kane All Rights Reserved.

**If you would like personalized coaching to assist you in overcoming your obstacles, email Ileana at ileana@ileanakane.com for further details. © 2010 Ileana Kane   All Rights Reserved

 Do you want to use this article? Of course, you can. Just use the following blurb along with the reprint of the article:

 Ileana Kane, CEO of Ileana Intl, teaches Enterprising Entrepreneurs how to express their true value and get paid what they are worth. Her products and services show you how to make more money, save more time while enjoying the freedom in your business. 

Get your FREE audio: www.ileanakane.com

If you desire to get more clients and make more sales (and break into your 6-figures) and you’re frustrated and struggling, you might be challenged with fear and self-sabotage that keeps you from propelling yourself into the success you crave.

The good new is once you become aware of the top 3 self sabotaging mistakes, you can make the changes you need to eliminate them and quickly turn your situation around.  Once you take the steps to improve this area, you’ll be amazed at how quickly other areas of your business and your life will transform.

Let me give you three steps to make the ‘turn around.’

Over the years, I’ve coached and helped thousands of people make changes in their business and the biggest thing you can do right now is stop telling yourself selling is hard, getting clients is hard and making money is hard.

The problem is, once you tell yourself ‘it’s hard’, then you turn around and find the evidence that feeds what you’ve told yourself is true.

The golden key to open up to more possibility is to have the willingness to have it be easy.  Once you can be open to possibility, you’ll be able to find the right resources to help advance your passion and achieve your dream.

Step # 2  Make Peace With Your Past

Trying to create from a place of not being at peace with your past only creates more of what you already have. If you take the steps to forgive yourself and others, you’ll clean up your inner world and be able to create the outer world that is fulfilling and feeds you. Now you’re at a place where you can let go of all the old beliefs around money that keep you stuck.

Step # 3  Set A New Stage

Look at what you’re saying yes to.  Take a moment and look at your money goal at the end of the year.  Make decisions from that new place. Only say yes to those clients and opportunities that will match your level of energy and are in alignment with your values.

In order to grow you’ve got to let go. By taking these steps you’re clearing the path to quickly leap forward with your income your six and seven figure success.. 

 Passionpreneurs ® love creating and the idea of “having a business plan” and more often than not they struggle with how to design one.  Why?  They are so passionate about what they do they have a steady stream of ideas swimming around in their brain. The designing and planning process can feel complicated and overwhelming.  And if they do start a plan they wonder what do I do and what order do I do it in.

Does this sound familiar? Well as a creative and passionate entrepreneur I’ve figure out how to honor the balance of my divine feminine and still meet my implementation and financial goals in an authentic, graceful and elegant way.

Because I cam from a strong corporate background (with all the reports, spread sheets, charts and graphs), I had to find a different way because that just didn’t work for me any more. Imagine putting your design plan on just one or two sheets and away you go  As I realized it’s not the amount of sheets that’s important it’s what really goes on the 2 sheets that counts! 

Here are 5  simple steps to keep your energy, passion and life in balance when you design your business plan:

Step #1 Ditch the extra baggage and let go of the old goals you really don’t want anymore.  

Too many times passionate entrepreneurs (I call these people Passionpreneurs®) hold onto dreams, goals or visions they once had and they really don’t want that goal anymore. And if we hold onto something that  is not in harmony with who we are now and our gifts we’re bringing to the world, it brings up a lot of guilt and we end up wasting our energy resources on hanging onto old dreams. Be conscious of all the old dreams, goals or vision you really don’t want to bring to fruition anymore. By doing this you’ll end up not having to give focus and energy on what you don’t want in your life and will be successful in creating more energy and room for what your really want in your business and your life.  To create a new you need to create from the new you! 

One of my early mentors had me write a list of all the goals I didn’t achieve the year before and cross off of my list what I didn’t want to carry forward into the new year.  

Step #2 Create a new vision and design your plan focused on your gifts and calling.

I hear too many times Passionpreneurs ® don’t think they can make money from what they know now.  Because something that comes so easy and nature to us we don’t realize that there are a lot of people who would pay dearly to learn from us.  The secret to ‘living your true wealth’^(TM) is hidden in your gifts and calling.

Step #3  Your new business design needs to be dynamically in balance.

It’s easy to create a business plan that is so packed with all of the to do’s there is no room for the real creation of the Divine Feminine spirit which is rich with ideas, creativity and inspiration to complement the plan. But if not properly directed the energy this part of you provides can easily get diluted, with nothing concrete to show for it. You need the strength of the masculine, which loves to implement, on your side to put your brilliant creative ideas into action

Step #4  Put time aside to reflect, review and assess the actions you’ve been taking

I’ve seen way too many entrepreneurs leave out this very valuable step and end up suffering by getting off track and being disappointed in the outcomes they’ve produced. Every Friday set aside some time to look at what you’ve completed, your gross revenues and what’s working really well.  Then look forward to the next week and see if you need to make any adjustments in your plan.  Also, set aside times to look at where you are in relationship to your quarterly goals and revenues (trust me you’ll be glad you did!).  Your numbers hold keys to what to do next.  This time is about having your vision come to reality and serving all the people you really want to serve.  At the end of the month set aside more time, you want to do the same exercise as above and in addition to looking at your gross receipts look at your how profitable you’ve been.

If you start to not feeling good about your numbers, that is not what this is about.  This is about looking at what’s working and what’s not working.  Stay neutral with this exercise because the numbers are there to inform you.

One of the best things I ever did for my business is find a mentor and a mastermind group. 

Step #5  Look to see where you are with your mindset.

As entrepreneurs we work alone most of the time and it’s easy to get into a fearful and scarcity mode.  When you are looking at your business gross receipts for step #4 if you are making the same money you made last year your creating form your old thinking and beliefs.  So, look at adopting one new mindset or belief into your work and into your life.

Keep Your Business Design Simple and Celebrate OFTEN!

By keeping your business design simple and celebrating often, you allow all your energy to focus on creating the outcomes and results.  That translates into serving and helping more people in a much bigger way than you would normally do and you get to allow the rewards to flow right back to you.

To really have a Fun, Fabulous and Rich ^(TM) Business you must practice the KISS (Keep It Simple Sexy) formula

 © 2008-2010 Ileana Kane
All Rights Reserved  
Do you want to use this article? Of course, you can. Just use the following blurb along with the reprint of the article:  

 Ileana Kane, CEO of Ileana Intl, helps Enterprising Entrepreneurs express their true value and get paid what they are worth while moving away from trading  ‘dollars for hours work.’  Her products and services show you how to make more money, save more time while enjoying the freedom in your business.  For your FREE audio: www.milliondollarmuse.com

The real key to a thriving business is sharing the value we offer in our products and     services to our customers.  Knowing the value of what we offer will lead to getting paid
what you are worth.

Charging what you are worth is a simple two-step process.  The first step is to know the value of the results you deliver and the second step is to know that your are absolutely worth it. The value of what you offer is perceived by your clients and your pricing is perceived by you.  

The biggest mistake I see entrepreneurs make is they try to describe what they do. 
       
Describing what you do leads you down the path of using features. Trust me, your clients do not care about the features.  

Let me give you an example of features.  Let’s say you are a coach.  When coaches are  new to growing their business, they normally tell you how many sessions you will get with them and how long the sessions last.  Yes, at some time, your client will need to know this but not at the beginning of your conversation.  Just remember in the above example this is not a benefit or a result of what you do for them. 

What you want to do, is let them know the results they will get. 

Let’s take the same example of the transition coach. What you want to talk about is how, at the end of 60 days, your client has a clear plan describing what they want to do and how they will make their transition.  

See the difference between the features (the number and time of sessions) rather than the end result?  

Keep focused on the remarkable results and you will start seeing a big difference in getting more clients (and higher paying clients).

Your business in action: 

Think about what you really do for your clients in the end and what’s in it for them.  
   
Then write out a long list of benefits and results.

© Ileana Kane All Rights Reserved 

Do you want to use this article? Of course, you can. Just use the following     blurb along with the reprint of the article:

 Ileana Kane, CEO of Ileana Intl, helps Enterprising Entrepreneurs express their true value and get paid what they are worth while moving away from trading  ‘dollars for hours work.’  Her products and services show you how to make more money, save more time while enjoying the freedom in your business.  For your FREE audio: www.milliondollarmuse.com

 

It’s really challenging to offer only one way to work with you because it’s an all or nothing proposition to the prospect.  Prospects want to be able to choose what program(s) fit their needs.  I had Jo Ann offer service packages to her clients.  Then we looked at creating a packaged product for prospects and clients. This gave her passive income.  Next, we looked at offering a full day with her for her high end clients. The next thing I’m having her put into place is to get a bigger presence on the internet.

This was a great start for Jo Ann and it gave her a way to enroll prospects in here services more often And a way to have prospects that didn’t have the money right now to still work with her .  Once we put those systems into place Jo Ann’s business turned around fast!
 
Having more than one income stream will get you to your 6 figure income (and beyond). You’ll have more fun, joy and satisfaction in your business.

Getting new clients and gaining momentum in your business is probably one of the easiest things to do and you just need to think in a different way. You need to be willing to do what 99% of your competition is unwilling to do.  Here are 5 ways to to get more clients  and gain momentum in your business.  

1.  Referral Systems are a Gold Vein of Opportunity 

Are you missing out on this gold vein of opportunity?  Let’s take a look at the 4 reasons you want at least one referral system into place:  1) this one marketing strategy will give you a client that will buy more often;  2)  will buy for a longer period of time;  3) they will also buy a higher quality of product or service;  4) and buy a higher quantity of product or service. Once your system is in place you spend less time on getting clients.  Here are two real world examples and the impact referrals can have on your business growth.  

I had been brought into a company that was experiencing a slump in their sales. And what did I find?  No referral system.  We introduced one system and brought sales up.  Then we introduced two more referral systems for a total of three systems and brought sales up again.  What’s the bottom line?  This company experienced a sales increase over $19,000,000 (a 42% increase in business) in a very short 10 months!  

This referral strategy works no matter the size of you business. By tracking where my sales came from, I found one of my workshops had a 37% referral rate.  

2.  Front Load Your Sales. 

It is amazing! I am finding what has worked in one industry works in many other industries. I found this little secret out when I was in charge of marketing for a small new homebuilder. Let me share the secret with you . . . 

When we were getting ready to release a new home community for sale, we would have the construction of the product well underway, set a sales date, put up a sign, have the doors open for giving out information and start gathering names and loan applications. On the day we had the first sale, we would offer a limited number of homes for sale at an irresistible price (this is before they’re even ready for occupancy). You are able to do this, too! 

When you are offering a teleclass or launching a new product or service, start early and build interest and momentum in your product or service, create urgency and offer it at an irresistible price. 

3.  Align With Your Congruency Factor and Dance to the Beat of Your Own Drum. 

In one of my workshops, I told a story about Paddy Lund. Paddy is a dentist and when he went into practice he looked around to see how other dentists marketed their practice and he followed suit. In a moment you will see why this is a bad idea. Paddy ended up with $65,000 annual revenues, working long hours and feeling dog-tired at the end of the day. The day came when Paddy remolded his office into a more spacious, warm and friendly surrounding which reflected the essence of tranquility where he could serve tea to his patients while he sat and visited with his patients. Paddy reopened the office and worked only by referral. He soon transformed his $65,000 practice to a $400,000 practice. 

A participant in one of my workshops took this story to heart. She made some changes to her dance business and went from charging $65 per hour to charging $200 per hour. How’s that for profit?

4.  Move from Marketing Tactically to Marketing Strategically 

Strategic vs. tactic marketing. Do you know the difference? If you are doing a lot of things and not seeming to get anything done, putting out a lot of energy feeling like you are chasing clients and chasing down business, you probably are experiencing tactical marketing. You are in a vicious cycle of working long hours and bringing in mediocre returns. 

Let me give you an example of strategy.

If  you were a General and your job was to overtake a hill. Overtaking the hill would be the strategy. That’s the over arching goal. The way you decide to overtake the hill would be the tactic portion of the job you are setting out to do. 

If you have done your job and positioned your company in the marketplace, what you will experience is the joy of having your prospects and customers come to you. They seek you out as the obvious choice to serve their needs. 

 5.  Use Your Competitors. 

And you say, “Why would my competitor want to help me?” 

Well, who you think your competition is may in fact not really be your competition. Let’s take the field of professional organizers. An organizer is an organizer is an organizer. Not necessarily so. I met with an organizer the other day that helps new car dealerships get organized, so they can be more productive and make more sales. Wouldn’t it be to her benefit to talk with other organizers and let them know her specialty?  

Another real world example. A friend of mine who is a realtor was talking with one of her competitors and he is planning on retiring the business after 30 years. I had her make an appointment with him to negotiate an introduction and endorsement to his client base, and in exchange, she would give him the referral every time one of his clients sells or purchases a home through her. She gets the benefit of his 30 years of work without having to do any upfront marketing, saving her time and money, and he gets the benefit of knowing his clients will be well taken care of by a very capable and ethical real estate professional. He continues to make money without the work and headache after he retires.

 © 2009 Ileana Kane  All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete tag with it:
 
Ileana Kane, The Million Dollar Muse, helps coaches, consultants, entrepreneurs and helping professionals put their business on the fast track to getting new clients, making more money, having more freedom to enjoy it all. Find out how to uncover hidden profits in your business. For your FREE Audio and FREE Money, Marketing and Mindset tips go now to http://MillionDollarMuse.com

Here are my 20 quick and practical methods to increase your confidence; here we go:

1.    Think about someone who is confident and act, talk and walk like him or her. Model their mannerisms and behavior. It works for them; it will work for you.

2.    Smile a lot more. That doesn’t mean putting a silly grin on your face! But smile when you walk down the street, when you meet people and generally be happier even if you’re not feeling that way. (Remember to put a spring in your walk!)

3.    Learn from the past; don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s gone; it’s never coming back. instead learn from it for next time.

4.    Buy yourself some new clothes, get your hair done, treat yourself to something new. it will make you feel better and will give your ego a boost.

5.    Are you prepared for situations? Are you prepared enough to meet any challenge that may come up? Are you prepared for that meeting, that presentation, that job interview, when you meet someone for the first time? If not, get to it.

6.    Play to your strengths. Know what you are good at and expose yourself to these opportunities at every opportunity – because you’re good at it, you’ll enjoy it and have more confidence.

7.    Improve your weaknesses. Know and appreciate what these are and put a plan in place to improve them over time.

8.    Learn how to say no to people. Don’t be afraid, you’ve got nothing to be afraid of. just watch the reaction on their face after you’ve said it the first time and there will be no going back.

9.    Change the mindset. Look on the “can do” side of things rather than the “can’t do”. You’ve accomplished lots in your life and you will accomplish lots more in the future.

10.   Be in charge of your thoughts at all times. What is a thought? It’s just a question that you’ve asked yourself and the thought is you’re answer. If you’re thinking negative thoughts, you’re probably asking a negative question. Change the questions to be more positive.

11.   Whenever you feel a negative thought coming, STOP, THINK and say is this really important in the grand scheme of things. A lot of the time it isn’t. Many people in life major in minor things!

12.   Do you let the words of others affect you? Do you mind what they think of you? Remember that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. It’s not what they say to you that is the problem, it’s what you say to yourself after they have stopped talking that’s the problem. Change the way you think.

13.   List the words that you use on a consistent basis when you feel let down or annoyed. People use different words to mean the same thing and depending upon the intensity of the word – this will have an effect on your confidence. Instead of saying “I’m enraged about this” say, “I’m a little annoyed”. Make a substitute list for the words that you use. Make sure they are lower in intensity and then use them. You’ll be surprised with the results.

14.   At the end of each day list your achievements and successes throughout that day.

15.   Be appreciative of what you have to be thankful for in your life right now. Who do you love? Who loves you? Who do you help out?

16.   Every morning when you’re in the shower, play over in your head the events in the day as though they have already happened and they were a success. Visualize all of the meetings that you had, the people you talked to, the outcomes you had. Visualize success and confidence and it will be so.

17.   Improve your body language. The way that you move your body has a massive impact on your confidence levels. Move your body assertively and walk with your head up, shoulders back and as though you’ve got somewhere very important to go. Feeling low in confidence? Change your body language.

18.   Emotion is created by motion. As in 17, make sure you move around consistently. this creates energy and gets the blood pumping around you body – it makes you feel better and more confident.

19.   Learn to brag about yourself. Yes, you heard me! Talk about your achievements and successes more than you currently are.

20.   And finally – You only live once, so any time that you are down just ask yourself, “In 10 or 20 years time, will what I am worrying about now really matter?”

© 2009 Ileana Kane  All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete tag with it:
 
Ileana Kane, The Million Dollar Muse, helps coaches, consultants, entrepreneurs and helping professionals put their business on the fast track to getting new clients, making more money, having more freedom to enjoy it all. Find out how to uncover hidden profits in your business. For your FREE Audio and FREE Money, Marketing and Mindset tips go now to http://MillionDollarMuse.com

Your income and your integrity are in direct proportion to your self-confidence, and to the degree in which you are serving others.  Imagine your income has soared and you’ve manifested a business and a life that you love; which is no small feat because there is so much fear that we all have to face and so many different internal challenges –much more so than the external that we have to deal with.

For me there were a number of things that internally changed. Let me share with you my secrets so you can have similar results: 

 1. Shift the way you are thinking – I started really shifting the way I was thinking. The first thing I did was to take 100% responsibility for the thoughts I had. These thoughts actually create your own reality. As I had a thought that was not congruent with what I wanted, I started to take a look at reframing.  This is a  practice we all know about that can give you change; we all know about it but it’s another thing to practice it. My thoughts and the reframing method are something that I’m conscious of everyday.  From the moment  that I get up it’s a choice really about how I’m going to create the day and the thoughts that I’m going to have .

 2. Become grateful for you what you have – So many of us focus on what we don’t have.  The one thing I continually work on is being grateful for my life and everything in my life. And this is no matter what’s going on I always start off by being grateful.

 3. Believing in myself – I also started to work on my personal belief system. Believing that I can really do the things I want to do. And then fulfilling my life purpose.  I know for me, it was believing what I have is of value.  And things just started happening. It’s a place in my business that I created the inner game of marketing. I combined money, marketing and mindset all wrapped into one.  I believed I could do the thing that was a big challenge for me and the speediness of it’s manifesting in my life was uncanny!  I saw I was the one in charge.

 4. Manifesting what I truly desired – Another thing was manifesting. Really creating the business that I wanted to be in and I’m clear about it. And with that comes confidence, clarity and I’m able to design a plan. Another thing that has made a huge difference is I’m complete with the past. From our pasts, we have disappointing situations and many of us think they’re going to happen again. So starts the fear of taking risks and stepping outside your comfort zone.  I’m really complete with my past events so I’m now taking risks . I take bigger chances that I  ever did before and sometimes it’s uncomfortable.  But I’ve stayed with it ! It gets scary and exciting when I’ve not done something before but I’m following my dream, staying the course and moving through the fear.

 5. Become fearless – Another secret is being able to be fearless. And what I mean by that is experiencing fear and stepping into it. Because we all have fear. When you step into it, awaiting on the other side is excitement. There maybe a fear but I don’t let it stop me. I look at the fear and I acknowledge it’s there and then step forward. So I’m always taking a step forward.

So this is what I bring to my work. I love sharing with other people–there are miracles on the other side. There are so many possibilities in our businesses and extraordinary opportunities. As for the marketing part, I can teach people every strategy they want to know because I’ve taught marketing for so long. So much of it is internal; it’s in the mindset. It’s about loving people and it’s about relationship building and that’s what I bring to the table. Really believing I can do it.

 If you are not succeeding in your marketing you just haven’t been in business very long. Now, particularly, we do have to get out there and really market.  I want people to have fun, be authentic and creating relationships in their marketing. 

 Embrace and practice these 5 secrets and watch your world make a real turn around!

 © 2009 Ileana Kane  All Rights Reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete tag with it:
 
Ileana Kane, The Million Dollar Muse, helps coaches, consultants, entrepreneurs and helping professionals put their business on the fast track to getting new clients, making more money, having more freedom to enjoy it all. Find out how to uncover hidden profits in your business. For your FREE Audio and FREE Money, Marketing and Mindset tips go now to http://MillionDollarMuse.com