The idea of “self-promotion” or “selling” leaves some women feeling like they are bragging, being pushy or not considerate of others. It can create anxiety and fear which in turn keeps you stuck and unable to reach your business goals. Women are nurturers by nature and the thought of putting their needs in front of someone else’s may feel unnatural.

I understand the feeling (I’ve experienced it too), however if you are determined to achieve your business goals, it’s essential you communicate your message about what you have to offer and how you help people. Do so often and to as many people as possible (otherwise, you will remain the best kept secret in town which in this case, won’t serve you). People are super busy and can’t read your mind so it’s up to you to take on the responsibility of creating interest in how you support people with your product or service.

When I have an opportunity to share how I support women entrepreneurs, I use the R&R approach (Relationship + Results). It feels both authentic and comfortable for me and I think it will for you, too.

1. Cultivate a Relationship – Whether I meet someone at a networking event, through social media or through a mutual friend, my first desire is to build a relationship and discover how I can be of service. I’m truly interested in people and enjoy learning about others. My goal is to find a common ground with people and if I can offer some advice or perspective on their current situation, I’ll share it with them right away. This is a good time to showcase your expertise and also show the other person you are genuinely listening to them.

2. Share Results – When it’s your turn to share more about who you are and what you do (if you’ve truly shown an interest in the other person, this happens organically) share the results you’ve had with your clients through telling stories. Storytelling is engaging. People will lean in and listen intently to what you have to say. Rather than talking about the name of your company and the services you offer, concentrate on someone you’ve worked with that had award-winning results. Talk about where this person was when they first began to work with you and the benefits or transformation they received after working with you.

This approach takes away the “heavy” feeling of self-promotion that women sometimes experience. It has a feminine feel to it. Women create relationships better than anyone I know and sharing the results others have had when they work with you eliminates anxiety.

I invite you to get out of the office today and try the R&R approach. It’s simple, easy and feels authentic to women entrepreneurs.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, FREE MP3 and be the first to hear about my exciting new program for coaches and consultants at Smart Women Smart Solutions Coaching .

1. You save more time because you know exactly who you’re looking for.
2. You save more money because you spend your marketing budget wisely.
3. When you provide a great service, you’ll get highly qualified referrals from your satisfied clients to people they know who have the same problem.

Here’s a quick case study to illustrate how effective this is:

In our community, little league baseball is quite popular. From February through June, parents spend 6-10 hours a week taking their kids to and from practice as well as attending games. It’s a huge commitment and one many parents take seriously.

Enter Yoga Johnny.

Yoga Johnny is a pitching coach. He works with children who have a desire to be a pitcher in little league baseball. Yoga Johnny is a very smart guy. Baseball is played in every area of Los Angeles however, Johnny understands that our community is one where parents will do (and pay) just about anything to help their kids stand on the mound and pitch.

Johnny knows exactly who his ideal client is. It’s not children who want to be pitchers. It’s parents whose children want to be pitchers and are willing to pay for this level of coaching. He simply hangs out at the park where all the games and practices are located. When I think about Johnny’s marketing model, it’s really quite brilliant:

1. He’s saving time because he knows exactly where his ideal client hangs out.
2. He’s saving money because he only markets to his ideal client. He doesn’t need to spend time running all over Los Angeles looking for his ideal client. They are all nestled together right here in one community.
3. He continues to get a steady stream of new clients because everyone talks about the results their child gets when they work with Yoga Johnny.

Johnny also uses another effective marketing tool: Package pricing. You cannot hire Johnny one time. He requires that you commit your child to months of his training in order to see the desired results. He has a proven system that he uses and he doesn’t deviate from it. He knows what works for him and the clients he serves.

I invite you to take a few minutes and answer these 3 questions:

1. Have I identified who my ideal client is? Can I describe her/him to someone? What problem do I solve for this person?

3. Am I asking for rave reviews from my satisfied clients? Am I asking if they know others who might benefit from working with me?

Smart Women Entrepreneurs can learn a lot from a guy like Yoga Johnny.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

When we entered the front door, we were immediately greeted by an energetic young woman who wanted to know how she could help us. She escorted us to someone who could help our children open their accounts. We were invited to try a beverage from their vast menu (water, coffee, tea, soda, juice and hot chocolate) and of course the children were immediately given lollipops to welcome them as new customers. (By the way, the complimentary drinks were not just for new customers. I could overhear the conversation at the teller window and they were offering this to everyone who entered the bank.)

The representative that helped our children open their accounts was knowledgeable. He answered our questions and he treated our children with respect. He spent a lot of time with us and we never felt rushed or confused about what was going to happen next.

We walked away from the experience feeling like we made a great decision to open the accounts at this bank and it was a great “first” experience in banking for our children as well.

No matter what type of business you’re in, first impressions count – a lot. People want and expect a very personal, high-touch experience. If you are a woman entrepreneur and you want to create raving fans for your business, I invite you to take an inventory of the process you use to create an unforgettable first impression.

Here are a few tips on setting yourself up for success for a great first impression:

1. You had me at Hello – What’s the point of first contact with you and your company? If it’s email, make sure you have a system in place for you or someone on your team to receive email inquiries quickly. If it’s by phone, does your message state clearly what you want the caller to do? Do you have a system set up so that you return calls within 24 hours? Here at Smart Women Smart Solutions® response time is a valuable part of laying a good foundation with our clients. Our goal is to provide “red carpet” treatment to everyone we come in contact with. Review your systems for how someone makes that initial contact with you. Make sure your system works fast and efficiently.
2. It’s contagious – Having a friendly, positive attitude from the initial point of contact is important. People want to associate or be with people who are friendly and helpful. It makes them feel supported and cared for. Several years ago, I walked into my office one day to find my assistant at the time talking rudely to someone on the phone. I was horrified! Needless to say, that particular person did not work out well, however it was a valuable lesson for me. I want to attract support team members who hold quality client interaction to the same standard as I do.
3. Plan Your Process – Create a process for your ideal client so that the first impression with you is seamless and successful. Decide now how you want the process to work and enlist your team to help you roll it out. If you are a solo entrepreneur and don’t have any team members working with you yet, I invite you to sit down and think about what you want your first impression to look like with your ideal client. This is time well spent and can mean the difference between incredible business growth or ho-hum results. (It was when I took this part of my business seriously that I began to see huge jumps not only in my income but in the quality of the clients I serve.)

Spend some time reflecting on your first impression process. I invite you to set the intention to create “royal red carpet” treatment from that first point of contact so that you too can enjoy big leaps in your income along with quality clients who rave about you everywhere they go.

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.
*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

I can recall periods in my life when I did not feel completely in control.  At times, the idea of being in complete control can seem a bit like a fantasy. After all, we have businesses, careers, families, and other activities that demand so much of us, our time, and our day. When we finally feel in control of our time, it’s 9:00 at night and we are too exhausted to do anything! And in some cases, we allow others to be in control of our lives. There are times when we are faced with a decision and we can become “stuck” or unsure that our ideas or choices could be the “right” ones for us and so we allow others to steer the course of our lives.

Here’s the good news and bad news: You really are in control of your ride throughout your life. It can be full of energy and passion or it can be heavy and full of despair. It can go fast or it can go slow. Your life can be reckless or it can be more controlled and filled with more of the things that you want to have happen. You see, you are in the driver’s seat. What’s essential before taking the ride is making sure that you decide where you are going and how fast you want to get there.

How about you? Are you ready to take your ride to a meaningful life, filled with passion and purpose? Does it excite you to know that you are in control of your ride—your life? Have you taken some time to ask yourself the important questions about where you are going and how fast or slow you want to go? Have you given some thought to who is going with you on your ride? This is a key part of my work with women in the Success Circles. It’s a time for women to hit the “pause button” on their lives and see where they want to go next. They reflect on what energizes them, what their passions are, and how they can weave more of this into their lives. Here are a few key questions that might support you in your ride:

1.  What would it take for you to feel happy and content?

2.  What situations in your life right now are holding you back from taking action on your Big Idea, Dreams, and Goals?

3.  What do you need to let go of in order to create the space for something new?

That day on the slider, I was excited to be in control of my ride. My 7 year-old daughter, Jenna, was sitting in my lap and I found it comforting to be able to slow down when she was a little scared and speed up again when she said, “Go faster, Mommy!” I invite you to take some time this fall to reflect on your life. Begin to think about how you might take more control over your time so that you too, can enjoy the ride of your life—a life filled with energy, passion, and purpose.  

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff 

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at www.ProfitsWithPassion.com.

I’ve been with the same mobile phone company for 9 years. Hard to believe, right? I’m slow to commit but once I do, loyal to the end! So the first place I went was to my current carrier’s store to see what they had to offer. When we entered the store, there were a quite a few people waiting and so we got in line and waited our turn. Not once did anyone say, “Thanks for waiting, I’ll be with you in a moment” or “Sorry for the delay, someone will be right with you.” Nothing. No eye contact. We felt invisible. I had quite a few questions about the new phones and was anxious to get my questions answered. When it was my turn (about 20 minutes later) something happened that was shocking. The person behind the desk looked straight at us and then just turned and walked away! I was stunned and frustrated at this point.

Not a good “experience.”

Greg was pretty frustrated and wanted to speak with the Manager. I had no intention of speaking with anyone there. The mood and tone was set and I no longer wanted to do business with that store. We turned, left the store, and walked a few blocks away to another mobile phone store. Once inside, we were greeted right away by a store manager who had a customer service representative at our side in a matter of seconds. He spent a lot of time with me and never made me feel rushed. I got all of my questions answered and in the end decided to leave a 9 year relationship with my old mobile phone carrier and start anew.

You see, it’s not always about price (the new carrier was more costly than the old one). When I called my former mobile phone company to get my account number and tell them I was leaving, they bent over backwards to get me to stay with lots of “incentives.” I switched carriers partly because I really liked what the new phone could offer me in terms of benefits; however, a bigger reason was that they had given me an “experience” that made me feel special.

How about you? Are you giving your loyal, current clients the same “experience” that your new prospective clients receive? Your current clients have value beyond measure. Here are some tips and solutions that you can review to make sure that your customer service “experience” is polished and ready for 2010:

1. “I’m Listening” – When you are with your clients or prospective client, it’s essential that you make them feel special. Show a genuine interest in what they have to say. Don’t text someone or take phone calls. Focus your attention solely on them.

2. Act Quickly – when a client or prospect makes a request and it’s something that you know you can help them with, make sure you respond quickly.

3. Under-promise and Over-deliver – This is a mantra to live by if you want your clients raving about you and your products and services. It’s one that I aspire to each and every day. If you commit to creating this “experience” in your own business, you are guaranteed lasting success.

As you begin 2010, I invite you to spend some time reviewing the “experience” you are offering to your current and prospective clients. This “experience” will serve as one of the pillars in building your business this year.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff  

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions(tm), a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.profitswithpassion.com.

I’m referring to your current clients—-the people who have said “yes” to working with you and who believe in the service that you are providing. Your current clients typically have connections to people who may need your product or service. They have worked with you personally and can share their experience with others. The key is ensuring that the “experience” your current clients are having with you is a positive one so that they will feel comfortable sending you referrals.

My business is over 90% referral based. Most of the women who come to me are referred by women who have worked with me, either individually or in one of my Women’s Success Circles. These women feel comfortable sending me their friends and colleagues because they know first-hand what the experience is like.

I’m going to share some tips and solutions that I’ve used over the years to build my business into a referral based business. You may read each one and say to yourself, “I already knew that.” The question is “You may know it, but are you practicing it in your business with each and every client you come in contact with?” These are easy, simple steps you can take that will make a huge difference in the growth of your business.

Be on Time – This one simple step can garner you huge rewards in your client’s eyes. Being on time sends a clear message that you value your client. You are respectful of their time. My goal is to always arrive before the client does, get clear and focused so that I am ready to devote my time and energy to their needs. Have I ever been late? You bet (I live in LA where traffic is un-predictable!), however it’s rare.

Be prepared – Ask yourself a question before you meet with your client. For what purpose are they coming to see me? Do I have all of the documents, forms, contracts, and support materials that I need to make this time valuable and productive? With time being such a cherished commodity, it’s key that you come prepared with everything you need to support the client.

Underpromise and Overdeliver – Give your client more than they expect. In addition to everything you’ve agreed to do for the client, go the extra mile! Provide useful resources that can support their business or personal life in some way. If you have a referral or you can make a connection between your client and another person where they can both benefit, make it happen!

Thank YOU! – This is so important, however I find this being the most overlooked step. Make sure to “Thank” your clients for working with you. It’s true you provided a service that helped them but it’s key to thank them for choosing to work with you. After all, they do have options. Send birthday cards, call them occasionally to check-in and see how they are doing.

The Golden Rule – a simple habit to get into. Treat your clients the way you would like to be treated. It really makes a big difference in your working relationship.

If you choose to make these tips and solutions a part of your daily interaction with your clients, you’ll soon find referrals coming your way. When this happens, make sure you take that final step; Show your appreciation for receiving the referral! One of the ways that I appreciate referrals from clients, is by sending them a Thank you card with a gift of some sort attached—maybe a coffee card, etc. Last year, I hosted a “mani-pedi appreciation afternoon” where women came, had their toes and nails done, feet and shoulders massaged, along with champagne, wine, and cheese.

These are simple steps that you can put into practice right away. Take a moment now and choose the ones that you can begin implementing with your next client. You’ll find rave reviews and referrals coming your way!

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

****

Copyright 2009 Joy Chudacoff

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions(tm), a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.ProfitsWithPassion.com.