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 .

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.

With all of the information we receive each day, it’s critical that you keep your message simple and easy to understand.  Getting laser clear on who benefits from your product or service (i.e. your ideal client) is key to your success.  When your ideal client reads your marketing message, you want them to understand quickly how you can help them.

Here are three tips to help you hone your message to your ideal client and ensure that when they open your email, letter, postcard or video they understand what you have to offer is exactly what they need:

1.  Offer Specific Benefits – You can go to Google or other search engines and obtain almost any “general” information you want online.  The days of offering “general” information and getting paid well for it are over.  In your marketing message, you need to share specific benefits or outcomes that your ideal client will get when they work with you or use your product.  Remember “WIIFM.” (What’s In It For Me?)  Your client has a problem and they want it solved.  Period.  I found myself “lingering” on promotions that were clear how their program or service could help me.

2.  How does it work? – Be very clear about how your program or service works.  Is it by phone?  In-person?  Online?  Let them know when the program begins, how long it will last and what they can expect.  If they can visualize your process, it will make it easier for them to make a decision.

3.  Make it a “no-brainer” – When you have an offer, make it easy for them to buy or sign-up right now on the spot.  Give them clear instructions on how to contact you or your team for more information.  I found myself attracted to certain promotions when I had easy to follow instructions on how to take the next step.

That afternoon, lying on the sofa reading my emails was a helpful exercise.  It gave me time to pause and reflect on my own marketing message and discover how I can serve women entrepreneurs more effectively.  I invite you to schedule some time for this as well.  It will make a huge difference in your marketing message, which in turn means more of your ideal client and greater income.  

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 http://www.SmartWomenSmartSolutionsCoaching.com.

– “I’m never able to get it all done.”
– “I can’t figure out which “to-do” should be done first.”
– “It only takes 10 minutes.”

One woman entrepreneur is multi-tasking all day long. She felt this was really effective in her quest to “beat the clock.” To quote my client, “it only takes 10 minutes to complete each task.” When we took a look at the “it only takes 10 minutes” tasks and added them up, she was losing over an hour a day on items that could be delegated to someone else. What would you do with an extra hour per day?

We wear many hats and play many roles in our lives. It’s very easy to get caught up in the “to-do” list and the requests of others. In my work with women, my goal is to help them have an 80/20 rule in their lives and businesses. 80% is their “ideal” life that they create and 20% is when “life happens.” You know those days when you get sick, the kids are sick, the car breaks down, etc. For many of you, it’s just the opposite. You’re getting 20% of your time to steer your life the way you’d like and 80% is spent serving others needs and requests. I invite you to think about changing this if you want to live with passion and purpose in your life and business.

I used to be in that 80/20 situation (with 80% being determined by others) until I made a conscious choice to give myself permission to design a life that resembled more of what I wanted on a daily basis. Here’s a few tips and solutions on how you can begin to take better control and win your race against time:

1. What do you want? – This really throws women off base when I ask this question. Why? You believe that your life is not your own. You serve and take care of so many people. How could you possibly have what You really want? Take a look at all the areas of your life – self, spouse/partner, family, work/business, friends and community. How much time would you ideally like to spend in each of these areas? Remember the 80/20 rule.

2. Design Your “Ideal” Day – The women I work with take a blank calendar and begin to play around with the “what-ifs.” They play with different scenarios and come up with what works best for them based on what’s most important.

3. Set up boundaries – It’s essential that you set boundaries around your life. I have a boundary around the 4pm hour during the week. I typically reserve from 4pm on through the evening to be with my family. I also have a boundary around my day between 8:30 and 4pm Monday through Friday. I spend this time serving women and practicing my own self-care.

4. Get some help – A very wise, successful woman once shared with me that “you can do it all but you can’t do it all by yourself.” Well said. This lesson has been one of the most valuable for me along the way. The act of delegation has been a key factor in helping me to have more of what I want in my life and less of what I don’t. Here’s a clue; Make a list of what you’re really good at, enjoy doing and also produces income for you. These are the things that you need to hold on to. Take everything else and delegate it as soon a possible. The first 2 things I delegated in my business were bookkeeping and technology. I don’t enjoy these and it’s not an area of strength for me.

If you are serious about winning your race against time and having more of what you want in your day, I invite you to use these 4 steps I’ve shared with you. I’m going to leave you today with a quote that feels just right at this moment. “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” ~Annie Dillard

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/.

When you first make the decision to become a business owner, you as an entrepreneur are very “fluid.” After all, you’re probably a solo-entrepreneur trying to do everything yourself! There aren’t any rules about how to do anything. The goal is to get some clients and earn an income—right? After some time passes, you begin to realize that this “fluid” aspect of your business is not working. You are “surviving” and you want to be “thriving.”

It’s time to take a look at where you are in your business now and make a plan for where you want to be in the future. In other words, it’s time for a “solid” foundation to be put in place. Your business needs to have a clear plan of action on what you want to accomplish moving forward and how you will accomplish the plan. You will want to gain clarity around how to best market your products and services, gain visibility and produce profit so that your business can “thrive.”

Here are a few quick examples of “solid” and “fluid” in your business:

Solid – I was working with a smart woman just a few weeks ago who has a great concept for her business. The business is growing but at a much slower pace than she’d like. When I asked her what her action plan was for 2010, she didn’t really have a clear idea. Her reply was something like, “make money.” This was not a “solid” answer. We spent some focused time exploring her vision for the business this year. We then created a plan around her products and services, her marketing strategy and I also shared some time management solutions to make sure she’s getting the “right” things done to stay on course.

Fluid – You need to be open to new ideas and ready to course-correct when necessary. Just yesterday, I was working with a smart woman who’s experiencing a lot of frustration around her marketing efforts with little return in terms of new clients. As we explored her business, she soon realized that she had overlooked 2 other streams of income that could generate profits right now in her business with much less effort while she continues to grow this new area of interest.

Working with a coach or mentor can be especially helpful. It provides a grounding process for the woman entrepreneur. It’s essential that you take the time periodically to sit down and review the “solid” and “fluid” aspect of your business. Is your action plan “solid” for the long-term? Does it have a clear plan of action to gain new clients and produce profit? Do you need to make some changes in your plan? Is it time to course-correct? Many times, we put a plan into action only to find out that we missed a very important piece of information. This is when your thinking needs to become “fluid” or flexible with new ideas.

I walked away from the science center that day with more than I expected. Giving yourself permission to get out of your daily routine can open a whole new way of thinking about your life and your business. I invite you to take a look at the “solid” and “fluid” parts of your business. It will make a big difference in how it unfolds 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 coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, FREE MP3  at http://www.SmartWomenSmartSolutionsCoaching.com.