Connecticut Secretary had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Bruce Clinton of ASearch, LLC a while ago. You may view the article by following the link below. Connecticut Secretary Interviews Bruce Clinton of ASearch, LLC
"Connecticut Secretary interviewed Bruce Clinton of ASearch, LLC, a Connecticut based executive search firm, and discussed the uniqueness of his business and the challenges faced by companies that need to make a critical hire."
We wanted to share the BusinessWise, LLC website with our visitors so that you may learn more about Bruce's executive coaching and consulting business. Please let him know we sent you!
It may sound too good to be true, but there’s an array of free advertising available online through search engines/directories, banner exchanges and e-classifieds. You can also take advantage of often-overlooked tools like ezines, blogs, forums and reciprocal links to promote your business. This article gives an overview of each of these resources. Search Engines/Directories Free search engines/directories are a prime spot to advertise products. The reason is: Eight out of 10 people surfing the Web use search tools to navigate their way around online, according to the eMarketing Association. And 54 percent of experienced online shoppers rely on a search engine when searching for a product to purchase online, reports Jupiter Communications. Exact Seek is one of the few remaining search engines that offer free listings. It receives and indexes more than 30,000 new site submissions daily. To date, more than two million Websites have been indexed and added to the ExactSeek database. The Open Directory Project is one of the most important directories online. Also known as DMOZ, it is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory on the Web. Getting your site listed with the Open Directory Project can be a major boost because of the highly relevant searches it delivers. Hosted and administered by Netscape Communication Corporation, DMOZ powers the core directory services for some of the Web's premier search engines and portals, including Netscape Search, AOL Search, Google, Lycos, HotBot and DirectHit. Online Classified Ads Almost everyone is familiar with classified advertising. So why not take advantage of the online equivalent. Placing e-classified ads can help you broaden your reach and Website traffic. It can also connect you with people who are eagerly searching for what you have to sell, which can boost your sales. Websites like YahoolClassifieds, SuperAds and ZipZapAds allow you to post free classifieds in a range of categories and upload photos. Many sites allow listings nationally and worldwide. Ablewise.com, for example, features global ads in eight different countries. Online classifieds are the ultimate way to expand your brand locally and worldwide. Banner Exchanges Banner exchanges allow members to swap ads on each other’s Websites. You simply insert a small piece of code onto your Web page and you will display banner ads from other exchange members. In return, your advertisement will be displayed across the banner exchange network. There are a wide variety of banner exchanges networks available online, including e-bannerx, click4click and 1800banners. All of them have different operating models, with some giving perks like a 10-percent referral fee or 3,000 banners for joining. Many banner programs require a 2:1 or 3:2 exchange ratio. Overlooked Free Resources There’s an array of free resources that are often ignored by Website owners. Ezines or online magazines are one of them. Ezines can give you an effective way to establish yourself as an expert, build consumer trust and, ultimately, generate sales. Submitting articles to ezines can result in a byline, enhanced credibility, plus a link back to your Website. Another subtle way to advertise online is through blogs. A blog—short for Weblog—is simply a digital diary or online forum that anyone can read online. Nearly 80,000 new blogs are created every day, making them one of the most rapidly expanding online marketing tools, according to the State of the Blogosphere report from Technorati, a Website that indexes blogs. Blogs can be developed to cover almost any topic, and they’re a great channel for publicizing new products or services. You can use a blog for a variety of purposes, including news, education, and commentary. A blog can provide quality links back to your main domain, plus enhance your site’s performance with search engines. Reciprocal links is a tactic that can allow you to generate free traffic from other Websites. The key is to link to high-traffic sites that complement—not compete—with yours. This can provide you with a steady stream of visitors matching your target market. Forums can also increase your visibility on the Web. This type of online chatting lets you communicate with audiences directly related to your product or service. You may even be able to slip in the name of your company and link back to your Website. Copyright, 2005
Kate Smalley, Connecticut Secretary
http://www.connecticutsecretary.com
kms@connecticutsecretary.com
Providing Freelance Transcription Services * Podcast Transcription * Secretarial Support
OASIS in the Overwhelm - News & Events On Tuesday, November 15, eight Moms met with Millie to give her ideas for her book-in-progress OASIS in the Overwhelm – for Busy Moms. When their husbands found out about their wives’ meeting, the men requested a meeting of their own.
Way to go, Millie! Since publishing her book, "Oasis in the Overwhelm," Millie has received recognition and reviews from around the world! Stop by her site and visit to learn more about her speaking engagements.
As a business owner, you may rely on an outside accountant to do your taxes and prepare financial statements. However, it’s best that you or someone in your organization take on the responsibility of keeping an accurate set of financial records.
Keeping good records yourself, no matter how unpleasant it may seem, will minimize the costs of paying an accountant and allow you more control of your financial information and operations. Maintaining good records can also help you avoid headaches at tax time by keeping track of your receipts and other records throughout the year. This can help you remember the various transactions you made during the year so you can properly document and maximize your tax deductions. Normally, tax records should be kept for three years, but some documents - records relating to a home purchase or sale, stock transactions, IRA and business or rental property - should be kept longer. Good record keeping not only enables the IRS to evaluate your business activity through original and supporting documents, but it also gives you the information you need to properly manage and grow your business. You can keep track of your business transactions by writing them down, usually in books such as journals or ledgers or by typing them into a computer software program. It’s best to choose a system that’s simple, yet can be changed to meet your needs in the future. An accounting system should show your income and expenses and can be easily understood, especially by you. If you have more than one business, it’s best to keep completely separate books for each type of business activity. The two basic types of bookkeeping methods are single entry and double-entry systems. Whether you choose to keep a written ledger or use computer software, record only the information that needs to be documented. Single-Entry Bookkeeping Single-entry bookkeeping uses a cash receipts journal, a cash disbursements journal and also the use of a checkbook. All business transactions are recorded in one of these journals. It is a practical bookkeeping system for small businesses that are just starting. The cash receipts journal should contain a record of all the money that you receive. It should contain a column for items such as date, amount, and source of payment, the reason for the payment or anything that is of importance to your bookkeeping and of relevance. Document the money that your small business spends in a cash disbursements journal. It should have columns for the various expenditures that your small business may have with a line for each expenditure, including description of expense, date, payee, check number and total amount. Double-Entry Bookkeeping As your business grows, you may need to adopt a double-entry bookkeeping system. This system provides more information to paint a more complete picture of your business at any particular point in time. This information may include available cash on hand, accounts payable, utilities, loans, etc. Your small business should use a double-entry bookkeeping system if has significant accounts receivable, accounts payable, equipment that depreciates or inventory. If your business will meet any of these, you should select a double-entry system from the start. You’ll use journals and ledgers to record information that reflect your business transactions. Each transaction will be recorded twice, meaning the system will balance itself out. For example, if you make a loan payment, you will decrease the cash amount in your cash account and increase the exact amount in the expense account. What Type of Records To Keep The type of business you operate generally affects the type of records you need to keep for federal tax purposes. You’ll need supporting documents to capture important details, such as your receipts, purchases, expenses, assets. Here are some other basic record keeping tips to keep in mind: · Daily business records are the best · Identify source of receipts · Record expenses when they occur · Keep complete records on all assets Remember, good record keeping is essential to the financial survival of your business. So take the time to keep good records, so you can run your business successfully — instead of it running you. ********************Copyright 2005Kate Smalley, Connecticut SecretaryFreelance Secretarial and Transcription Serviceshttp://www.connecticutsecretary.comkms@connecticutsecretary.com********************
Time is a precious, nonrenewable resource. That’s why you should value every moment, hour and day that you have. And just as a well-run business should carefully develop a strategy for spending money, an effective business person should carefully develop a plan for spending time.
To help you use your time as effectively as possible, here are some time management strategies you can implement to enhance your efficiency and productivity: Develop A Time Strategy
The first step in effective time management is not to develop a schedule, but instead to develop a time strategy. The time strategy should be based on a short list of time priorities. Start by identifying the No. 1 way you can most increase profits by use of your time. Then move onto the No 2 way, the No. 3 way, etc. This short list of time priorities forms the foundation for your time planning for every week of the year. Next, you should focus your efforts. Focus is crucial for effective time management. And the fewer priorities you focus on at once, the more productive you will be. Once you’ve established your major time priorities for the year, you should allocate them by week or by month. Like it or not, a lot of our time each week is going to be eaten up by nonstrategic items that we have no control over. Therefore, it is important to limit the number of strategic time goals we have for each week. So even if you have 10 strategic time goals for the year, you may want to focus on no more than one or two of them in any given week. Set Aside Uninterrupted Time
Every week you should make up a detailed time plan, which you modify each day as needed. Except in times of crisis, try to make sure day-to-day issues don't push your strategic time priorities off your schedule. Generally, your major strategic time priorities will involve activities like planning, thinking, and developing ideas. More so than day-to-day issues, these activities require big blocks of uninterrupted time. Constant interruptions can kill any hope of effective time management. One way to avoid them is to make it clear that when your door is closed you are not to be disturbed. Another is to have regular meetings, such as every week, with the people that you interact with the most and insist on saving non-pressing issues for these meetings. Avoid Time Traps
To get the most from your time, be careful to avoid these common time traps: - Spending more time in the offices where the most congenial people are, as opposed to where the most important issues are.
- Wasting too much time getting daily updates on routine activities, instead of waiting for a more meaningful weekly summary.
- Jumping too eagerly into the routine, more straightforward work and putting off the more complex and difficult work.
- Not starting the most important work first thing in the morning.
- Failing to make up a schedule for each day.
- Scheduling each day so tightly that it is impossible to stay on track.
********************Copyright 2005Kate Smalley, PresidentConnecticut SecretarySpecializing in Transcription and Freelance
Secretarial Serviceshttp://www.connecticutsecretary.comkms@connecticutsecretary.com ********************
A corporation is a separate legal entity that functions separate and apart from its shareholders or owners. You can incorporate on your own without an attorney, although it wouldn’t hurt to seek legal advice. And you can incorporate in your home state or any other state of your choosing.
More than half a million business entities have their legal home in business-friendly Delaware, including more than 50 percent of all U.S. publicly-traded companies and 58 percent of the Fortune 500. Nevada, New York, California, Arizona and Florida are also magnets for businesses wanting to incorporate. Protection Against Personal Liability Incorporating offers a variety of legal and tax advantages. For one, it’s one of the best ways a business owner can protect his or her personal assets. As a separate legal entity, a corporation is responsible for its own debts. Shareholders of a corporation are generally not liable for the obligations of the corporation. Therefore, creditors of a corporation can seek payment from the assets of a corporation, but not the assets of its shareholders. This means that business owners can conduct business without risking their homes or other personal property. Tax Advantages Many businesses choose to incorporate for tax advantages. Corporate profits aren’t subject to Social Security, Medicare, workers compensation and other taxes, which adds up to 15.3 percent in taxes. An individual proprietor would need to pay all of these taxes, commonly referred to as “self-employment taxes” on all income earned by the business. But with a corporation, only salaries are subject to these taxes.
C-corporations provide even greater tax flexibility when it comes to profits. By simply dividing income between the corporation and the shareholders, businesses can save thousands of dollars each year on taxes. With a C-corporation, the first $50,000 in profits is taxed at only 15 percent -- plus, there are no Social Security or Medicare taxes. If you incorporate in a tax-free state like Nevada or Delaware, there are no state income taxes. Therefore, if you’re in the 28-percent tax bracket and shift $50,000 of your personal income into a corporation, you could save about $14,000 per year. (This figure includes the money saved by not paying social security and Medicare taxes).
Corporations also enjoy the ability to deduct business operating losses. In fact, they have very few restrictions on operating and capital losses. You can generally carry losses back three years forward for 15 years. But sole proprietorships have stricter rules. They’re also subject to a higher probability of a tax audit if there are losses. Speaking of audits, that brings us to another benefit of incorporating. Corporate returns have fewer "red flags" than individual returns. Consequently, the IRS conducts fewer audits on corporations than individuals. Fringe Benefits and Other Deductions Corporations also enjoy a variety of fringe benefits and other deductions. A corporation can set up a 401(k), for example, that would allow you to exclude a higher amount of income than a regular IRA. And employee savings may also be doubled with a corporate matching program. Corporations also can deduct 100 percent of the health insurance premiums paid on behalf of an owner-employee. Additionally, a corporation can deduct other expenses like automobile insurance, education benefits and life insurance. But for sole proprietors, these expenses are subject to strict limitations (if deductible at all) and can be "red flags" that trigger an audit. ******************** Copyright 2005Kate Smalley, PresidentConnecticut SecretarySpecializing in Transcription and Freelance
Secretarial Serviceshttp://www.connecticutsecretary.comkms@connecticutsecretary.com
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But if your company is small-like more than half of all businesses in America- you probably don't have a large marketing budget. But you can stretch your marketing dollars by applying these seven smart marketing strategies:
1. Leverage the Power Of Targeting And Branding - Determine who's most likely to buy your product or service, then tailor your marketing message accordingly. Always send the right message to the right audience. Also, create a consistent brand or image for your company, product or service. Branding involves everything related to your company from your logo down to your style of customer service. And it can help you make sales quicker and easier, so you're able to spend less on marketing. 2. Choose the Right Tools For The Job - This amounts to doing it right the first time. You can't afford to waste energy and precious dollars by using marketing pieces for the wrong purpose. For example, if you want to reach a specific market segment, direct mail is ideal. But a print ad in a general-interest publication would be a waste of money. 3. Create Versatile Materials - Create marketing materials you can use for more than one purpose. Instead of a large brochure, consider printing a small tri-fold piece that can be mailed inside an envelope, handed out and placed in a display rack. Similarly, a flier can be slipped inside a presentation folder or distributed in mass quantities. 4. Be Conservative - Don't spend any more than is necessary to get the job done. When printing, choose fewer colors and pages to cut your cost in half. Opt for graphics software, stock photography and other tools that allow you to avoid hiring expensive professionals. Your goal should always be to produce professional materials, not necessarily the most expensive ones. 5. Capitalize on "Free" Advertising - Send a press release to print, radio and broadcast media. It won't cost you anything to send in submissions. But what you can gain is free publicity in the form of a full article or at least a small brief. Unbiased publicity from a reporter carries a lot of weight and can help you "advertise" your business better than any paid advertising can. 6. Form Strategic Alliances - Combine your marketing efforts and dollars with those of complementary businesses. Swap customer referrals and split the cost of a postcard mailing or print ad with trusted business partners. You can also share exhibit space at trade shows or co-sponsor special events. 7. Improve and Maximize Customer Relations - Always meet and exceed your customers' expectations... so you don't lose them. Some estimates say it costs seven times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one. You can also save money and time by generating repeat business from your customers. Contact them with a special offer or piece of useful information; they'll probably be happy to hear from you. Ultimately, you'll be doing them and yourself a favor. ******************** Copyright 2004, Kate Smalley Connecticut Secretary Freelance Secretarial and Transcription Services http://www.connecticutsecretary.com kate@connecticutsecretary.com ********************
To improve your chance for business success, you should create a master plan. This is your big picture…a visual map of how success looks to you. But success doesn’t just happen; it requires focus, constant planning and hard work. To help you, here are five strategies for creating a master plan for achieving success:
1. Imagine the possibilities: Think of 101 things you want to accomplish in the next 10 years. Have fun with this and let your imagination run free. Be specific and personalize your list by beginning each sentence with “I am” or “I will.” For example, “I will complete at least three professional development courses this year. “Or, “I am the most successful salesperson in my company.” To get you started, here are a few questions that can help you gain focus: - What do I want to do?
- What do I want to have?
- Where do I want to go?
- What contributions do I want to make?
- What do I want to become?
- What do I want to learn?
- How much time do I want off for fun?
- Whom do I want to spend time with?
- How much money do I want to earn, save and invest?
Once you make your list of goals, prioritize them. Place a 1 by the most important goal, 2 beside the next most important and so on. But before you do that, write down the most important reason you want to accomplish each goal and the biggest benefit you will receive from each. This will help you stay focused and motivated. 2. Create a picture goals book: To improve your focus on your new lifestyle, create a picture book of your most important goals. Simply start collecting pictures in a large photo album. 3. Use an ideas book: Get a basic notebook and jot down your daily observations and insights. This is a powerful tool to expand your awareness. You can use your book for business ideas, sales tips presentation skills, money-making projects or quotes you have read. If you’re more a computer person, you can start a Word document called “Great Ideas.” 4. Visualize, think, reflect and review: Use your imagination to create positive, winning pictures. The sharper your images are and the more intense you feel, the more likely you are to create the result you desire. 5. Develop mentors and mastermind groups: Surround yourself with business people who have more experience in areas where you are lacking. Your master-mind group should have four to six people who meet regularly to share ideas and support each other. These are power alliances that can help you achieve your goals much faster than you could on your own. Copyright 2005, Kate SmalleyConnecticut SecretaryTranscription Serviceskms@connecticutsecretary.comhttp://www.connecticutsecretary.com
When most people think of marketing, they think of advertising. But marketing is much broader than that. Marketing is everything it takes to get your product or service into the hands of buyers—from product development to product delivery.
Think of marketing as a continuous process, not a single event. It typically begins with creating an identity for your business … a name, logo, tagline, etc. It extends to product/service creation, manufacturing, packaging, advertising, promotions, sales, customer service, shipping and delivery. It can involve any number of tools brochures, direct mail, websites, postcards, press releases and print, radio and TV advertising. Now that you understand these fundamentals of marketing, you’re ready to engage in guerilla marketing warfare. Guerrilla marketing is marketing that is unorthodox and often revolutionary. Unlike traditional marketers, guerrilla marketers throw out the rule book and apply creative, flexible strategies to achieve results — rather than money. In a nut shell, guerrilla marketing can help you work smarter, not harder. And it can save you time and money. Here’s a good example of guerrilla marketing: A new home security business wanted to gain clients as quickly and cost-effectively as possible in a market dominated by a well-established competitor. The rivaling company offered basic service, but had built a reputation for outstanding customer service. To overcome this competitive challenge, the home security business decided to offer a more comprehensive product and included a 100-percent, money-back satisfaction guarantee. It also offered free security seminars to neighborhood watch groups, discounts for referrals and complimentary security audits to customers who signed up for a time period. The new approach worked like a charm. Within several months of opening, the business received double the amount of customer sign-ups it had originally anticipated. Here are some simple ways you can you capitalize on guerrilla marketing: - Invest time, energy and creativity into marketing, instead of money.
- Use a blend of marketing weapons, instead of a single tool.
- Carefully focus all of your marketing tactics, instead of using a random approach.
- Tailor marketing messages to individuals, instead of groups.
- Focus on making long-term relationships, rather than sales.
- Form mutually-beneficial business partnerships.
For more information about guerrilla marketing, visit www.gmarketing.com or contact Kate Smalley at 203-641-3739 or kms@connecticutsecretary.com. Copyright 2005, Kate SmalleyConnecticut Secretary – Business Transcription Serviceshttp://www.connecticutsecretary.comkate@connecticutsecretary.com
Each year, Internet users purchase billions of dollars worth of products and services online, according to Web researcher eMarketer. Is your business getting its share of the pie? You can capitalize on the power of the Internet, if you follow these four important steps to successful online selling.
Step 1: Build a site with good design and content Create a Website with a design that’s attractive, well-organized and easy to navigate. This will make it easier and faster for site visitors to find their way around — and shop for your products or services. And remember: Pictures tell; words sell. So your site also must offer content that makes site visitors want to stick around. You should present clear, simple and useful information…so people will want to buy from you. Step 2: Get ecommerce-ready Obviously, you need to accept credit cards, checks and other forms of payments online. This will allow you business to tap into a vast marketplace where millions of consumers spend billions of dollars each year. Plus, you’ll be able to make more, larger and impulse sales, as well as enjoy improved cash flow, enhanced credibility and a competitive edge. You need four key ingredients to successfully ring up online sales: A merchant account for business owners. Shopping cart software that allows customers to collect and pay for items from your online store. A payment gateway to processes your customers' credit cards and communicate between the merchant's Website, the bank holding the merchant account, and the bank holding the financial records of the customer. A secure Website that is communicating with a payment gateway that, in turn, is communicating with a banking computer system.
Step 3: Submit your site to major search engines Once your site is equipped to sell online, it’s critical to submit your Web address to search engines. Eight out of 10 people surfing the Web use search engines or search directories to navigate their way around online, according to the eMarketing Association. And 54 percent of experienced online shoppers primarily rely on a search engine when trying to find a product to purchase online, says Jupiter Communications. At the very least, you should submit your site to top U.S. search tools like Yahoo, Google, the Open Directory, MSN, Overture and Ask Jeeves. Step 4: Use email to stimulate online sales Email is used by 96 percent of Internet users, making it the ideal tool to advertise your Website. You can use email marketing to send electronic newsletters, letters, announcements, promotions, sales and customer support. An email marketing campaign is easier, cheaper and faster to implement than a traditional direct mail promotion. Plus, the response rate of the typical email campaign easily outpaces that of conventional mailings. Email click-through rates can exceed 20 percent, while conventional direct mail campaign responses are 2 percent, at best. Step 5: Unleash the power of auto responders to boost online sales Auto responders let you automatically reply to incoming email requests, so you can instantly respond to the needs of existing and potential customers. They can be your most powerful weapon for boosting online sales. Here’s why: Sixty percent of a site's visitors who eventually end up buying a product or service don't do so on their first visit, says Auto responder Review.com. And in fact, 80 percent of all sales are made on the fifth through twelfth contact with a prospect, according to the National Sales Executive Association. So if you don’t use an auto responder or some other way to follow up with potential customers, you can miss out on up to 80 percent of your potential online sales. ********************Copyright 2005Kate Smalley - Connecticut SecretaryFreelance Transcription Serviceshttp://www.connecticutsecretary.comkms@connecticutsecretary.com ********************
Having a positive attitude is an important component of business productivity. When we view ourselves positively, we accept who we are and enable ourselves to soar to the greatest heights. But oftentimes, professionals may have the skills and expertise they need to work effectively but negative attitudes undermine their efforts and diminish their results. Here are 10 essential strategies for maintaining a positive attitude at work and home.
1. Attitude is everything, so avoid negativity. It is the lens that you look through to experience your reality. Take a look at your attitude. Are you negative? Do you color everything with fear or need? How will your life change if you change your attitude? 2. Treat people with kindness and respect. Everyone that you encounter should be valued and treated with courtesy. Acknowledge that they have feelings and their own perspective on life; they may be different than yours but they are also valid. 3. Avoid comparison. Constantly comparing yourself keeps the focus on the other person instead of on what you can do, want to do and are good at doing. Look inside and improve from there. 4. Take responsibility for your work, actions and life. Don’t pass the buck. Don’t make excuses. Take responsibility; acknowledge a mistake, fix it and learn from it. Don’t beat yourself up about the mistake or hang onto past mistakes. Resolve them, own them and move forward. Today. 5. Adopt a that-doesn't-work-for-me stance. When someone insults or belittles you, keep in mind that your worth comes from you…your being…your true self. They can’t change your intrinsic value unless you let them. Make it clear that what they’re doing doesn’t work for you. Keep your self-confidence and continue to move forward. 6. Respect other people's time and boundaries. If you are having a bad day, feeling stuck, or you are just enjoying procrastinating, make sure you don’t use that as an excuse to waste other people’s time or cross their boundaries. Time is the most valuable thing we have. 7. Make a what-I-have-accomplished list. Too often, people make huge to-do lists and then beat themselves up when they have only accomplished a few things on the list. Each day, keep a specific list of all the things you did and how much time you spent on each thing. You’ll know where the day went, can feel good about what you did accomplish and see where you need to focus to get what’s most important to you done. 8. Take notice of the people around you. Acknowledge what co-workers, customers, clients, vendors and other people are contributing and don’t take them for granted. Thank them for buying from you, for their help, their value to the relationship and for a job well done. 9. Enjoy the little things that happen in your day. Relish the compliment someone gave you on the insight you shared at the staff meeting or the big smile the customer gave you when they picked up their order. By recognizing your accomplishments, even if they seem small or routine, you are acknowledging a job well done. 10. Always come from a positive attitude and perspective and you will feel more in control. Consider each job and interaction as your best performance, rather than just running them together as part of your day. You will see the impact you have and the value you offer. Others will also notice your efforts and will respect your for your contributions. For more information about keeping a positive attitude, visit www.gmarketing.com or contact Kate Smalley at 203-641-3739 or kms@connecticutsecretary.com. ********************Copyright 2003Kate Smalley, PresidentConnecticut SecretaryTranscription Services for Graduate Students, Authors and Businesses throughout the United Stateshttp://www.connecticutsecretary.comkms@connecticutsecretary.com ********************
Self confidence drives your entire professional and personal life. It can shape your ability to overcome obstacles and achieve success. Self esteem isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you develop gradually throughout life. “Confidence is a habit that can be developed by acting as if you already had the confidence you desire to have,” according to success guru Brian Tracy. And successful coach Vince Lombardi says, “Confidence is contagious; so is lack of confidence.”
Some people seem to radiate self confidence. They can easily talk in front of a crowd of people, sell themselves at job interviews or to start an interesting conversation with people they’ve never met before. Regardless of the situation—whether business or personal—they appear comfortable and in control. If you lack self confidence on a professional or personal level, there’s good news. You can resolve to start building your self-esteem today. Here are seven tips to help you: 1. Think Positively. When you catch yourself thinking something negative, replace it with a positive, realistic statement. Substitute “I’ll never get that job” with “I might not get the job, but I’ll do my best at the interview.” Or replace “I’ll probably make a fool of myself” with “I’ll do the best I can.” 2. Take Small Steps Forward. Self confidence takes time to build, but you can start with small steps. From there, you can use your successful experiences to lead to other positive experiences that can move you along the road to recovery. 3. Emphasize Strengths. Give yourself credit for everything you try. By focusing on what you can do, you applaud yourself for efforts rather than emphasizing negative outcomes. Starting from a base of what you can do, instead of what you should do, helps you live within the bounds of your inevitable limitations. 4. Do Something You’re Good At. Indulge in swimming, running, dancing, cooking, gardening, climbing, painting, writing—anything you do well. If possible, do something that holds your attention and requires enough focus to get you into a state where you forget about everything else. You’ll feel more competent afterwards, which will prepare you to face bigger challenges. 5. Stop Thinking About Yourself. Low self-esteem is often accompanied by too much focus on yourself. Doing something that absorbs you and holds your attention can quickly make you feel better. 6. Take Risks. Approach new experiences as opportunities to learn rather than occasions to win or lose. Doing so opens you up to new possibilities and can increase your sense of self-acceptance. Not doing so turns every possibility into an opportunity for failure and inhibits personal growth. 7. Realize That It’s OK To Fail. Dare to fail. You don’t learn by doing what you already know. You have to make a step further and try new things to get better. Think of failure as a lesson-building tool. You can build on your experience to do better next time.
Remember that you are who you think you are. You can accomplish what you think you can - no more, no less. So start working on boosting your self confidence today so you can perform at your fullest potential.
Copyright Kate SmalleyConnecticut SecretaryProfessional Transcription ServicesFreelance Secretarial Serviceshttp://www.connecticutsecretary.comkms@connecticutsecretary.com
Marketing experts say that following up with clients is crucial to successful selling because most prospects do not buy the first time, according to Aweber, a leading autoresponder company. People must encounter a marketing message multiple times before making a purchasing decision. The frequency and amount of follow-up needed depends on the complexity of what is being sold to the customer and its “life span.” “You should check in probably once a quarter or once a month if the product or service is more complicated.
Types of Follow-up Sales follow-up is one of the most common and important types of follow-up situations. This type of follow-up positions you away from the competition, so you can generate more business from your existing customers. It shows that your company has its act together and really cares about satisfying customers. Sales follow-up can result in a positive experience—even if customers were slightly displeased with your product or service. It also makes good sense, financially speaking. Getting business from existing customers cost a fraction of what it takes to obtain new business. Another typical follow-up method involves placing call-backs to prospects after submitting a bid or proposal. During follow-up, it’s important to ask open-ended questions and then shut up and listen. To make an open-ended question, just put an adverb at the beginning of the sentence—but don’t ever ask ‘why’ because it’s antagonistic. You could ask: “What did you think of the quote?” or “How did you feel about what was included?” Asking open-ended questions gives you an opportunity to gather more information from the prospect to accurately pinpoint their needs. Using eNewsletters can greatly enhance your follow-up efforts with prospects and customers. Because of their inherent tracking technology, eNewsletters can tell you which topics and what part of your Website are most interesting to your readers. Tips For Following Up Follow-up isn’t just about selling; it’s about building relationships that can ultimately lead to increased sales. Here’s some important follow-up advice to keep in mind: - Do what you can. Don’t take an all-or-nothing approach to following up. Doing something is better than nothing, so follow-up as frequently and as best as you can.
- Don’t ever ask yes-or-no questions. Ask who, what, when, how many, etc. to get prospects talking. Before you pick up the phone to make that follow-up call, write down three open-ended questions to ask prospects. If you start your call with an open-ended question, you’ll be amazed at how easily the rest of the conversation flows.
- Make sure the right person follows up. The person making the follow-up call should be the person who has worked with that company. Also keep in mind that there are certain calls that are more appropriate coming from inside customer service, an outside salesperson or the boss.
- Space out your phone calls. Don’t slot a long, uninterrupted time to make calls because your approach can become dull. Instead, place a call here and there to keep things fresh.
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Copyright 2003Kate Smalley, PresidentConnecticut SecretarySpecializing in Transcription and Freelance
Secretarial Serviceshttp://www.connecticutsecretary.comkms@connecticutsecretary.com ********************
If you have a hard time making successful business connections, don’t despair. Anyone can be good at meeting people—if they use the right technique. The whole secret to making a positive connection is knowing how to attract people and inspire them to want to give you a chance.
Here are seven proven strategies to help you make successful business connections: -
Carry yourself well and look professional. If people don’t know you at ALL, they are going to completely judge you by the way you look. It’s unfortunate, but it’s true. So, make sure you dress appropriately and your hair is well groomed. And be sure to look people straight in the eye and firmly shake their hand when meeting them.
Also, make a special effort to have a clear, professional speaking voice—particularly if your first encounter is over the phone. Practice what you’re going to say in your head or out loud, so you don’t stumble on your words.
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Know your outcomes. What do you want from this person and what’s your objective? You should ALWAYS ask yourself this question before you make contact with anyone. In a business situation, you want to be really clear as to what your outcomes are. For most business people, the outcomes are to let prospects know who you are, why they should be interested in you, and what your goal is.
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Always smile. When you see someone smile, it tells you that they’re approachable. People like people who seem approachable because they feel more comfortable with them and will trust them more. So make sure you show those pearly whites and practice being sincere with your smile. And if you’re contacting someone over the phone, it’s important to still smile because people can tell by your voice if you’re not.
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Be honest. People can tell when someone is giving them baloney, so be sincere when you make contact with someone. You’re taking up their most precious commodity - time. And if you’re in sales and have to read from a script, memorize it so you can talk naturally. This will make you seem more genuine and credible.
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Offer something they need. It’s so important to not bother people with things that they don’t have time for or need. If you’re not sure that they’ll be interested in what you have to say, make your introduction short and sweet. Then see if they’re interested in hearing the rest of what you’re articulating. To position your introduction to impress them, do some research to find out what would interest them. You can conduct your research by going on the Internet, reading about them in magazines, going to the library, talking with their employees or meeting their business associates.
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Go out of your way. If someone is legitimately busy and they can’t talk with you, go out of your way to find out what’s convenient for them. Also, if the person you’re trying to contact tells you they feel more comfortable meeting you in person rather than having a telephone discussion, go meet them if it’s really important to you.
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Be bold and daring…but in a tactful way. Make the call or make an in-person introduction to the person you want to meet. Don’t sit around and contemplate if you should do it because it will never happen. It’s natural to get intimidated, but be bold and daring by pushing your fear away and taking action. However, always conduct yourself in a tactful way, so you don’t harass people. Otherwise, people won’t like you and won’t want to listen to what you have to say.
Don’t be intimidated at the thought of contacting successful people. Remember: They are still people, and they’re no different from you. So get out there and make contact. The worst that could happen is that they say, “No, I’m not interested”. The best thing that could happen is that they are interested! So as Nike says: “Just do it.” Start taking steps toward making successful connections.
******************** Copyright 2003 Kate Smalley, President Connecticut Secretary Specializing in Transcription and Freelance
Secretarial Services http://www.connecticutsecretary.com kms@connecticutsecretary.com ********************
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