In this podcast, we have Networking Coach Carol Deckert.

Why you should listen to her?

She started a business at the age of 42 (about the age of most people who think they’re too old to start a business), grow her business, get featured in Wall Street Journal, and was chosen among 2,000+ women entrepreneurs in the entire U.S. to speak in Women Entrepreneurs Event.

Mind you, that event wasn’t ordinary. It was held in State Department in Washington D.C. and was telecast via satellite live to all U.S. Embassies worldwide.

Before you attend any networking event, listen to her amazing stories.

You’ll learn…

• Why your old school networking strategy will never work.
• A powerful strategy on how to get introduce to the big guys of any networking event.
• What’s the secret “mindset” of networking superstars and why it works for them again and again.
• The recipes of successful networking strategy to get more clients in your business.
• How to talk “not about your business” and still get referrals in return.
• What to do if you need to attend a networking event and you don’t know what to expect.
• Why you ONLY need 3 business cards to attend a networking night.
• How to make people like you instantly in any event.

And a whole lot more.

To be perfectly honest, Carol’s concept is new to me as well. It’s those things that seem common sense but not common. That’s why it’s explosive.

Go ahead and click the PLAY button below.

Or

[ Click Here To Download the MP3 To Your Computer or IPod ]

You’re not alone!

Through the years, I realized that there’s no way I can really cope up with my “to dos” BUT I also realized that there’s always enough time to do the most important things. And that should be your primary concern.

There a lot of ways to increase your productivity and you probably have read or heard most of them. Time is gold. If some did not work for you, you may try these 10 more ways.

1. Quit Using Sticky Notes.

I am impressed with how “Post It” was accidentally discovered, but I still like using regular notebooks to write down schedule, ideas, to dos, etc. Sticky notes tend to get lost. Though it looks good if your boss sees those sticky notes around your monitor and knows you’re working.

2. Archiving and Deleting Computer Files.

Initially, you may want to put computer files that you’ve not accessed in last 90 days in an archive folder. Then delete them if you’ve not touched in the last 6 months. It is very unlikely that you will need them again.

3. Don’t constantly check your emails.

This is something really difficult for people whose jobs are always in front of computer and online. Mostly, twice daily is enough.

4. Update your address book.

For people who frequently send emails, this is a definite time saver. Re-typing email is waste of time.

5. Write your thoughts, modify later.

When composing an email message, it is more efficient if you right your thoughts first and modify it later for clarity and typo error corrections. Resist the temptation. I guess writers or bloggers can relate to this. (I just did it while writing this post.)

6. Listen to audio books.

Listening than reading a printed book is really a time saver. You can listen while crossing the streets, driving, or on a treadmill. You can’t do that if you’re holding a book on one hand (without risking your life.) When I am on commute, my travel time is about an hour a day which I spend on audio books. So, I don’t need to allot an hour to exclusively read a book.

7. Send a text message instead of calling.

Assuming the message you want to send across is simple and you don’t want to engage in unnecessary conversation on mobile phone, just send a text message. You save few minutes not just your time and also his/her time.

8. Pay your bills electronically.

You can save at least half the time when paying monthly bills.

9. Know thy short-cut keys.

You can save a lot of time if you know short-cut keys in playing around with your computer isn’t this is what short-cut keys for?). Imagine the world without CTRL-C or CTRL-V. If you use particular software like spreadsheet, you’ll do things faster than average users.. Also, some keyboards have this quick launch buttons to help you out. Use them. Maximize them.

10. Tape your favorite shows.

Watch them at your convenience time where more important things has been done. Fast forwarding through commercial will save you at least 10 minutes an hour.

How about you? What are the things you do to get more things done?

Let’s say you’re thinking on how to market your services.

Your options are…

• Networking night
• Launch a website
• Start a blog
• Start to use Twitter
• Cold calling (yikes!)
• Send letters

and so on…

You got tons of options. Unfortunately, more options means more confusion and…

Confusion leads to procrastination.

So the more clearer you are on what you want to accomplish and how to do it, the higher chances that you won’t procrastinate and reach your goals.

That’s why I use a technique called Mind Mapping. It’s basically a brainstorming technique that you can use in your projects, business, even in your personal life.

Best of all, there’s a software to help you out to brainstorm nearly everything you need to do with my business. And you can get it for FREE.

Just go to http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

But wait! Before you download the software go ahead and watch the video as I show you how I actually use it in my coaching business.

You’ll love it!

I believe this is one of the major reasons why many service professionals suck in their online marketing. Lack of focus. Don’t be sidetracked with all these new technologies.

There are many ways for you to get more clients online. Social media is just one of it.

Social media is powerful but it’s just part or a recipe for you to get more clients online. Overall online marketing strategy is the key.

I found a great blog post about the harsh realities of social media. I think you should read it.

Here’s the link => http://www.copyblogger.com/harsh-social-media-marketing/

You can be very successful with social media. You can be successful without it.

Let’s go back to the question, “what if I’m just marketing to local clients is it worth the time?”

My answer is YES. I myself use it and I primarily target service professionals in Calgary.

Social media is a conversation between you and your market. Whether you’re just targeting local or you’re targeting nationwide market, conversation with your market is always a good thing.

The question is, are you willing to invest time on it?

If your car needs repair, you ask your friends if they know a “good mechanic”.

If you need a family portrait, you ask your friends for “good photographer”.

If you’re looking for a new house, you ask for “good realtor”.

It’s just the way it is.

So when you decided to quit your job and launch your business, your subconscious mind still carries that mentality.

You tell to yourself, “I’m the best in what I do so getting clients shouldn’t be a problem”

Several months after, you still haven’t got your first paying client.

What seems to be the problem?

“Lack of marketing skills”

Your primary job as a coach or consultant is NOT coaching or consulting but marketing your coaching and consulting business.

Marketing is a huge topic to discuss but allow me to share to you a true story.

I was doing some consulting with an local realtor here in Calgary. He’s been in the business for 6 years now but can’t seem to breakthrough in terms of sales and profits.

After talking for about 25 minutes about his business, goals and plans, I asked him this simple question:

“There are 5 realtors in your target area, why should I hire you?”

He paused for few seconds and trying to come up with an answer. Baffling, he answered “Well, I’m good at what I do. I provide quality service. I work hard to give me clients the best service they deserve.”

At first there seems to be no problem on what he just said. But then I asked him again “If I tell you that your competitor says the same thing and I’ll ask you again, why I should hire you. What’s your response?”

I can see the tense and uneasiness in his body language. He never really answered me convincingly simply because he doesn’t know the answer.

You’ll be surprise to learned that 95% of the time that I ask my clients the question “Why Should I Hire You?”, they baffled.

What I’m leading up to is this; you have to separate yourself from the crowd. You have to have a unique selling proposition. Something unique and compelling in the eyes of your market.

It can be “money back guarantee”, “unlimited telephone support”, “free maintenance for 3 months”, or anything that your competitors do not offer. The more compelling your unique selling proposition, the better.

In marketing your business online, it’s the same thing. Your web site and blog should separate you from the rest. People should see that USP quickly because your competitors are just one click away.

One search from Google will return me hundreds if not thousands of competing businesses.

People have more options than ever. They have more power and voice to tell the world how good or bad you are.

If you’re from my local city and you ask me why you should hire me, because “I’m the ONLY Internet marketing coach specifically serving coaches, consultants, and other service professionals. Teaching them on how to attract more local clients from the Internet.”

Now, it’s your turn…”Why Should I Hire You?”

In my experience for the last 10 years  as consultant and now a coach, I can say that these are the 5 reasons why people are not hiring you.

1. They don’t the have money.

I know this as a buyer and as a service provider point of view. I remember the time when I was starting in my consulting business. I found a great product on the Internet that will teach me how to become a marketing consultant.  I got the chance to review the entire product before purchasing it. So I know that it’s worth it. But it’s priced at$5,800. I love it, I like it but at that time was incapable of purchasing it.

In coaching or consulting, it’s the same thing. Also, you shouldn’t force the sales by discounting your price, for two reasons:

You’ll appear as desperate.
You’ll appear as salesperson.

These two things will reduce your credibility in the eyes of your prospects.

Why? Because generally speaking people would like to hire the best in their field. The best consultants, coaches, and service professionals are not desperate nor a salesperson.

2. They can’t see clearly the benefits and value of what you’re offering.

As service professional, you have to be able to articulate the true benefits of what you’re offering.

Let’s say you’re a fitness trainer. The benefit for your client is NOT “you’ll lose weight 20 pounds in one month”. The true benefits for them are:

* You’ll feel beautiful and confidence.
* You’ll be able to do the things that you love to do like hiking, sports, etc.
* You’ll feel great because people around you are amazed with your transformation.

DISCLAIMER: I’m not a fitness trainer so I’m pretty sure there are more true benefits in losing weight. Those are just from the top of my head. But I hope you get my point.

3. They’re not sure what you’re offering.

Unfortunately, many service professionals whenever you ask them what they do they just simply say, “I’m a life coach” or “I’m a business consultant”. They tend to think that the other person knows exactly what they do. But they don’t. And people will not even bother to ask for more information.

So you have to articulate exactly what how you help people. Even better, create a picture in their mind of how you do it and the true benefits of what you’re offering.

In my business, I tell people that “I teach consultants, coaches, and service professionals on how they can get more clients than they can handle using the Internet.” If I’m talking to a prospect, I normally get a respond “how you do that?” And so the conversation begins.

4. They don’t like you or trust you.

There’s an old saying that “People buy from people they know, like, and trust.”

It’s quick and easy to meet a lot of people. Just go to networking nights, hand over your business cards, and you’re done.

But it will take time for them like you and trust you. Very rarely you’ll meet someone for the first time and he’ll hire you right on the spot.

That’s why in my Traffic to Loyalty Marketing Systems, I teach my students on how to turn prospect into a paying client and do it in autopilot.

Using the Internet, it’s much easier to build your credibility without spending a lot of your valuable time and money.

5. They don’t need it.

You have to admit it. Not all people that you meet in networking nights, visitors in your website, or even people in your target market will hire you.

That’s why you have to qualify a person to be a prospect. You want to spend the time and money ONLY to those who can be a paying client. Many just want a free advice but you’re not in a charity.

But what if they need it and they’re not just aware of it? Then you have a lot of marketing job to do with these people. You have to get their permission to market to them and put them in you follow up system. They can possibly become a paying client in the future. But for the meantime, you would like to deal with the low hanging fruit.

So those are primarily the reasons why people don’t hire you.

On your experience, why do you think a prospect didn’t hire you?

She was asking for a “secret recipe” on how to rank in Google search engine as she saw my business listed at the top of Google search result.

I wish I could help her, but like most people she’s looking for a “tactics” and not strategy.

READ THIS: Strategy will bring you consistent flow of new paying clients and not tactics.

It’s the same in offline and online world.

But anyways, if you’re really dying for some easy and quick tactics to implement in your business, watch the video below as I show you how I rank in Google first page without search engine optimization and all this technical jargon.

Yes, you can implement this in 5-10 minutes.

Don’t forget to post your questions and comments below.

Alex Makarski will show you proven and unique ways to get more referrals to your business. If you think you already know how, you’ll be surprised!

In this edition of our podcast, Alex explains different marketing strategies to get referrals even if you hate asking for one. Before you go to any networking night, you have to listen to this podcast.

You’ll learn:

• The unusual referral strategies to quickly create predictable stream of new customers
• How to ask for referrals effectively.
• How to systematize your referral marketing.
• The tools that you can use to automate your referral marketing.
• The key to a successful referral strategy.
• Why referrals marketing is the best marketing tactic there is.
• 7 simple referral tactics that they can use to get their customers to literally FALL IN LOVE with them and send them unlimited business.
• A complete 100% HANDS FREE AUTOMATED system that does all the follow up and relationship building for them while they sleep.
• The one referral method that consistently gets highly qualified referrals that are eager to do business with them and CALL THEM.

And a lot more…

Go ahead and click that “PLAY” button below.

Or

[ Click Here To Download MP3 To Your Computer Or IPod ]

Don’t forget to leave a comment below about this podcast.

Are you overwhelmed with so much information on the Internet on how to market your business online?

Are you wondering why Internet marketing works for some business and not on yours?

I’ll show you how.

Maybe you’re no much of a video person. Well, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT you just have to watch it. So get yourself a Coke, a cup of coffee or a nice glass of ice cold water, take the phone off the hook, bolt the door, do whatever you gotta do to give this your full and undivided attention.
Click the play the button to see a powerful Internet marketing strategy. - in plain English!

So what do you think?