Recently I did a great interview with Louise Edington that inspired something that’s been brewing inside me for a while. In that interview we talked about the fact that often early on, because of your fresh new exciting business, you often “get a sale” right away. What we often think is: “that was easy”. And that is the problem – see, it wasn’t easy – it was probably lucky.
Sales aren’t easy. I’m not trying to scare you–> I want you to know that it isn’t magic.
My sales success comes from these basic steps:
1-build a follow up system
2-learn to ask for the business
3-break down your goals. If you want to make $10,000 a month, what do you need to do to make it?
4-develop multi levels to engage, upsell, and ways to ask customers who they know that should know you and what you have to offer.
I give additional tips in my post on how to “Prime the Pump”
What do you need to start doing to build a sales process for your business?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Today is Facebook Fan Friday where I recognize those who support smart business, but it’s more than that. See smart Warrior-Preneurs understand that being on social media isn’t about pushing your stuff AT people, it’s about relationship building.
Therefore I am honoring those that get it! Who better to learn from than people that get what it means to grow a business through people!
This week’s Facebook Fan is Carolyn Jones, the Gate Lady. Carolyn and I have actually known each other for a few years- we met networking in person. She is an amazing photographer and I have watched her find her voice and give a voice to others, she is a woman worth knowing! I asked Carolyn:
1- one thing that makes you – not your biz unique: I am a sailor and lived aboard a sailboat for 4 years. While living aboard, I learned to work with teak wood, varnishing it, and to do fiberglass repair with epoxy. My two favorite smells! Varnish and penetrating epoxy… I once renovated a 7 foot rowing boat in my living room for a year…
2 – who are your power partners (not clients):Nikon, Slik (tripods), Kodak or/and Fujicolor, drug and alcohol treatment centers, (ex – The Meadows in AZ, Serenity Knolls in Marin), spiritual authors and speakers, (ex – Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Mike Farrell), independent/chain bookstores and art galleries for signing events, regardless of whether they carry my book or not, manufacturers/fabricators of wrought-iron gates
3- links to your blog and biz website if different: blog and website the same… www.gatelady.com
4- your favorite thing about running your own biz: First and foremost, I love the challenge of the varied tasks, from marketing/PR, to blogging, to social media networking, to joining author and publisher sites on line, to applying for guest spots on radio/TV shows, to working with the printer, to recording Wisdom Words by the Bridge Group videos for fan page, etc. Love setting my own schedule, intermingling work with pleasure and projects around the house.
5- what you do: I am the publisher and distributor of the book “Opening the Gates of the Heart: A Journey of Healing.” This includes getting the book printed while assuring printing and book construction quality, marketing the book to, for example, local Bay Area bookstores and other indie stores across the country, social media networking, planning the book’s launch event, getting press releases out, distributing the book, entering the book into contests (the book has won 2 awards… see below), scheduling and conducting speaking engagements/signing events.
6- who would you most like to meet ( type of person) that would help you get to the next level: In a word… Oprah. In reality, corporations and non-profits who would like to align with me to reach our target audience. Non-profits – align together to raise awareness about the non-profit and thus raise funds for them, corporations like Nikon – work together to bring awareness to or advertisement of their product or service and they provide me with funds, (target population = people on a journey of self-awareness and emotional healing, those who have journeyed thru their own gates that would like a reminder of where they started and where they wish to go in the future, persons in or contemplating sobriety, persons who have experienced or soon to experience loss, ie hospice).
Thanks CJ, for being such a great go-giver!
As you read about CJ how can you be a resource to her, connect her to someone she needs to know- THAT’s what it’s all about!
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I am bringing Facebook Fan Friday back, with more power than ever before. Recognizing those who support your efforts is smart business, but it’s more than that. See smart Warrior-Preneurs understand that being on social media isn’t about pushing your stuff AT people, it’s about relationship building.
Therefore I am honoring those that get it! They will not only get the Friday blog post, they will get a 45 minute audio interview! Who better to learn from than people that get what it means to grow a business through people!
This weeks Facebook Fan is June Sockol, the Accessory Maven. June and I have actually known each other for a few years- we met networking in person. I have watched her find her voice and give a voice to others, she is a woman worth knowing! I asked June:
1- one thing that makes you – not your biz unique: I still love building large cities with my own legos (kids still not allowed to touch mine) I am planning to create some purses out of legos this summer, just for fun. 2 – who are your power partners (not clients): power partners are event planners, photographers, vendors at events (this has been an awesome resource for me, I’m not sure what else to call them), website designers (to give advice to designing my website but not do the work) 3- links to your blog and biz website if different: or http://www.facebook.com/AccessoryMaven 4- your favorite thing about running your own biz: My favorite thing about running my own biz is the confidence in myself. I’ve created something entirely myself, all the decisions are mine. To see other women and even men rush into my booth and spend 20 minutes checking everything out, then ask me where my store is or tell me how wonderful my products are, it’s an awesome feeling. 5- what you do: I sell Designer Inspired Purses and accessories to help you organize your handbag at affordable prices. 6- who would you most like to meet ( type of person) that would help you get to the next level: I would like to meet a fashionista, someone who can give me advice on current trends and maybe teach me some things about fashion, what (or who) guides the trends, etc.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I know many of you watching have felt this pain, I hope you will share your story of how you handled it in the comments section!
How can we help people, that like me when I was that kid in the store taking the barbie shoes, might not realize they are stealing?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
So what does your culinary point of view got to do with brand messaging? EVERYTHING! I was watching the Food Network show The Next Food Network Star (yes I love reality TV, I will admit it, I especially like the the shows about getting your business out there! I was inspired to post this Vlog. MANY of my clients struggle with the very question that does not allow these chefs/cooks to have their DREAM of being a Food Network Host! What is your “culinary point of view?”
Challenge yourself to define a clear focused target market- it will improve your blog, it will gather your focus on social media, it will define your expertise! Don’t be generic! Don’t loose your show!
Some of you have a target market that just isn’t sexy-time to really think about who you want to serve. Ask yourself:
1-What am I truly passionate about?
2-What types of people do I love communicating with?
3-Who are my favorite customers right now?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I had been chewing on this moment and how to create a Vlog for you and my radio show interview with Bill Browning truly inspired it. This particular morning I was mesmerized by these two boys!
How do you play?
What have you done to create silly in your life?
Where does play come into what you do?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
