The Marketing Pulse

Can Your Social Media Voice Be Heard?

2009-01-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

The world is listening to the online communication called Social Media. Social Media is a powerfully effective marketing tool for building online presence; grow a loyal customer base, to create powerful communities, and to develop productive business relationships.

Once you start discovering the power of Social Media it becomes an integrated part of your personality, business and daily life. And I mean, you cannot be without it anymore – you develop a love relationship with it. In the beginning you are a little scared because it’s so NEW, but once you understand the power it creates a lot of curiosity. Even to the point where you loose some sleep… (you know the times at night that you are very tired, but you just want to do one more thing on Twitter or Facebook).

We all want to belong …. Social Media tools like Twitter, Facebook and The Master Business Builders Club (MBBC), give us the opportunity to be part of communities where we can belong. We start building quality relationships with people, read and learn from their online communication, share our knowledge, products and services and grow our business.

Let’s take Travis Greenlee (Founder MBBC) as an example. Travis created a MBBC group on Facebook. He started creating awareness, people noticed him, it increased the traffic to the MBBC website, they made use of his free 1-month trial, discovered the power of the group and signed up. Isn’t that cool?

Tips how to manage your unique “Social Media Voice”
• Create a Social Media plan. We have many choices of joining groups, and it can overwhelm us. Explore, and select groups that will fit in with your personality, strengths, business goals and objectives. Remember to always be visible in areas online where you can reach your target audience.

• How much time do I spend on Social Media?
When I started exploring, I was so drawn to all these fabulous tools that I have lost some sleep! Learning all these new tools over stimulated my brain, especially when I realized the power of building quality relationships and getting new clients through Social Media. Then … reality kicked in and I realized I have a life other than Social Media! Now I spend 20 minutes early morning and 20 minutes in the evening interacting with my online communities. Develop a time frame that fits in with your schedule.

Social Media Workshop Corte Madera, Marin County, CA
http://www.SocialMediaMappers.com

How are you showing up in Business? Are You Memorable?

2008-12-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

What is your style of communication? How are you showing up in your business and personal life, and on the Internet?

I have just listened to Mitch Meyerson, Founder Guerrilla Marketing Coaching, and he shared with us in a very powerful way "How to show up and be memorable". The call was part of the Master Business Club expert calls (every Thursday). Sign up today! http://tinyurl.com/3qu7bn

What are you saying about your business, and how are you presenting yourself?
How do you tell people what you do that’s meaningful to them.

You will find the following exercise valuable:

Set aside time to meet with peers, customers, staff members and friends whose opinions you trust. Ask them how do they see your brand. What do they think of your business? Get them to be brutally honest. Write down all the feedback.

Now, what do you want your customers to think? Exactly, what is it that you do better, and differently, from the rest? What is your niche?

In the process also study your competitors. This can be done by reviewing their websites. Determine their strengths and weaknesses, and also do your own SWOT analysis. This is a great exercise to determine your competitive advantage.

After collecting the ideas and determining your competitive advantage, put it in writing, and reduce it to a single sentence. Test it, especially at Networking meetings.

I have a client who refers to herself as

The acupuncturist with the light touch (great slogan because many people do not enjoy the acupuncture needles)

Like Mitch said "Create a powerful message that will encourage prospects to take out their credit cards"

Don't shy away from presenting yourself in a confident way. It's a cluttered market we need to stand out and be MEMORABLE!

Happy Marketing

Ursula

With web literacy you can increase your Presence, Efficiency, Effectiveness and Profitability

2008-12-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

Align with the Power of Web Community

Learn how to align your vision with the power of the web and grow your business. Use SOCIAL MEDIA ONLINE --- the biggest global trend -- as a marketing tool to:

Create awareness and increase your web presence
Drive traffic to your website
Build a loyal web family around your brand
Build online trust
Develop productive long-term relationships
Produce compelling content for online communication
Learn how to personalize a professional blog
Communicate your programs, products or service
Learn what your strategy should be for YouTube, Facebook and the blogosphere

SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

SIGN UP BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2008 and receive the following:

More Authentic Approach to Marketing
Website Design Checklist
The ebook “Before you begin” - The world’s gentlest guide to beginning a blog

SIGN-UP WEBSITE

http://www.thepowerofwebcommunity.com

2008-12-15T16:13:00.001-08:00

Hello Friends! Spontaneous humor is a wonderful way to connect with an audience. Read more about John Kinde's Humor Power
http://ping.fm/0tW33

Achieve success in 2009 with a well-designed Marketing Plan

2008-12-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of the year. We are preparing for a festive Holiday Season and it’s also a time to reflect on our 2008 achievements and challenges that we experienced.

It’s also a good time to review your marketing plan. Evaluate your 2008 marketing strategies and determine which strategies helped you to generate leads, create awareness and to be profitable.

Also evaluate your Core Marketing Messages. Let’s look at 3 Core Marketing messages:

Target Market
Who are your messages directed to? Be specific about the gender, age group, areas where they live, etc. If you cater to a broad target audience, it will be costly to reach them all.

Problem Solution
What is the concern of your target audience? What solutions do you offer? This is at the heart of your Core Marketing Messages. If you can clearly articulate the concerns of your target audience, and you can demonstrate in a credible way that you offer solutions to their concerns, they will listen to you.

Benefits
As soon as you clearly determine what your target market wants, you can orchestrate a marketing campaign based on addressing those needs. Marketers often confuse features with benefits. It’s important to differentiate between them:

I want to share with you three secrets how to successfully communicate your benefits

The first secret is to determine your competitive advantage. What do you offer that your competitors do not offer? Consumers are overwhelmed by advertisements. It is a cluttered market, and we have to find a way of standing out, and be more visible and memorable than our competitors.

It leads me into the second secret “The style of communication". You need to be crystal clear and focused when you communicate our benefits. I will recommend that you use direct and straightforward language, and do not use fancy words that consumers will not understand.

A third secret is to be so powerful in your communication that the consumer will visualize the benefits in their mind. Let me give you an example. Recently I was looking for a stronger moisturizer for my skin. The following Esteee Lauder advertisement captured my attention. It said “See skin glow with a fresh, flawless radiance”. It was so powerful that I visualized my radiant skin, and I immediately purchased the product. Everybody’s needs are different and when it comes to products or services people want to feel happy, younger, desirable, and successful.

Stay tuned for more discussions about your Core Marketing Messages.

Happy Marketing!
Ursula

Networking - Don't be a "Cave-Dweller" BE VISIBLE

2008-11-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

As I am preparing to attend a Networking event in San Francisco, I am thinking about the "Magic" of connecting with other people. With Technology (like Macbook - no surprise, everybody knows I am a walking billboard for Apple), and Social Media tools like Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Membership Sites like "Master Business Building Club, we have the wonderful opportunity to globally connect with people on a daily basis. No excuse to be a "Cave-Dweller".

Be visible! We have so many opportunities to build relationships, and I would like to share a few tips that will help you to be a successful Networker (online and in person).

Authentic interest in people - develop a natural curiosity to learn more about the world and people you connect with. Ask questions that will light up people and that will spark their interest. Show genuine interest in their business and daily activities.
Give First - When you connect with others, don't think about what you can receive from them, have a "give first" attitude. Give them the gift of being in the moment, to be a good listener and to show genuine interest.
Small talk - Shape small talk. It's not so much about knowing the best opening lines as it is about being observant, and learn how to comment on what you observe.
Be happy and joyful - joy shows and it is contagious! We all experience challenges, but learn how to deal with it and forget about it when you network. Joyful and happy people attract others to them.
Diversify your networks - participate in different kinds of groups (online and in-person).
Not everyone will be interested in you - accept that NOT everyone will be interested in your products or services. How many billion people are on this earth? Not everyone will want to hire you or purchase your products. By understanding and accepting this, you will get over your fear of rejection.
Follow-up with prospects. Always remember to take a business card or contact details, and follow-up within one day via email, direct mail or a telephone call.

The current economical challenges do not give us an excuse not to Network. Business Owners who are developing strong networking skills during these times, do grow and prosper. So .... "Cave-Dwellers" get out and become VISIBLE!

Happy Networking.

Ursula

Creating your own happiness and success

2008-09-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Lately I find more and more people’s joy being tarnished by the current economical challenges. My first reaction is “don’t switch on the TV when you wake up”! People are nervous and when they wake up in the morning, they are eager to get the latest news updates. Rather listen to your favorite music, meditate, take an early morning hike and get energized by sunrise …. but don’t let the media set the tone for your day.

Currently we might feel troubled and unsure about the economy, but always remember that happiness exists in the present. Our brain is capable of finding the resources to help us to see the good side of life, and hope for better days. If you believe that happiness is a function of your brain, you will have hope. If you have hope you will not allow current circumstances to paralyze you. You will still dream, plan, generate more business, do even more networking, design creative and unconventional marketing strategies and be happy.

Happiness lowers the heart rate, release tension, motivates us and brings balance into our lives. By creating balance you will experience much more happiness. What do you enjoy doing? Do you love the outdoors or do you enjoy doing volunteer work? My father died a month ago, and after reflecting on the meaning of my life, I made a decision to live life with even more zest, and to use my talents and gifts to make this world a better place. I used the death of my father to reinvent my life, to live in the moment, to hope, to love more fiercely and to make a big impact in this world.

What are your goals, objectives and your strengths? What can you do today to make a difference in this world? How can you help your clients to meet their goals, or to generate more visibility and sales? What new plan can you implement today to create growth in your own business?

What will you do in these challenging times to energize yourself and people you come in contact with?

Master Business Building Club - Travis Greenlee

2008-09-25T04:38:00.000-07:00

The Master Business Building Club is dedicated to growing your business using leading edge web 2.0 technologies, Powerful partnerships, expert training, and an online community that will blow you away!

Travis Greenlee (Founder of the Master Business Building Club) is a Master Internet Marketing and Business Development Consultant. He specializes in teaching small business owners, entrepreneurs, and service professionals to leverage the power of technology to automate, simplify, and rapidly increase their bottom line.

Here are just a few of the many things you'll learn from the Master Business Building Club:

* 7 step-by-step ways to massively increase your small business revenue

* How to harness the power of technology to leverage your time and multiply your income

* Guerrilla marketing tactics guaranteed to pull in more and better customers -- even on a shoestring budget

* 3 proven action steps to developing powerful joint ventures online

* Insider secrets to making big money with affiliate programs

* How to gain greater control and freedom from your business, once and for all!

http://MasterBusinessBuildingClub.com

Happy Marketing!
Ursula

Help a Reporter - Peter Shankman

2008-08-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Peter Shankman rocks!

Peter launched Help A Reporter (www.helpareporter.com) which connects journalists with the sources they require using a social media platform. HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is already over 12,000 members and growing, and has a growing stable of national journalists using the service on a daily basis.

Every day he is sending three emails to his subscriber list with requests from reporters. These requests only come from reporters directly to him.

So a few things about this list: First off, yes, it's free. It takes him a few minutes each day to do this, and the good Karma is immeasurable. He is not charging. If you really feel like sending him a donation or something, why not just send a few bucks to an animal hospital or animal rescue society somewhere. Some good places are Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, or The National Search Dog Foundation. That'll keep the good Karma flowing.

Peter is kind but tough, so don't mess with him and his friends - no spamming please! By joining his list, just promise him and yourself that you'll ask yourself before you send a response: Is this response really on target? Is this response really going to help the journalist, or is this just a way for me to get my client in front of the reporter? If you have to think for more than three seconds, chances are, you shouldn't send the response.

Grow and Live Life to the Fullest

2008-07-14T11:21:00.001-07:00

Grow and Live Life to the Fullest!

On Friday, July 11th I have done a Tandem skydiving for my birthday. Skydiving is such a mental sport (it was my first jump and not my last!).

Since Friday I reflected on my “gutsy” decision to jump out of a plane at 10,000 feet (with my Instructor). We had a 40 second free fall followed by an amazing 5-minute experience of freedom and joy in the air. I feel like a true champion – I went out of my own comfort zone and demonstrated outstanding abilities of my mental and physical strength, especially my mental strength.

I want to ask you today:
• When last did you demonstrate your ability both in and out of your area of expertise, and viewed every situation as an opportunity for growth and transformation?

• Do you know how to achieve your peak performance?

• Have you set goals and objectives?

• Do you have the necessary tools, skills and experiences to live a successful personal and business life?

Life offers us countless varieties of experiences. Is growth your goal? Then use your power to let the opportunities that life presents to push you beyond your edge. Anything becomes possible when we are willing to let ourselves go. This way you learn how to live in the moment, explore and learn new things about life and yourself.

Never stop exploring, don’t hold back, belief in yourself and always reach for the sky. You don’t have to skydive to reach the sky ☺ - although it is nice to be closer to the sky and to try to touch it!

Happy Monday
Ursula

I have seen now how I handle being out of my comfort zone, and I know that I can even be more successful, and also do things that I thought I could never do before.

Public Speaking: How to Own the Stage

2008-07-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

Craig Valentine and one of his business partners, Darren LaCroix are powerful "Public Speaking" trainers/mentors! I have done a Public Speaking "Boot Camp" with them earlier this year, and it improved my public speaking skills to such a degree that now I am receiving many invitations to speak to groups!

On 17 July 2008, they are launching a boot camp in a box ....(10 DVD's) that will give you the insider secrets to transform you from a good speaker to one that Owns the Stage ..... overnight

"Discover how you can quickly
and easily speak, motivate, and
inspire like a pro without years of
unnecessary trial and error."

Be Authentic with Yourself, Life and Business

2008-04-26T18:57:00.000-07:00

As entrepreneurs and small business owners, the way that we see life, and the way that we feel about ourselves, will be reflected in our business. Authenticity in business means working in a genuine way from your core values and strengths in all your business actions. By always being true to yourself and to your values, your business can blossom.

During the past two years I’ve experienced tremendous personal growth, breaking free of the limitations that I had imposed on myself. The more I freed myself, the more I received. I’m now blessed with an abundance of joy and happiness that attracts to me the right clients, business associates, and friends.

This week I am also celebrating my 11th American anniversary! It is with gratitude that I look back to all the wonderful people I have met and how this country changed my life. To everybody, my family, friends and all my clients I want to say a special thank you for being part of my life. I have met the most wonderful people who opened their hearts and homes to an Afrikaans energetic woman. Together we explored, discovered, learned and you helped me to become more aware of all the opportunities that this beautiful country present on a daily basis.

A special thank you to all my clients – thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you. It is a pure joy to experience your growth, and to do marketing together!

Ursula
http://www.UrsulaKauth.com

Michael Port - Beyond Booked Solid

2008-04-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

Michael Port has done it again! He published "Beyond Booked Solid: Your Business, Your Life, Your Way--It's All Inside"

His book focuses on the second basic function of your business—innovation. It will help you discover your capacity to innovate in your business. Read it and you'll go beyond being booked solid.

Beyond Booked Solid gives you the strategies, techniques, and tips you need to build a bigger, better business. It will inspire you to take action and help you stay accountable so you build the best business that’s best for you. And by the way, growth can mean many things—bigger revenues, bigger profits, bigger operations. It’s up to you what it will mean in your business. Growth is a very different challenge from booking yourself solid.

Michael E Gerber, author of The E-Myth says:
"If you liked The E-Myth, you'll love Beyond Booked Solid. Port's new book is required reading for all entrepreneurs."

Here's a link to grab Michael's book at Amazon.com
http://www.michaelport.com/recommends/BeyondBookedSolid

Oh, and you might recognize him when you see him: Before he ran companies both private and public and became a national bestselling author, he started his professional life as an actor and got just slightly famous. You would have seen him on Sex and the City, Third Watch, All My Children, Guiding Light, Central Park West, 100 Centre Street, The Pelican Brief, Down to Earth, Last Call, The Believer, and many more.

Happy reading!
Ursula

An Editor Spins Her Thoughts about Web Content

2008-03-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

A glossy magazine placed an advertisement on its Web site, targeting the publication’s upscale subscribers. The expensive ad emphasized how perfect the tiniest detail would be for guests who stayed at a certain very fancy hotel. There was only one small problem in the ad, but it was big enough to undermine the credibility of the hotel’s claim to perfection. The headline blared,

When Everything Has to Just Right

Uh-oh. What happened to the “Be” before the “Just Right”?

You may be losing business or hurting your professional reputation by sending out unedited Web site copy. Text that is riddled with errors will distract present or potential clients. The reader will think, do I really want to buy a product or service from someone whose copy is sloppy?

Misplaced modifiers, dangling participles, your’s/yours, two/to/too, and other hair-raising/hare-raising errors will melt away once an editor goes to work. Skilled editors say that mistakes “leap off the page” at them. And potential clients will leap off the couch to e-mail or call you because of your magnetic Web site copy.

When Web content is launched into the stratosphere raw and unedited, unfortunate occurrences happen:
• A national eNewsletter goes out with the headline “For Pubic School Educators”
• “And as we stand on the toes [should be “shoulders”] of those who have gone before us” appears in a scholarly piece
• The non-word its’ [there is no apostrophe after “its”] works its way into a story
• “We’d like to pedal [should be “peddle”] your ideas” surfaces in a magazine ad

Shape up your Web site text to ensure that your message is conveyed beautifully.
In the twinkling of a well-trained eye, a topnotch editor can clean up your Web site copy so it sparkles in the sunlight.

Linda Jay Geldens
*Helping clients communicate their message with style*
LindaJay@aol.com
www.LindaJayGeldens.com

What are you doing to stay on track and to be focused?

2008-03-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Beijing Olympic games will be celebrated from August 8-24th. I am always in awe with the athletes competing in the Olympics. They are living their dream, they are disciplined and they practice untold hours to compete. They are not only driven by their own goals and dreams, they also have coaches, mentors, friends, family members and support groups to help them to stay on track.

As entrepreneurs we are sometimes overwhelmed with running our own business, and we experience loneliness. It is easy to be distracted and to loose your focus. My wish is that the following tips will enable you to be more focused and to experience happiness.

Increase your own awareness
The force of awareness carries its own motivation. Increase your awareness through introspection, education, or by sharing with an accountability buddy. The other day a friend and myself had a productive and peaceful introspection and planning session on Mt. Tamalpais (just north of San Francisco). At a spectacular view from an 1800-foot peak, we increased our own awareness by discussing our goals, and we brainstormed new ideas and strategies. You don’t have to be on top of Mt. Tam, but make time to create your spectacular moment of peace and share it with somebody.

Simplify your life
A happy and successful life is the result of simplifying your life. Be more efficient and productive with a well-designed marketing and business plan. If you are procrastinating because you do not have the time to do certain tasks, or if you don’t enjoy doing it, hire people. When you focus on simplifying your life you free up energy and time for the work you enjoy and the purpose for which you are here. You need a structure of support that can help you to be successful and happy.

Surround yourself with positive people that will encourage you to do your best
If you want to grow personally & professionally, you need to surround yourself with positive people who will keep you motivated when you are feeling down & give you that extra push when you need it. Also look for loyalty, integrity, a high-energy drive, a balanced ego and the drive to get things done. Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard!

Create your own Paradise
When last did you take a vacation? It doesn’t need to be a long vacation. You can also create your own paradise with a weekend getaway. Many entrepreneurs work from home, and they do not have the ability to separate their personal life from work. What are you doing on a daily basis to relax and to detach yourself from your entrepreneurial life? It’s Spring, go outside and take a walk. It will refresh and relax you, and you will be much more productive and also be more focused.

Sleep well
Go to sleep at a decent time, and do not work until you go to bed. Turn off the TV, walk away from your computer and read a book, but do not work. Studies show proper sleep decreases depression, and it improves your health.

Three Tips to Cultivating Your Writing

2008-03-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

How do we handle those days when writing feels like a major chore, or worse, a cement block from which none of our ideas can take root and grow? Interestingly, the way to writing is through. Pick up the pen, face the keyboard, and write with these three tips in mind. We are organic beings, and therefore our writing flows organically from who we are.

Tip #1: Patience. The garden does grow itself. We don't stand by it every minute of every day and say, "Go roses! Go lavender! Grow!" It happens because of the proper conditions—the soil, the sun, the rain, and the seed. We shape the garden by our hand. We watch out for the dangers or bugs, and over- feeding or under-feeding. We care. We nurture. Regularly. As with gardening, so with writing. Show up for yourself. Honestly, why do you write? Could you not write? Probably not. In that case, make peace with yourself, and write. But be gentle. Plants do not grow faster if you pull on them. That would kill them. The most you can do is write regularly, with compassion, with awareness (tracking), and don't give up.

Tip #2: Compassion. Above all, be gentle, have compassion for the writer within, the writer you are growing, especially if you are starting out. And especially if you've been at this for years. We tend our gardens day in and day out with care, giving the plants what they need, even if that rose bush has been there for years, or if you just planted it. Treat yourself no differently, especially if you're having a bad day, week, or month.

Tip #3: Trouble-shooting. Are there unhelpful pesticides—other people's ways, thoughts, ideas, beliefs that are not your own, or fatigue, overwork, not enough play—invading your garden? What hobbies can you give up to give yourself time to write? You can change many things that affect adversely your writer within—learn to say "No." Yet the sun and rain, other people, world events, are factors beyond on our control. Accept that. If the soil needs amending, find the missing ingredients. Do you need to aerate—get out and do something new, something to expand your heart, mind or soul? Do you need to move your body to counteract an overactive mind?

Happy Cultivating the Writer Within!

Beth Barany
Book Coach
Creative Consultant for Writers, Business Leaders, & Fearless Creatives
http://www.bethbarany.com

About Beth
Beth has been coaching and consulting writers in two of her favorite places in the world (so far): the San Francisco Bay Area and Paris, France. As a result of Beth's coaching and facilitations, Beth's clients have experienced breakthroughs in their creative process, clarity in their purpose and mission, gained tools for creative success, and identified and addressed their challenges, and produced more writing than they thought possible, achieving their writing and creative dreams.

Mastering Online Marketing - Mitch Meyerson

2008-03-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

Internet Marketing can sometimes be a lot of work
... and sometimes it can be a lot of FUN!

My Marketing Coach, Mitch Meyerson's book "Mastering Online Marketing" hit #1 in three categories on Amazon (Wednesday 3/5). And it is #36 overall the world .... and it is still selling strong.

Mastering Online Marketing costs under 15 dollars at Amazon and I guarantee
you that you will find this book worth 5-10 times the expense (or your money back from Mitch).

Take 3 minutes and click on this link right now and get your copy AND a special set of bonus Online Marketing Templates and Traffic Strategies

http://www.masteringonlinemarketing.com/specialbookbonus.htm

Read what Conrad Jay Levinson is saying about Mitch's book:
"Mitch Meyerson has done it again --offering no nonsense
strategies and tactics for getting targeted traffic to your
website, turning visitors into buyers, putting your online
business on auto pilot and setting up multiple streams of
active and passive income. This book is a must-read for
anyone wanting to build a thriving business on the
Internet"

-- Jay Conrad Levinson, The Father Of Guerrilla Marketing

Please do not hesitate, go to Mitch's link, purchase his book and receive a set of bonus Online Marketing Templates and Traffic Strategies.

http://www.masteringonlinemarketing.com/specialbookbonus.htm

Turn Your Profits Upwards, whilst the Economy Heads Downwards

2008-03-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

When the economy is down, it doesn't mean opportunities go away. We are all concerned about the economic downturn, but instead of moving into the Psychology of Fear, you can turn the downturn into an opportunity. We cannot control the economy, but we can control our circumstances. So, how are we going to maintain our business health and be more profitable this year?

When your competitors are cutting back on their traditional marketing activities, such as paid advertising, they may not know how to continue to market without spending scarce funds. Their marketing activity may essentially cease. However, if you know how to engage in Create Marketing for Difficult Economic Times, you can continue to market your products without increase your marketing costs, and potentially capture some of your competitors customers.

Creative Marketing For Difficult Economic Times
I will share with you four inexpensive and free strategies that will be easy to implement in any economic situation. These strategies will also increase your visibility and generate leads and sales.

Affiliate Programs or Referral Bonuses
Start offering affiliate programs or referral bonuses. An affiliate program is a commission-based agreement. If somebody sells your products or services you pay them an agreed-upon fee for the sales. Show real interest in helping your Affiliates to understand the benefits of your products or services. Advertise your affiliate program on your website
Make your program financially appealing, and have a link from your affiliates website to your site.

Do the Write Thing
Writing can give you a competitive edge. Write articles and publish it in local or national newspapers or submit it online. If you do not enjoy writing, get a ghostwriter or contact writing teachers at your local community college, and ask if they do freelance work. Articles can be submitted to various online sites, and I would recommend you start with (1) www.Ezinearticles.com; and (2) www.GoArticles.com.

You can also use the articles in your marketing materials, convert it into speeches or use it as handouts at networking meetings.

Harness the Marketing Power of Blogs
Start placing comments on blogs. Google for blogs that are relevant to your business and that will allow you to add your website URL. Go where your target market hangs out, and start from a place of genuine interest and authenticity. Your objective will be to develop a genuine interest in the community and a desire to share something of value with that community.

Your postings will help you to establish credibility. Readers will realize that you are knowledgeable, passionate about your business, and soon you will be seen as the “go-to” person in your industry.

Dare to be different - Be Authentic
Consumers crave authentic experiences. Technology has brought us so much, but it has also robbed us of authenticity. Discover your uniqueness and learn how to use your strengths to become the person that people, prospects and customers want to hang out with. Be spontaneous, positive, energized and present yourself in such a powerful way that people will remember you. Have the courage to be different and to create a competitive edge. Capture what’s real about your and your product or service.

Use your positive energy to attract clients while remaining authentic, honoring your strengths, and expressing your creativity!

Ursula Kauth, The Marketing Mentor helps entrepreneurs to be unique and stand out with their unconventional and low cost marketing strategies. Learn more about her Marketing Mentor Program at www.MarketingMentorExpert.com

The Power of Living in the Moment

2008-02-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

Life offers amazing business opportunities to people who are present in the moment. By learning to find the magic in each day and each moment, you are being present with all of your senses. This is one of the biggest gifts we can give our clients or prospects.

A friend, who was trapped inside the unhappy emotions of his past, shared with me that his unhappiness caused him not to be present in the moment. His creativity and happiness were blocked, and he felt empty and couldn’t make that real deep connection with people. His burdens prevented him from being successful as a small business owner. Once he started letting go of the past, of his hurt and blame, he was free to live in the moment.

I have experienced similar situations in my life, and I am convinced that many of my readers can identify with him.

Have you mastered learning the skills of living in the moment?

Just imagine, by living in the moment you will-

• Allow that deep connection with your clients and make them feel special (you will get repeat business).

• Improve your listening skills

• Enhance your networking skills and turn prospects into a client

• Be more intuitive

• Appreciate every moment and experience happiness

• Share your enthusiasm, passion and energy with others (and these characteristics are highly contagious)

The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.”
Quote by Abraham Maslow

Produce Your Signature Product or Program in less than 90 Days

2008-02-19T12:31:00.000-08:00

Join the #1 Product Creation Program on the Internet

In order to be successful you need to be seen as an expert in your field. The fastest way to become known as an expert in any field is by creating a product or program that does your marketing for you.

Mitch Meyerson (a visionary and the creator of many critically acclaimed books and programs that have sold well over 100,000 copies in 21 languages)

And

Michael Port (public speaker, author and the Leader of The Think Big Revolution, a membership club of over 750 big thinkers)

Created the #1 Product Creation Program on the Internet.

Mitch and Michael realized entrepreneurs and small business owners are intimidated by product creation, and with their Product Factory program they share the secrets of creating successful products or programs. For 12-weeks you will have professionals holding your hand and walk you, step-by-step, through the process.

The next Product Factory program will start on Monday, February 25, 2008; please do not delay your success! Sign up today.

Information about the program
http://www.michaelport.com/cmd.php?af=734556

Product Factory Mall
Please do not miss reading this page. Here you will see examples of Product Factory products created during the past 5 years
http://www.90dayproduct.com/pf-mall.php

Once you've completed your product you'll be listed on the Product Factory Mall. Imagine what it will be like to have your product listed here for the entire world to see: THE PRODUCT FACTORY MALL

Take a Bite from Apple and Harvest Excellent Customer Service

2008-02-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

Within minutes of entering an Apple Store, you will encounter hip and helpful staff members in neat black polo shirts. Their friendly, professional attitude helps you feel at home before, during and after the sale. Apple’s high level of customer service is profitable as well. In my case, when one-on-one training sessions made me 50 percent more efficient in using my new MacBook, I told many people about my positive experience. I also purchased four additional Apple products in the same year.

My Apple Store taught me how profitable good customer service can be. You can have the same results in your own business, and you don’t even need matching shirts.

Respond with Warmth

Every customer inquiry deserves a warm and professional response—just like the response you get at an Apple Store. Cultivate the ability to personalize every contact you make and every question you answer. Strive to make your customer service “professionally friendly” so customers can experience your enthusiasm, warmth and passion.

Listen First and Foremost

Respond quickly to customers even if you only have time to send a quick email letting them know that you heard them and will call back later. Of course, be certain to follow up. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, and never ignore customers. Even if you don’t have anything new to report, you can let them know you’re still working on their case. Most of all, people need to know they have been heard and that you value them enough to get back to them.

Show That You Care

Recently, a friend of mine had a difficult experience at a dentist's office due to an infection. She told me how surprised she was when the dentist called her at home that evening to be sure she was all right. Can you imagine how that warmed her heart? The dentist made the call because he cared.

How can you show customers how much they mean to your business? You could send a card or a birthday email, drop off a "just-because" bonus gift (I love that kind of gift!), deliver tickets to a concert, or simply make a phone call to them. Create time on your calendar every week to follow up with your clients in a personalized manner.

Shape Up While the Economy Turns Down

Competition may get tough in the months ahead, which makes good customer service even more important. People are going to be more selective about when and how they spend money, so they will definitely return to companies who give exceptional customer service.

No matter how you choose to upgrade your approach, do it because you truly care. Customer service should be the cornerstone of your business. Take the opportunity, as Apple Stores have, to offer distinctive customer care. When you truly stand out, the profits will follow.

Authentic Marketing

2008-02-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

Yesterday a client asked me the meaning of Authentic Marketing. I shared with him a picture of my 2-year old niece, Lindy.

His reaction was “wow, she looks natural, happy and in peace with herself”. Lindy’s authentic characteristics make her a very likable and memorable person.

• She is pleasant, friendly, and comfortable with herself

• Her happiness and ability to be engaged in the moment, help her to make deep and real connections with other people

• She has the ability to make you feel good about life and yourself, and she is also attracting a lot of attention

• She lets her passion shine through

• She doesn’t expect something in return and she loves from her heart

Do you have these characteristics? Do you market from your heart?

Authentic Marketing starts within. Happiness and success come from the inside. What’s going on inside you will be reflected in your business. If you are happy and in peace with yourself you will receive in a natural way, and things will come without struggle. When you let your passion shine through, you will attract attention to your business and build good quality relationships.

Discover your uniqueness, capture what’s real about you and your product or service and use authentic marketing activities to communicate your benefits. If you lead from that place of authentic interest, an authentic desire to benefit someone else, your actions may come back to you in the form of some benefit.

Do you want to discover your authenticity, and attract clients and grow your business? If you want to refine yourself, discover your uniqueness and design authentic profitable marketing strategies, I would like to invite you to send me an email to learn how we can work together
UrsulaKauth@sbcglobal.net

Be like a kid –evoke feelings and never prescribe it. Share who you are and offer it with grace.

Happy Marketing
Ursula

P.S. Lindy is also very expressive when she is hungry and tired!