Instagram

Ever wondered how you can generate leads on Instagram? How about building multiple platforms at once using only Instagram? There is so much you can do on Instagram and it won't cost you a dime!

Check out this training that I did for my team on how to work and build your Instagram. I also show you how to build your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms all at the same time!

The training is available here.

As always, I am here if you have any questions. Feel free to contact me by phone or text 612-208-9434. I am always happy to help :)

To your success~

Using Text Messaging in Your Business

64% of consumers believe that businesses should use SMS messages to interact with customers more often than they currently do.

Mobile marketing is a red hot topic and text messaging is a very effective way to communicate with your tribe. Adding text messaging is easy and there are a lot of fun ways to use it.
The top five reasons why consumers opt in to a brand’s text messages are:
- coupons or deals (77%)
- personal alerts (50%)
- being in the loop (48%)
- more meaningful content (33%)
- no need to visit a physical location/website/app for information (31%)



Here are 7 ways to add text messaging to your business:

1. Slides From Your Presentation

Giving a presentation or holding a seminar is an excellent way to grow your audience and find potential new customers. Have them text a keyword to your number so you can email the slides. This can be an automated process if your email marketing software integrates text messaging. Set it up ahead of time so that it's all ready to go at the end of your presentation - instant gratification is a good thing for your attendees!

2. Sign Up For Your Communications
Opting in to your communications has never been easier. Getting their mobile number makes it easy for your customers to engage with you. Text messages have a 98% open rate, while email has only a 20% open rate. With open rates so high - you might want to only text!
74% of respondents report an improved overall impression of businesses that interact with them via text messaging.

3. Appointment Reminders
If you have a service based business, using text messaging to confirm and remind people of appointments is key. Not only is it convenient for your customers, but it also keeps cancellation rates low. 70% of respondents agree that using SMS text messaging is a good way for an organization to get their attention.

4. Follow Up To Your Website Opt-In
When someone opts-in to your website lead magnet, capture their mobile number so you can make a thoughtful follow up. It's a great way to get communication going, as well. Ask how they are doing, did they enjoy the opt-in, do they have questions, etc. As many as 45% of people reply to branded text messages they receive. It takes the average person 90 minutes to respond to email, but only 90 seconds to respond to a text message.

5. Limited Time Promotions
Use text messaging to let your customers or audience know of a limited time promotion. You can text a URL to a landing page that gives the details. 89% of marketers employing SMS marketing find it more effective than corporate websites (64%) and display/banner ads (59%)

6. Customer Service
68% of consumers would like to use mobile messaging to contact a company with billing questions or concerns. Implementing a way for customers to text with your customer service team would be great news for over half of your customers.

7. Integrated Marketing
Finally, try adding text messaging in to your overall marketing plan. Like any medium, no one channel is a silver bullet. Using text messaging with your email marketing, event marketing, seminars, sales, etc., makes a big difference. Add text messaging to your marketing arsenal and see the impact it can have.

Recently, I did a training call for my team on how I use text messaging in my business, you are welcome to check it out here.  If you need help with anything in your home business, please don't hesitate to ask,  I am always here and happy to help. Here's to your success ~

Creating Advertising That Works

It doesn’t matter whether your business has been around for two months or two decades—a careful marketing strategy is essential to your success. A good advertisement can bring in new customers or remind your old customers what you have to offer. Effective advertisements share a few of the same qualities. They are engaging, relevant, and well-timed—and most importantly, they draw customers in to your business. Check out the five key principles that stand behind all successful advertisements.

1. Make People Stop and Pay Attention
First, your advertisement should make people stop what they’re doing and pay attention. Most consumers view advertisements as interruptions and automatically ignore the messages. Your advertisement needs to be engaging and catch their interest. However, catching someone’s interest isn’t enough. Many advertisements attract attention through gimmicks and jokes, but the important parts of the message—the company’s name or product—don’t stick with the customer. An effective advertisement is interesting and also informative, staying in the customer’s mind after he or she has moved on.

2. Advertise in the Right Places
From television to the Internet to the newspaper, there are plenty of places to advertise—but marketing mediums are not created equally. Choose the advertising platforms that are most relevant to your audience and create ads designed especially for the venues. For example, a restaurant might create a morning radio commercial advertising their new breakfast sandwiches while simultaneously advertising a dinner special on local evening television. Think about what your customers will be doing when they see your ad and plan a message that is tuned to their interests.

3. Appeal to Emotion and Reason
To create an effective advertisement, it’s essential to understand why people buy products and services. There are certainly logical reasons at hand based on the customer’s needs, but most consumers also base their purchases on emotional reasons. The most successful advertisements simultaneously appeal to a customer’s rational and emotional sides. Catch your customer’s attention first with an emotional appeal that will make him or her want the product, and then follow up with rational reasons to convince the customer that he or she needs the product.

4. Focus On Frequency
Because most people ignore advertisements, customers typically need to be exposed to your message about three times before they will become aware of what you’re offering. Of course, the first three exposures aren’t enough to guarantee a sale. Most consumers generally need 9-12 exposures to a message before they are ready to make a decision or a purchase. That means that it’s important to run your ads frequently—and in many cases, across multiple platforms—if you hope to reach a wider audience and increase your sales.

5. Coordinate Your Advertising Efforts
To increase customer awareness about your product, coordinate your marketing efforts so that each advertisement clearly reflects your company and your brand. Consumers are more likely to take note of your business when you have an integrated marketing plan that includes advertisements across multiple platforms. By using the same theme of your television commercial in a magazine ad or on a website banner, customers will become more aware of what you’re selling and they’ll be more likely to remember your company’s name when they’re finally ready to buy.

Hope these tips helped you! I also did a webinar recently with my team where I shared some useful tips on how to create ads that will get you responses. These tips will work for any business. Feel free to watch the webinar here.  As always, if you have any questions or need help with anything in your business, feel free to reach out to me. I am happy to help in any way!! You can call or text me directly at 612-208-9434. Here's to your success~

Setting Goals

Setting business goals within an organization is common practice, shared by all businesses. Executives set business goals that help increase motivation and determination, as well as those that offer critical learning strategies for training purposes.

Whether you are just starting to evaluate your goals or if you are in the re-evaluation process, follow these six steps for successful goal setting:

1. Define Quantifiable Goals
   The first step in setting business goals is determining exactly what you want to accomplish. Make sure your goal is worth your effort. Think about how you would design goals if you were certain that they would be successful. Conversely, what would your strategy be if this was your last opportunity? It’s important to set clear goals; you should know exactly where you want to go and you should not waiver from your target regardless of failures along the way. Be as specific as possible, so you are able to determine when you’ve reached your goal.
2. Make your Goals Specific
   Once again, make sure your business goals aren’t too vague. It’s critical to use a goal setting formula that gives your goal a built-in action plan. Define your end goal and create a road map for exactly how you’re going to reach your goal. Be specific with what you want to accomplish at each check point. You’ll achieve a great deal more than you would without these guidelines.
3. Commit to your Goals
   Make a commitment and stick with it. Once you’ve set your plan in motion, stay motivated to see your goals through to the end. Don’t procrastinate or second-guess your decisions, as this will only delay the process. Don’t forget to enjoy the process and reward yourself for staying focused.
4. Make your Goals Public
   An extremely effective technique for achieving business goals is making them public. Invite a team or even a single person into your plan; you’ll face accountability which can be very motivating. Once you share your goals with someone, you can determine what sort of involvement they will have with your plan. Will you ask them to check in with you every so often or not? What their role entails is up to you.
5. Set a Deadline
   If you don’t set a deadline, your goal will fail. Goals without deadlines indicate that you are not fully committed. Determining a deadline puts your goal into context. Pick a reasonable date that isn’t too aggressive, but also not too far away.
6. Reward Yourself
   In the goal-setting process, there’s one very important thing to remember: you. Once you’ve accomplished a goal or reached a milestone within your goal, make sure to mark the occasion. You’ve invested an incredible amount of time, energy and determination to reach your goal, so make sure you take a moment to celebrate your success.

Another tip that I have that really works for me is to write my goals down. I keep them next to me while I am working and I also take them with me so that I have them constantly in front of me. When I feel like not working hard or not working at all, my goals are there reminding me that I have to get busy!

Hope these tips helped you! If you need any help setting goals or want to share them with me for accountability, please feel free to reach me directly at 612-208-9434. As always, I am here and happy to help!

Staying Consistent for Home Business Success

Are you struggling to stay consistent in your network marketing business? Maybe you know what to do but never seem to get to it. Tomorrow becomes next week, next week becomes next month and so on!

Or maybe you succeed in taking action for a period of time but then stop because you aren’t yet in profit.

Does that sound familiar?

Staying consistent is the key to growing a profitable, successful home business. Even if you are not yet seeing a profit, consistency is your best friend when it comes to succeeding at anything.
Today I have some reasons and tips for you on how to stay consistent for home business success. I believe that understanding why you need to stay consistent is the key to actually doing it.

Taking Action and Staying Consistent

You’ve probably read all the tips about network marketing and attended lots of training. All the “How-to’s” in the world won’t help you if you are not staying consistent in network marketing.
Here you go:

Take Action No Matter What

I know how hard it can be when your efforts are not yet paying off. When I started my business, I blogged for months without a single sale! But I did it consistently and then one day, BOOM! I’ve been getting a weekly paycheck ever since. What would have happened if I said, “I am not getting results right now so there is no point to do this.”

Sometimes your motivation may go away due to lack of income. But I promise you, if you do the income producing activities anyway, you will eventually make money. It is your consistent action that will cause that to happen or not. It’s really that simple. Decide what you want.

Your Why and Priorities

I’ve heard all the excuses. “I’m too busy” “I was too tired” and so on. How big is your WHY? What is your reason for starting your business in the first place? Is your why important enough that you made it a priority in your life OR is it just another wishful thought?

When something is important, you make it a priority. If it’s not, well then, you know the rest.
When I started my business my children were three and ten ( I had a toddler and a preteen) and was involved in a few volunteer activities. I still made sure that I took action on my business daily no matter what! My husband was working 80 hours a week and freedom was calling! I was tired of the paycheck to paycheck struggle...robbing Peter to pay Paul. That freedom, my children and never having that struggle again was and still is my priority. Get it done!

Staying Consistent is Part of Your Brand and How Others Perceive You

Not attracting anyone to your business? Maybe it’s because you are inconsistent. Success leaves clues. You may have heard that quote. If you are not consistent, you won’t leave any success clues. If your audience sees you today and not tomorrow, or if you constantly change gears, people will not see you as a leader or even a person they want to partner with.

Establish a Daily Routine

Sticking to a daily routine is a great way to staying consistent for home business success. All successful people have a daily routine that they stick to! Instead of living your lifestyle, live your life by incorporating the habits of successful people.

Take a look at some top earners. Don’t look at what they have, look at their daily habits and create your own routine.

Staying consistent takes determination and discipline. We do it whether we want to or not.
Think about whether your business is important enough in your life to live the lifestyle you always wanted, or just a little wishful thinking.

I did a training on establishing a routine and marketing schedule. You can access it here.

If you got some value from this Staying Consistent for Home Business Success, please feel free to share! As always, please let me know if you need any help with your home business. I am always here and happy to help!

5 Common Objections and How to Overcome Them

If you’ve has a home business for any length of time, you have probably already heard at least two or three objections. Don’t ya just love the excuses reasons people come up with as to why they don’t want to buy your product, or join the company?

You’ve probably heard most of them but, do you know how to deal with them? Are you equipped to answer their questions well enough to satisfy their fear? Here are some “nuggets” for you to try next time you encounter an objection.

Common Objection #1 -I don't know a lot of people

Encourage your team members and prospects to not only make a list of people they know they might need/want the product/service your business is offering. Also, there are so many ways to generate leads online as well as purchase leads for your business. Check with your team to see if they have any training on lead generation and use what they provide as they are tried and true methods! You can also provide leads to your team. I love providing leads to my team members when they get started as well as when they bring on new business. Let your team members know you are there to help them!

Common Objection #2 -I don’t have time

Tell her you understand how busy she is and that’s exactly why you chose her. It’s proven that busy people are the ones that get things done. Have her get her calendar and show her how little time she will have to invest in order to get the products she wants for free. Always show why joining your team is going to benefit them, not you, and let her know you are here for her, to help her succeed!

Common Objection #3 -I don’t the money to invest in starting a business right now

Some home business companies offer the kit if they hold a certain number of show to pay for it. The best way to respond to this is by asking when they think they would be able to have the money and to offer saving suggestions to help them come up with the money. If they are truthful and really are interested in joining the company, they will most likely follow your instructions and work toward gathering up the money somehow, someway. Some suggestions you can use for saving money are: foregoing that cappuccino or latte` everyday, taking a sack lunch instead of eating out, skipping their weekly night out and putting that money away, at least until they’ve raised enough to purchase the start up kit. Encourage them by gently reminding them that they are starting a new business which takes time, effort and money and that you are there to help them succeed.

Common Objection #4 -I am not a good sales person

A good response to this one is, “Either am I!” And that’s the honest to goodness truth. You don’t have to be a “sales” person to sell something you love and believe in and hopefully you are approaching only people with the business plan who truly love and believe in the product. Remind them that just being who they are, being open and honest about their experience with the product is the best way to sell it. They don’t have to use any fancy sales talk, just be themselves. Always, always remind them that you are there to help them succeed in their business!

Common Objection #5 -I don’t have time to start or run a business

How much time do you actually invest in your business? Are you in it part time? Did you start out part time and built it up to a full time career? Were you working another full time job when you started out and now are working your home business full time and your other job part time? Let your potential new recruit in on how you’ve gotten where you are today. Perhaps you are just starting out too, so let your recruit know how you are using your valuable time to reach your goals and dreams and how she can do the same. Besides, she wouldn’t have asked you about the opportunity if she wasn’t at least curious.

Don’t let objections that you can’t overcome stop you from pressing forward to reaching your goals and dreams. You may know that certain prospect would be a great recruit, but she truly doesn’t have the time, and perhaps she simply doesn’t have the desire. Its okay let it go. Just be there for her when she changes her mind in the future. You don’t want to destroy any chance of having her join your team by being too pushy. Some people simply need more time.

In home business there will always be objections, but if you are honest with your customers, prospects and recruits about how and why you are successful, how much time you actually spend working your business and help them be organized and good managers of their time, then they will trust you and they will help your business succeed because their business is succeeding.

Hope this helps! If you need any help in succeeding in your home business, please feel free to reach out to me, I am always here and happy to help ~

Staying Positive!

 

 

How to Stay Positive at Work as an Entrepreneur

Remember Your Purpose 

When you get negative thoughts as an entrepreneur, they tend to distract you from your main purpose. So if you can really focus back on that purpose, it can help you put things in perspective and realize that some of those concerns or issues aren’t as devastating as you previously thought.

Change Your Focus

Or you could take a different approach and simply shift your focus for a short time. If a certain task or direction just isn’t working for you, try a new one and it could improve your outlook.

Look at Your Goals

You can also get some of your focus back and improve your outlook by simply looking back at some of your main goals for your business. So keep them written down somewhere and bring them out when you need an extra boost.

Talk to a Mentor

Having a business mentor who has been through tough times and knows how to get through them can be invaluable during your inevitable business struggles.

Take a Break from Social Media

Social media can be a great tool. But it can also lead some entrepreneurs into the comparison trap. So if you find yourself constantly using social media to compare your progress to that of other businesses, you may need to take a break from it.

See Others as Motivational
Or you could use the opportunity to see the success of other entrepreneurs as a motivating factor instead. Look at their success and see that it is possible and then use that to push your business to the next level.

Look Back at Your Progress

Looking back at your own business on occasion can also be a motivating factor. If you’re able to see how far you’ve come, it can change your mindset going forward.

Move On from Failure

However, it’s not always a great idea to dwell on the past. When you experience failure, which is inevitable, you need to find a way to move onto the next task quickly instead of letting the failure ruin your mindset.

Write Down What You Learned

One easy way you can put failure in perspective is to write down some lessons you learned from the experience. This can show you that even though you failed, you did gain something. And it can also help you continue moving forward.

Spend Time with Loved Ones

Starting a business can take up a lot of time and energy. But it’s a good idea to regularly step back and remember the reasons you started in the first place. So spend time with your family and other loved ones regularly to improve your mindset and stay positive.

 

Talk to Your Team

Your team members can also help you potentially break out of a negative funk. Talk to them about ideas for the business along with their personal and professional goals.

Talk to Your Customers

You can also reach out to your customers from time to time to see how they’ve been affected by your business and remind yourself why you do what you do.

Do the Hardest Work First

If your negative outlook can be attributed to overwhelm, then sometimes the best thing you can do is just get the work done. Focus on the most difficult tasks first so that you can get them out of the way and reduce your overwhelm quickly.

Appreciate Your Freedom

Being an entrepreneur means that you’re the boss. That doesn’t mean you can necessarily do whatever you want all the time. But you do get some freedom. So realizing that can really help you stay positive during difficult times.

Make a Plan 

Negativity and overwhelm can sometimes also be attributed to a lack of direction. If this is the case for you, then you need to sit down and actually map out a plan for the next few months or years of your business. Having even a general idea where you’re going can really be a benefit.

Take a Break

Or you might just need to step back for a little bit to refocus. Take a short vacation or just simply unplug for a long weekend.

Reward Yourself

When you do get things accomplished in your business, it’s important to celebrate that in some way. Map out a small rewards system for yourself to stay motivated and positive during the daily grind.

Reward Your Team

You can also apply a similar awards system to your team. Keeping them motivated and happy can improve the overall mood around your office and keep everyone at your business more positive.

 

Make a Game of It

You can even appy some gaming theory to getting things done. Create a points system for larger tasks or spur some friendly competition between coworkers to keep everyone motivated and engaged.

Get Some Exercise

Regular exercise gives you endorphins, which can help you stay positive on a daily basis. So even short bursts of exercise a few times a week can make a big difference.

Connect with Other Entrepreneurs
Sharing the struggles of entrepreneurship can be a good way to clear your mind and move forward. But talking to your family and friends about those struggles might not have the same effect as talking to someone who can really relate. So find some other entrepreneurs to connect with, either in your local community or online.

Write Down What You’re Thankful For

Along with the struggles, there are plenty of great things to be thankful for when it comes to running a business. So instead of just forgetting those positives and dwelling on what needs to be done, take a moment out of your day and write down some things you have to be thankful for.

Thank Others
You can also show that gratitude to others by simply saying “thank you” or writing short thank you notes.

Try Out Meditation

Meditation can be another way to sort of clear your mind and stay focused on the positives throughout your day.

Use Daily Affirmations

Or you can try a more vocal approach like daily affirmations. State positive things about yourself, and the positive attitude could follow.

Seek Out Inspiration

If you’re feeling uninspired in your business, just waiting around for inspiration to strike can seem like a lifetime. So seek out some inspiration through reading, going outdoors or even browsing sites like Pinterest.

Get Some Hobbies
Having some hobbies outside of work can also help you stay positive and inspired on a regular basis.

Educate Yourself

You can also choose to expand your mind through regular training or education programs, which can lead to new ideas and motivation.

Remind Yourself What Make You Happy

No matter how many great habits you build around your business, there are going to be times when you feel a little down. So it can be a good idea to have a folder on your computer or even a physical list or scrapbook that you can pull out during those tough times to remind yourself of what makes you happy.

Visualize Your Goals

You can also regularly remind yourself of your main goals by keeping them visible in your workspace. Create a list or post them on a board in your office so you’re constantly reminded why you’re doing what you do.

Hope these tips helped you! If you need help with anything in your home business, don't hesitate to reach out to me by phone or text: 612-208-9434. I am always here and happy to help :)