February 2011
A Note from Walethia: Networking...The Life Line of Your Business “Your network...determines your NETWORTH” Robert T. Kiyosaki It is cold out; many of us don’t get out much during the winter months. I think this is the perfect time to do some strategic networking planning. January 7-11 is International Networking Week, an initiative started by BNI. Networking is so vital to the success of your business that if you are not networking your business will dry up and die. Click here to learn the ten questions you should ask yourself concerning your networking.
“Networking is not a event, it is a lifestyle.”-walethia
What people are Saying… February 2011
“The current business environment is fiercely
competitive. Your presentation and knowledge of business etiquette will often be a deciding factor in your success. Women who win have an edge over their competitors. They attract attention and create an environment which is warm and friendly. I recommend that you access the resource that is Walethia Aquil, and claim your place as a woman who wins.� Kindest regards, Margaret http://theecourse.com
Free Get Acquainted session
Your success in business depends entirely on how others perceive you. When you are well mannered and considerate it dealing with others, you create engaging, productive and long term relationships. Schedule your free get acquainted session today and let me help you create an image of power and influence. Just send me an email to: info@graceandcharm.com
February 2011
Another Great Idea…
How to Write An Online Brand Marketing Plan Creating a branding strategy is probably the last thing on the mind of a solo business owner when they are juggling so many different things. BUT I promise you it can be the one thing that turns your business around from lackluster to golden. I often have people ask what it takes to put together a branding strategy. So in today’s post I’m going to give you a 7 step formula for developing your own brand marketing plan. Mine is 33 pages long and I can go back to it any time to find things I need when I’m preparing to promote my business through a radio show, on a sales letter, in an inperson networking event, and more. If you take the time to complete the sections I’ll describe, you will be amazed at how much clarity you have to move forward. Oh, and if you’re having any trouble, you can always hire me to help you fill in the gaps (shameless, unabashed plug here …only because I really do love this stuff). Why is it a great idea to have a brand marketing plan? Because it can help you understand where you are now, how you want your brand to be seen, and what it will take to get you there.
7 Parts of an Online Brand Marketing Plan 1. Executive Summary – a one page overview of the main points of your brand plan; this is something you want to be able to view at a glance when you go back to look at it over and over again, reminding yourself of the type of brand you want to portray 2. Personal Brand (Mission) Statement - here is where you outline why you are doing what you’re doing in two to three sentences; it covers who you are, what you do,
February 2011
who you serve, and how you serve them (see one of my previous posts on Creating a Fabulous Personal Brand Statement) 3. SWOT Situational Analysis ◦ Strengths & Weaknesses – this is a reality check, a snapshot of your current brand situation; where are things right now – e.g. market, current customer base, products/services line, distribution channels, competition, overall environment ◦ Opportunities & Threats – competitive analysis, where you can be different, what is holding you back, what environmental advantages you can dig into to better position your brand 4. Goals – what are the quantifiable things you want to achieve with your brand; include dates, times, frequency – as much detail as you can muster for the objectives you are pursuing 5. Brand Marketing Strategy – big picture of your brand marketing (probably the lengthiest piece of what you’ll write); includes information about your strategic position, target market, your ideal client, your product & services line, pricing model, distribution channels, administrative systems, current and intended online activities, visual elements 6. Action Plan - step by step activities to move forward; tactical moves you will make to accomplish #4 goals 7. Budget – what you expect to bring in monthly based on activities, sales, etc., how much you will spend on business resources, net income goals for the next 12 months Sound like a lot? Well, it can be if you try to do it all in a day. Remember, good planning and strategy takes time. Look at it as a worthwhile investment in the future of your business brand. It can also take the help of a great accountability partner to give you honest feedback. As a solopreneur, we are not always positioned to have a full team of resources. Tap into someone you trust to review the plan as you go – a trusted advisor, a mentor, a coach, mastermind group – find someone to partner with you in your brand success. This is the path to brand excellence! About the Author: Tanya Smith of Be Promotable is a premier personal branding & marketing coach. Her creative genius has unlocked the potential of many women solopreneurs, helping them to reinvent themselves as power players in their startup business. Claim your free instant access to a free video download, 5 Secrets to Developing Your Unique Brand Proposition at: www.bepromotable.com.
February 2011
Put Your Best Forward:
3 Simple tips to win her heart this Valentines
Women have 3 needs: 1. Appreciation-Practice appreciation, you will be amazed at the power of the words “please, and thank you.” Whenever you express appreciation to others for something they have done, small or large, their self-esteem increases. They feel more valuable and important. Their self-image improves and their self-respect soars. Read more here. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. “ - Leo Buscaglia
February 2011
Subscribe to the Grace and Charm Success Channel
for tips and techniques you can implement immediately that will empower your life and business. Click here
Gain Wealth, Power, & Influence Success with Grace and Charm hosted by Walethia Aquil. Want to become more charming, persuasive and memorable? In every business and personal life situation, appearance matters! Will someone like you, trust you, date you or marry you. Discover strategies that will open doors, create opportunities, and enhance your personal and professional relationships. Walethia gives information that works! Join me each and every Thursday for Tremendous Thursdays where I bring you the best of the best to help you achieve all that you deserve in life and in business. Click here.
February 2011
Let me Introduce You To: Dante Lee
Are you ready to be a marketeer? “Business is 10 percent what you’re selling and 90 percent who you’re selling it to,” Lee advises. “Every company is a marketing company. By harnessing the power of social media promotion via Twitter and blogging, you can expand your influence and gain more customers. You won’ t sell anything if you have no way to let potential customers know you exist.” Do you have what it takes to separate black business facts from fantasy, build your entrepreneurial muscles with a real business plan, and endure short-term failure to achieve long- term success? Let Dante Lee teach you how. As a 20-year-old college student, Lee developed a promising business concept. And by 30, this self-made entrepreneur had built Diversity City Media, known for its marquee online businesses—BlackPR.com and BlackNews.com—into a national marketing and PR powerhouse with Fortune 500 clients like McDonald’s, Verizon, and NASCAR. Lee’s ultimate goal is to put more African Americans on the path to entrepreneurship through the wealth of real-world experience presented in Black Business Secrets: 500 Tips, Strategies, and Resources for the African American Entrepreneur. To learn more about Dante and how he can help you reach your target market visit Lee Moss
February 2011
and Charm Insight: Want to connect with the movers and shakers? Find a cause you are passion about and volunteer
Grace and Charm Market Place-Shop online
Are you an entrepreneur ready to increase your spear of influence, reach your ideal clients? Be sure to visit Grace and Charm today to learn more about our products and services. Are you ready to:
• Confidence to connect with high profile decision makers • Attract higher paying clients • Outclass the competition • More media opportunities • Preferential treatment • Establish instant trust and credibility February 2011
• Win the support of others who can help you achieve your goals • Attract wealth • Cultivate magnetic appeal • Establish authority • Attract Business opportunities • Be able to charge more for your services • Make your services and products stand out in the marketplace. • Develop and maintain business • Project a positive image • Increase circle of influence • Distinguish yourself from your competitors once and for all. • Become more charming, persuasive and memorable • How to command attention without saying a word • How to speak up and stand out • Learn how to make powerful introduction • Learn the ultimate greeting • Create a powerful aura • How to use your professional image to motivate and inspire others. • Develop more meaningful relationships, master the body language and advanced listening techniques that will help them make that they are focused on them • Learn the same secrets for success of some of the most influential men and women today. Click here.
February 2011
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February 2011
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Watch for the release of my new book scheduled for release early June. Sister to Sister: A Guide for African American Girls
February 2011