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Welcome to the Premier Issue of Offbeat Business Magazine JOIN OUR JOURNEY & MARCH TO THE BEAT OF YOUR OWN BUSINESS! Website | Radio Show | Magazine | Speaking
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Susan Hamilton & Pam Russell host this offbeat radio show. We talk about all things small biz. Stop by and take a listen! It's always fun & informative! We talk about all things small biz and entrepreneurship on our always fun always informative show. We talk about marching to the beat of your own business. Don't follow the crowd. The unsaid stuff. The basic stuff. The crazy stuff. The struggles and the triumphs of having your own business. Come take a listen...you'll have fun, learn from us and our awesome guests!
1st Tuesday: Pam & Susan | 2nd Tuesday: Pam | 3rd Tuesday: Pam & Susan | 4th Tuesday: Susan
Listen to us on www.pegasusnetwaves.com/ To listen to past shows, go to our website, click on the calendar option to top right of the box and select a date. At this time, our shows began airing on July 8th. Select ‘Read More’ to hear the recording. Upcoming shows are listed. Please contact us if you would like to be a guest on The Offbeat Business Show.
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03 | Table of Contents
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www.SelectCharters.com Peggy@SelectCharters.com 4020 N. MacArthur Boulevard Suite 122-183 • Irving, TX 75038 (972) 659-8941
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EDITORS’ LETTERS | 06
I am so excited that we are able to offer you this fabulous magazine, The Offbeat Business Magazine, to go along with and support The Offbeat Business Show! Susan and I love to talk so we don’t always have time to share everything we want to share with you on the show…so now we can do just that with you here in this fabulous fun, educational and inspiring magazine! My personal goal with the show and this magazine is to encourage you to succeed, to take risks, to go for what you want and desire for your business. To march to the beat of your own business. If we all do the same thing the same way then life and business would be boring and mundane. Living your passion and your purpose in your life and your business should not be boring or mundane. It should be exciting and fulfilling! Come along and march with us here and on The Offbeat Business Show and in Offbeat Business Magazine! We can make beautiful music together!
Pam
I’m enjoying being a radio co-host and magazine editor very much, two new hats for me. I think Pam’s a blast and I love her quick wit and fun-loving spirit - but also her heart for business. We talk often about our goals for you. You’re the reason The Offbeat Business Show exists! We know that if you are empowered, encouraged, and educated while being plugged into great resources, there’s nothing you can’t do. We will strive to be that resource for you. When Robin Roberson asked Pam and me to work together, we knew instantly that it was a great fit. Your comments, questions and social connections with us help us to grow in understanding, so we can answer and inspire you in the best possible way. Please communicate with us regularly, and share your viewpoints, criticisms, and accolades publicly - as this will only up the game for all involved. Here’s to finishing 2014 with strong third and fourth quarters! Thank you in advance for your interest in being an even better Offbeat Business.
Susan
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Claire Billingsley is an author, edutainer and coach. Her fun and interactive approach to communication skills utilizes improvisational comedy techniques to improve communication, break down silos, and enhance teamwork in groups and organizations. Her coaching practice uses linguistics, mood and emotion, and body language to help you bring your best self forward in every interaction! Claire’s background is varied, and she was honored in 2010 by the Dallas Business Journal in 2010 as one of the “Top 25 Women to Watch.’ She has clients in the US and all over the world, and would love to work with you too! Read more about Claire below:
Listen to Claire every Tuesday 10 AM – 11AM on her radio show “Biz Talk” on Cosmic Broadcasting! www.cosmicbroadcasting.com
Call Claire today! Mention this ad and get 50% off 1st month coaching! 214.289.8802 Claire@Billingsleyconsultinggroup.com
09 | FEATURE
I–N–C–R–E–D–I–B–L–E By Claire Billingsley
Making the transition from corporate culture to one of my own has been an incredible journey. Notice I didn’t say easy – but incredible. Here’s what I mean:
I - Invigorating. Never underestimate the rush of having something that is completely yours. The knowingness that you control your own destiny is something to wake up to and embrace every day. The downside is; you control your own destiny. SO, if you mess up, you get to own it. That’s invigorating at an entirely different level.
N - Never Ending – That’s right. Your work never ends. You get to be the butcher, the baker AND the candlestick maker….all while spinning about a dozen other plates in the air. When you start out on your own, there’s no one to delegate to....you get to do it all. It takes discipline to keep things going … when you really just want to go home and cuddle with the cat.
C – Creative – Creativity in a solo-prenuership can morph in several directions. It can be juggling doctor appointments with deadlines, working with someone on a project you thought you knew what they wanted but at the last minute they change their mind…it can mean creatively stretching your budget until the next paycheck comes in. Being quick on your feet is a must, and turning on a dime is something that if you can master will serve you well.
R – Resourceful – Being an solo-prenuer teaches you 6hat you know more than you think. Remember that one accounting class in college you had to take? Guess what? You’ll be glad you paid attention when it comes to reading your P&L statement. All the people you have met in your corporate life can help too – it’s ok to call someone and ask they how they did that one thing you thought was amazing when you worked with them. They will appreciate your noticing and also be glad to help.
E- Educate – ABL – Always Be Learning. You can never know everything – but you do get to be a Jack or Jill of all trades. Go to the free workshops at lunch and learns. Become a part of an
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organization that has diversity of resources, members and experience levels. You can expect to learn as much over a cup of coffee than in a formal class too. Pay attention and keep yourself open. With your openness comes ideas you never thought of before.
D- Decisiveness - If you aren’t used to making decisions you better get used to it quick. Being a solo-prenuer takes guts. It’s not for the timid. Be willing to say yes with the highest level of integrity, and learn to say no with the highest level of integrity. Don’t try to be everyone’s friend – you can’t. And just because you say no now doesn’t mean you aren’t their friend anyway. You just don’t have the capacity to do what they have requested. That doesn’t make you a bad person. It makes you human. And speaking of being human, for goodness sake learn to use your gut instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Your intuition is one of the most underrated tools you have in your toolbox.
Independence – Be ready to make those decisions without the support of your family members. They mean well, and don’t have the guts to do what you are doing, but they sure have lots of opinions. Keep on your path and don’t let anyone deter you. You know what you are doing.
B – Believe in yourself. Find a phrase that motivates you and stick it on your bathroom mirror, or in your car, or someplace you will see it every day. Say it out loud. And really mean it. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else?
L- Live Fully – Ok, that’s two words, but a full life can’t be condensed top one word anyways. Make sure you do schedule time for you. Stay healthy. Walk the dog. Laugh with the kids. Have wine with your friends. Keep yourself light and you will attract the same into your life.
E – Expect to Change – nothing stands still in business, and when you become a solo-prenuer, you will change. You will become much more of who you are. And that’s fun. That’s invigorating.
Claire Billingsley is an entrepreneur in the Dallas area with 20+ years in the franchise industry in training, sales and operations and 10+ years in improvisational comedy. She has leveraged this unique combination of experiences to create Billingsley Consulting Group, where she coaches individuals and groups through opening up lines of communication and breaking down silos through the use of improv. She is an author and a radio show host. www.billingsleyconsultinggroup.com
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Nicole Smith Realtor® A 5th generation Texan and raised in the Metroplex, Nicole has helped hundreds of families move to, from and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area over the past 20 years. 100% of her business comes from repeat and referrals because she takes care of her clients before, during and after a real estate transaction. She is an expert communicator, negotiator, and relationship developer. She has earned numerous production award and industry designations, and has been repeatedly recognized by Texas Monthly Magazine, DMagazine, Fort Worth Business Press, Five Star Professional, Fort Worth Magazine as an accomplished real estate professional.
Speaker
RE/MAX Masters 121 Countryside Ct., Suite 120 Southlake, Texas 76092 682.472.2473 Nicole@NicoleSmith.net
www.NicoleSmith.net
Nicole brings knowledge, humor, and authenticity to her presentations on the topics of “Building your Business The Best Way…. by Referrals” and “The Art of Effective Negotiating… How to Win Every Time!”, and she inspires her audience to take positive action with her “Homes Create the Chapters in the Story of Our Lives” presentation.
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Why I Love My List By Nicole Smith Unlike some industries where the quantity of the list determines the quality of the list, my business model hales quality over quantity. What!?!?! That’s right … just like the ol’ adage of time spent with your kids, quality is what counts. When I hired my first coach in 1999, I was challenged to limit my list to 100 people. The key of building a quality list was to make sure that each of these 100 people would hire me as their Realtor or refer me to their friends and family by ASKING them if they would. Crazy, huh? Asking people “the question” the old fashioned voice to voice (ideally person to person) way. And if they said yes, then I would put them on my list and give them “items of value” on a regular basis. If they answered with the story of their favorite Realtor they’d be forever loyal to or that their sister’s husband’s best friend’s cousin just got licensed and they’d probably use him, then I would affirm them on their decision and not put them on my list. So many lessons in this business concept!!
The information and service we provide IS valuable; if our people don’t want what we have to give, then it’s not of value to them and we should be giving it to others who do want it and will value it. My list isn’t just a mailing list, it’s a Relationship List. I have a personal connection with each and every person on it, and I am intentional about fostering and deepening a relationship with them. 100 is a great number. If you have a much larger list than that, I challenge you to create your Top 100 list of real relationships inside your big list; if you’re just starting to build
your list, I challenge you to reach that milestone. When you ask someone up front about who they would refer, you’re setting the stage that you are seeking a professional connection, you build your business by referral, and you are anticipating their participation by referring you to the people they know. It lowers potential resistance as you’re not asking them to hire you, you are asking them to refer you.
Fifteen years later, my list has evolved and grown to 250 families. My marketing plan ensures that they hear from me over 30 times each year in a variety of ways (email is only a tiny piece of the plan). The relationships on my list have generated repeat and referral business which has resulted in extraordinary income and the joy and satisfaction of working with people I know or who know people I know. This is why I love my list! Nicole Smith, e-Pro, ABR, CRS, CDPE, REDS/Broker-Associate with RE/MAX Masters 682.472.2473. www.NicoleSmith.net
13 | FEATURE
The Seven, Not-So-Deadly, Sins of Small Businesses By Christi Rains
During my time working with small business owners, and of course being one myself, I have found that there are certain common mistakes that can ultimately doom most businesses. All too often, small business owners become enamored with the idea of being their own boss and doing something they love. These thoughts often cloud the judgment of even experienced business owners in their desire to pursue the American Dream. In order to avoid these pitfalls you have to establish a strong foundation to your business; put in place systems that will help you keep your feet firmly planted in reality while you pursue your dreams. Below, I have listed seven common mistakes that prevent entrepreneurs from building that strong foundation for their dreams. 1. Seek professional advice “Concentrate on your strengths and seek help for your weaknesses�, that is the first piece of advice I give to any new entrepreneur. Seeking out trustworthy professionals to guide you through the start-
up process will help you to avoid all manner of financial and legal problems. Later on, when the company is up and running, these same professionals will continue to be valuable members of your team. In order to grow your business you need to be able to concentrate and put your energy into your core business. Allow the professionals to take care of tasks such as; accounting, marketing and legal affairs while you manage growing your business. 2. Create a formal business plan Creating a formal business plan is important for any business. Think of a business plan like a road map. It can aid you in determining specific goals and be a guide to help you stay on track. In the process of creating one, you will determine the size, location and buying pattern of your target market and the feasibility of your business idea. It can also be useful when seeking outside funding from banks or other types of investors. 3. Form a legal entity If you are thinking of starting a business as a sole proprietor or are already doing business as a sole proprietor you need to examine your
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Threats, and determine if it’s really right for you. It’s important to note that a sole proprietor is not a legal entity. There is no separation between the business and the owner. Because of this, the business will cease to exist when the owner dies. Also, this form of business does not provide any type of personal liability protection between your business and personal assets. If you want to develop a successful long term company, it is advantageous to form the proper legal entity. 4. Use an accounting system While Excel might seem like the simple solution it really isn't the best use of your time. Entering your financial information into an accounting system will automatically track all income and expenses for you. As well, the system allows for financial statements and activity reports to be generated quickly without any additional work. This is especially advantageous when tracking the monthly health of your business and when tax time rolls around. 5. Review financial statements routinely Sometimes all a business needs to get to the next level are good financial statements. These reports show the health of the company. They can help you understand trends and determine what products or services aren’t performing as well as predicted. If produced routinely, financial statements can give you time to alter your procedures before a downtrend has time to affect the bottom line. 6. Keep personal and business transactions separate One of the first things a new business owner should do is open a bank account to be used
only for the business. It is important to keep business transactions separate from personal. In fact, unless you are a sole proprietor it is the law. If a business owner doesn’t operate in a ‘businesslike’ manner the IRS can say you are not a true business, but a hobby. If you have an entity type that offers limited liability protection the IRS can take away that protection. 7. Classify staff properly When a business owner hires staff, how do they decide the classification of employee or independent contractor? The classification of personnel affects how much a business pays in taxes, if withholding from paychecks is necessary, and what tax documents to file. Misclassification of an employee can result in penalties and additional taxes. It’s important to remember that you cannot hire personnel as an independent contractor just to avoid paying employment taxes. If you have questions on the classification, it is wise to seek professional counsel to ensure you are in compliance. I won’t tell you that these steps will guarantee your success, nobody can tell you that and I wouldn’t listen to anyone that did. I will tell you that following these steps will place your company on a stronger foundation, and that will give you greater staying power and a better ability to overcome the unforeseen. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to build a small business and I hope this information will help you to do it too. Christi Rains, President Alpha Omega Consulting & Bookkeeping, LLC - SensibleBusinessOwner.com Email Christi@AOBookKeeping.com for more information, and connect with her on FB/AlphaOmegaConsultingAndBookKeeping
15 | LIFESTYLE CHORDS/Health
Is Your Life a Twirling Merry-Go-Round? By Julese Crenshaw
Life is non-stop! Swirling and twirling and speeding by. Have you noticed? It’s a fact that our attention spans have shortened with abbreviated words and social media. Our souls long to be filled with something worthwhile. Because that something never comes (at least not in mainstream ways), and instead we fill up on instantaneous excitement and gratification. I grew up in the country. Our nearest neighbor was a mile away. Because of the lack of amenities, my cousins and I found ways to keep ourselves entertained. We helped in the garden, made collages, had debates, and played random made-up games. We took walks, and we shared our best make-believe stories. We simply created our own hobbies. I’m amazed at how many people no longer have hobbies. In today’s on-the-go world, it seems as if no one has time for anything. No time to stop and revel in the beauty that surrounds us. No time to smell the roses or jump off the spinning carousel? When my mom was ill, I saw her stop and enjoy every moment of her life a lot more. Every conversation meant more, ever visitor was treasured, and every meal was blessed.
When was the last time you stopped and enjoyed the moment? I’m a horrible singer. No—scratch that. I’m an awesome singer as long as it’s in the shower and in the car. And no one else is around. But that doesn’t stop me from singing. When was the last time you did something for fun? If it wasn’t today, it’s been too long! Go plant a garden, swing at the playground, eat with your fingers, read a book, stop and watch the bunny in your yard, enjoy the quiet of a night or awakenings at dawn, bought a new lipstick or aftershave! Your feelings might surprise you. Between running two businesses and keeping in touch with friends and family, my life seems to move at the speed of light but I have learned to make every day an artistic dream. Sure, you may not have 2 hours to devote but you have 10 minutes to sing at the top of your lungs, don’t you? It will fulfill your heart and soul. You will find you relax more, smile often and life is amazing again! Julese Crenshaw is a freelance writer from Tennessee.
Money/LIFESTYLE CHORDS | 16
Help Yourself Start Strong! Top Tips for Jumpstarting Your New Business By Stanford Smythe
Tip 1: Increase your odds of succeeding; Go into a business that you have knowledge about; it's so hard to start and build a successful business that will survive and thrive. Tip 2: Offer the products and/or services your customers want, not what you want. Many entrepreneurs do not do their homework before deciding what to offer or sell and know nothing about what their competition is offering and what their potential customers would purchase Tip 3: Don't market a business, product, or service that you wouldn't buy or use. If you do not like it, why would others? Follow your gut instincts. Tip 4: Choose your business partners carefully: like you'd choose a spouse... You'll be "in bed" with both, but as an entrepreneur you could often spend so much more time working on business than with family, especially in the beginning. Developing the right partnerships and making good partnership decisions can make or break or business. Remember, “silent partners� do NOT exist!
Tip 5: Don't go into business if you can't afford it. This final tip seems so basic yet too many businesses fail. What entrepreneurs must consider, is, "Do you have enough money to pay your own personal living expenses in addition to your business overhead and expenses until your business becomes profitable?" Having enough money will take off some of the pressure and give you a better chance of staying in business.
Stanford Smythe is a speaker, writer and business owner who enjoys consulting.
17 |LIFESTYLE CHORDS/Travel
Cross-Cultural Volunteering Changes Lives
Instead of sticking to the same, tired tourist traps and boring tours, many travelers are grabbing paintbrushes, shovels, and chalk and taking a volunteer vacation abroad. It could change you forever … and change the way you live your life! And, you do not even have to go abroad. You can visit another city in America and reap the benefits. Cross-cultural volunteering is giving people, like you, the ability to go to work in areas of our country (and the world) where their help is desperately needed. What you’ll find is that these trips may have a lot more impact in YOUR life than the impact you could ever have on the lives of the people you’ve come to help. Ultimately, we’re
changing the way volunteering is done, making it a safe and exciting adventure of a lifetime. The most impactful approach to cross-culture volunteering is the only approach – one designed by the community for meaningful work that addresses a specific community need. As you immerse yourself in the community (your new neighborhood) and work alongside local people to make a real impact, you’ll find beauty in every connection and commonality discovered – large or small. The benefits of cross-cultural volunteering don't go away in the weeks and months after you return home. They have the potential to change your life for the long term. After this experience, you will probably never view the world the same again. There are many companies you can choose to work with and much to be researched online before delving in. But, that is only part of the excitement of a volunteer vacation. So get the map out and decide where you want to go. You will be glad you did!
19 | LIFESTYLE CHORDS/Communication
How To NOT Suck At Giving Referrals! And Make More $Money$ Doing Them Properly By Reverend Tonie L. Boaman Being a facilitator of business, I prefer not to waste anyone’s time. So I developed a simple process for properly offering qualified referrals and I want to share it with you as it has been extremely effective for me and my business. Many times each day you are bombarded with messages, businesses and people. All of which are potential referrals which can mean more money in your pocket, if handled expertly. So how do you utilize them for all the parties’ benefit? First, be sure during every one of your daily conversations to tell the person you have a huge network of referral partners and would enjoy sharing with them if they have a specific need. Do not be afraid to ask them a question: “Is there any service or company that you have a need for right now or might in the near future?” Almost all of us are so used to doing some version of this question, that it is second nature. If not, it should be! However, I see it fail and the following scenario is an example of why: You asked the question of need and Jennifer X. says, “Sure, I need a hair stylist and a porch builder, do you know someone?” You answer, “Oh sure, here are the phone numbers. I really love their customer service and the hair stylist would be great with your hair type.”
And in most cases, that is the end of the referral given.
Let’s make you more money every year by giving proper referrals! How many of you think that Jennifer X. truly called either of the examples above? Or finalized the deal?
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A better result can be achieved: Step 1: Be inquisitive – Do not be afraid to “prequalify” people for the businesses you wish to refer. Ask: size; type; color; budget; how soon; male or female. Why? Because you will start to form a picture in your head of who you should truly refer them to. Someone they need, can benefit from being introduced to and that they will feel most comfortable with. Step 2: Get full contact information that they wish for you to share. Never assume, even if best friends, that this information will be the contact data you may already have and use. They may prefer you use another email or number if sharing with others. > Name properly spelled out > Best phone number and if they like texting. > Address or at least zip code of work, where service might be completed. > Do they wish to furnish email to the business? If not, do not get offended. > Best time to be contacted and preferred contact method? Having the correct information on the people you are connecting will appreciate your professionalism in referring! Step 3: If you have the lead to give them, do so. If not, tell them you will provide the business contacts’ information by email or will make an eintroduction. And here is the MOST IMPORTANT step and what will be the difference, which in turn, can help grow your own business. Let them know you will be following up or ask to be carbon copied on any communications between the parties. This gives you and them “ownership” of the referral. It makes it serious. Step 4: IMMEDIATELY!! Call the business you referred and let them know the above information and also ask them to keep you in the loop. I have found over the years that to make sure referrals truly work, you should follow up with both parties twice (2 times). I have already referred of over 10 million net this year to my network of referral sources …. How have you been measuring up? Reverend Tonie L. Boaman www.UniversalResourceQueen.com 972-804-3442
21 | OFFBEAT BIZ
SEO - Scam or Truth? By Susan Hamilton If someone says to you, “Your website needs SEO,” do you know what that means? Millions of business owners get messages left on the contact forms of their websites promising SEO and Google rankings. Phones ring constantly offering this type of help. I want you to know what it is they’re truly saying, and I want you to be able to pick up on a scammer without any doubt in your mind. The lingo of SEO is sketchy, and unless you’re talking to someone current and honest in this space, you can get yourself turned around pretty quickly. SEO means search engine optimization. It means that someone is telling you your website can’t be found by people who could be buying from you. The next thing they’ll probably tell you is they can get you ‘to the top of Google’ for anywhere from $50 bucks a month to upwards of $1500 a month. You can spend as much as you want. Clearly, there’s a lot of sway to the pricing and what’s offered for that pricing. Friends, please never forget that your ignorance of the subject matter is something they’re counting on. First, let’s go over some of these common statements. Then I’m going to go over them one by one to help you understand where the truth ‘lies’. 1. If I get my website SEO’d, I’ll make more money because more people will find my website. 2. When my site ranks for the ‘top of Google’, my phone will ring more and I’ll beat my competitors. 3. My site isn’t getting found because it’s too far down the list of search results. 4. Every website that ranks above me represents a company that makes more money than I do, and the top companies listed are making the lion’s share. 5. You have to be real good to get in the top listings. 6. Once I pay for SEO, my site will always make me more money because I’m listed higher in the search results. 7. My SEO company, or myself, has done an awesome job getting me to the top of search results. Every time I look, there I am at the top!
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8. All that’s required for SEO is to start paying for it. VOILA! My site will be found. Sound familiar? Let’s start with 1. More people finding your website should help you make more money, but there’s more to it than that. Do you want to attract tire kickers looking for the lowest price, or do you want to attract customers who will buy your premium services? If your assumption is true, and they find you first on your website - then they will have to be attracted to your services. If they’re convinced by your website because it’s done a good job of showing your value to them, they will call. At this point, your script or lack of one could still lose the sale. If you get the sale, but what attracted this customer is your low price - you may get the sale, but you will be very busy with customers who require all of your time for minute or insufficient income generation. This is all based on whether or not your ideal client or customer finds you online through search engine results based on specific terminology, right? Well, no. Let’s look at the whole picture. 2. If you outrank your competitors, your phone may ring more, but once again, that doesn’t mean you’ll have MORE customers or make MORE money. You still have to seal the deal. 3. Too far down the search results to get found? For what terms? Are you on social media sharing links to your blog? Are you blogging about your solutions to your customer’s needs? Are you encouraging people to share your stuff online through humor or community relevance? Can you see how all of that activity could increase your visibility and improve brand recognition, making you more familiar to your intended audience? Those same measures will also be the reasons your website shows up on search. Content and social media make up around 60% of SEO criteria. 4. If you outrank your competitors, you might make more money, or they might be running around pleasing low-dollar customers and making very little money. You can’t assume they make more than you because they spend more than you on advertising. Of course, they might have a very nice selection of equitable, valuable products and services they add-on to their original prices that make a tidy little sum and they may offer superior customer service. But that is management and sales, not marketing, and not SEO. 5. Is the top guy the best? I thought YOU were the best? How could both of you be the best? Why should I do business with you more than any other competitor out there? Define this. It’s your value proposition, and will help you develop the right marketing message. There is no marketing for the guy that’s ‘almost good enough’.
23 | OFFBEAT BIZ
6. Once you pay for SEO, you might make more money. You might work 100 hours a week and you might make nothing. More money has to do with sales and management, and very little to do with SEO. Although, you DO need to be found online. 7. Think it’s all good because you always see your company on the top of search results when you check them yourself? Google has been personalizing search for years, and you can’t tell between computers in the same building or city who actually has what rank in search results because it has to do with each user’s online and mobile behavior. There is no #1 on Google by the way. 8. Pay for SEO, and you’ll be on the top of Google search results, right? Refer to 1. A good SEO will never tell you that, and a good SEO will never just take your monthly payment, without requiring data from you and managing that data for you, and continuing to educate you about available options that won’t disappear the minute you stop paying. (Yeah, I’m talking about organic search, stuff like blogging, social, and back-linking - that will NEVER go away because it gives search engines awesome data to play with and learn from, which is necessary, when they take over the world.) Okay, so I hope you understand a little more about SEO and how to discern what people say to you when they call versus what they realistically can do for you. Go for a local SEO, who will tell you exactly what will be done for your money, in a language you easily understand, and get a monthly report that shows you WAY more than backlinks. Ask how those backlinks are getting created; comment spam is rampant and directory submissions are problematic. BAD SEO is the most common SEO, and it can be very damaging to your search results, your reputation, and your pocketbook. Good SEO requires homework in order for you to hire a reputable professional.
Susan Hamilton is your co-host of The Offbeat Business Show on internet radio station Pegasus Net Waves. Susan is a business coach known locally as The Richardson Copywriter and owner of Leaping Walls Consulting & Services. To learn more about Susan or contact her to speak to your group, email her at Susan@LeapingWalls.com, and connect with her on YouTube, Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter.
Not seeing results with your ads, emails or web pages? Maybe it’s time to understand marketing copy.
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25 | OFFBEAT BIZ
Been There. Done That. Own the T-shirt. By Pam Russell Do you have a dream? A dream to have your own business? Or maybe to have a new position within the company where you are employed? Maybe to do something that is totally different than what you have been doing…for years?
After a major life event I finally decided to take them up on their offer. I realized that life is short. I realized there is no true security in working for a ‘company’. I have never looked back. Have there been ups and downs. Of course. Would I go back to that life? No.
I was that person. I have had my own printing and promotional products company for about 9 years now. Before that I worked for other people doing the same thing…but making THEM a lot of money. A national franchise group had been after me for some time to come on board with them as a franchise owner. I kept declining their offers because I was afraid to give up the ‘security’ of working for a ‘company’. Sound familiar?
Speed forward to 2012. Almost 20 years in a successful and award winning sales career. Friends and colleagues began to encourage me to start coaching other sales people. They encouraged me to realize that I had unique techniques and processes. BUT I thought… “Wait, I have sold printing and promotional products for almost 20 years. I can’t do sales coaching. I can’t do something different. I have to do what I have always done.” Not true. I have found a way to do both. You may have decided to ditch the franchise and only do sales coaching. The great thing is that I/we/you can decide to do whatever you want to do. Maybe you want a change but you don’t know what you want to do or
OFFBEAT BIZ | 26
how to get started. I get that too. Been there, done that and own the t-shirt. I am a big believer in the fact that everyone has their own unique value to bring to the world based on their own unique experience and expertise. Here are some things to ask yourself that might help you figure it out or to just get your brain cranking on how to take the first step:
It can take a long time to become an overnight success but you have to start somewhere. Life is short. Life should be filled with passion and purpose. YOUR passion and purpose. Dream big. Live big. Maybe your first step to living your dream is to simply think about and answer the questions above. Maybe you already know
If you could do anything you want and money wasn’t an issue, what would you do? What do your friends and/or colleagues ask you for advice about, say you are great at or that you have great success at doing? What are you passionate about? What hurdles have you overcome in life and in business? If you could share one or two things with people starting out in your business, what would those be? What do you do now that makes you not look at the clock, not count the days until the weekend? What brings you joy?
I will say that just because people say you are good at something or come to you for advice about something does not mean that HAS to be your thing. People encouraged me to coach on my productivity systems (to do list, etc.) I tried it. Do those things have value to other people? Yes. Do I enjoy coaching/training on those things? No. Not my passion so I don’t do that anymore.
the answers to those questions so now you need to move your feet one step closer to DOING something to make it happen. Your life. Your decision. Your destiny. All up to YOU. Be Your Best!
Pam Russell empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses to Be Noticed, Be Coached and Be Inspired. Find out how at www.pam-russell.com
27| OFFBEAT BIZ
Stop Turning Website Visitors Away – 10 Reasons for a Redesign By Shari Voigt People still judge a book by its cover. We all do, whether intentional or not. The same thing happens day in and day out on your website. It’s a visible representation of your business online. If it’s amateur or outdated, it leaves a bad first impression. It may even leave your audience wondering if your business is trustworthy. Take this recent study for example: Participants were directed to search Google for health information relevant to them. Afterward, they discussed their first impressions of the sites they had visited. Now, when searching for health information, what would be top of mind? Wouldn’t it be whether or not you could trust the information? Logically, should the design of the site be a factor in the trustworthiness of its information? Yet, of all the factors mentioned for rejecting or mistrusting a website in this study, 94% were related to design.
So since the design of your website directly impacts its ability to draw people toward your business, is yours due for a redesign?
OFFBEAT BIZ | 28
How Can You Tell? 1. Has your business changed recently? When a business changes in significant ways the old website may work against you. Make sure it supports your organizational goals. 2. Does your site have a dated look? A site designed in 2004 will not look current in 2014, and this leads to visitors rejecting or mistrusting your website. They’ll spend less time on your site and you’ll acquire fewer customers. 3. Is your site navigation fast and intuitive? Good navigation means that information is clear and easy to get to, nothing is deeply rooted or hidden, and pages are accessible for the search engines. If your site navigation frustrates your visitors, they won’t stick around long enough to become customers. 4. Can you easily update content on your website without having to call your web designer? Not all that long ago, the majority of websites were static HTML sites. Your options were to learn HTML, buy expensive software, or rely completely on your web designer. But those days are long gone for anyone who’s switched over to using WordPress as the foundation of their website. 5. Can you browse the site efficiently on a mobile device or tablet? You may be able to see your full website on your smart phone, but navigating it could be a nightmare. Current web design incorporates either a responsive design or a separate mobile website that shares only the highlights applicable to a mobile user – not every single page or image from your full site. 6. Do the images positively portray your brand – or are they pixelated, not sized quite right, or in other ways not quite professional? With the default camera installed on your smart phone, you’ll be able to take high resolution images unique to your website. Or you can find quality stock photos on sites such as iStockphoto or Bigstock, and tweak them using Canva to produce unique images. 7. Does the home page of your website clearly communicate what you do? The most important information needs to be displayed right up front. Although your home page welcomes visitors, the text should not read ‘Welcome to Our Website.’ Think it through … what is the most important thing you want visitors to know about your business? 8. How’s your search engine ranking? According to Search Engine Journal, 93% of all Internet traffic comes from a search engine. Redesigning your site with SEO in mind will ensure that potential customers can find you online. 9. Do your pages load fast enough? According to KISSmetrics, 47% of consumers expect a web page to load in two seconds or less and 40% of people will abandon a website that takes more than three seconds to load. 10. Does your website encourage social media interaction? Again, from Search Engine Journal, 41% of businesses are winning customers through social media channels. If for any of the reasons mentioned above you believe that it’s time to redesign your website, here are some tools and options to help accomplish the task.
29 | OFFBEAT BIZ
If YOU Want to Redesign Your Own Website We recommend beginning with a self-hosted WordPress website (downloaded from WordPress.org and installed on a paid hosting account). That gives you the foundation, the engine that will make your website functional. Then to make it look great, add one of the elegant, easily customized, business website themes from iThemes.com. We’ve been using these products to design websites for years now so can easily vouch for their quality, ease of use, and excellent customer support. Recommended Website Hosting Providers
Affordable Business Hosting – Zero To Sixty Marketing’s ‘Done For You’ Comprehensive Hosting Solution Hostgator.com Site5.com
Website Design and Graphic Resources
iThemes.com Canva.com www.istockphoto.com – Get 10 free photo credits when you follow this link. Bigstock.com
If You Want Help with Your Website Redesign We offer a variety of packages, beginning with a 15 minute design and usability review of your existing website for only $25. Contact Shari today to get started! Or for a comprehensive review and report to improve your website performance, we offer a full Website Diagnostic Check. This includes an 11 point inspection of your website, social media tactical analysis, backlink assessment, and competition analysis. It’s not too late or too expensive to make those necessary updates and improve your online image.
Shari Voigt, Owner and Marketing Director of Zero To Sixty Marketing LLC For more information, contact Shari@ZeroToSixtyMarketing.com. ZeroToSixtyMarketing.com
It's wonderful when you can bring sparkle into people's lives without fading away from your own true color. Keep the hue in you. ~Dodinsky Painting By Ron Maddox, Dallas, Texas
31 | HALF NOTES/Inspire & Succeed
The Comparison Prison By Pam Russell
On the Offbeat Business Show that aired July 15th, we talked about the “Comparison Prison”. We discussed that it was the place where you can get stuck by comparing yourself to other people and businesses. For most people it is located in their head. It can keep you stuck, frustrated and feeling defeated…and sometimes broke. For me it was most prevalent on social media. Likes, followers, speaking engagements, trips, and conferences…all the things everyone else was doing that I thought I had to be doing to be successful. Not true. One of the things we didn’t have time to discuss on the show was that I found part of my issue in prison was comparing where I was at in my sales coaching business to someone else’s/another business that had been doing it for a considerably longer period of time than me. You can’t do that
to yourself. I work hard now to no longer compare my business to someone else’s business – especially to a business that’s been around much longer than I have. Maybe they’ve had more exposure. Maybe they have a larger engaged audience. Here is what I have learned:
Success can take time. Progress can take time. Exposure can take time. Influence can take time. Finding and attracting your tribe can take time. We each have our own path to walk. We don’t have to follow the crowd. (Be offbeat!) We can march to the beat of our own business and achieve success! One beat at a time.
So take the handcuffs off. Open the cell door. Breathe some fresh air. March out of the prison with your head held high. Get busy doing what YOU need and want to do to achieve your goals and dreams. Get unstuck. I’m not talking about being on parole…because that means you might go back to the prison. I am talking about true freedom from the bars that have kept you stuck, frustrated and possibly broke. Be free! Be successful! Be Your Best!
Pam Russell empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses to Be Noticed, Be Coached and Be Inspired. Find out how at www.pam-russell.com
Book Beats/HALF NOTES | 32
The Success Principles速: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be By Pam Russell Jack Canfield, co-creator of the phenomenal bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul速 series, turns to the principles he's studied, taught, and lived for more than 30 years in this practical and inspiring guide that will help any aspiring person get from where they are to where they want to be. The Success Principles速 will teach you how to increase your confidence, tackle daily challenges, live with passion and purpose, and realize all your ambitions. Not merely a collection of good ideas, this book spells out the 64 timeless principles used by successful men and women throughout history. Taken together and practiced every day, these principles will transform your life beyond your wildest dreams! Canfield designs a game plan for striving to achieve your professional and personal goals and dreams. He covers all aspects of life and shows you 64 principles to get any aspiring person from where they are to where they want to be. It is certainly a program to be considered for gaining inspiration for success. The Success Principles contains all the key elements of a successful, happy life, together, in one place! Filled with memorable and inspiring stories of CEOs, world-class athletes, celebrities, and everyday people, The Success Principles速 will give you the proven blueprint you need to achieve any goal you desire.
Pam Russell empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses to Be Noticed, Be Coached and Be Inspired. Find out how at www.pam-russell.com
Pam’s Perspective
Information flows at top speed. I’m a member of my neighborhood social media platform NextDoor.com. With over 1800 members in my neighborhood, directly adjacent to strip malls on every corner, when a restaurant manager defaces the wait staff in front of customers - we ALL know it, in record time. I can’t tell you how many people ask for referrals for plumbers, contractors, doctors and more, or how many restaurant reviews are freely given without any prompting whatsoever. It’s a GOLD MINE of information.
Move your feet in the direction you are supposed to go...not in the direction you see someone else going. Walk your own path. My path has included opened doors, closed doors, divine appointments, divine departures, successes and failures. Grateful for all of it. Don't quit walking on your path. Get a new pair of shoes when you need to but don't quit.
Today’s customer would like to support local, but they won’t spend their money checking out a place with a bad review from a neighbor. Today’s customer isn’t only shopping for repairs and remodels based on price. They want to know who they can trust in their home and who will do a great job at a reasonable fee. They’re willing to pay more with a trusted referral. This restaurant I mentioned? If they understand the value of their social footprint, they’ll make mention of a disciplinary action and apology - along with free appetizers for a week - on NextDoor.com, and people all over our neighborhood will return in droves. If they don’t respond, they’ll lose BIG time. What business can afford to be oblivious of public opinion? People are talking, do everything you can to make sure what they’re saying about you is good.
Susan Says
Walk Your Own Path
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