I had one of those 'aha!' moments the other day when I received this email from Andrea J. Lee's Best of Multiple Streams f'ree ecourse. The subject line was:Niche + Problem + Format = Income Stream

Out of a deluge of emails in my inbox this one instantly jumped out at me - as a (much needed) reminder of just how simple online business really is! And how much I had been overcomplicating some things in my business lately...

I've been knee deep in online business for years now - coming up on ten years actually - and despite all the great new things that arise in the online world it all comes back to this simple formula.

To break it down...
Niche:
Definition: A niche is a group of people who have common issues and problems and who hang out together in some organized fashion.

Who do you serve?
It is essential that you have a clearly defined and specific niche market. This is the foundational piece in the '8 Steps to Building a Multiple Streams Business' that we've been teaching for years now... and is the one area where many businesses fall apart.

If you don't have a good handle on your niche it becomes really hard to effectively tap into the specific needs of a market and provide products/services that serve that market (and that they are willing to pay for!) We go into finding your niche in great detail in Pink Spoon Marketing - be sure to check it out if this feels like an area that needs some work in your business.

Problem
People spend money on things that will help ease the 'pain' of their problems.

What keeps your niche up at night?
When you know what it is that the people in your niche market struggle with, then you can look for ways to help them - the solution becomes obvious. The key is, of course, to know what their problems are in the first place! And the thing is, this will change from time to time... so you need to make sure you are always 'plugged in' to your niche.

How to find out their problems? Ask them what their biggest challenge is, and listen to their answers - look for themes. Read their blogs. Subscribe to their ezines. Follow their tweets. Pay attention.

Format
Once you know the problem, you want to consider how you are going to package and deliver the solution.

What is the best package for your solution?
The options for packaging today are simply endless - everything from print-on-demand services (for books, CDs and such) through to webinar, multimedia and online video. It actually wasn't too long ago that we were limited by our packaging choices, as many options were complex and expensive. We've come a long way baby!

When looking at packaging you want to consider two things:

1. What will be appealing to my market? If you are marketing to baby-boomers they may prefer a print book to an ebook. If you are marketing to twenty-somethings you may want to do an online video series.
   
2. What would I enjoy creating? If you love speaking but aren't a big writer, drop the idea of writing a book and look to create classes, trainings, recordings and such. If you are camera shy you may not want to go the online video route. It is just as important for you to enjoy the creation process, otherwise you will get frustrated, stuck and may never finish your product.

And there you go - at the heart of things it really is just that easy.This is one super powerful little formula - one that I recommend you print off and post on your wall.

If you want to dive deeper into any element of this simple formula check out the Pink Spoon Marketing Multimedia Home-Study Kit which will take you step-by-step through the process of building your business online

Tina Forsyth is the author of Becoming an Online Business Manager: Playing a Bigger Game with Your Clients and Yourself. She writes and consults in advanced online marketing and business systems for business owners and their support teams. www.OnlineBusinessManager.com

Here’s what to do first to get inside your potential customer’s shoes. Think about the problem that you are trying to solve for that ideal customer. Then, imagine the information that you would look for before spending a penny on a purchase. If you need help, consider questions around the who, what, where, when, why, how, and how much. The answers to these questions become part of your check list of items to cover on your sales page. Additionally, review at least three sales pages of people whom you admire and would purchase from. Scrutinize their sales page to determine what elements they covered such as:

1. Creating credibility with the audience by listing evidence of knowledge and expertise, awards, credentials, etc. People want to know that they are buying from an expert on the subject.

2. Addressing the potential customer’s pain by creating a solution for their problems. Examples include: how do I find more customers, how do I build my potential customer contact list, how do I manage my time better, etc.

3. Listing several benefits that the customer will enjoy by making a purchase, such as this product will save time, money, or increase sales.

4. Demonstrating how an investment in the product will pay for itself. For example, if the customer purchases a product that explains how to sell products from the stage more effectively, and then puts those new skills to work and sells oodles of products at her next speaking engagement, then the purchase has paid for itself. Sometimes customers don't take this into account, so you'll want to point this out.

5. Providing testimonials with full names and pictures of past happy customers lending further credibility to the seller and their business. For potential customers who are not familiar with you by reputation, this will go a long way to build trust.

6. Creating an incentive for customers to act in a timely manner by offering bonuses by a deadline or a sale price with a definitive cutoff date. I once even heard Oprah share that she likes the Clinique gifts-with purchase incentives! Everyone loves a deal, and so provide a reason to “act now.”

7. Making a personal connection with the audience by including a picture and some appealing biographical information. By connecting with your audience, you make yourself relatable and familiar. Don’t be afraid to “appear human” by admitting past hurdles that you overcame or learned the hard way that you’ll share with customers saving them the pain.

8. Providing a guarantee for customers that will allow them to purchase a product or service without reservation. You’ll need to decide how long a guarantee that you’ll offer, but providing a way for customers to get their money back will overcome buyer’s hesitation.

9. Adding eye-appealing formatting and graphics to make the page visually appealing and compliment the text. You know the difference between a hastily patched together web page that looks “home made” as opposed to a professionally designed page, so make sure that your page looks stellar.

Add these applicable items to your above checklist. By now you should be able to draft your sales page. Then you’ll want to give it a rest for a day or two. After another read and a few more tweaks, it’s time to have someone else do a complete edit of your copy to ensure proper formatting, readability, grammar, and to ensure that your links work properly.

Test the sales page with members of your team, or, if you are just starting out, colleagues and friends.

Finally, after a complete review, announce your sales page with panache to your lists…and then watch the sales come in

Self-made multimillionaire entrepreneur and Inc. 500 CEO Ali Brown is devoted to creating financial freedom for women globally through the power of entrepreneurship. To learn how to create wealth and live an extraordinary life now, register for her free weekly articles at www.AliBrown.com

Make yourself standout at tradeshows or networking events by handing out something that makes you unique or tells a little more about your business than just a business card.  If you have free samples put them in a small cellophane bag that you can pick up at Joann Fabrics or Discount Cards or Party Store Outlet and attach a card that has a photo of you on the front with your website and business information and a special tip on the back related to your business.  For example if you sell Make Up put in eye shadow or lip gloss sample and on the card put tips on how to apply the makeup for daytime and evening.  If you sell vitamins put a sample in the bag and tips related to vitamins on the back, maybe a reminder of what vitamins people are lacking or what IU means compared to mg.(How many IU's do I want or how many mg's?)  This is confusing for me to remember the difference and I would hold on to a card that had a tip I wanted to refer back to!

So give something of value, packaged attractively, make yourself stand out and leave a lasting impression.

I learned quickly in direct sales that I had to approach booking parties with a plan or I would not book parties. Thus when I decided to become a booking expert and truly master the skill, my booking average went up to 3-4 bookings per party.

Because my success was not without struggle, my experience helped me relate to the discomfort involved with asking for parties and ultimately made it possible for me to help others overcome it. I will never forget how uncomfortable I felt when I first started. Learning can be painful but building skill is priceless.

I perfected my strategy when I fused the mindset of booking parties with my method of securing new commitments on the calendar. I broke down the mechanics into the following formula:

Guests are more likely to book when they anticipate you to invite them. Set the stage for bookings. · Guests are more likely to book parties when they know you, like you and trust you.

Read on to see how many of the booking steps you practice from my 'Barb's Better Booking' Checklist'. As you can tell, it is not one single action that yields more bookings, but many small intentional actions that will improve results. See if you can incorporate a few new steps into your booking protocol, steps designed to enhance the know, like, and trust factors for you.

Barb's Better Booking Checklist
___1. Build Party Attendance - It is hard to book a party or earn money with a chair, sofa or lamp so remember, the more people at the party, the more potential for prosperity (for you and your Host). Make sure your Host is talking up the benefits of attending the party. Emphasize the education, as well as the fun factor, as the combination draws a bigger crowd.

___2. Challenge Your Host To Help - Ask your Host to have a booking waiting for you before you arrive. Enlist the Host to help you and make it worth your Host's worthwhile.

___3. Offer To Call Each Guest Before The Party - As a service to your Host, offer to call each guest to confirm their attendance, and in doing so encourage them to bring a friend. Making a personal connection with potential guests prior to the party helps you build the "know, like and trust" factor and establishes your standard of customer service. Even leaving a voice mail can highlight your professionalism and show how you support each Host. Most direct sellers overlook this step, so making pre-party calls will set yourself apart.

___3. Arrive Early To Be Booking Ready - Arriving before guests allows you to not only to set up early and chat with your Host but also frees you to greet guests when they do arrive. Take advantage of the opportunity to build rapport. Ask your Host to share a little about each guest with you. Who likes to have parties? Who is involved in organizations? Who might appreciate free products or want to earn some money? Make notes on your guest list.

___4. Greet Guests With Interest - Learn something special about each guest in your pre-party chat. What do they do? Where do they live? How do they know the Host? How familiar are they with your product line?

___5. Remember Guest Names - When you sincerely address guests by name, you communicate that they are important to you. If you cannot remember everyone's name, consider using name tags.

___6. Decide To Deliver Booking Bids - Determine before you start when you will deliver 3 booking bids to the group. This means deciding when you will invite others to consider booking and what you will say in each invitation. Be prepared, not scripted or robotic. Be direct or you might drive home and realize you forgot to ask.

___7. Promote Your Host Benefits - Promote the benefits of being a Host through both your verbal and non-verbal communication. Pass around Host specials. Refer to the Host program. Inform others what Hosts can earn when they open up their homes for a party.

___8. Highlight Your Host - Make each Host feel genuinely appreciated and special. Without their hospitality you would not have a vehicle to build your party plan business. Publicly acknowledge your Host today and others will be more inclined to Host in the future.

___9. Party With Play - Always remember, it is a party you are promoting. Infuse fun and laughter into your party process and bookings will follow. The more your guests enjoy the time together, the more they will want to repeat the experience and get their own friends together. It is up to you to create the party atmosphere.

___10. Give Personal Invitations - Ask each guest individually to be one of your special Hosts. "Would you be willing to invite me into your home to host your own party [or get together]?" Do not pre-determine who will and who won't say yes. Ask everyone. This single practice boosted my booking results tremendously.

With practice, you will increase your bookings and build a business with solid confidence. Develop your style so that you are using the most effective word choices that work for you. Challenge yourself to get to a point where if your calendar ever looks slim, you have the power to rebuild it. With this knowledge you will attract others intentionally to schedule with YOU!


Intro:
I learned quickly in direct sales that I had to approach booking parties with a plan or I would not book parties. Thus when I decided to become a booking expert and truly master the skill, my booking average went up to 3-4 bookings per party.

Because my success was not without struggle, my experience helped me relate to the discomfort involved with asking for parties and ultimately made it possible for me to help others overcome it. I will never forget how uncomfortable I felt when I first started. Learning can be painful but building skill is priceless. Read on to see how many of the booking steps you practice from my 'Barb's Better Booking' Checklist'.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Barb Girson, International Direct Selling Industry expert, trainer and coach, is a highly interactive, creative speaker & author offering professional skill development programs for workshops, leader retreats, and annual conventions & teleclass sales training programs. Custom programs /Coaching 1:1 available.

Barb Girson helps companies, teams & entrepreneurs gain confidence, get into action, & most importantly... grow sales. To sign up for her next FREE sales training teleclass / join her free email list & get 'Sales Strategies that Stick' ezine, Visit http://www.MySalesTactics.com to learn more.

Need a speaker for your next event? Contact Barb: 614.855.0446

As the New Year approaches we reflect and examine SELF. Traditionally, New Year’s is a time of declaring and decreeing new resolutions – these are merely statements. In lieu of declaring resolutions have you considered goal setting? Frequently, we verbalize resolutions knowing the results are short term - they are painful. In goal setting we propose questions such as WHAT and WHY. WHAT is my desired goal? WHY do I desire this goal? WHAT measures are necessary to achieve this goal and WHAT is my desired outcome? Once accomplishing this goal, how will it FEEL and LOOK?

Specifically, the WHY keeps us motivated, focused and our expectations high – it is our driving force. Visualize your goals of purging the catch-all room, tidying the basement, decluttering your child’s room, developing a system promoting a more functional office environment. These are goals with a strong desire for achievement and therefore your fervent desire fuels your motivation even in the face of distraction and interruptions. 

The goal of a recent clientl was to transform her craft/sewing room into a functional home office. In a minimum of two hours her mission was accomplished. My goal is to assist you in accomplishing similar results, while bringing you freedom, comfort and emotional ease from your clutter and disorganization.

January is an opportune time for you as the Organizing Profession has designated January as GO month (Get Organized). My desire and passion is to pilot you into a successful, organized, prosperous New Year. Without further ado, allow me the honor of serving you in your home, office, or other preferred area. NO MORE

PROCRASTINATING, LET’S GET GOAL-ING NOW!
By: Karen Augustine,  614-785-9047
www.NeatNichebyKaren.com

It happened again!  A great idea just dropped in.
It’s the big one.
The one that will generate MILLIONS and make a big splash on the industry!

You jump in and start working on it. You share your idea with your team and everyone is furiously burning the midnight oil to get this program up and running in record time.

You launch, get OK results and sink back into despair wondering why it didn’t work.

Here’s my diagnosis: you didn’t actually plan it, you just reacted to a great idea and spit out more stuff.

Why do we resist planning?

Well, first of all, it’s not really fun. Secondly, because we typically feel it’s a waste of time and energy because of some ridiculously short implementation timeline we imposed on ourselves. Third, it’s not what entrepreneurs do best. We create. We lead. We inspire. We don’t like to slow down and think things through.

But when we take the time to slow down and plan we are able to consistent predict and deliver the results we desire.

A plan

…allows us to identify the connection between our vision and the steps to actually achieve it.

…reveals actual timelines versus the super-hero, in our head, make believe time tables we kid ourselves about.

…helps us utilize resources and cash flow more effectively.

…is the missing link between where you are and the level of success you desire today.

There are four types of plans you must have to achieve a great level of consistent results:

1. A strategic plan for achieving your annual goals
2. A revenue plan showcasing the potential cash flow from achieving the goals
3. A marketing plan that is the roadmap for generating the income and results
4. Tactical plans for each project or program launch (detailing each step, who is responsible and when it is due by.)
   

Make a commitment to learn how to use these tools and you’ll open up to a level of masterful business management that will quickly put you on the ‘who’s who of success’ in your industry!

If you’ve been stuck getting the level of results you desire then you’ll want to get your hands on this free training I put together on How To Map Your Mission to More Money. I reveal how to use these planning tools to achieve consistent predictable income in YOUR business.

Melanie Benson Strick, CEO, Success Connections, Inc., teaches entrepreneurs how to stop feeling overwhelmed so they can create more money, more freedom and more prestige. Get a Jumpstart on your success now with this free evaluation of your business.

One of the most challenging things that service based professionals and creativepreneurs face is establishing a solid credibility when just starting out or even starting over. Whether you have been in business for several years but you are reinventing how you do things and launching new models, or you are just getting started, credibility is vital to your growth and success. Here are three simple secrets to gaining that essential trust component quickly and easily to capture clients and profit.

#1 Look Established (Even When You Aren’t)
Yes, appearances do count. This lesson is from a recent trip I took to San Diego. There is a delightful hotel, The Lodge at Torrey Pines and while I was staying next door at the Hilton, I decided to indulge in lunch and a spa treatment at The Lodge. I was captivated. It appeared to be built back in the 1930’s in the Arts and Crafts Style. As an interior designer and kin to Frank Lloyd Wright, this is one of my true favorite styles.

They had a glass case by the dining room with old photos of the alleged owners, a diary, and more. The materials were all antique in feel from the patina velvet to the period patterned carpet and the aged mahogany paneling. It was all beautiful, elegant without being stuffy and very comfortable. I was stunned to find out it was only eight years old (not a typo!) They had literally crafted an entire story to support the historical look and feel created and it worked. They looked and felt established, trustworthy and definitely worth the rarified rates.

Viking did this when they began as well. Most people (including me) thought that Viking ranges had been around for 100 years or more. In fact, Fred Carl Jr’s legendary company is barely twenty years old. He selected a name that brought age and implied history. He backed this up with marketing materials that reinforced the solid nature of his brand and gave them instant credibility (having top drawer quality always helps.)

#2 Look Big (Even When You Aren’t)
You don’t have to be a big company to be credible, but sometimes it can help for people to think that you are more than a one person show. Building a team can be virtual and mean simply that you work with vendors to provide the finest service.

For years when I am asked how big my design firm is, I ask in reply “how big do you need me to be.” I consider my vendors as partners so whether a project requires three vendors or twenty with workrooms and installers, I am flexible to suit my clients needs.

Today there are easy tools like www.grasshopper.com (no clue why they changed their name from gotvmail, that made sense), and virtual answering services to help you look bigger. By limiting access to yourself, you add the perception of greater value.

#3 Look Connected (Even When You Aren’t)
Social media is a profoundly valuable tool for being visible and visible typically leads to credible. When you appear in more places you look better connected. You can also choose high profile individuals to associate with on Facebook, LinkedIN, and Twitter.

Be selective in those you share as Top Friends and whose Fan Pages you join on Facebook. Seek out industry leaders to connect with on LinkedIN. Always make your invitations personal on both networks and be sure to let that person know (compliments work well, but not fawning) why you want to connect.

Check out blogs of your favorites and be sure to leave relevant and meaningful comments to garner their attention. This can lead to all sorts of opportunities. In addition, providing testimonials or reviews of those whose work you know first-hand (products, seminars, services) can put you in the spotlight and at the least, get you into a much more visible orbit.

Whether you are starting out, starting over, or adding new services and products to your mix, your credibility is integral to your success. Implement the secrets shared here to quickly and easily rise to the top.

Melanie Benson Strick, CEO, Success Connections, Inc., teaches entrepreneurs how to stop feeling overwhelmed so they can create more money, more freedom and more prestige. Get a Jumpstart on your success now with this free evaluation of your business.

When service professionals start working on crafting Irresistible Offers in hopes of closing more business, it’s very common for them to start thinking about giving discounts or giving away free products and services to entice prospects to buy. In other words, they start with the question, “What would make this offer Irresistible to my prospects?”

Allow me to offer a different perspective. Looking from the big picture, Irresistible Offers are a tool for growing company sales. Thus, wouldn’t it be wise to back up and start with the questions, “What are my sales goals?” In particular, “What are the areas of my business I would like to expand?”

Based on that, design offers that funnel new clients toward the areas you want to expand.
For example, if they come to you for a facial, and you have a new skincare line you would like to sell more of, create an offer that gives them a Skincare Starter Kit ($49 Value) if they schedule and pay for a three facial package today.

Your goal of expanding skincare line sales is in action since you’ve opened the door to discussing ongoing product use at your next appointment, you secured three more prepaid facials, which puts cash in your pocket and keeps your client dedicated to you, and your client enjoys the value you’ve added to his/her life by trying the Starter Kit. Everybody wins!

Sales-from-the-podium expert Lisa Sasevich has x-ray vision for seeing the sales opportunities that exist in every company, and the creativity to convert them into gold! If you're looking for simple, quick and easy ways to boost sales without spending a dime, get your FREE Sales Nuggets now at www.theinvisibleclose.com.

As a solo-entrepreneur or small business owner, it is in your best interest to use the Power of Collaboration.   With today’s technology, it has become crucial for each and every organization to continuously adopt newer methods to grow your business. Developing a strong and integrated marketing strategy has become the top-most priority for any organization, irrespective of its size. A good collaboration strategy is very important to build customer faith in your organization. In this regard, just have a look at some simple but effective tips on collaborative marketing strategy.

Focus more on what your customer needs: If you want to retain your customers, remember that you should give them some lucrative offers that they will not find anywhere else. This in turn will help in luring the customers towards your organization. What is important is that you should emphasize more on the needs and requirements of your customers at the time of chalking out your organization's marketing strategy instead of focusing mainly on techniques which you can adopt for selling your wide range of products and services. Just think what your customers are exactly looking for or being a seller, how can you make people buy your products and services.

Make Your Customer Feel Important: You should also remember that the customer is who supports your bottom line. So making them feel very important is what you should primarily focus upon. Organizations should collect detailed information about their prospective client base and spend considerable amount of time in understanding this information.

Collaborative marketers know how to build a strong relationship between businesses and customers. Effective collaborative marketing strategy helps in opening up new avenues and resources that were earlier unexplored by your organization. By adopting this type of marketing strategy, you can build trust among your clients and offer them certain lucrative services that other organizations do not provide. This in turn will make all your customers feel they are very important for your organization and in turn will help you to win the customers' faith towards your organization. Having an effective collaboration strategy in place enables the following:

• ·         Helps you to find out what you should collaborate on and when to collaborate
• ·         Helps you to make an efficient planning as well as opportunity analysis
• ·         It helps in encouraging newer methods of working
• ·         A lot of savings and efficiency is gained via collaborative marketing

So in a nutshell, it can be said that to remember to probe into the needs and requirements of your potential customer base before venturing into the production of a particular commodity. Ultimately, winning the heart of your customer is very crucial for the success of your business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Piter_Smith

Most states have laws that protect consumers of household goods/services from being taken advantage of during a home solicitation sale. In Ohio, when conducting sales that include meeting a prospective purchaser of services or goods at their home and in other defined circumstances, the Home Solicitation Sales Act must be complied with. At the time a sales contract is explained and presented to customer, it must be accompanied by a 3 day notice of the right to rescind the contract. If the Act is not complied with, the customer may rescind the transaction (even after services are completed or goods received) and is relieved of any obligation of payment. Other requirements under this Ohio law require a business to:

Give customer a signed copy of the sales contract with 2 copies of a Notice of Cancellation attached; Complete both copies of the Notice of Cancellation and give to customer. Make your own copies of both the executed contract and the Notices of Cancellation; Inform each customer orally at the time the sales agreement is presented/signed, of the 3 day right to cancel. The oral statement must be similar to the attached written Notice of Cancellation.  If customer exercises right of cancellation within the 3 day period, the within 10 days, Vendor must:  refund all payments made; and notify customer whether Vendor intends to repossess any shipped or delivered goods; Retain all Notices of Cancellation in records and envelope in which it was delivered. If there is no date on the Notice of Cancellation, then Vendor must record date of delivery on the Notice of Cancellation.

Vendor must not commence services during 3 day period in which the customer may cancel. Noncompliance with the above sections constitutes a deceptive act or practice in connection with a consumer transaction.  If you are not sure if your business is subject to the requirements of the Act, check the Ohio Attorney General’s website regarding consumer transactions. http://www.ag.state.oh.us/citizen/pubs/hssa_2003_web.pdf

Caroline Z. Worley is a small business attorney, who represents owners, investors, and entrepreneurs in all aspects of commercial, corporate, and business law, contracts and negotiations, business litigation, and real estate. For more information: Contact Caroline Z. Worley at 614.670.9458, visit her at ohiowomeninbusiness.com or worleylawllc.com or email her at czw@worleyylawllc.com. She is located in Columbus, Ohio.