Attracting Ideal Clients

Educate First Before Selling

I love sales and marketing. It’s one of my passions in life. And I love sharing ideas with people to provide an opportunity to experience a transformation that can improve their results.

I learned an idea from my mentor Eric Lofholm a few years ago that sums up this sentiment. He said educate first before selling. It’s an interesting concept. Education provides the chance to share something that can have impact on someone’s life.

Earning a sale becomes an extension of the education process. The question for you is what can you do to educate prospects? This is not rocket science.

Position Yourself As An Expert

This conversation becomes easier if you have positioned yourself an expert. As an expert, part of your role is to educate people. Let’s face it, people love experts. And as an expert, you have the ability to influence people.

What steps can you take to educate people? Take action now to start the process.

Rick Cooper
Online Marketing Expert

5 Tips to Get More Speaking Engagements

Experts gets more clients! You can use public speaking to increase your visibility. You may also have the opportunity to generate leads or sell products.

Public speaking is a great way to find clients. When you stand at the front of the room, people will perceive you as an expert.

So, where can you go to speak?

Here are 5 tips to get more speaking engagements:

1. Service organizations

Call your local Kiwanis or Rotary club. They are always looking for speakers. Also, check out Meetup groups including Successful Thinkers.

2. Professional associations

There are many great professional associations for specific industries or careers. Make a list of associations and ask for referrals. Check out their local website and look for the Program Director. Network with other professional speakers. I attend the Sacramento Speakers Network. Look for a group in your local area or start your own Meetup group. After you deliver a speech, refer other speakers to them.

3. Companies

Do you have a topic that would interest sales professionals? Call the sales manager or owner of a small to medium size business to book a free local talk. Offer to speak for 30 to 45 minutes at their weekly meeting.Make the talk motivational, as well as providing ideas they can implement.

4. Conferences and Events

There are a lot of events that feature speakers. Many conference organizers hire professional speakers so they know they are getting a good speaker. There are also a lot of smaller events that feature unpaid speakers. Keep an eye out for local events. Connect with your local chamber of commerce and look for flyers for upcoming events.

5. Host your own event

This one is the most challenging to pull off. You need to book a venue or find a place to host the event free. You need to market and promote the event. You need to make confirmation calls. And you need to arrive before and stay after the event. There are also decisions about whether you will serve food, allow time for networking, and how to handle registration. Other than that, it's a great strategy.

Public speaking is one of the most powerful ways to grow your business. You will literally have people beating down your door wanting to talk with you because you have the answers.

Make sure you take the time to develop your speaking content. Write a script, memorize it and practice. Practice, practice, practice. Get clear about your goals for the speech.

One word of caution, be sure to get approval in advance before you attempt to generate leads or sell products during a speech. Many associations have strict rules against selling. Learn what you can in advance about their rules. Then, make a specific request. If they say yes, then you're good to go.

You are an expert! Now, get out there and speak!

Rick Cooper
Marketing Coach

Join me for a Free Teleseminar:

How to Position Yourself as an Expert

Click here to register for the call or request the recording:

http://bit.ly/cvubut

Reach out to your Network

One of the most valuable assets you have in your business is your network. Your network includes anyone you know, whether they are an acquaintance, an associate, a client or a friend.

You have a network, whether you look at it that way or not. There is value in your network. There is the possibility for developing joint venture partnerships, referral opportunities and client relationships.

The question is how do you leverage your network? You have to be deliberate about thinking of your network in a way that will support you. When you have a need, think of specific people you know who can help. Reach out and ask for help.

You will have much better luck if you are proactive in helping others first. If you are always taking and never giving, your network will tire of your requests.

Do you have a strategy to build your network? Isn’t it time you made a plan to build your network and determine how best to make use of this incredible resource?

Be Proactive in Looking for Ways to Help People!

Here are 3 strategies to build your network:

1) Grow your network

One of the simplest ways to grow your network these days is through social media. You have instant access to millions of people. You can quickly connect with people and over time develop closer relationships.

Networking at events is another great way to meet people. Be selective about which events you attend. Look for events that will connect you with your ideal clients or with influential people.

You can also state a goal to develop a relationship with someone you know of but have not met. This is a powerful strategy. It will cause you to step outside of your comfort zone.

2) Connect with your network

A network is meaningless unless you actually reach out and connect with people. You can connect through social media or the phone. The most powerful way to connect with people is directly over the phone or in person. When you talk with someone directly it creates a greater possibility for understanding and opportunity for support.

3) Support your network

Be proactive in looking for ways to help people. Listen to what they are saying. People will often make requests through social media sites, email or on their blog. Watch for opportunities and act on them.

Another idea is to simply ask people what they need help with. This is best done over the phone or by email. Make it personal.

How many people are in your network? What do you plan to do to grow your network? Who are 5 people you want to be in your network? What is one step you can take to reach out to them?

Take action to build your network and you will create opportunities to grow your business in the future.

Creating a Breakthrough in your Business

2009 has come and gone. 2010 is here to stay. But, have your results increased this year? Many people have turned over a new leaf and broken through to greater heights. Still others are struggling with many of the challenges they faced last year.

What are you hoping to accomplish this year? What is holding you back?

If you're ready for a breakthrough in your business, then here are 3 quick tips to help you create a breakthrough:

1) Create an intention

Sometimes we get stuck in the past. We are held back by our limiting beliefs. If you want to change your results, you need to change your mindset. Create an intention that you want to create a breakthrough in your business and speak it into existence.

2) Think bigger

You have to the potential to dramatically increase your results. You have the potential to accomplish so much more. What is holding you back? Many people struggle by playing a small game. They get stuck in a comfort zone and are unable to push past the obstacles that are holding them back. If you want to breakthrough to a higher level, then start by thinking bigger.

Are you Doing What's Necessary to Create the Results You Want?

3) Take massive action

The last tip I'll share is that if you are not making progress fast enough, then it might be because your are not taking enough action. Think about what actions you are taking daily. Are you really doing what's necessary to create the results that you know you are capable of? If not, then it's time to get into massive action.

Now is the time to create a breakthrough in your business. Create an intention. Think bigger. And take massive action. You will break through to a higher level of results and build the business of your dreams!

Success Secrets: Express Gratitude to Attract More Positive Outcomes

One of the qualities you need to possess to build a successful business is gratitude. You will benefit by being grateful for what you have in your life and in your business. It’s easy to focus on the negative. It can be hard to focus on the positive.

Make it a habit each day to express gratitude for what you have. You can do this alone and in silence or however you want. When you acknowledge what you already have that you appreciate, you are more likely to attract similar things into your life.

This practice also works with clients. Express gratitude for the clients you have. It’s also worthwhile to acknowledge your clients with thanks. Send them a thank you card. Send an ecard. Send a gift. Find some special way to say thanks for their business.

Express Gratitude to your Clients!

Take time to express gratitude and you will live a richer life. You will have riches that extend beyond wealth.

Leverage the Power of Intention - Part 1

The Power of Intention is a powerful force that can help you massively increase your results! Are you ready to set powerful intentions?

What do you intend to do? Do you usually accomplish what you intend to do or do you fall short? Intentions are powerful. It's a mistake to set intentions and fail to follow through. It diminishes your personal power.

So, what is an intention? An intention is a desire for things to be a certain way or for you to act in a certain way. The amazing thing is that if you believe and have faith in your intentions, they will often come true in a mysterious or magical way. This is due in Iarge part to the law of attraction.

Start Small - Set an Intention to Have a Cup of Coffee!

When should you set intentions? Intentions can be set on a daily basis. You can start small and work your way up. For instance, you could have an intention to have a cup of coffee. That will lead you through a series of steps to obtaining that cup of coffee. But, it started with the intention.

In Part 2 of this post, I'll share how to set powerful intentions!

Set an intention now to learn more. To help you get started, I'm giving away books.

Click Here to Find Out How to Win Books

Rick Cooper
Sales & Marketing Success Coach

Partner with People to Team Up and Increase your Success

One of the strategies that has made me successful is to partner with people. Building a business takes time and effort. As a solopreneur, there's a lot of work to do. You can delegate tasks, but it can be challenging to hand off the right tasks.

If you want to increase your results, look for opportunities to team up. I value people and look for people to partner with. I have been fortunate to find many other entrepreneurs to work with over the last 6 years.

I have gained value from working with coaches and mentors. I have also gotten a lot of value from the relationships I have developed with my fellow business owners.

I recently teamed up and wrote a book with Joy Klepac, Todd Lay, Sonika Tinker, Brian Brunckhorst, Linda Distler and Keith Huggett.

The book is called Seize your Opportunities. It's a collection of tips, strategies and stories to help you identify opportunities to help you succeed in your business.

Seek Out People You Can Partner With!

Who can you partner with? How would you benefit from developing relationships with other business owners?

I encourage you to actively seek out people you can partner with. It can make all the difference in the world!

Click Here to Get your Copy of Seize your Opportunities