Tips for Business Growth on a Shoestring Budget

You may be from the “you have to have money to make money” school of thought, and in some respects, this is true. Obviously the more you can put into your business, the faster the business growth will occur. But does this mean people with no money can’t start a business and succeed? Certainly not! And history is full of examples of people who have done just that.

If you are a self employed entrepreneur or SOHO, chances are you don’t have the type of business that attracts financial backers or entails teams of employees or contractors working for you. It’s just you and your wallet and the sweat of your own brow. That’s okay. You can work with that and still achieve business growth.

Your main challenge is likely to be sales and marketing. Maybe you hate networking and don’t have much time to spend going out to meet potential clients. Maybe you don’t feel comfortable in those situations, or maybe you have some other life challenges that makes it difficult to get out and attend networking events. That’s okay. There is more than one way to market your business, and for the financially challenged, ways that cost very little.

These ideas won’t suit every business type, but think outside the box and ask yourself how you could adapt the ideas to suit your line of work. For starters, do you have a corporate client or contact? Leave some business cards with them and ask them if they’d mind mentioning your company to their contacts/clients. You can also leave your business cards on the counters of other local businesses, such as the local vet. Be creative!

Is your business the type that you can invite some clients together in one place, perhaps offering them a free seminar or an informational meet and greet occasion? If so, do it and encourage them to bring a friend. If your business is “virtual” – suggest an e-group situation in which they can openly share and discuss issues relevant to their business and again, allow them to invite friends. In this way you introduce your business to potential customers, while servicing existing clients.
Ask your existing clients or contacts for referrals. Encourage their participation by offering them something in exchange, like an incentive scheme. This could be discounts for your products or services, free samples, or gift vouchers. If you don’t like to ask outright, design a “Referral Form” and include it with your invoices, but don’t send it with the first invoice! Prove yourself first. Ask them if they have any leads for you to follow up, and to really make this an offer they can’t refuse, suggest you may be able to put business their way too, using the same methods.
Affiliate yourself with other companies/entrepreneurs who can put business your way in exchange for you offering referrals for them. A kind of you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours situation. Even appropriate links on websites can be useful, but make sure you are linking to a professional site to safeguard your reputation.
Whether or not you have a referral program, when you do get a new client from a referral, always thank the referrer. Send a thank you note and a small token of your appreciation – it might be a gift voucher or even a lottery ticket. If you haven’t got a referral program in place, whenever you gain a new client from a referral, remember to send a thank you and a small gift to the “referrer” – even a lottery ticket! They won’t mind sending you referrals!
Consider joint ventures. For example, if you are a hair dresser, find a beauty salon or other related business who would be willing to market you to their customers in exchange for you marketing their business to yours. You can offer each others clients special deals and prices that only your and their clientele can get. Find ways to add value to each other’s customers and you will both benefit.

Use the press. Align yourself with a local charity dear to your heart and the next time you do something that benefits them, invite the local journalists or send a press release yourself to your local papers.

Use social media. It may not be the promised answer to everyone’s marketing prayers but at the very least it gets your company name out there and known!

There are as many strategies for promoting business growth as there are types of business. Think outside the box, keep your eyes open for opportunities, experiment and be creative!

5 Rules to Boost Business Growth

Owning your own small business should be financially rewarding as well as provide the personal satisfaction derived from wearing the captain’s hat and steering your own ship. And in an ideal world, boosting business growth should be as easy as choosing which photocopier to purchase. The reality, however, is usually the opposite for many small business owners.

If you are a small business owner searching for ways to boost your business growth, here are five simple, yet effective, rules that will help put you on the starting line, facing in the right direction:

1. Be “in business”
Unsuccessful small businesses, especially SOHO’s and network marketers, often don’t think of themselves as business owners. Some don’t even have the business basics like a dedicated phone line, fax machine, business name, domain name, letterhead, business cards, brochures, merchant status to accept credit cards, contact management software, etc. How can you expect people to do business with you if you aren’t really in business? You must commit 100%. You are either in business or you are not. There is no grey area. Well, there is… that’s where you find people who are dabbling at being in business and failing. There is a huge difference between a hobby and a legitimate business. Once you make that commitment you must have a business plan. These are not inflexible and will change as your business needs change.

2. Know your products and services
Have you ever tried to buy something from someone who couldn’t answer your questions about their product or service? Hardly confidence inspiring, is it? Your customers expect you to be an expert about whatever it is you are selling. If you don’t know everything there is to know about it, who would? How can you compare what you offer to your competitors, to stay ahead and remain competitive? Customers want to know facts and figures and they want all the features and benefits explained to them in terms they can understand. That’s where you come in. If you don’t deliver, they will take their business somewhere else where they have more confidence, and this applies whether you are selling widgets or services.

3. Fear of Marketing
You won’t experience business growth if you sit back waiting for customers to materialize and come to you. You have to not only let your potential customers know you exist and how to contact you, you also have to tell them how they can benefit and how your product/service will solve their problems. It doesn’t matter how brilliant your product or service is, it just won’t sell itself.

4. Fear of Selling
Many small business owners have stories of used car salespeople swimming around in their heads and they equate sales with being deceitful or pushy. Well, unfortunately, there are people in the world like that, but you don’t have to be one. In fact, you will taste success more quickly and easily if you are NOT like that.

You need to communicate the features and benefits of your product or service without exaggeration or dishonesty. You must develop strong inner beliefs that support serving others, sharing your products/services, secure in the knowledge that you are doing them a favor, being in business and bringing them great products and services. Coming from a place of trying to push people into buying will only push people away. People hate to be manipulated and they can spot a phony a mile away. Wanting to sincerely serve others will attract people. Think “serve”, not “sell”.

5. You Don’t Fully Believe in Yourself
When you doubt yourself and your ability to be successful, you set in motion circumstances that will hold you back and stop you from achieving business growth. You will hold back from investing in your business and spending money on areas vital to your business success. And if you don’t truly believe in your products or services, this will reflect in your sales and marketing (or rather, lack of) and rather than attract customers, you will make them doubtful and go elsewhere. Surely, you have been to a business where even the atmosphere screams the owner isn’t really all that interested? You must be interested and believe you will be successful… because it influences how others see you.

Challenge your beliefs. What is really behind your fears and doubts? Are these truly your stories or have you allowed other people’s doubts to infiltrate your better judgment? Yes some businesses are facing challenging times right now, but there are also businesses who are thriving, and yet others who are coasting along comfortably.

Ever heard of Dream, Believe, Achieve? When you believe the dream can be real, nothing will stop you.

Sharing My Secret…

I’ve written a lot about a lot of products and services over the years and today I want to share a tip about a service I’ve been using for many years — a company that allows you to share products you have created. I say they are the best kept secret in my business and they are responsible for all my custom products!

I don’t have an affiliate deal with them. I just am sitting at my desk today thinking, “Where would my business be without them?” and I am feeeeeeeeeeling grateful.

What I love about this company, Vervante (http://www.vervante.com/) is how easy they are to work with and how quickly they make my products ready for distribution, send out my products and handle any problems customers may run into.

Prior to using Vervante I was spending my valuable time duplicating CD’s and DVD’s or having to pay virtual assistants to do this task. Then someone had to go to the post office and ship things out. Having Vervante not only gives a professional look and consistent look to all my products it gives me full service support, helps me establish my branding, and takes a load off my mind as every order is automatically fulfilled by them as they come into my shopping cart!

Here’s another reason I recommend Vervante (http://www.vervante.com/ ) … they also print all my products on demand! I don’t have to pre-pay or sit on huge inventory. I teach all my clients and coaching students and business owners that the only way to publish these days is using on-demand publishing and distribution for their books, CDs, DVDs, training and coaching programs, and information products. Vervante allows you to share your products with the world by having high quality products at super competitive prices.

In fact the company takes great pride not only in producing high quality products it also has helped hundreds of my clients see their dream of being published come true.

You can contact them here: customerservice@vervante.com or sales@vervante.com and although there is no affiliate relationship please tell them I referred you so they will know how much I value their services.

If you have any questions about Vervante, just post them in the comments below. Or, if you have suggestions about other services, please share them.

How to Take Success to the Next Level

Are you ready to take your business to the next level and really be more successful? Let me give you a couple of tips.

No. 1, it’s important to be studying from someone who has grown their own business and helped others. Get yourself a mentor, business strategist, someone like me. It’s really important that instead of making mistakes, you learn from someone who’s already made them so you don’t spend a lot of time, energy and money.

No. 2, I want you to spend time on your business and more time on your business than in it. What do I mean by that? Most business owners spend so much time doing what they do – a chiropractor is going treatments or adjustments; a physician is seeing patients; a coach is coaching clients, etc. Whatever business you’re in, you need to spend at least four solid hours every single week working on your business. That means working on strategies and implementing those strategies.

What else can you do to take your business to the next level? Well, this may sound like a funny thing to tell you, but it’s actually to have more free time. I know that seems crazy, but keep ready. I want you to get away from your business once in a while. You need to go for a walk, go on vacation, take some time to yourself just to think quietly, process what’s going on in your business. Many of you, like me, think best when you’re in the shower or in a hot tub. You can get some great ideas when you just let you mind sit and think .That’s why I want you to take some time away from your business.

Here is one more bonus tip: when you’re working on your business, make sure that it is non-interruptible time. No phone, no text messages, no e-mail. Seriously, roll up your sleeves and concentrate only on making your business better.

My Business Growth Training Program – $1 Trial

Every day, I talk with business owners who may already be quite successful, but are still struggling. Maybe they’ve hit a plateau and they feel “stuck.” Or maybe they’ve hit a rough patch and they’re feeling down about it. Or maybe everything is humming along smoothly – yet they’re anxious about the future.

It’s all those business owners and entrepreneurs out there that inspired me to put together my business growth training program. I have put my life’s work into this, and I am SO excited to share it with all of you!!

As you can imagine, after personally working with more than 5,000 business owners in 239 different industries, I’ve discovered hundreds of proven business growth secrets. In fact, I’ve invested more than half my life – not to mention tens of thousands of dollars – to create and perfect business growth strategies that actually work in the real “hard-knocks” world of business.

I’m so happy to share this with you, that I want to offer you the chance to test out my business training program for only $1! I know this program is perfect for you, but sometimes you just need to try it out first. What do you have to lose?!

Try my Business Growth Training Program for $1!

To learn more and to get your $1, Click Here: http://www.terrilevine.com/trial/

Avoid these 5 Common Mistakes for Entrepreneurial Success

A large percentage of new businesses fail within the first five years. This failure is usually attributed to incompetency and lack of preparation – in other words, it doesn’t matter if the product of service is brilliant in every respect if the business owner lacks business savvy!

It’s not all bad news, however, because there are businesses that flourish and rake in high profits regardless of the economy.  Some of these entrepreneur owners didn’t know what to do either, but they learned. It doesn’t matter what you do in life, if you want success, you do have to put in some effort. It isn’t handed to you on a plate.

You can be successful too, if you avoid these 5 mistakes: (more…)

What would you do in these situations….?

Mick Mickler is disabled. He’s dependent on his wheelchair.

He was forced to retire from his previous career. He has to
find a job he can do from his home, that is easy, that lets him
use his mind rather than his body, and that pays well.

What would you suggest?

Cheryl Sinclair worked for 20 years in the corporate world.

When she decided to go out on her own, she struggled with
what to do, what to call herself, and how to profit from her
past experiences.

What do you think she did?

Monty Sharp wrote, “I was employed as a Rehabilitation
Program Manager for a large health care company.
While I was still at the “top of my game”, there was
something profoundly wrong inside. I felt lost and almost
hopeless. On my precarious climb up the “enchanted”
corporate ladder, I found instead with each rung only more
disillusionment. I began to question why I had worked so
hard and long for this.”

What would you advise Monty to do?

Finally, Laura Terrebonne was laid off as a speech-language
pathologist. She didn’t know what to do to survive. She wrote,
“After spending over 10 years in the rehab field, I found myself
with a masters degree in one hand and a pink slip in the other.
I was embarrassed, humiliated and lost.”

What is she doing today?

What would *you* be doing in each of the above cases?

Each of the above people are real.

They are like you.

Or me.

They reached a point where they wanted—or needed—a
new career. And they each found it in the same place.

What did they do? (more…)

HOW FULFILLED ARE YOU… REALLY?

Are you fulfilled in your life? How about in your work? Many clients we work with tell us they have a wonderful lifestyle, but as we start to dig deeper, we see that they are missing a great life. What is the difference?

Simple. A lifestyle is the external things which you gather, but a life is something fulfilling and sustaining. Let’s look at some of the ways to be more fulfilled.

1. Stop focusing on earning more and buying more. Stop funding a lifestyle, and start creating a better life for you and those around you.
2. Stop looking for more gratification, and start being very grateful for all you do have.
3. Stop measuring your success in money terms, and start measuring emotional costs. If you work day and night to keep up with your lifestyle, you are giving up your life. Start enjoying your life and making it simple.
4. Ask yourself if you are working for a living or doing the work you love for life? (I do what I love and love what I do … shouldn’t you?)
5. Focus on your energy, feeling joy, love, and having the time to enjoy the special people in your life – this is how to be fulfilled.
6. If your work drains you or doesn’t fulfill your intellectual, social, and emotional needs, make a change.

Can’t seem to make a change and blaming everyone else? Stop whining … don’t be a wimp … take back the power of your life … go for fulfillment … and get back in control!

ALREADY LOST CONTROL?
Most people are so unbalanced today that they aren’t even aware of it. Are you one of them? The answers you provide to the following questions will measure the degree of balance you have between the demands of work, family responsibilities, and personal time. Become aware of what and where your “gaps” are (gap – coach “talk” for the difference between what you want and what you currently have).
Answer each question with a number, with 5 being “always” and 1 being “never.”
AT HOME:
Does your family complain that you don’t spend enough time with them?
Do you often feel anxious about the demands of your family?
Do responsibilities at home make you resentful?
Do you expect your family to adapt to your career needs?
SUBTOTAL:
AT WORK:
Do you feel frustrated because your income is not enough?
Do you feel guilty about the time you spend on your career?
Do you resent having to bring work home?
Do you worry that your work interferes with family needs?
SUBTOTAL:
PERSONAL:
Do you feel there’s never enough time for yourself?
Do you feel guilty about taking a vacation?
Do you wish you got more exercise?
Do you feel you never get to do what you like to do?
SUBTOTAL:
TOTAL:
A total score of less than 20 indicates you’ve learned to balance family, career and personal needs successfully.
21-30 indicates a good balance with some need for improvement.
31-40 indicates a fair balance.
41-50 shows that you’re barely managing the juggling act of home, career and personal needs.
BALANCING ACT
Want to get into balance fast? Begin by keeping a journal for 3-5 days of your current time allocation. Notice where you are spending most of your time. Is your time being spent on your life values/priorities?
When you compare where you want to spend your time and where you are spending your time, don’t get discouraged. By learning and knowing this information you can then begin to make changes. This awareness has created for you what coaches call a “gap” – the difference between what you want and what you currently have.
Having identified what you want and knowing your current situation, you can now begin to change your everyday actions to move you closer to what you desire.
If you want some help on your journey, a professional coach can assist you to build a balance between work and play and to create more joy in your life. Don’t live your life out of balance. Don’t let your life slip by with you saying “if only…”. Make a decision today to move you closer to what you want.
IS TIME A PROBLEM?

Do you feel frustrated with the lack of time you have? Feel anxious that you just can’t get everything done, no matter how hard you work or how much time you spend?

Today’s society brings with it many things to juggle: career, family, home, shopping, activities, appointments, events and on and on. This leads us to feel we have no time and creates stress which can cause a variety of illnesses.

If you are serious about turning this around, or want to avoid this situation, here are some pointers for you:

1. Slow down – take many breaks during the day and keep telling yourself to breathe and relax.

2. Track one full day of your week by 15-minute increments – evaluate where all your time goes and ask yourself this question, “Is this how I choose to be experiencing my life?” – be honest with yourself.

3. Create delight breaks in your day – time to take a walk, call a friend, stretch, look outside, read a magazine, take a bath, etc.

You’d be surprised how much time you actually do ‘waste’ during a busy day. Keeping a journal will identify times in which you really CAN take a walk, sit and enjoy a cappuccino, call a friend, etc.

ENJOYING THE MOMENT

It is all too easy to become so swept up in your work that not only do you not stop to smell the roses, you’ve ceased to even notice them. One secret to living life to the fullest is simply to enjoy today… enjoy the moment.

Until technology perfects time travel, it is impossible to relive the past or live in the future. You CAN only experience “now”, so it is important not to waste it.

Ensure that the things you do and experience in your Present, are things that really matter to you. Don’t waste these precious present moments doing things that other people think you should do. Their perspective is only appropriate to themselves. Set the goals that are best for you.

Don’t be hard on yourself. You are human. Humans, by their very nature, are imperfect creatures. Don’t condemn yourself over your weaknesses. These things can be worked on if they are a real problem, and that’s why you are given a lifetime – for you to experience one day at a time.

Don’t compare yourself to others. Instead, appreciate the very things which make you different; which make you special. We will always find those who are worse off, or better off, and every single one lives in circumstances totally different from ourselves. It’s like comparing a blade of grass with an iron bar.

Spontaneity is good – when it is appropriate, but bear in mind that your time, your actions, and your words can never be taken back. Make each one count.

Finally, look upon each day as a precious gift. You are not here to race through the days as quickly as possible, skimming over the details. You are here to experience each step of your life’s journey, to learn from it, to savor it, to enjoy it. Yesterday is too late; tomorrow isn’t here yet… you only have today.

The Ten Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

The saying goes, “Be the change you want to see occur in the world around you.” I agree! In fact, if everyone knew and embraced some of the basic coaching skills utilized by life and business coaches, our world would be a much better place. Sadly, however, these abilities aren’t being taught in our schools. You have to learn them for yourself. When I first learned these skills over a decade ago, my life changed drastically. I learned how to enjoy my life more, be less stressed and have much more fulfilling relationships. I also gained more self-confidence and added value to everyone I met. For entrepreneurs, these skills can help create the lasting impressions and profitable relationships that help build successful businesses and, ultimately, successful people.

Don’t be judgmental – Remember to look for and recognize the good both in yourself and in others. We all have our “good” and our “off” days. We’re all unique in our appearance, our thoughts, our opinions and our likes and dislikes. These differences are not threatening or “bad”, just “different.” Embrace the differences and be happy for the variety. Likewise, forget the concepts of “right” and “wrong.” People are not good or bad or right or wrong; they just are. Being judgmental wastes time and cuts you off from opportunities and meaningful relationships. Remember, you aren’t perfect either!

Respect – Don’t make the mistake of thinking your rights are the only ones that count. Everyone deserves the same basic rights, and our fundamental right is to be respected. Respect is acknowledging another human being’s dignity and treating them how you wish to be treated yourself. We all came on to this earth equal and we’re all checking out as equals. What happens in between is just a series of different life experiences.

Be a good listener – How often do you really listen to other people? How often do you drift off when others or speaking, or plan what you’re going to say next instead of listening to them? It takes practice to be a good listener, but in being one, you put yourself in a position to better comprehend the real message being given to you.

Be interested, not interesting – People love to talk about themselves and will delight in the opportunity to do so, so ensure you ask questions and take an interest in what they are telling you. Don’t worry about them hogging the limelight – you can have your turn during the conversation

Respond from your heart – We tend to respond to others using our head, not our heart. We formulate stories about us, we defend our ego or we judge other people or what they have said. If we respond from our heart, we can respond with understanding and a sense of connection. Find something good to say about people and to people, the response you see will amaze you.

Be truthful – There is good reason for the saying “honesty is the best policy.” Nothing good ever comes from lies, but there is a difference between telling an outright lie and being diplomatic. If you’ve made a mistake, then welcome to the human race! You don’t have to lie to cover it up, but you also don’t have to blunt or “brutally” honest. There are gentle and tactful ways of delivering truths. Think carefully before you speak.

Be helpful – When you need a helping hand, don’t you just love the person who comes up and offers it to you? Wouldn’t you love the opportunity to repay them? If you can be that person that people look to with gratitude, you never know how or when they will repay you.

Maintain your integrity and your dignity – People with their integrity intact are easier to deal with in both business and personal situations. They know where they stand and you know where you stand with them. You will feel better about yourself when you set your standards and stand by them, and you will attract those who respect your standards and who have standards of their own.

Go the Extra Mile – I mean this in a couple of ways. First, whether you are being asked to do something or you are offering to do something, remember that if something is worth doing in the first place, then it is worth doing well. And while you are at it, what little touches can you offer to improve it? Whether your offering a business service or merely a friendly ear, going the extra mile helps you stand out as a person, which is the first step to creating relationships.

Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say. This is one of the oldest business principles around. Neither beat around the bush nor make promises you can’t keep. If you say you are going to do something, do it. Be known as a reliable person. Honor your promises and agreements wherever possible – this is the basis of integrity. When you are perceived as a person with integrity, your new opportunities as an entrepreneur and a person will constantly surprise you.

Snow, snow, snow!

Here in the suburbs of Philadelphia we have had snow, snow and snow! I am so glad I work from home. The other day one of my VIP clients could not get into Philly his flight was cancelled. No worries. We did his day on iChat and got everything accomplished.

Then yesterday two of my business members were to meet with me all day and again could not fly in due to cancelled flights. No problem! We did video google video chat, Igoogle, and we also later did a teleconference.

It is amazing that while my friends couldn’t get to their offices and their businesses came to stand stills I was productive making a few minor modifications and rolling along… in fact I produced results without having to step out in the snow one bit.

If your work conditions aren’t ideal… how can YOU make them more ideal? Life is to short for struggle and doing anything that doesn’t bring you joy.