The Online Prosperity Experience

Everything is figuroutable. If you’ve been listening to my podcast or reading my blog for a while, you know I’m a huge advocate of investing in yourself. That means training. That means hiring coaches, getting programs, reading books, going to conferences, and doing all of those things. Continually investing in yourself, so you can grow yourself and ultimately grow your business. Let me ask you a question. Are you growing your business from what you’re learning? I have a couple more questions. Number one: Do you have books sitting on a shelf that you’ve never read? That you’ve paid for? People give me books all the time. I read them when I can, but there are books or audiobooks that I paid for that I’ve never listened to. Why? Because we haven’t prioritised those. I’ll get to that. The second question is: Do you have training programs or courses, or anything that you purchased that is sitting on your hard drive gathering digital dust, that you’ve never opened? Same question: Why? Because you haven’t prioritised it. I love this quote from Marie Forleo – “It’s all Figuroutable.” Mastery requires a mindset that knows and embraces this. It’s a growth mindset that says – I have the ability to learn, grow in my understanding, and troubleshoot. I am resourceful, and I can figure stuff out. What have you been telling yourself that you’re BAD at, and therefore you CAN'T do? What’s ONE step you can take to begin mastering that thing? How can you make it FUN? Celebrating your Figuroutableness.

It’s a truth universally known that you have to cultivate your personal brand, particularly if you are a coach, consultant or Internet Explorer. But because everyone has a brand nowadays (Tom Peters describes it as “your promise to the marketplace and the world”) simply having one is insufficient if you want to advance. You can’t just be known as “the guy who makes websites” or “the programmer who can explain things well” or “that woman in legal who gets things done fast.” That’s nice — but there are a million of you, and in a globalised world, your industry can find an alternative to you fast. That’s why you need to establish yourself as a thought leader. Courses and good keynotes are nice to have. Thought leaders are irreplaceable — and indispensable. So how do you build a reputation as a singular expert — someone who doesn’t just participate in the conversation, but drives it? In a word: leverage. No matter how brilliant and talented you are, you won’t be sufficiently appreciated within your industry or by your customers until the broader public recognises you. This outside reinforcement becomes an echo chamber that brings money and respect. How to get it? Follow these six steps to jump-start your thought leadership. Not all avenues will be open to you at the start, but most will in time.

How To Deal With Negative Reviews Online reviews have become an increasingly important concern for coaches, consultants and small businesses. No matter how dedicated you are to providing great service, you're eventually going to get some negative reviews. How you handle them can have a big impact on your business. Keep in mind that your responses are seen by the public just as reviews are. That's why it's essential to respond to all reviews, even critical ones, in a responsible and professional manner. Why Reviews Are So Important To Small Businesses Reputation is vital for all businesses. In some ways, however, online reviews are more critical for small businesses than larger ones. Why is this? Companies that are household names certainly prefer positive publicity to negative. It's certainly a concern if they see too many negative reviews. However, they have so many loyal customers already that they can afford to absorb some bad reviews. Smaller businesses don't get a huge number of reviews. Therefore, even a few negative comments can have a significant effect on public perception. Unfortunately, many customers are more likely to write a review when they have a complaint than when they're satisfied. So, a small business that mostly satisfies its customers may find itself getting harmed by a few disgruntled customers. Are you ready to grow your business on social media or on the internet? Dealing with online interactions means that you should be prepared for customers who express their unhappiness in a public way. However, such events are opportunities for growth if you know how to deal with them well. I’ve shared several ways you can deal with negative feedback. So, the next time you have an unhappy customer, look for ways to apply these tips and change things for the better.

Grabbing And Keeping Your Audience’s Attention Today, I want to highlight a very real problem that’s costing Internet Explorers (That’s our new name btw) like you millions, if not billions of dollars. The problem is this: your audience’s available attention capacity isn’t growing; the amount of online content available to them is. It’s growing exponentially! Not only is the amount of available content growing at a lightning-fast pace, but your audience is also bombarded with other distractions, both on and offline, as well. So as a coach, consultant or Internet Explorer, your potential audience members, whom you want to become your customers, are getting harder and harder to reach. It’s becoming more and more challenging to win their attention and to keep it. And keep it you must, if you are going to convert them. Think about this: you can win the “attention-getting” battle and drive large amounts of traffic to your site in a number of different ways that are all very useful, including email marketing, social media, SEO/SEM, etc. But what does it matter how much attention you get initially for your online marketing if you don’t keep it until your reader converts into your buyer? Today, let’s talk about how you can grab and keep your potential customer’s attention. Both are critical to your online marketing success.

The Secret of the Yellow Cars. In this episode, I give us a name : The Internet Explorers!!! This is because we are always searching for ways, methods and systems to make our lives exciting and worth living. So to get the name some air time. I shall introduce you to this episode. Dear Internet Explorer: Today I bring you a rare gem, a secret so powerful, it can work a profound change in every area of your life, including marketing. Big claim, I know. That's what you get when you become an Internet Explorer, living the best life possible. The secret is effortless. In just 60 seconds, it will empower you to open your eyes and see the world in a new way. It will let you uncover many of life’s treasures hiding in plain sight, and can be used to obtain anything you desire far more quickly. I call it… The Secret of the Yellow Cars. You do so and suddenly notice more cars than you can count. Instantly, you have just experienced a quantum leap in your ability to perceive yellow cars. That’s cool, you think. But why is this such a powerful secret for mastering marketing … or anything else in life? Simple. Listen to this podcast and learn the secret of the Yellow cars.

Ask this simple 5-word question, stand back and watch your profits roll in. In this episode, you will learn a simple five-word sentence that gives you an almost unfair advantage in boosting your marketing, outselling your competition and triggering an ongoing stream of endless referrals. Asking this simple question is the easiest way I know to get yourself and your team to think outside the box. It can literally make you wealthy and establish your reputation as a coach, consultant or small business visionary in your industry with a Midas touch. This is true whether you’re an entrepreneur, solopreneur, copywriter, marketing manager, CEO—anyone with anything to do with marketing. Shameless over-promising? Not at all, as you’ll now see. Here’s the question: What are we really selling? While a good product obviously has to be your starting point, it absolutely cannot be your final destination, because it is not truly what you’re selling. You’re selling a brand experience and service and a company mission and perspective, but you’re more than anything selling the outcome of someone doing business with you. If you have a clear idea of what that outcome ideally is, and of how your offerings improve customers lives one way or another, you can hold onto that and use it to inform your entire marketing approach. How are you adding to your customers’ lives? Answer that, and the rest will follow because that is what you’re selling. Have an example of a company that deeply understands how to add value? listen to this podcast, and use that as inspiration!

No, they’re not FREE and NEW. In this podcast, you’ll discover the two most powerful words in Digital marketing and how to use them to explode your response fairly easily and consistently. The Conventional Wisdom We Have Around Marketing And Sales, IS Wrong. First, you must understand why some of what you have been taught about direct marketing is wrong, or at least outdated and incomplete. Most of the great books on sales and marketing were written more than a generation ago by legends such as John Caples, David Ogilvy, Claude Hopkins and one or two others. Most of their response-boosting secrets remain valid, as we will see in future episodes of the Online prosperity Experience, but since the pandemic, a lot has changed. Their main teaching: benefits, big benefits, are the key to high response to their marketing messages. Makes sense. But there’s a problem. These giants wrote this advice long ago when, compared with today, prospects were under-marketed. So, yes, back then, flat-out big benefits and words like FREE and NEW got people excited. But today, more often than not, these same words and super-sized claims instantly trigger rejection. The problem is, words like FREE and NEW and the big-claim style of advertising they reflect, have been so overused, that they have become bright red flags that instantly scream to your prospects, throw me away! As proof, if I were to email you with the words “new” and “free,” I must misspell them, or your spam filter may bounce my message. Best proof: just ask yourself, do you get overly excited when you encounter an email or direct mail package trumpeting free or new or some fantastic claim to make you rich, change your life overnight or grow body parts bigger than you ever dreamed? Of course not. You have heard such claims too many times. Your own exquisitely sensitive mental spam filter rejects all such messages instantly, as you think to yourself, YEAH, SURE. And those, my friend, are the two most powerful and influential words in marketing today. Yeah, sure. They are the near-universal response of a too-busy world awash in marketing. Press play and find out more.

I Bet You Don’t Put This On Your Balance Sheet (But You Should) If you had to list all the assets of your business in their order of cash value, including buildings, your equipment, your inventory, your account receivables, your patents and trademarks, which are more valuable than the others. If you are like most business people, you left out the number one most valuable asset off the list, YOUR CUSTOMERS. Your clients are important, essential, & valuable. Take the time to understand them. Know who your clients are, and they will make your business more successful. Knowing them puts you in a terrific position to get their attention. When you are introducing new products and services, your clients should be notified first. Understanding your demographics allows you to better market your business. This will establish a strong business/client relationship and create an environment of trust and comfort. The relationship is worth its weight in gold. The key to keeping customers long enough to derive maximum return on investment is a marketing concept called the top of the consciousness principle. Using it to your advantage relies heavily on Digital marketing. Here are the 3 keys to growing your customer list, and your initial outreach to them.

Business Success is Based on Standing For Something If you stand for something that others believe in, then you’ll be head and shoulders above the competition, by becoming a trusted source. If you share your beliefs and values, then immediately you’ve chosen your side of the road to stick to. If you keep to the middle, you’ll eventually you’ll get run over and then forgotten about. People want to follow a leader. They want to follow someone who is going somewhere. But that means They need to know where you’re going.They need to know what you stand for.What is your unique Point Of View,your unique message,the unique value you bring?What is your perfect client’s Point A and Point B, and what are your unique steps to help them get there?How do you package your message differently than anyone else?Why would your perfect client choose to work with you vs someone else? It needs to be as clear as the difference between Apple and Samsang phones (there’s a reason I went out and bought a new Apple – when I could have bought a Samsang for a fifth of the price – I identify with their mission, their commitment to excellence, to user-friendliness, and to beauty). What is that thing that you bring that no one else does that causes your perfect client (not just anyone) – causes your perfect client to say – I want what she’s having! I LOVE everything she/he does! I can’t wait to sign up for her next program! This only happens when we clearly stand for something.

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, yet some people achieve so much more than others. What are their secrets? I’ve studied some of the best minds in the world on personal development, including experts in psychology, productivity, goal setting, time management, and even personal happiness (which has a lot to do with how well you use your time). I’ve found a wealth of amazing tips, way too many for one episode of the Online Prosperity Experience, so I’ll save some for future episodes. Today I’ll focus on three of my favourites and how to leverage them to double your productivity if you’re a coach, consultant or small business owner. Apply the 80/20 RuleThe one statement you should memorise.Amplify your strengths and outsource your weaknesses. This remarkably reliable shift holds that roughly 20 per cent of your daily activities are responsible for 80 per cent of your success, income, and personal happiness. These are your “big-payoff” activities. Imagine just doing the things that pay you, every hour of your day? Jump into this one, it's packing heat!

7 ways to win friends and influence people. Naturally, coaches, consultants and small business people want to get the attention of people with power and influence--and that can mean being assertive. I frequently reach out to busy people who should not have time for me and succeed in connecting nonetheless--because as in so much of business, execution is everything. When you ask someone for help, advice or an opportunity, keep these seven tips in mind. Don't go straight to the topFind out how this organisation worksWhat value can you provide?Offer to do any legwork required.Clarity on the ask.Offer a long rope.Know what a self-serving request is. High-level executives and other successful people with a lot of demands on their schedules need to be selective about who gets their attention. Seeking a connection that's all about you and your goals is a recipe for failure. If you want to get ahead, do your research, think about the other person's time and needs, and make a great first impression.

If You Want More Business – Simply Ask For It. If you have been listening, reading or watching our content, you will agree with this. I’ve said it here often enough that people are probably thinking I sound like a broken record, but one of the easiest ways to grow your business as a coach, consultant or small business owner is to do more business with your existing clients. Once you have become a trusted advisor for your clients, it is much easier to increase your wallet share with them than to go out and find new clients. A lot of business owners get this notion, but they constantly come back to me and ask – How. I mean we only install air conditioners and heating systems. How do we do more business with our existing clients? I tell them that your relationship with your customers must not end at the bottom of the order form. You can set up subscription services.Create courses,Look for profitable avenues to help your customers. Go to your current clients and ask them what you should add to what they are buying from you right now. Find out what they can’t get right now or what they would prefer to buy from you. Find out how you could serve them better, keep an open mind to some seemingly odd suggestions, and you may find yourself going in entirely new and profitable directions.

How to sell to the elusive small-business owner… If you are a coach, consultant or small business owner in the business (or thinking of getting into the business) of selling to small-business owners, beware. It’s a tough market to reach and tougher even to sell. Small-business owners are very busy people. They may need your product or service, but they don’t have the time to think about it. They are up early and deep into their work by the time that first cup of coffee hits their lips. Although they sometimes fantasise about kicking back in their chairs and casually reading through the marketing material in their inboxes, they seldom can. When the time comes to make buying decisions, small-business owners are impatient shoppers, demanding buyers, and tight with their wallets. (The average small business has a net income of only 6.3 percent of revenues, so owners tend to pinch pennies.) But if you get their loyalty – earn it and keep earning it – they will stay with you for life. Marketing to small-business owners is a tough game. But if you have a good product, can sell it at a competitive price, and have the tenacity to work hard for that first sale, you’ll be rewarded with a loyal, profitable customer for life.

Design your daily checklist for high performance and success. The quality of your life, business or relationships is the reflection of your standards. You could make millions and still stay poor in your mind. Being poor is not about making less money. Being poor is a mentality. It’s a choice to live a low standard of life. You have an opportunity to change this daily When I say low standard, I don’t mean the luxuries and pleasures that rich people can afford. You can raise your standards regardless of how much money you make. It’s not about money, it’s about mindset. Different people have different values. We can have high standards in some areas of our lives while we may avoid the other areas. Here are the five major areas of life where you can raise your standards : HealthWealthRelationshipsSelf-disciplineMindset Your thoughts determine your actions. If you want to put quality thoughts in your mind, you must craft your environment in a way that most thoughts in your mind are useful or helpful. Destructive thought patterns lead to depression, worry or anxiety. Your internal self-talk is the way to speak with your subconscious. Make sure you talk to yourself from a higher perspective. Become your own life coach. Use the power of self-affirmation to feel powerful and inspired to become great. What beliefs do you hold for yourself?

Chronic Takers – How to Get Them Out of Your Life I am in a service business, and I get a lot of requests for advice—sometimes for free. I know that many of my clients in various advisory roles (e.g., a career like me, financial planning, life coaching, etc.) also get asked for free advice. The natural inclination is to say Yes because many of us got into a service role in the first place because we like to serve and help. Furthermore, a free, no-obligation conversation sometimes leads to paid work, either directly with that person or with someone they refer to you. On the other hand, as your business grows, and you get more well-known, these requests for help also grow. Unchecked, people who ask for free advice can consume your calendar and overwhelm your energy. Therefore, you need a process for deciding what to do for free, how you structure your freebies and when it’s a better move to decline. Ideally, you outline when to say No (or Yes) in advance, so you can be thoughtful when you respond to requests. Done right, you can say No and still be helpful.

You Don’t Need To Sacrifice Your Income To Do What You Love. I am here to say, You CAN Have Both. Let Me Walk You Through My Simple, Step-By-Step Plan To Show You Exactly How Easy It Can Be. Listen Now. There's no surefire formula for instant success, but you can boost your business's growth with these tips from other coaches, consultants and small business owners we work with. When you first launch your business, your main goal is to establish your brand and start growing. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen overnight. Growth is an ongoing process that requires hard work, patience and dedication. There’s no special step or secret way to surpass other businesses in the industry or achieve immediate success. There are, however, proven ways to reach growth milestones that can catapult a business to success. In this podcast, I share some tips for accelerating growth.

Don’t gamble. Just invest smarter. Have you ever been to a casino? I know you have, but maybe the best question is, have you ever gambled at a casino? I don't gamble. And that's a strange thing, really, because other than gambling, I've never met a bad habit I didn't like. I don't gamble because I get no pleasure from it and because it's so clear to me that I’d lose money. If you believe you can beat the system, I’m not going to try to talk to you about it. Just ask yourself this: How are these billion-dollar properties being paid for?How is it that the Crown Casino can have a garden so opulent that it takes 70 full-time employees just to maintain it? It ain't charitable contributions. If you stick with Online Prosperity Experience Podcast, you'll learn dozens of ways to get a piece of the action and, just as importantly, you’ll be encouraged and motivated to do so. Then you’ll be on your way. You'll be getting richer every day. But to become wealthy, you'll have to learn to keep the wealth you earn. And that means saying no to gambling. Gambling is a sucker's game. The odds are stacked against you. The compensation, well, the comps are about as useful as a bouquet of flowers from your wife’s boyfriend. I don't gamble. Not in Vegas, Melbourne or on a cruise ship at least. But every once in a while I run into a business deal that sings, Play me! Don't gamble. Not in Vegas. Not in the stock market. Not in your own business. Next time the sirens sing to you, tighten up the ropes of self-restraint and wait till you sail on by. A good coach, consultant or small businessman owns a piece of the casino. He doesn't gamble there.

Five ways to better connect with your customers. Your customers drive your business, which is why it’s so important to note how they interact with your brand. Don’t just reach out to them when you want their business; find ways to continuously show them you care. This podcast is for coaches, consultants and small business owners who want to find ways to better connect with their customers. We understand you’re outsourcing some of your marketing, social media or sales processes, but when our money goes to your business, our customer service is coming through your social media and the product says "your Brand" on the box - it’s all your responsibility. Customers don’t see funnels - and all points of contact with your business are part of your brand. Don’t say “policy” as an excuse for what you feel like doing at the time and then backpedal immediately when asked. Few things anger an already frustrated customer, like the word “policy”. There is always something you can do, at the very least listen to and be empathetic. Don’t act as if you’ve been put out when a customer wants to make sure they’re getting what they paid for. Service is part of the job description in business - every job description. If your market is humans, you’re eventually going to need to speak to one of them. Branding doesn't end with the sale, its ends when the customer decides it’s over. Customising your user interactions improves relevance and authenticity.

The Value of Loose Referrals We all know that referrals are the number one way to grow our businesses. The most effective way, the most desired way, and the cheapest way to gain new business is to have happy current customers who let others know how awesome you are. A lot of coaches, consultants and small businesses may not have a lot of money in their marketing budget, but a strong network of business relationships can be their biggest asset.You can build and nurture business relationships through cold calling, giving away something for free, using social media, and settling disputes quickly.This Podcast is for entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to develop and benefit from strong business relationships. It’s common for business startups to be short on cash and supplies. However, their most valuable resource doesn’t appear on the balance sheet: quality business relationships. Depending on the business, a strong network may include customers,clients,suppliers,buyers,outsourced service providers, the government,media and evencompetitors. While the context may vary, every element in a business’s network requires a foundation of amicability and trust. Social media has allowed me to get to know people in countless industries whose services and products I have yet to use myself — but whom I would still give a loose referral. The more people you know, and more importantly, the more people who know you (even before they have been your customer), the greater your social network. The old idea of focusing on talking only to leads, or even referring to people as leads, is dying. People on social media don’t leads; they are people. They are connections. And when these connections grow, others get to know, like, and trust us, even without ever having used our products or services. What is the value to you in building a community where you can ask advice of people you trust—both personally and professionally?What is the value in not wasting your time and money on a product or service because you asked first and were given recommendations online? I think loose referrals alone are worth all the time and energy spent engaging online.

Improve your sales and reduce your marketing costs Customer loyalty can help your business become profitable and enjoyable in the best of times, but it can also help you survive in tough or challenging times. Customer loyalty is especially important during the pandemic, as consumers are extremely conscious of their budgets.Repeat customers tend to spend more money on your brand than new customers because they trust your business.Retaining customers is about five times cheaper than recruiting new customers. This podcast is for coaches, consultants and small business owners who want to increase their brands’ customer loyalty in the pandemic era. As a business owner, you know your customers are the reason for your business. That’s why it’s important to consider your customers in everything you do. Your customers’ needs should be at the forefront of your business. This will not only drive more sales but also build customer loyalty for the long haul. Here’s why cultivating customer loyalty is important and tips on building it.

Make your marketing work more for you and your business. The internet has come a long way since it was open to the public about 32 years ago. Now it allows us to look at photos of other people’s food, watch animals do silly things on TikTok, keep up with our friends and family, and order things from the comfort of the sofa. By changing the way people buy, the internet has changed marketing. As a result, coaches, consultants and small businesses have had to change the way they market themselves and sell to take advantage of the latest technology and consumers' shopping habits. In this episode, we look at: How the internet has changed marketing with websites.How the internet has changed marketing using advertisingHow the internet has changed marketing using social media The internet has changed marketing, the way businesses sell, and the way people buy hugely, and it’s still continuing to do so. Successful coaches, consultants and small businesses will be the ones who keep up with the way that consumers are buying. It’s interesting to think about how this podcast might sound in another 20 years' time? How do you think the internet may change marketing in the future?

Video is The Fastest Way to Build Your Personal Brand! Personal video branding is the latest and greatest new marketing trend online. People are embracing this movement regardless of whether they are coaches, consultants or small business owners. The video aspect of online marketing is a crucial piece of your personal branding efforts. It allows you to connect with your audience, and tell them who and what your business is all about, using your own voice and image to share this message. People like to connect with real people! If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth thousands of views. Today’s busy "Internet explorers" are much more likely to view a short video than they are to read a page full of text. The use of video branding is one of the quickest means of introducing a business to the public, especially for new or small businesses that lack a large advertising budget. Videos can be serious or humorous and should be memorable, but care must be exercised – inaccurate branding can lead viewers to wonder what the business does or what industry it occupies. Video branding will build brand loyalty, increase your customer relations and retention, reduce advertising costs, qualify sales leads and increase response rates. Bottom line…videos can bring a lot of traffic to your business!

Content That Converts Online Traffic Into Paying Customers There’s a common saying in SEO – content is King. That’s because content drives more traffic to your website, strengthens your brand, and connects with your customers. That’s precisely what our SEO copywriting services offer. Everyone knows that the way to good rankings is paved with original content. Mention writing, however, and most coaches, consultants and small business owners start shivering in their shoes. The fear of writing is widespread, and many business owners would do anything to avoid writing even a single sentence. In fact, they don’t have to if they choose to utilise “canned content”. In my opinion, the best solution to great content is to write your own content! Be authentic and share your passion with your readers. It works! You do not have to be an English major or a professional copywriter to connect with people where they are. This approach is much better than canned copy ANY DAY! With great content, you can inform your visitors and engage them to purchase or demonstrate how your product or service can make their lives better or easier in some way, save them time or money, or offer ways that they can use your product or service that will provide some incentive to make a purchase.

A good website is the key to all online marketing. Many coaches, consultants and small business owners do not realise that the first place to place their focus is on their website. Your website is your hub and all marketing efforts should expand and come back to this one location. You need a website that you can manage yourself! I have seen so many people over the years pay thousands of dollars for a website that has never produced the first dime in revenue for them. You need a site that will generate quick rankings in Google and other search engines. In today’s market, Google is often the first place Internet users go to conduct searches, find information and learn about a person, brand or company. Once you have identified what market niche you want to occupy, attention should be focused on your website and building your niche keyword strategy for optimal search engine rankings.You need to know how to achieve these results YOURSELF so that you are not reliant on someone else to get your business in front of your target market. The Internet opens a variety of ways that can be utilised to bring your business to the attention of potential customers locally and worldwide, but your website must be in order first. It requires attention to detail, offering what customers want and a willingness to seek help if and when you need it. Check here to see if your website measures up.

Your personal brand is all about who you are and how you are perceived within your target market. Everything about you, from the way you present your online business, “the look”, your message consistency and the value you bring; all speaks about your business. In marketing, personal branding is about working on your personal style, positioning and being unique to create a valued brand. This can help you to build your reputation as an expert in your field and to develop trusting relationships with your target market. Whether it is a personal brand or that of a product or service, the value of a brand is in the promise that it makes. A brand can help a client recall positive or negative experiences and emotions that influence how people behave towards your brand. For the individual, this means that it is imperative to create a personal brand that will deliver on the expectations of the client. If you do not take control of your own professional brand, then somebody else will. It is time for you to start thinking about personal branding. Branding YOU has never been more important in today’s online marketplace. Personal branding is a huge and emerging issue for anyone who intends to do business online or offline. What do you say? How important do you believe personal branding is?Have you invested in your own personal brand?What tips do you have for others? Bottom line you can never go wrong by investing in both internal and external communities and the human beings within them!

You Deserve A Life Of Freedom, While Your Income Continues To Grow. You're probably going to listen to this podcast for the same reasons why I recorded it. And that is because of a powerful, innate desire to turn your vision into reality, to experience greater freedom and life, and because you really want to figure out how the heck to make this whole online business thing more successful. (With “success” here meaning your definition(s) and measure(s) of the word.) In my 10+ years as an entrepreneur, the methods you have in your hands are the most powerful amplifier of success, freedom, abundance and impact I have ever seen. They have reliably grown so many businesses that have learnt and implemented them, that I've lost count, and because of that, I do believe sharing them with more Business owners like you through writing eBooks and doing podcasts will satisfy that innate desire for me (and will help you satisfy yours if you make a serious commitment) to making the concepts taught here work for your business) Life has been wild recently, hasn’t it? The pandemic, crazy governments, millionaires being made overnight... In this sort of environment, it takes smart operators to gain an edge, so you can scale your business to the next level. As a Coach, Consultant, or Service Based Business owner, it has become more difficult than ever to stand out from the crowd. How do you attract new leads on a regular basis?How do you turn those leads into paying clients?And how do you get maximum bang for your advertising buck? These questions can be difficult to answer, especially if you’re not tech-savvy or have a team that can help you. I'm excited to contribute to your success in an entirely new life. And I'm excited to have that potential you have inside you to have a business that is profitable and enjoyable in the next 90 days, and do something truly great, important and valuable for yourself, others, and the world as a whole. Let's get started....

Social media is not a bandaid. Whenever there is a new type of technology, media or fad of any kind, every coach, consultant or small business owner hops on the new wagon. The foolish think just because it's new, the seat on the new wagon must be better. They think it will cost less, be easier, and bring more customers. It is normal to look for a solution. To hope that something will fix the issues that keep you up at night. It is normal to hope and dream of the day you can go to sleep without waking up in the middle of the night to solve a problem. Many do the same thing with social media. They think once they are on Twitter, have a Facebook page, and get everything automated, their business problems will be solved. Sorry to break the news to you folks, but that is simply not how it works. The reality is that social media will probably highlight these issues even further. It may even shine like a strobe light on the very broken areas of your business. It may put departments, people and even individuals under pressure. Why? Because you will be forced to talk about these things. Why? Because it is now more out in the open. The communications can not so easily be hidden between a quiet email string between your sales department and strategic partners. Your partners will soon be tweeting you and Facebooking you. Social media will not fix your broken marketing engine. It will not fix your broken sales department. It will not provide business processes that you don't have. It will not provide you with the glue that ties it all together. What are your thoughts? Have you leveraged social media to have some hard discussions, to make needed changes in your business? Or are you avoiding social media as you're afraid of skeletons in the closet? If you're a coach or consultant are you also seeing clients who expect social media to solve their business problems? Do not use social media as duct tape to hide a problem even longer. Instead, leverage it to your advantage. Be bold. Be brave and you will see results.

Content marketing is a powerful strategy that can help you attract and retain customers. Content marketing is all about attracting leads, educating your customers and encouraging them to take action on the information you provide. It must be a vital part of every coach, consultant and small business owner’s digital marketing strategy. The process of creating content may vary, depending on the stage of the marketing funnel where it falls. This is where marketing requires some knowledge of social psychology because you must leverage the ‘forces of attraction’ to gain people’s attention. Varying your content marketing tactics according to the different stages of the marketing funnel: where does this idea come from? It is a fact that people’s expectations vary according to the level of their interaction with the other party, which may be a person, brand, or product. An intelligent coach, consultant or small business owner knows how to monitor audience patterns and fulfil the expectations of their prospects and leads. This podcast does not establish any hard and fast rules concerning choosing formats, channels, and methods for relating with your leads as a content marketer. Instead, it encourages you to pay attention to the changing needs of your audience as they pass through the marketing funnel. Consider the tactics here as valuable suggestions to connect with your audience better. Finally, don’t forget: content marketing is a powerful strategy that can help you attract and retain customers. A well-executed content marketing campaign can help you increase brand awareness and build a strong reputation among your target audience.

Looking for content inspiration? Check out this Podcast to learn how to turn everyday situations into content ideas that you can use for your blog, social media, or even your next video! If you're a creative person, chances are you've had the experience of being in a conversation and suddenly having a great idea for a blog, or a story, or a podcast, or whatever it is you create. And then, of course, you forget all about it by the time you get home. Turning everyday situations into content inspiration is a great way to avoid writer's block, or artist's block, or any other kind of creative block. By being open to inspiration from the world around you, you'll never be short on ideas. Here are some tips for turning everyday situations into content inspiration: 1. Pay attention to your surroundings. Whether you're on a bus, in a coffee shop, Talk to strangers.Meditate. Sometimes we have to remember to exhale just so we can breathe. That may sound crazy, but it makes sense. When we let go of our old habits, preconceived notions and other limiting beliefs, we open up to a whole new realm of possibilities. Human nature uses communication to change our mindset and forces us to think outside our comfort zone. Can't wait to see what you will create next.

How do you double your sales without increasing your prices? Look at why people buy products and services like yours. I know what you are thinking, here we go again, yet another promise of somebody trying to tell me how I can double my business. Is this yet another half-baked scam, or could it be that it is possible to actually double, triple or even quadruple your business in the next 90 days? The fact of the matter is that it is not only possible, I do it regularly as a digital marketing consultant with my clients. While it is not guaranteed, the techniques I use are the next best thing to foolproof and can work for almost any business that sells to the public. If your business is selling to other businesses, there are methods I use to do much the same thing. Let’s start with why people buy anything. If you look at all 4 reasons, the first thing you’ll notice is that they are all emotional. People buy on emotion, not logic. It doesn’t really matter what it is you are selling, if you sell on anything but emotion, I can guarantee that I can double your sales by making just one small shift in how you present your products or services to your prospects. Let’s look at the 4 reasons people buy anything. First, they buy things for reasons of love or sex (relationships). Yes, sex sells, and it’s a very potent marketing tool if you know how to use it tactfully.Second, people buy things because they want their dreams to come true. No matter what dreams we have, more than anything, we want those dreams to come true. Position your products as a tool to help a person live their dreams, and you’ll see your sales jump almost overnight!The third reason people buy is that they are looking for effortless ways to make money. That’s pretty evident if you look at the popularity of many of the products sold through infomercials that promise big money in exchange for easy work that anybody can do.And the final reason people buy is that they are going to be getting either something for free or they are getting a bargain. Do you know of anybody who does not want a bargain, or who won’t jump at the chance of getting something for nothing? So there you have it, the 4 reasons people buy. So what do you do now? You are selling products and services that just don’t fit any of these categories, right? Nonsense! I have yet to find a single product or service that can’t be promoted as delivering one or more of the things that make people buy! I used this technique with an IT Consultant and doubled their sales in less than a month. And I did it without increasing their advertising expenses by one cent! I’ve used it with real estate companies, coaches, and all kinds of small businesses, and I’ve even used it for insurance companies! In each case, the results were the same; sales increased dramatically in a very short period of time. Look at the main benefits your product or service offers. Can it be used to fit one of the 4 categories, or do you need to dig a little deeper? An example might be an insurance company advertising that their life insurance will help you to “live your dreams” by removing all the fear of losing your financial security. If you are really in a jam and can’t seem to fit any part of your product or service into any of these 4 categories, try advertising something for free or at a reduced price, which is also commonly known as a bargain. There is hardly an industry that can’t use this category.

As a coach, consultant or service business owner, you serve a vital function in our society. You create a market for products. To be a good salesperson, you must take pride in your profession, be it part-time or full-time. In this podcast, we discuss eight sales tips to help you along with selling your products. Growing your own business is tough. Cold calling potential clients and having them hang up in your face…Sending out hundreds of emails without getting so much as a ‘thanks for reaching out…Wasting thousands of dollars on ad spend without generating qualified leads… Sometimes it can feel like NO ONE wants to buy what you’re selling. And when you rely on your business to pay the rent and put food on the table… It can put an enormous strain on your emotions. You’re terrified of having to give up on your dreams… And return to a ‘safe’ 9-5 job with your tail tucked between your legs. If you can’t bring in new clients… Listen to this podcast and learn how to generate 100s of qualified, high-ticket leads like clockwork, so you never have to rely on cold calling or emailing just to beg clients to hire you.

Nobody is born great. We all start off as equals: tiny infants who can’t do much on their own. Forget about beautiful websites, elegant social media profiles and persuasive writing that sells itself; we can’t even smile yet! Later on in life, we often get frustrated with ourselves when we’re first trying to learn a new skill. We expect to be naturally good at it. We expect this skill to come easily. What we forget is that every single skill that comes easily to us now wasn’t easy at all when we were first born. It’s no effort to feed yourself now. Pick up food; place it in your mouth. You don’t even think about it. But when you were an infant, you picked up the spoon over and over and missed your mouth entirely. You do it all the time. You did it until you finally mastered that skill. You don’t learn anything overnight. You might pick up some skills more easily than others, but you still have to work hard to develop those skills. You’ve got to get comfortable with the idea that you’re still learning – and that learning means failing. A lot. The good news is that if you do it right, those failures can work for you. Every time the spoon missed your mouth as a child, you learned what didn’t work. Every time you got a bite in your mouth by sheer accident, you learned what did work. That’s the attitude you want to bring to your rejections in business – so you can master the slightly more sophisticated skills of becoming a professional. And if you get discouraged, just remember: every skill you think of as effortless now, was once incredibly hard for you. If you keep working on your business, you’ll soon find that it will become one of the skills that’s “effortless” in your future – even though it’s a lot of work now.

We’re all “teachers” in some form or another. If you enjoy sharing your knowledge with your prospects, you’re definitely a teacher. The key is leveraging your teaching as an asset, to grow your business. People generally assume that if you’re teaching on a topic, you have a relatively high level of expertise. You’re more of an expert than the students. Of course, you don’t actually have to be the “definitive” expert. You just have to tailor your services to an audience you’re comfortable teaching. Land More Clients and Boost Your Income by Teaching others.

How to Deal With Criticism as a coach, consultant or small business owner. Dealing with criticism is one of the most important skills you have to develop to be successful as a coach, consultant or business owner – and in life. I used to get really hurt and instantly defend myself if I received any type of hateful email. And at the beginning of my podcasting days, these weren’t uncommon. I remember being crushed every single time I read one. I had put so much thought, heart and research into what I was doing, and yet here I was enraging people. Looking back now, I feel those people had a point, even though they could have conveyed their messages a little more nicely. I’ve found it’s better, both personally and career-wise, to take criticism before dismissing it or feeling sorry for yourself. I wish it hadn’t taken me years to learn, but I finally developed a few ways of turning criticism – even really harsh criticism – to your advantage. Yes, sometimes people criticise you because they don’t like you, are bored or have their own issues. But when someone genuinely criticises your work, you should try to push your ego aside. Remember that you and your work are entirely separate entities. When it comes to your work, try to be as objective as possible and detach your self-worth from what you’re doing. What are your secrets to mastering the art of taking criticism?

"The best way to become an overnight success is to start before you’re ready." In this Podcast, Prosper Taruvinga shares his story of becoming an overnight success in Digital Marketing. He talks about the importance of taking massive action and how to get clients by providing value through content marketing. If you're looking to make a big impact and become successful quickly, this podcast is for you. You know who I’m talking about – those people who suddenly burst out like instant celebrities. Sure, you’ve noticed these people from time to time before, but they didn’t seem like anyone special or important, so you ignored them. Now they’re everywhere. More than that – they’re getting LOTS of attention. Thought leaders are talking them up like they’re the next best thing to a great whiskey They’re getting comment after comment on their posts and seem to strike up a conversation with anyone they please. They’re IN the “in-crowd”. They own it. And yet, just a little while back, they were… well, nobody special. You think to yourself: How’d they DO that? How can I do that myself? Here’s the secret: It didn’t happen overnight. NO ONE is a true overnight success. From rags to riches in a day? Not gonna happen. Not even to all those people you can point to and say, “But Gary Vee did it…” No. Gary didn’t. Before becoming an overnight success, Gary made a crucial decision: to go after what he wanted.To work at it, hard.To pursue it.To put in the time, the energy and the effort. Then Gary actually began the process. He followed through. All of a sudden, Mr. Vee gets noticed by more people, and more, and more, until there’s an avalanche of attention coming his way. Out of the blue. As if this person sprung out of nowhere. Overnight, even. But the only thing that truly happened overnight was the willingness to try and the decision to put in the work. And that’s something anyone can do. Why not you?

So if you're looking for some new marketing ideas, be sure to listen to this podcast. There are a lot of marketing channels out there, and it can be tough to know where to start. But what if I told you that there are some simple, often overlooked ways to market your business that can be just as effective? Marketing your coaching, consultancy or small business can often be frustrating. You’re already busy trying to make ends meet, and it just seems like there’s not enough time to do everything you know you need to do. There’s no “magic formula” to make marketing easy – you just have to do it. But luckily for you, there are simple, often-overlooked techniques you can use that take just minutes to put into practice. Your Email Signature This marketing tactic is deceptively simple but definitely one that’s most commonly overlooked. Your About-Us Page Most About pages make big assumptions that your readers know who you are and what you do. Your Personal Network Your friends and family already know that you have a coaching, consultancy or small business. But they may have no idea what you actually do. There are a lot of simple, often overlooked ways to market your business. In this podcast, we'll go over some of the most effective ones. From creating helpful content to building relationships with potential clients, these strategies can help you get the word out about your business and attract more customers. Implement them today and start seeing results!

Here’s the problem with having more content and strategies. Think, for a moment, about all the thoughts that play in your head as you move through your day-to-day life. Narratives like “I’m not a numbers person”, “I’m not good with technology”, and “I don’t cope well with change”. These are thoughts that are subconsciously stuck on replay in our minds, whose voices never seem to quieten, gradually chipping away at our sense of self-belief. In your mind, these stories are the truth, they’re gospel. In your mind, you simply have a realistic view of what you can and can’t do, what you are and what you aren’t good at. You’re just being honest with yourself, right? But remember this: who told you these things which are now true? Probably no one but you. So how certain can you be that they are in fact true? Last night I hosted a great zoom call that lasted over two hours. It was full of great content and strategies to grow your offline coaching or consulting business. Virtually anyone on the call could have taken the information that was shared on the call and started profiting from local marketing. Here’s the problem with having more content and strategies; most people already have more information than they really need to make real money with digital marketing skills. We’ve all gotten the emails, the launch sequences, the promotional videos and audios aside from all the products we’ve already purchased in our pursuit of a business that's profitable and enjoyable. We’ve been exposed to more things than ordinary local businesses know to exist. The problem isn't knowing what to do, it’s getting the right mindset to go and share this valuable information with businesses! I’ve come to realise that it’s the mindset, not strategies and tactics, that creates the biggest gap between those who win and those who wish. The moment I finally accepted that I had the goods and already had what it takes to bring results to these businesses that are desperate for help, everything changed. The world began to look different. Confidence was something that I built up rather than received one day. What’s holding you back right now? Are you ready and willing to change your life simply by challenging your greatest fears and uncertainties? You don’t have to ignore them, simply challenge them and take just 1 step each day to remove their deadly grip on you. You’ll finally break through and get the results you’ve been longing for!

It’s my opinion that everyone comes into this world with a unique and valuable skill that allows them to do something incredible that no one else can do in such a way. When I was just a kid, I always dreamed of being an actor or a famous rapper. Sure, I loved to rehearse my rhymes and act out my favourite characters, but what was it that made me want to be an actor. Then, I moved on to other career choices, like being a policeman or even a pilot It was the dream of most young boys to be a hero and save the world. Now that I’m a month away from turning 39 years old, I discovered that it really wasn’t acting that I wanted or even wearing a uniform to save someone. My childhood desire was more about making a difference in people’s lives than studying scripts for movies. You see, over the years, I’ve really come to realise that my personal unique and valuable skill is simplifying difficult things and making them clear to others. In the case of advice to friends, I have a gift of asking powerful questions that simplify their situations and help them come up with a solution much faster. In business, I am able to teach my clients more about themselves and their needs to show them how to bring more value to the marketplace through what they offer. For my daughters, it's taking the moment to listen to what they are really saying and coaching him to find solutions on his own. My unique and valuable skill is making it simple. What’s yours? Have you stopped for a moment to think of one or two things that you do extraordinarily well? My goal for you is that you search for it. Analyse your life until you find that common denominator. Once you find your unique and valuable skill, your passion will follow, and you’ll be able to achieve much more than when you’re trying to fill someone else’s shoes. You’ll also realise that people will completely value you when you focus on it!

Have you ever looked at the gurus in your industry and wondered how you can create the same success in your business as they have? It seems like everything they do works while your hard work and effort continually fall short. Well, there may be a very good reason for that and in this podcast, I’ll be sharing with you some insights for you to consider as well as part of my personal journey to where I’m at today (which is quite freeing if I do say so myself). Gurus come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tech-savvy while others aren’t. Some have huge teams while others don’t. There are many gurus who specialise in certain aspects of business while also removing other aspects that their competitors do. This is part of their personal strategy, and it’s pretty obvious that it works for them. This fact isn’t inherently bad. It’s actually a good thing because it shows that they’ve found exactly what works for them, and they’ve worked at it to make it succeed. In other words, if they’ve found success in the unique ways they do business, so can you. From Frustration To Freedom! I have got to say, once I defined what was important to me and what I loved doing that was profitable and purposeful, developing my business became much easier than it’s ever been trying to follow in someone else’s footsteps. I still learn from gurus, but only if what they offer is aligned with where I’m already headed. They no longer have any decision-making abilities that will shift the direction of my business. As a result of choosing my own path, I’ve focused entirely on helping coaches, consultants, entrepreneurs and service professionals pave their own way to create a business that supports the life they want, so they no longer live life by someone else’s design. There’s no amount of blogging, article writing, AdSense, pay per click, social media or other marketing tactics that will trump my desire to serve entrepreneurs in creating an extraordinary life. Likewise, there’s no guru out there that will distract me from my purpose and calling. What’s Your Anti-Guru Business Approach? Have you experienced any of this? Leave your comments below and share what you want out of your business? What would your perfect business look like? P.S. If you aren’t clear about where you’re heading, we should talk. If you’re looking for help and support and are ready to design your life and business around what you value and love, I invite you to schedule a Breakthrough Strategy Session with me. Click here to get started.

If you want potential clients to buy from you, you have to assume your responsibility to make it happen. That doesn't mean that you have to be pushy or use high-pressure tactics. It does mean that you have to take action and be proactive in your approach. In this Podcast, I'll share with you 3 specific things that you can do to make potential clients buy from you. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel, that if you’re in business, you have a responsibility to help people move forward. You have an obligation to answer questions properly, in terms people understand. Yes, I’m human. Sometimes I make assumptions that people know more than they do. Many people who don’t really have a clue often pretend they do, just so the other person doesn’t think they’re ‘silly’ or ‘stupid’ for not knowing. For sure, that makes it hard to tell who knows what these days. So when a client specifically says, “I don’t understand. I’m just not getting this. Could you explain?” I’m happy to explain in easier-to-understand terms, using analogies and comparisons and 1-2-3 steps. I put myself in their shoes. I try to bring them from lack of knowledge to, “OH! I get it now, thanks!” Go down to the “I’m clueless” level to help people rise above it. And if you can’t be bothered to give good customer service where you help your clients feel happy, informed and in control… then what the hell are you doing in business?

What clients like to see Most coaches, consultants and freelancers suck at meeting deadlines. I’ve heard horror stories from disgruntled people complaining about coaches, consultants and small business owners they’ve worked with, in the past, and I’ve dealt with my own fair share of flaky coaches and freelancers. Blown deadlines, forgotten deadlines, missed deadlines, stretched deadlines and the mysterious so-called “flexible” deadlines… no, coaches and consultants aren’t really known for being reliable people you depend on to deliver. That’s too bad. Because there’s one easy way to create ecstatic clients who come back for more: Set a reasonable timeframe to complete your work. The keyword is “reasonable”. Don’t say you can turn the work around in a day, especially when you know it may actually take you three days. Or four, because you have to be away from the computer for most of Friday and, well, after that it’s the weekend… The client won’t mind that much if you write in at the last hour and tell him you’ll deliver on Monday instead. It’s only an extra day or two… right? Wrong. If you agree to a deadline, you have to hit it. No excuses.

Do You Refuse to Work for New Clients? “For that reason, I’m out.” If you’ve ever watched Dragon’s Den (or its Aussie counterpart, Shark Tank), you’re intimately familiar with that final verdict. It’s uttered by some very successful entrepreneurs when they decide a particular investment opportunity isn’t a good fit. So how often do you say it to your prospects? Maybe you should say it a little more often. You know how it goes: Some potential client emails you about working together. Perhaps he wants a new website, or some copy, or marketing advice. Doesn’t matter. You and him discuss the work a little further, and you realize… Your potential client is about to make a huge, expensive mistake. Even if you invest hours, even despite doing your very best work, you know in your heart of hearts that this person is about to waste his money on something that won’t work. What do you do? Most people shrug. “That’s what the client wants… not my fault if it doesn’t pan out as he planned!” But here’s the thing: You do have a responsibility to serve your clients well. If you take on a project knowing that your work and his money will be a complete waste, it’s (in my humble opinion) wrong not to tell this person the state of affairs. I see it all the time – some people get so excited about their ideas that they can’t see the forest for the trees. They don’t realise the business model is broken,or that the idea sounds fun but just won’t make money,or that there’s a huge gap in the marketing strategy that nearly guarantees a failure. The money’s just burning a hole in their pockets because they want to see their idea become reality fast. And they want you to do the work. You’re the expert. You should know better than to accept the job.

3 Simple Questions Your Website Should Answer An eye-catching website design will set the stage for your business, obviously. But that powerful first impression only buys you a few seconds of attention. If what you SAY on your website gives visitors the wrong impression, you’re chasing potential clients away. And that problem is far more common than you think. People visiting your website subconsciously look for reasons to bail. They’re not asking themselves, “Why should I stay here and look around?”They’re thinking, “Is this website a waste of my time?” Make them struggle to find the answers they need, and they won’t bother hanging around. Don’t be hustling for nothing. Instead, anticipate the questions your prospects are probably asking themselves. Use this checklist to make sure potential clients will easily believe hiring you is the best choice they could make. 1. Who Are You? 2. Why Should I Care? 3. Can I trust you? Read your own website today. Go through it line by line. Make sure your marketing message packs power.Answer the questions your potential client is already asking.Show that you understand where your potential client is coming from, and tell him why you’re the solution he needs. Your turn: What else is important to answer on your website? What more do potential clients want to see? Let me know in the comments – and by the way, what’s stopping you from making that change to your site today?

Exactly how should you set up that ebook-based workshop? I recently published an episode about a sure-fire way to maximise your business potential, and it was a big hit: Just turn your ebook into a workshop. Then get ready to impress the socks off new prospects. But exactly how should you set up that ebook-based workshop? How can you make sure it’s a win? I’ll tell you that too. Keep reading… No matter what type of coach, consultant or business owner you might be, and no matter what sort of product or service you sell, hosting a workshop is a great idea that could bring huge benefits to your business. Think about it: A workshop: Lets you show off your expertise, in person.You get to demonstrate how you solve a specific problem.You have the opportunity to engage with fresh prospects. You can talk with people one-on-one, answer their questions directly, give them some personal attention and show them just how nice a person you are. Oh yeah, and you get to promote something you sell. Bonus. Here’s another bonus: Hosting a workshop lets you pick up some public-speaking experience, and that’s a very valuable skill to have in your back pocket. Your event could lead to other speaking opportunities in larger venues in cooler locations.You could meet new networking contacts who tell other people what a great speech you put on. A workshop could bring you fame. Fortune. And greater confidence.

How to Create a Workshop From Your E-Book It's no secret that a big part of being a successful coach, consultant or small business owner is creating and selling your own products. And one of the best ways to do that is to create a workshop from your e-book. In this podcast, I'm going to show you how to create a workshop from your e-book. You'll learn : How to create a landing page for your workshop,How to price your workshop, andHow to promote it. Most people just slap their e-book up on their website and offer it to blog subscribers as a free download. A few others stick a price tag on their e-book and try to make a few bucks. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, passive action leaves potential on the table, collecting digital dust. Want an idea that can turn your e-book into your best business asset ever? Use your e-book to create a workshop.

Are you terrified of public speaking? Do you get sweaty, shaky, and feel like you're going to vomit? You're not alone. In fact, public speaking is one of the most common fears in the world. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this podcast, I'm going to teach you how to get over your public speaking nerves using a simple 3-step process. This process will help you feel more confident, relaxed, and in control when speaking in front of a group. So whether you're giving a presentation at work, speaking at a conference, or just leading a team meeting, use this process to help you overcome your public speaking fears.

The key to a successful sales and marketing strategy is knowing — at a broad, deep, and ultimately very specific level — what’s troubling your prospects. Especially when selling in to larger organisations, understanding the pain points of everyone involved in the decision-making process is critical. I’m a client. I get approached by designers, web developers and copywriters all the time. They pitch me the same thing – over and over. I don’t like being blunt, but the whining at the other end of the phone, Skype session, Zoom or whatever-technology-choice-du-jour just comes off as pleading. Painful, desperate pleading. Angry yet? Good. If you want to differentiate yourself from the rest of the poverty herd, here’s a checklist of what a client really wants from you – directly from a client’s perspective. Measurable Results No Mumbo-JumboYour Best Work Start contacting people who can pay you. ASX listed companies are always – and I mean always – looking for coaches and consultants. Departments like engineering, communications, sales and marketing are always looking for coaches and consultants who can get their ideas onto paper in a crisp, concise manner. Why not make it you who gets hired? Decide how you’ll use your coaching and consulting talents to create the lifestyle you desire. Make the decision to be confident in your ability. If you won’t, then who will?

When was the last time you put some thought into your About us page? If you’re like most coaches and consultants, the answer is probably “I never think about it if I can help it. I hate writing about myself.” You might struggle for the right words to describe your work or be uncertain about how to position yourself. Odds are pretty good that you wrote your About us page in a fit of desperation when you really needed one, and you’ve studiously avoided looking at it since. I’m going to show you why nailing your About us page is one of the best things you can do for your business, helping you secure ideal clients and make them fall in love with you – just by following a few simple tips. Prove You’re Not a Robot If your About Us page gives an accurate idea of who you are as a person, the prospects you draw in will be more willing to form strong working relationships with you. 2. Become Their Storyteller Being a coach, consultant or small business owner is a tough gig, and storytelling is a powerful strategy to “soften up” potential clients and your journey. Your About Page Deserves Better Stand out from the crowd and attract the ideal customers you deserve by using some of these strategies on your About Us page today. Which ones appeal to you? Why? What’s stopping you from putting them into action on your website today? Let me know in the comments which one you’re going to use – and come back and tell me when you get it up, too, so we can check it out and give you feedback and encouragement!

How to Turn a Prospect into a Paying Customer I’ve owned a successful Digital Marketing business for nearly a decade, and if I’ve learned one thing in all that time, it’s this: There are people who agree with what you’re doing – and there are people who believe that you’re the only one who can do it right. Paying clients don’t come from the first category. The first category is a mishmash of your regular readership, colleagues and competitors who respect you. They all feel you know what you’re doing, but they’re also confident they can do the same or similar themselves. Your clients come from the second category. They agree with what you’re doing,and they don’t think they’re capable of doing it without you. To get the clients you want, to build a base of people from the second category, you need to create content that persuades this group that you know a lot more than you’re letting on. Here’s how:

Do you want to be popular or do you want to make money? Popularity and success require different tactics, so you have to decide between fame and fortune. Ask yourself this: What’s more important for your business right now? For most, the answer is as obvious as the balance in your bank account: you need fortune, not fame. Popularity has its perks. If you’re financially comfortable, you can afford to take the time to build up a larger audience so that you can eventually pitch them your services or products. If your business is already succeeding, you can rest on your laurels a little to network with peers in your industry and create bigger opportunities down the line. But you’re fooling yourself that getting tons of retweets on Twitter is going to put money in the bank. You’ll need to rethink your decision – or you’ll end up with a huge following but no rent money. The biggest difference between success and popularity is how you measure results. For success, you don’t count followers, fans, or even subscribers. Instead, you count the number of leads your marketing generated. You keep tabs on how many of those leads turned into sales and paid work. And you calculate how much money you earned in three months, in six months, in 12 months. In short, it’s all about money. It’s the opposite for popularity. You’re still counting numbers, but instead of money,you’re counting how many people follow you on social media.You’re keeping tabs on the retweets your status updates get.You’re calculating how much your following grew in three months. In this case, it’s not about money. This is a really simple way to determine whether your efforts are pursuing success or popularity. If you’re doing a marketing campaign on social media, for example, you may be getting lots of retweets and likes and shares – but you’re counting the number of sales you make. In that case, you may appear to be pursuing popularity, but the fact that you’re counting the money as a measure of whether you’re doing well means you’re pursuing success. The same goes for the reverse: if you launch a new website and ask people for their opinions on social media,you’re counting the likes, shares, and retweets.You’re not counting the money – because there isn’t any. That’s pursuing popularity. The next time you want to make a big move for your business, ask yourself honestly what results you’ll be measuring: popularity or success?