High-Achieving Women's Blogazine

I received a call yesterday from a former client who wanted to know what she could do to better serve her clients.  Below is what I told her to provide to her clients:

1. Value: Give customers more than they expected for the price.
2. Speed: Never miss a promised deadline and deliver early if possible.
3. Information: Provide additional information so customers can easily use your products and services.
4. Personality: Make sure your company projects a friendly image.  Greet your customers and always, always smile.  Also don’t forget to greet every person with a smile who is not your customer – you never know; they may be your next customer.
5. Value-Add: Always, always give customers something extra.  Maybe give credits toward free merchandise, or a discount on their next purchase or possibly develop frequent buyer program.
6. Convenience:  Make it easy for current and potential clients to do business with you.

Every industry has an imaginary “bar” set for it either by the CEO/Founder or by the collective efforts of its industry or target audience. If your company can somehow raise that bar to new heights, you can take control of your industry and capture your target audience in a big way. By following the five steps above along with forming collaborations and strategic alliances; you can improve your chances of taking your business or non-profit ‘up a notch’ and building a high-end database.

I hope this helps all of you successful entrepreneurs exceed your customers’ expectations!  Oh, if you have anything else to add to list; just leave me a comment.

If you really want to know more about the secrets of exceeding your customer’s expectations; developing a high-powered marketing plan, how to network high-end or how to market high-end, join the Global Association of High-Achieving Women’s Millionaire Success Club (Platinum Premier Success Circle).

If you want information that will allow you to maximize your footprint, impact your business growth and enhance your career success go to the Freebies Page and sign up for a wealth of free information.

Love, Success and Greatness

Dr. Laureen

Million Dollar Solutionist™

Twitter: DrLaureen
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaureen
Facebook: http://profile.to/drlaureen

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

PS: If you haven’t done so yet, become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women

PPS: The Global Association of High-Achieving Women and Masterpiece Solutions are the sponsors of the free monthly newsletter: Elevations™. This newsletter has three focus categories: Your Career – Your Business – Your Life and You. If you would like to receive free monthly issues of Elevations™ please provide your name and e-mail address below.

I received a call today from a prospective client who wanted to know why she needed a marketing plan. A marketing plan outlines the specific actions you intend to carry out to interest potential customers and clients in your product(s) and/or service(s) and then persuade them to buy the products and/or services you offer.

A marketing plan is an essential tool for business. Developing one will help you think about what makes your business unique and how to get the message out to desired audiences through a variety of channels which can result into strategic alliances, collaborations or partnerships.

Below is a list of my top five reasons, every entrepreneur should have a business plan.

1. A marketing plan directs your focus and keeps you on a clearly defined path that ensures that you make the most of your effort, brand and budget.
2. A marketing plan forces you to articulate concrete, measurable objectives so you, and the decision makers who make staffing and budget decisions, know what you are working towards (critical for buy in) and make the right decisions on how to get there.
3. A marketing plan provides a definitive means of tracking progress (or lack of progress) against stated objectives.
4. A marketing plan doubles as a pithy overview of your work to engage colleagues and funders. Marketing is an all-organization responsibility. But to engage your colleagues (or prospective investors or funders) you need to be able to show them what you’re doing and why.
5. A marketing plan makes it easy to draft your day-by-day work plan. By breaking down the big ideas that comprise the master marketing plan into executable steps, you clarify each element for your work plan and define roles and responsibilities. As a result, you’re able to focus on priorities and capitalize on each staff member’s or virtual assistant’s skill set.

Remember that the business plan provides the environment in which your marketing plan must thrive; therefore every business must also have a business plan.

If you really want to know more about the secrets developing a high-powered marketing plan, how to network high-end or how to market high-end, join the Global Association of High-Achieving Women’s Millionaire Success Club (Platinum Premier Success Circle).

If you want information that will allow you to maximize your footprint, business growth and career success go to the Freebies Page and sign up for a wealth of free information.

Love, Success and Greatness

Dr. Laureen

Million Dollar Solutionist™

Twitter: DrLaureen  
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaureen
Facebook: http://profile.to/drlaureen

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

PS: If you haven’t done so yet, become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women

PPS: The Global Association of High-Achieving Women and Masterpiece Solutions are the sponsors of the free monthly newsletter: Elevations™. This newsletter has three focus categories:  Your Career – Your Business – Your Life and You. If you would like to receive free monthly issues of Elevations™ please provide your name and e-mail address below.

Just in case you don’t know Dan Pena, he was the founder of Great Western Resources, an energy resource company in Houston, Texas. What’s amazing about Dan is that he started this company with a phone, a leased fax and less than $1,000.

With these few assets and a great sense of marketing, he turned a fledgling business into a $400 million corporation. He stated that as entrepreneurs, we should help define our unique selling proposition by looking at what makes our business different from our competitor’s business.

Mr. Pena said: “I am unique because I became know as the $400 million man”.  He indicated that he is the only business success coach in the country who has built a company from scratch into $400 million, so he uses that persona.

My challenge to you is to tap into what is distinctive about you.  This can become your calling card.  Oh by the way, I am known as an award-winning Million Dollar Solutionist™.  This tag has given me my unique selling proposition.

If you want to know how I landed on page one of Google or more about the secrets behind high-end positioning using your unique selling proposition, join the Global Association of High-Achieving Women’s Millionaire Success Club (Platinum Premier Success Circle).

Lastly, become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women

Love, Success and Greatness

Dr. Laureen

Million Dollar Solutionist™

Twitter: DrLaureen  
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaureen
Facebook: http://profile.to/drlaureen

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

PS: If you haven’t done so yet, become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women

PPS: The Global Association of High Achieving Women and Masterpiece Solutions are the sponsors of the free monthly newsletter: Elevations™. Elevations™ has three focus categories:  Your Career – Your Business – Your Life and You. If you would like to receive free monthly issues of Elevations™ please provide your name and e-mail address below.

Do you know your competition?  If not, it is time that you do. Here are the 10 questions to ask yourself as it relates to your competitors:

1. Who are your competitors?
2. What are their financial resources?
3. How do they market their products and services?
4. How many employees do they have?
5. Where are they located?
6. How do they treat their customers?
7. What are their pricing strategies?
8. What are their main strengths and can you meet or exceed them?
9. What are their biggest weaknesses and how can you do it better?
10. How will they react to your entry into their territory or the marketplace?

Once you have the answers – you will be able to develop a dynamic marketing plan that will allow you to stand out from your competition as well as outclass the competition. Thorough knowledge of your competition not only gives you a selling advantage early on; it continues to help serve you and your clients throughout the relationship.

Finally, Ancient Greek philosophy says to ‘know thyself’’ and Sun Tzu says to know your enemy. It turns out they are both correct. A key ingredient in the success of a competitive organization is knowing who you are and knowing how you fit in with your competitors. Only after you have done a thorough and honest analysis, will you be really equipped to establish a focused and effective marketing effort that will allow you to stand out and outclass the competition.

If you want to know how I landed on page one of Google or more about the secrets behind high-end positioning in the marketplace, join the Global Association of High-Achieving Women’s Millionaire Success Club (Platinum Premier Success Circle).

If you want information that will allow you to maximize your footprint, business growth and career success go to the Freebies Page and sign up for a wealth of free information.

Lastly, become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women

Love, Success and Greatness

Dr. Laureen

Million Dollar Solutionist™

Twitter: DrLaureen  
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaureen
Facebook: http://profile.to/drlaureen

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

PS: If you haven’t done so yet, become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women

PPS: The Global Association of High Achieving Women and Masterpiece Solutions are the sponsors of the free monthly newsletter: Elevations™. This newsletter has three focus categories:  Your Career – Your Business – Your Life and You. If you would like to receive free monthly issues of Elevations™ please provide your name and e-mail address below.

The more hobbies and group activities that you participate in, the more opportunities you will have to network and market your business products and/or services.  Your leisure time activities (e.g., golf lessons, aerobics or yoga classes) can provide a natural venue for networking and can enhance the relationship building process much easier than some of the formal networking events you often attend.

One thing about leisure time networking and marketing is that the leads will come your way from these venues without you having to do the hard sell — just because of the relationship you have built during your leisure time activities. Enjoy your leisure time and let the networking come naturally. Remember networking, listening and marketing are a joint effort.

By listening carefully to what’s being said during your leisure time activities, you can get some great promotional and marketing ideas and possibly augment what you are currently offering to your clients.  This is also a good way to learn which areas to focus your promotional ideas. Listening to the concerns, reservations or thoughts about various businesses’ services from your leisure time acquaintances can help you better market your products and services.

The other big benefit of listening more during leisure time activities is that your leisure time acquaintances and friends are likely to consider your business more trustworthy and they could eventually become a customer, simply because you have built the ‘know, like and trust’ factor.

If you really want to know more about the secrets behind high-end networking or how to market high-end, join the Global Association of High-Achieving Women’s Millionaire Success Club (Platinum Premier Success Circle).

If you want information that will allow you to maximize your footprint, business growth and career success go to the Freebies Page and sign up for a wealth of free information.

Lastly, become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women .

Love, Success and Greatness

Dr. Laureen

Million Dollar Solutionist™

Twitter: DrLaureen  
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaureen
Facebook: http://profile.to/drlaureen

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

PS: The Global Association of High Achieving Women and Masterpiece Solutions are the sponsors of the free monthly newsletter: Elevations™. This newsletter has three focus categories:  Your Career – Your Business – Your Life and You. If you would like to receive free monthly issues of Elevations™ please provide your name and e-mail address below.

It amazes me how many business owners and entrepreneurs realize the importance of developing a business plan (power tool #1) but so often forget to prepare the marketing plan (power tool #2).  By far the “marketing plan” is the most powerful tool that any business owner can possess.  When you think about it, the marketing plan is designed to enhance the business plan by identifying very specific target market(s), the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT), the competitors (large and small), how to position the company for target market advertising (products and services) and how to expand the company’s footprint in the marketplace (brand recognition).

What you want to remember is that the marketing plan should be defined in such a manner that everyone in your company, network and database can clearly understand the purpose, core values, products and services being offered along with the benefits. In today’s marketplace your marketing plan must include collaborations, strategic alliances and partnerships.

Most new businesses fail because they have not allocated monies for marketing.  They seem to think that just because they open a store front or create a website that the customers will come.  The truth of the matter is that you must advertise and promote you business daily.  Yes daily!

Here are three tips to complement your marketing plan (power tool #2):

1. Create the ‘Wow’ Factor

Define your ‘differentiation’ (it’s your WOW).  Create your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) and your brand statement.  Whatever it is that separates your stuff – your products or services – from the similar stuff your competition is selling, that’s your ‘Wow’ — its makes your stuff better and why your stuff is better.

2. Leverage Online Forums

There are many communities that have online forums/bulletin boards that offer varying levels of paid memberships.  Purchase a membership that allows you to advertise your business and USE IT. Don’t forget to leverage other social media opportunities (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

3. Collaborations

Pick one or two charitable organizations or causes and donate only to them for one year.  This is a great way to get recognized and link your company to a particular cause or charity.  You should create a letter that says why you chose those organization(s) so when you get inundated with requests for large donations, you can politely and formally say ‘no’ and still send a respectful message that you are committed to your community.  You not only build your brand in the community but also the brand of your favorite charities and you now have a collaboration or strategic alliance that is a win-win for your company and your charity of choice.

If you really want to know more secrets of developing a high-end marketing plan, join the Global Association of High-Achieving Women’s Millionaire Success Club (Platinum Premier Success Circle).

If you want information that will allow you to maximize your footprint and potential for business growth and career success go to our Freebies Page and sign up for a wealth of free information.

Lastly, will you become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women?

Love, Success and Greatness

Dr. Laureen

Million Dollar Solutionist™

Twitter: DrLaureen  
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaureen
Facebook: http://profile.to/drlaureen

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

PS: If you haven’t done so yet, will you head over and become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women?

PPS: The Global Association of High Achieving Women and Masterpiece Solutions are the sponsors of the free monthly newsletter: Elevations™. Elevations™ has three focus categories:  Your Career – Your Business – Your Life and You. If you would like to receive free monthly issues of Elevations™ please provide your name and e-mail address below.

I received a call on Friday from a new entrepreneur who started her business six months ago.  She wanted to know more about the importance of having a robust customer list and how to start the process.

I responded by stating that if you’ve been in business any length of time, you probably have some names to start the list building process.  I suggested that her list should include:

• Current customers
• Past customers
• Vendors
• Complimentary businesses
• Mailing list/purchased names
• Wish list business contacts
• Social media contacts
• Friends and family
• Networking contacts

But just having a list will not do your business any good unless you take action. I’ve known many businesses that have a comprehensive customer list, yet never mailed out one piece of marketing materials to their targeted list. Your list is only as good as the action you take.

Whether you’re heavily into direct mail, Internet marketing, or a combination of both, it’s important to begin developing a rapport with your customer list. Making contact with your customers on a regular basis is how you build relationships. You can mail (email) them things like:

• Coupons
• Newsletters
• Brochures
• Blog posts
• Special promotions
• Tips sheets
• Freebies
• Complementary audios
• Product information
• Company information

The important thing is that they hear from you on a regular basis. Your customers should begin to expect things from you, realize who you are and understand what type of products and services you provide.

As you promote to them, continually offer a new product or service that may be of interest to them and not just to you. It’s a lot easier selling a product or service to someone who knows and likes you, than to create a new sale with a stranger. Once your list begins to grow, then you can begin offering more products and services.

If you would like to know more about list building, getting noticed in the job marketplace or how to position your company for growth, I invite you to become a member of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women.

If you want information that will allow you to maximize your footprint and potential for business growth and career success go to our Freebies Page and sign up for a wealth of free information.

Lastly, will you become a Fan (Like) of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women?

Love, Success and Greatness

Dr. Laureen

Million Dollar Solutionist™

Twitter: DrLaureen  
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaureen
Facebook: http://profile.to/drlaureen

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

PS:  The Global Association of High Achieving Women and Masterpiece Solutions are the sponsors of the free monthly newsletter: Elevations™. Elevations™ has three focus categories:  Your Career – Your Business – Your Life and You. If you would like to receive free monthly issues of Elevations™, please provide your name and e-mail address below.

One of the fastest growing trends in business today is the increasing number of strategic alliances. A strategic alliance can range in scope from an informal business relationship based on a  simple  contract to a joint venture agreement.

For small businesses, strategic alliances are a way to work together with others toward a common goal while not losing h/her individuality. Alliances are a way of reaping the rewards of team effort – and the gains from forming strategic alliances appear to be substantial. Studies have shown that companies participating in strategic alliances reported as much as 18 to 25 percent of their revenues coming from their alliances.

A strategic alliance is essentially a partnership in which you combine efforts in projects ranging from getting a better price for supplies, for by buying in bulk together, and by building a product together with each providing part of its production. The goal of an alliance is to minimize risk while maximizing one’s leverage and profit.

A strategic alliance is not, however a merger or acquisition. A merger is the full joining together of two previously separate corporations. A true merger in the legal sense occurs when both businesses dissolve and fold their assets and liabilities into a newly created third entity. This entails the creation of a new corporation.

On the other hand, an acquisition is assuming ownership of another business. The acquisition can be made through a direct purchase or through a merger agreement that involves the exchange of assets.

While there are similarities in which a business might consider one of these solutions, they are far from the same. Mergers and acquisitions are permanent, structural changes in how the company exists. 

A strategic alliance is simply a business-to-business collaboration. Another term that is frequently used in conjunction with strategic alliances is establishing a business network. Alliances are formed for joint marketing, joint sales or distribution, joint production, design collaboration, technology licensing and research and development.

You can learn more about strategic alliances by attending: Take It Up a Notch Boot Camp Intensive® scheduled to start 8/3/10 in Houston, Texas.   You will learn how to create sponsorships, form strategic alliances, partnerships and collaborations. It all starts on August 3^rd.   To register and reserve your seat visit:  http://bit.ly/bxm6i8.

Love, Success and Greatness

Dr. Laureen Wishom

Million Dollar Solutionist™

twitter: DrLaureen  
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaureen
Facebook: http://profile.to/drlaureen

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

In part 1 of HOW TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD AND AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION, I discussed the first two ways to stand out in the crowd and ahead of the competition: 1. Stand out by doing different things and 2. Stand out by doing things differently.

Outlined below are the two additional ways for standing out:   They are:

3. Stand out by stirring emotions

Did you know that clients will surely remember you when you stir their emotions in a positive way?  It’s time to rev up the warm fuzzies.  Start by making people laugh and have some fun throughout the interaction. Whatever emotions (e.g. having fun, feeling powerful, showing empathy and being successful) are important to your clients; make them feel it in a big way.  Be sincere, and don’t hold back on the ‘drama’ (in this case ‘drama’ is a good thing).  You must act big to make them feel big.

4. Stand out by being consistent

If you are always something or never something (whether good or bad), then you are standing out in that way. That’s because consistency makes your message stick. It’s important to decide how you want and need to stand out in the minds of your target audience and always behave or present yourself that way.  Remember that anything done consistently creates a brand reputation. What do you need to be or do consistently?

In summary to stand out from the crowd and the competition you must:

1. Stand out by doing different things
2. Stand out by doing things differently
3. Stand out by stirring emotions
4. Stand out by being consistent

You can start by committing the next thirty days to identifying three ways where you can stand out in the marketplace and develop an implementation plan.  The more you stand out the more you outclass the competition.

Mark your calendar for the June 8^th teleclass entitled: “IS YOUR ‘FEAR BEAST’ OUT OF CONTROL OR HAS IT BECOME A PERMANENT WARDROBE ACCESSORY?” This teleclass will cover how to handle the fears associated with career change and career transition; the 7 tips for keeping your fear under control while taking your career and business up a notch in challenging times; the 7 tips for managing stress when fear prevails and how to break free of your fears and start reaching your dreams.

It is also the preview call for the launch of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women. This first-ever membership association is designed for high-achieving female career professionals and women business owners who want to ignite their careers and businesses through the use of the association’s innovative professional development tools, masterminding, platinum-style coaching, and leading-edge business growth and career success strategies. Be sure to register for this teleseminar at: http://tiny.cc/nf7q5 I will be giving away some powerful career and business growth materials valued at $500+.

Love, Success and Greatness

© 2010 Dr. Laureen

Standing out in a productive, positive way requires deliberate and conscious efforts to get attention, get noticed and achieve desired results.

All of us stand out in some way; but the question is whether we are standing out in the ways that help us realize our desired results.

If I asked you: “How do you stand out right now?” What would be your answer? Is the answer that came to mind helping you achieve your short- and long-term goals or is it keeping you from getting noticed?

Here are 2 tips for standing out in the crowd and ahead of the competition:

1. Stand out by doing different things

You can stand out by doing something that no one else in your marketplace is doing.  So it’s about getting creative. You can stand out by inventing, developing or initiating something new or unique that meets the needs for your target market. Think about what products or services you currently offer and how you can re-purpose them so they stand out in a crowded marketplace.

2. Stand out by doing things differently

You can stand out by doing common things in an uncommon way.  Think about Southwest Airlines.  By adding your own creative spin you can make the ordinary, extraordinary, and exciting.  So what can you do to spice up your products and services?

What are some of the different ways you can present or deliver products and services to your clients so you stand out from the crowd and ahead of the competition?

I hope you have enjoyed this blog post.  Watch for the next post where I will conclude with the final 2 tips on how to stand out from the crowd and ahead of the competition.

I must share this with you: “I always tell people that one of the greatest compliments you can give me is to tell me that I am different.  When people are different, they make a difference”.  I said this to say… its okay to be different.  If everyone else is going right – then you go left.

Mark your calendar for the June 8^th teleclass entitled: “IS YOUR ‘FEAR BEAST’ OUT OF CONTROL OR HAS IT BECOME A PERMANENT WARDROBE ACCESSORY?” This teleclass will cover how to handle the fears associated with career change and career transition; the 7 tips for keeping your fear under control while taking your career and business up a notch in challenging times; the 7 tips for managing stress when fear prevails and how to break free of your fears and start reaching your dreams.

It is also the preview call for the launch of the Global Association of High-Achieving Women. This first-ever membership association is designed for high-achieving female career professionals and women business owners who want to ignite their careers and businesses through the use of the association’s innovative professional development tools, masterminding, platinum-style coaching, and leading-edge business growth and career success strategies. Be sure to register for this teleseminar at: http://tiny.cc/nf7q5 I will be giving away some powerful career and business growth materials valued at $500+.

Love, Success and Greatness

© 2010 Dr. Laureen