Guest Post: How To Clone Yourself To Create More Income

Posted on March 23, 2012 by ebourne

By Yvonne Bynoe

As a coach or solo-entrepreneurs one of the biggest challenges that you have is that your income is directly tied to the number of customers that you can serve in a given day, week or month. For some of you, you’d literally have to work around the clock to earn a decent living. Rather than burn out, why not expand the ways that you can generate revenue.

There are three things that coaches and solo-entrepreneurs can do to “clone” themselves as a way to increase their incomes, without personally working with more clients.

1. Consider Hiring “Understudies”:
In the theater understudies perform when the lead actress is ill. It’s a concept that’s perfect for many businesses. For instance, in many upscale hair salons, the owner only personally services a handful of clients—the ones who are willing to pay a premium price for her time. In this business model the majority of clients are delegated to understudies; these stylists and colorists are trained and supervised by the salon owner. Coaches and solo-entrepreneurs can easily use this model by hiring and training other people to use their signature systems with clients (people the owner brings into her business).

The main benefits of this arrangement are:

1) the owner can still work with directly with clients; and

2) there is more income generated because there are more service providers.

The only caveat is that the business owner has to ensure that her understudies provide the same quality of service as she would. An array of businesses owners could use this or a similar model including: consultants, web designers, photographers, personal trainers, day spa owners, personal shoppers, aestheticians, virtual assistants, etc.

2. Create Service Packages:

Stop offering single sessions and instead create bundles of services or ”packages” geared toward particular outcomes. You and I know that single sessions rarely solve your clients’ problems. It usually takes several sessions to accomplish most goals. By offering a package you are actually providing more value to your clients by giving them a clear pathway to reach their goals. This strategy also allows you to ethically raise your rates; meaning that you receive more money per client. Your package’s rate reflects the transformation that the client receives not your “hourly” rate. Lastly, by offering packages you can request payment in advance; this alone could increase your monthly revenue by thousands of dollars.

To create packages think of 1-3 main goals or outcomes that your clients routinely seek. Then create specific multi-session packages that achieve those results. Be sure that the packages’ names clearly spells out the aim of the package. Some ideas: ”End Your Sugar Cravings in 30 days” ; ”Attract Your Soulmate in 90 days”; ”21 Days to a More Productive Home Office”.

3. Home study courses:
One of the things that entrepreneurs overlook is that many people want to learn in the privacy and convenience of their own homes. What this means for you as an entrepreneur is that there is a big opportunity for you to provide your guidance and expertise, without actually meeting your clients.

I tend you use the term “homestudy” loosely. A make-up artist can create a video (or video series) to teach women how to properly apply their cosmetics. Ditto for yoga, pilates instructors and personal trainers. There are “how to” books and ebooks on nearly every imaginable subject. If you’re not a fan of video or writing, then do a series of audio recordings could be just as effective.

Virtual classes and retreats are also a possibilities to work 1-to-many. You have the ability to work with a group of people around a particular subject for any length of time from a few hours to a few weeks.

Homestudy courses are a gateway to establishing a long-term relationship with your clients. Clients have the opportunity to test-drive your business—your methods and your results. If the client is satisfied, then she or he will want you work with you personally or will buy the next product that you make available for sale.

Yvonne Bynoe is an expert in holistic business and wealth development. She is the founder of the Business Alchemy System(TM). the proven, step-by-step program that shows you how to create a more profitable business…quickly.Click here to download her F.R.E.E. report “15 Secrets To Help You Charge What You’re Worth and Get It!” and to receive her weekly marketing and success mindset articles on attracting high-paying clients and catapulting your income.

Residual Income Formula To Build The Life of Your Dreams (deanrblack.com)
Are You Doing Business By Design? (kevinwmccarthy.com)
Dear Entrepreneur: It’s All Up to You (lifehack.org)

Your Ideal Client: How to Find Them, Target Your Niche and Refine Your Marketing Message

Posted on March 14, 2012 by ebourne

I had a client meeting this morning with one of my ideal clients who is working on launching a new initiative for her existing business. We were talking about marketing and I was trying to give her some ideas for narrowing down her niche so that she could refine her message and reach the clients that she was trying to attract.

She is a personal trainer, so potentially she could serve many different kinds of people, right? But this trainer is different from other personal trainers. She has her own style and approach to fitness and healthy living that she has been refining over the 20 years or so that she has been involved in the fitness industry.

In the process of rolling out this new product offering, it is necessary for her to create a profile for her ideal client so that as we begin to develop marketing materials, she will know exactly who she is looking for, and those people who are in her target market will resonate with her marketing messages and come to her.

Here’s a round-up of some articles that tackle this issue of finding your ideal client:

How Psychographics Strengthen Your Small Business Marketing

by Lisa Mininni

“Know who your audience IS, not just what they want… to find the ideal client.

Whether you’re starting up your business or have been in business a while, you must be exact to attract your ideal clients. However, when the going gets rough small business owners cast a wide net hoping to pull in someone. They quickly become disappointed when their prospect pipeline dries up.

One tool to keep that prospect pipeline full is your ideal client profile.

Your ideal client profile is the description of the person you would be happiest to work with. It focuses on a specific kind of client. One that reads your materials and is so mesmerized by your message they keep reading. It means that when you speak to them, they are compelled to. . .”

Be Sure to Grab Your Seat: SistaSense Power Circle TeleSummit for Web Women Entrepreneurs

Posted on February 21, 2012 by ebourne

Regular readers of this blog know that I am a big fan of LaShanda Henry, founder of Black Business Women Online. LaShanda is hosting another SistaSense Power Circle TeleSummit for Web Women Entrepreneurs, and I wanted to tell all of my readers about it. If you are a women entrepreneur with a business on the web you can’t afford to miss this fabulous event.

Are you ready to take your online business to the next level of greatness? The SistaSense Power Circle TeleSummit for Web Women Entrepreneurs is BACK by popular demand and its happening on March 1, 2012. LaShanda posted the registration page a few days ago and the virtual seats are going fast (BTW, there are only 50 seats available).

There will be a power house of speakers including some of your favorite business women from last year’s circle and 5 new women you need to have in your circle today! Speakers include: Pam Perry, Jai Stone, Richelle Shaw, Deborah Owens, Katrina Harrell, Beverly Mahone, Ananda Leeke, Tara Jefferson Pringle, and Artiatesia Deal.

The mission of this TeleSummit is to help women entrepreneurs take their online businesses to the next level with solid PR, branding, blogging, wealth-building, marketing, working with media skills and more. The Success of Your Business Depends on the Company You Keep! Get in Good Company by joining us for the next Power Circle – 12 Live Sessions + Access to all Replays –->> Use Early Bird discount code EAR10.

You don’t want to wish you were there and you don’t want to keep wishing things will just get better. Join us for the next all day Power Circle. To register today and get session details visit: http://bit.ly/ACOhQ8 and use discount code AFF10 if the early bird discount code has expired.

SistaSense Digital Business & Marketing Update

Posted on January 26, 2012 by ebourne

Regular readers of this blog know that I’m a fan of LaShanda Henry, aka SistaSense. She’s the founder of Black Business Women Online, and for me, a work at home business woman to watch. Yesterday she created this video to share, ’5 Things Happening Right Now,’ so I wanted to share this video with my readers because it’s full of timely information if you’re running an online business and want to stay up on what’s up in the world of marketing and growing your business online. Enjoy!

How to Create Action Steps to Develop Daily Habits for Business Success

Posted on January 25, 2012 by ebourne

If you are a small business person who works from home, one of the biggest benefits is that you can work according to your own schedule. Unfortunately, that’s also one of the challenges. If you are not disciplined and focused distractions can pop up and steal your attention limiting your daily productivity.

Here are some resources that can help you to create the action steps that will work for you to help you to achieve your business objectives:

Six Daily Marketing Practices

By Robert Middleton

I’m subscribed to the feed for actionplan.com, which is Robert Middleton’s blog where he writes about, “marketing ideas for attracting more clients.” Today’s post is, “Six Daily Marketing Practices,” and it caught my attention because it’s concise, to the point, and it totally lays out a system that you can use and get results from. This is the kind of content that establishes you as an expert because it shows that you are willing to freely share your expertise.

My favorite of Middleton’s six steps is: “#4. Track your progress every single day.” This is an area where I will admit I fall down. I often, ‘fly by the seat of my pants,’ because I have way too many things going on. I keep a white board in my work area, so I plan to write out the six steps and work them for 30 days (hmmm. I feel a 30 day challenge coming on. . .) and see what happens. Source: http://bit.ly/zxxDlc

5 Essential Marketing Action Steps

By Marty Marsh

When I read this article I focused in on step #2, “Know your ideal/perfect client.” Marsh writes, “Because when you decide who your ideal client is — who will bring you the most joy to work with and who will happily pay you what you are worth — exactly those kinds of clients begin to show up. It’s the best example of the Law of Attraction at work that I know of.” Also be sure to pay attention to step five, which asks, “What is your client education process?” This is crucial because how you educate your prospects will have a direct impact on your conversion rate. Source: http://bit.ly/zQecd5

Create an Action Plan Now

By Ray Silverstein

This article on entrepreneur.com lays the ground work for helping you to develop your own action plan. Once you have come up with a plan, Silverstein advises readers, “Don’t tuck it in a drawer–keep it close by for constant reference. Make regular appointments with yourself to review your plan and ensure you stay on track. It is a work-in-progress, and you can expect to make changes as you proceed. That’s okay, just don’t stop working on it.” Source: http://bit.ly/xU4KOn

The goal with all of this is to create new daily habits that support you in attaining the goals you have set. It also helps to have an accountability partner such as a coach or trusted business adviser that you can report to, get support, advice and tough love from.

What are the action steps that you do at least weekly that you attribute to your successful habits? Please share your story in the comments.

How to Change Your Bad Marketing Habits for Good (smartsimplemarketing.com)
How to Market Your Business Consistently to Grow Your Income (smartsimplemarketing.com)
How to Be Present for Your Business (ducttapemarketing.com)

Set Specific Goals and Beat This Economy as a Conscious Entrepreneur

Posted on October 22, 2010 by ebourne

Welcome a guest post from Lili Cruchelow, another author on the AES book blog tour:

Here is a simple question. What are your goals? The majority of people, when asked this question might provide a vague, generalize answer. This is not good enough for starting a business.You need to be very clear in your goals so that you can take positive action steps to accomplish them. Without clear goals, you are just going to meander from one thing to the next and never reach your dreams.

You must create a plan of action and you need to do this with written goals. If you do not write down your goals, they will fade way. Here are 3 techniques I use that have helped me to become successful in all areas of life:

1. Write visionary goals for long term

2. Write 12 week goals and carry goal card with me

3. Write short term daily goals

Start with you long term goal and work backwards. What is your vision for your business? For you to build a business, you must have a clear vision as your foundation. Write out your dream business by describing your customers, your products or services, your employees, and your level of involvement. Add to this written vision statement as you become more clear in your planning. The higher level of detail that you are able to write out in your vision statement, the better able you will be able to set clear goals and take action towards reaching the vision.

Twelve weeks is the perfect amount of time to accomplish substantial goals. Use this system for creating 12 week goals on a written goal card:

· Write a specific goal with a clear date for achievement on the top of a 3×5 note card

For example: My business, TLC Medical will be started on Dec 1^st 2011.

· Write 3 action steps on the card that will be needed to accomplish the goal

For example: I have obtained a $50,000 business loan by preparing a comprehensive business plan with cash flow projections that show unlimited growth.

I have received commitments from 3 manufacturers to be their exclusive sales and distribution company.

I have formed an LLC or Corporation by meeting with my accountant and Attorney to determine the best business structure for TLC Medical.

Rewrite these statements out on multiple 3×5 cards. Put one in your pocket and keep it with you at all times. You will think about what you are working towards every time you touch the goal card. This is a simple but powerful technique for building an entrepreneurs mindset. Also, post the goal card in strategic locations that you will see frequently. The frequent reminders of your 12 week goal helps to keep you on task and provides your subconscious mind positive thoughts for building a business.

It is easy for our daily lives to get hectic. If you do not plan ahead, the whole day can pass you by without a single accomplishment towards your goals. The best way to assure that you accomplish action for the day is to have goals planned ahead. I write out my daily goals on a sticky note at the end of the day for the next day’s action. When I wake up in the morning, I immediately start to take action on my most important tasks. By doing this, I assure that I am always completing action steps towards reaching my goals.

You must make a conscious effort towards writing and accomplishing goals. Make a habit out of this process for goal setting and you will be amazed at how quickly you start to see results. Written goal setting is a simple technique that makes a huge difference in results. Take action now towards reaching your dreams by writing out your visionary statement. Successful entrepreneurs create the results they want through planning.

Lili Cruchelow is a contributing author to Align, Expand and Succeed; Shifting the Paradigm of Entrepreneurial Success. This “just released” book is based on the premise that the world is changing at a very rapid pace. We are starting to see that cooperation brings better results than old style competition. It’s a new era and we need to work together to create success for everyone, not just for a few.

This book is designed to raise the vibration of the planet like never before. Get your copy of Align, Expand and Succeed and enjoy an abundance of gifts with your purchase. http://www.aesbook.com

Building a Startup is Like Prospecting for Gold (startupprofessionals.com)
Are Entrepreneurs Happy? (penn-olson.com)

Embracing Change and Managing Growth as a Business Woman

Posted on October 14, 2010 by ebourne

Regular readers of my blog know that in addition to being a blogger I am a Freelance web content writer, and I have to put a warning label on this post because it’s a bit more personal than my normal posts on this blog But my heart is full today and I wanted to take a moment and share with my readers some of what has been happening in my life lately.

I love my work because I am living a dream that I had been holding on to for most of my adult life. As the daughter of two entrepreneurial parents, I grew up thinking that having your own business was no big deal. My older sister and I started our first business when we were teenagers. We made baked goods for a local natural food restaurant. We ground our own flour, came up with our own recipes and when we made our bi-weekly deliveries, the cafes regulars were standing by waiting to get their hands on our famous ‘Kitchen Sink’ cookies and our moist and delicious banana bread.

Later, Angela and I tried our hands at another business–custom dressmaking. We sub-leased some retail space and did alterations and made custom clothes for our clients. But, given the fact that we lived in a tiny town in southern Oregon, there was not much of a call for designer gowns. But we learned some valuable lessons about business at a young age, and ever since then I have been determined to create my own business doing something that I love, which is writing.

So often you hear that famous statistic that says 90% of businesses fail within the first five years. Now I am well into year number three and my business has really taken off. I am so pleased and proud to be self-employed and getting paid to do work that I absolutely love and that fulfills me while allowing me to make an important contribution to the world.

This afternoon I just returned from a video shoot with one of my fabulous clients, 64 Clicks in Tyson’s, Virginia. They are a SEO firm that does Internet marketing consulting. I have clients who have a speaker’s bureau that helps market powerful women who want to get into public speaking, called Women Who Influence, and another amazing client, Bonnie Mechelle, whose life work is to help women become healthy and attain their ideal weight from the inside out. She is part of an amazing new project called ‘The Inner Weigh.’ I share all of this to say that I have been blessed beyond measure in my life and I am grateful for everything that the Universe has placed in my path, but all of these things are coming together because I did not give up.

Building a business takes time, effort, tenacity and guts. There have been times when I wondered if anyone was even aware that I was alive. But I did not give up. I kept on working and learning and writing. I honed my craft,

I built my skills and I kept reaching out until now my business is successful. If you have aspirations of starting a business then I encourage you to go ahead and get started. Circumstances will probably never be perfect so you may as well just seize this moment.

For a long time I was playing small and not living up to the woman I knew that I could be. Then I decided that it was time to stop riding the brakes and to step out and own my authentic power and strength. Now I have to learn to manage the incredible growth that my business is going through and that I am experiencing. As I have taken the lid off and opened myself up to the abundant flow that I had been blocking before I am amazed at the opportunities that are opening up to me.

I am grateful beyond measure for all of the support I have received from my friends and colleagues, and above all, I am grateful for all of my fabulous clients who trust my writing and marketing skills. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled as there will be some changes coming up on this blog. I am working on branding myself and my business, so things will be changing and evolving to serve you even better than before. Finally, I am grateful to you, my readers, for sticking with me throughout all of the changes that have been going on in my life and in my business. Life is good, and to God be the glory.

5 Tips for Keeping Clients Happy

Posted on August 20, 2010 by ebourne

As a freelance consultant, my current clients are the center of my business. Some small business people struggle between the need to acquire new clients while keeping their current clients happy.

It costs far more to acquire a new client than it does to maintain one, so I choose to do whatever I can to offer the best service to the clients that I have managed to attract to my business. I have been blessed with some fabulous clients, so I do all that I can to make sure that they are happy and that I am doing all that I can to meet their needs.

I have learned the value of keeping my current clients happy, so in this post I wanted to share five tips on things that you can to retain your clients.

1. Meet your deadlines

You should always under-promise and over-deliver when it comes to completing projects for your clients. This not only provides value for them, but it shows them how much you appreciate their business.

Manage your workload so that you can comfortably meet deadlines and still produce quality work.

2. Say ‘Thank You’

Find ways to show your clients how much you appreciate their loyalty. Give them something of value related to the service that you provide that will help them meet their business objectives. Speak highly of them in a public setting, re-tweet their Twitter messages, leave positive comments on their site, and recommend them wherever appropriate.

3. Always provide the best customer service

If a problem comes up, do your best to resolve it to the client’s satisfaction. Remember that the customer is always right. Show how much you value their business by going above and beyond to rectify any mistakes or misunderstanding.

4. Check in on them

Communicate with your clients occasionally and see if there is anything you can do for them. Set up Google Alerts for your client’s company name and shoot them a message when they have good news, or a mention in a magazine or a major website.

5. Ask for their feedback

Don’t be shy to ask how they are feeling about your work. Get their feedback to find out if they are satisfied and if they have any thoughts about things that you could improve on to make for a better experience or produce a better project for them.

Another benefit to keeping your current clients happy is that they are more likely to refer you to their colleagues. I was thrilled recently when one of my clients referred me to a business colleague of his. This referral has become a solid customer and a joy to work with.

People just enjoy being appreciated, and in a world where your competition is just a click or two away, forging lasting and loyal client relationships is an effective way to make sure that your business stays on track.

What are your favorite ways to show your customers and clients how much you appreciate them? Share your input by leaving a comment.

Local Business Networking Capitol Hill Style

Posted on March 19, 2010 by ebourne

Today I attended the CHAMPS Links Lunch, which is a local small business networking group that meets once per month at a local restaurant. They meet to network and discuss the challenges that local small businesses face. As a ‘solopreneur’ writer who spends the majority of her time in the house in front of the laptop, this was a fabulous opportunity to get out and mingle with other small business people.

Washington, D.C. might appear to be a big city from the outside, but you don’t live here very long before you discover that it is a city of several distinct neighborhoods. I live near the Capitol Hill neighborhood. I lived ‘on the Hill,’ when we first moved here, but I have since moved just a few blocks away, and over a bridge that is a dividing line, which in many ways, can be compared to a ‘Berlin Wall’ of sorts in this city.

Washington, D.C. is made up of distinctive neighborhoods, and Capitol Hill is one of the most close-knit, exclusive, ‘clickish’ neighborhoods in the city, and I love it. It is very much like a small town in the shadow of the larger city. I have learned that many of the small businesses in Capitol Hill are very insular and they tend to be a bit leery of outsiders at first. But once you’ve been around for awhile and they get to know you they are wonderful, warm people who are willing to be supportive.

I want to feel more apart of this vibrant community, so I decided that it was time to get out of the house, come from behind my laptop and mingle with some real people for awhile. My typical workday consists of writing and marketing, talking to clients on Skype, emailing other clients and marketing my blogs and my clients’ sites. I would love to be able to offer my services to some of the small local businesses, who are riding out this recession just like the rest of us, and might benefit from getting increased exposure online.

At Today’s CHAMP meeting, I met a health & fitness instructor, two financial planners, a wardrobe stylist, an attorney, a local ISP, an acupuncturist, and an ad executive. We had lively discussions about how one might get their foot in the door in the Capitol Hill business community, the advantages of owning your blog verses starting out on a free platform such as Blogger. We talked about how to leverage Linkedin as a way to make connections and reach the right people, and, of course, we discussed the vagaries of Twitter and how you can use it along with blogging to get your message out and gain exposure.

I plan to join CHAMPS and participate in more of their activities because it’s just a great way to meet other local business people. Another unanticipated bonus was that I got so many article ideas from that meeting my mind is fairly bursting right now.

Bottom line–local networking is a good thing. My recommendation is that you should look up your local small business networking organization and attend a meeting. Join your local Chamber of Commerce and get involved locally. It’s an opportunity for you to contribute your knowledge, meet other local business people and learn a thing or two in the bargain.

A Productive Pen

A blog about Freelance writing, online marketing and personal development

Tag Archives: small business

Guest Post: How To Clone Yourself To Create More Income

Your Ideal Client: How to Find Them, Target Your Niche and Refine Your Marketing Message

Be Sure to Grab Your Seat: SistaSense Power Circle TeleSummit for Web Women Entrepreneurs

SistaSense Digital Business & Marketing Update

How to Create Action Steps to Develop Daily Habits for Business Success

Set Specific Goals and Beat This Economy as a Conscious Entrepreneur

Embracing Change and Managing Growth as a Business Woman

5 Tips for Keeping Clients Happy

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