I was engaged in a fiesty brain storming session this morning with a friend of mine who is also a business and marketing strategist. We were  “wildly spewing forth” ideas in rapid fire succession. Our mission was to determine WHY a particular product was not selling as we felt it should have been. In what I would call a “battle of the mouths and minds” we went at it for about fifteen minutes, back and forth, reciting every marketing rule we had ever learned, whether through a book, a class, the school of real life business; the rules came out of our mouths one by one:

1.  There should be a compelling offer

2.  There should not be anything other than one thing to do on the “squeeze page” or “one banana”

3.   There should be a CALL to action

4   There should be the easiest , most simple, and clear place for the client to check out.

On and on, we recited all the rules….an then as if I she were stung by a bee, my friend stopped her reciting to let out the loudest gasp, followed by a long ohhhhhh!! I immediately asked, “Are you ok?”

“Oh my gosh,” she replied. “I can not believe I did this.”

“Did what?” I asked, not sure whether she was talking about our conversation or some other thing that might have just happened on her end of the phone. I waited for her response.

“I can not believe that I did not see this until now, ” she said.

“See what?” I asked.

“Well, let me explain. ” she began, “You know as well as I do that we can tell our children to do something because it is in their best interest and often times they DO not choose to do it. There is often times negative consequences associated with their choice. We KNOW what would be best for them…but it is up to them to choose to do it…WE can NOT MAKE them DO IT!!!”

I could see right where she was going with this. “Yes, I understand what you are saying., ” I replied.

I will summarize the concept here:

 When we tell our customers that a specific product or service will benefit them…it THEIR CHOICE whether to accept and initiate or decline and DO NOTHING.” and worse yet…IF you were in front of the WRONG clients, those that absolutely have NO interest in your product or service, or anything new, they will NOT be the least bit interested and your product, regardless of its remarkability, will not appeal to them.

      Save your time…save your effort…and PLEASE… save your tears…If you are in front of the WRONG crowd…don’t give up thinking your product and business is wrong…move into the “right neighborhood” so to speak, and see incredible results with your offering! It puts the FUN back in business because you have people interested in your offering….and they are LOOKING for the right CHOICES for their business and life.

     You know what…business and fun go together….so go enjoy!

Blessings for a “playful” day in your business!

Jennifer

       Treasure hunts are great fun and can produce amazing finds! I am never sure if the fun originates from the hunt or from what is found. Regardless of which is which, the results are great! A great find of some value is the end result of the time and effort spent.

       It surprises me to think that in many businesses practicing the death producing feats that create mediocrity and stagnation,  there are “golden nuggets of GREAT value”  buried beneath the blanket of “usuality”( a term I have made up to describe that which never changes even when it would be in the best interest of all, if things would only change).

Gold nuggets that produce financial increase. Gold nuggets that create more clients. Gold nuggets that make business productive and more lucrative. Gold nuggets that create a “buzz” of excitement that ignites the flame of desire to have that which your business offers. Yes, those are the gold nuggets that every business owner hopes to find. The funny thing about many business owners though is that they “think” they are too old, too tired, too sophisticated, and just too business serious to be a Treasure hunter. In fact, many people will not even read this post because to them it is not related to owning a business or making money….If this is you, I ask you to think again. There IS buried treaure in EVERY business. The gold or hidden treaure of your business can ONLY be found if you participate on the HUNT.

      What hidden treaure do you have buried in your business?

* Your business has a product/service available that you never promote because you THINK it will not be a BIG seller, yet when you offer it to the next three customers, ALL THREE buy it! 

*Your business is founded on a tangible product, but when your fifth grader films a short clip of YOU actually MAKING your product (the process) to show as a science project, EVERY attending adult at the science fair asks you,  ”WHERE CAN I  BUY that. I want to learn to do that”, you discover that people are wanting to pay for that which you do everyday.

* Your business makes money selling cardboard boxes. Your customers think of you everytime they want or need a box. PERIOD. You are content with this “branding” But the first time your sister works the desk in your business when you have to leave for the day, she does not know that ALL you sell is boxes. She offers the customer things to PUT IN the BOX and WOW!! … Hidden Treaure is found!

Be a pirate on the seas of sales. Get your map out to track the journey. Gather the materials to “pick” the cliffs you must climb. Put on your brightest “head lamp” to light the way as you DISCOVER th HIDDEN treaures your busienss has available to he who takes on a good hunt.

Happy hunting!

Blessings for the greatest business that you desire!

Jennifer

I met with a business friend last week . She too is a coach and marketing strategist. We laughed and talked for hours sharing our many successes and challenges that have transpired throughout the past year. It is always heart warming to have someone in a similar field to share with. Our talk did navigate toward the “new and upcoming” year, 2009. We both have “Big Goals, Big Dreams, and Big Plans”.  Our outlook is positive and our hopes set high. Such is the view of the optimist, but it too is the view of the realist. I say realist because it is VERY real to wake up each day and have an abundance of opportunity before you. Opportunity for business start up, growth, happiness, health, wealth, and all good things. It begins in the mind and it starts with a plan.

There was one common denominator in our “2009 Plans” and that was our vision for “New Income Opportunities”. You see, even though we both have experienced effects of the economic roller coaster this past year, we both feel that there are great and New Income Opportunities on the horizon of 2009. I am very excited and so is my friend.

Today, I want to leave you thinking about your “2009″ new income opportunities.

1.  How are you generating your income?

2   Are you happy with what you make?

3.  What would you rather be doing to generate your income or are you satisfied with what you are doing?

4.  If you are wanting change, what interests you and what are you skilled at?

5.  Write down three ways you could get your boss or company to “pay you more” for what you have to offer.

6.  If you own your own business, what is your best money making product and service?

7. List three ways you have not tried to market this “best seller”.

8.  List two new products or services that you have been thinking about creating for your business but have not taken action in getting it up and going.

I hope these questions give you some direction and thought toward your income for 2009. The great thing about life is that each day that you wake up is another twenty four hour opportunity to plan, see, do, feel, and create what you desire.

Start thinking about your new income opportunities and make a plan to take action. Be sure to write down your thoughts and re read them over the next couple weeks. I would love to hear from you about your new ideas that spring forth from this posting.

Blessings for many, many new income ideas!

Jennifer

I really do not like scams. You know the kind that say “get rich quick, never lift a finger, sit at the beach eating carrot cake”..well, something like that. (Of course, the line about the carrot cake is my own take since I love carrot cake, but YOU get the message and I am sure you have gotten the scam talk.

and…..

Honestly, I have found some Universal Truths when it comes to making money with products or services in any business. The tips I have found to really produce great revenue are not the ones listed in the first paragraph. Sorry. What I will share with you are a few of the essentials to any great selling products for any business. As you read these tips think about what you are offering your clients. Ask your self if your products have the qualities that create dynamic sales. Remember, these are just a few of the areas to consider when assessing your current offerings and when creating new products and services. There are certainly others.

In the six figure businesses I have started, the following tips became universal truths to me, for regardless of the business I was starting or the economy I was starting it in, applying these truths never failed me in income production.

Go ahead, read them over and think about your business products and services. If you find that your business is struggling and that your business services and products do not hit upon some of the below listed tips, then I would ask you to consider what you might do to change your offerings so that they DO flow with the concepts of these tips to produce some of the greatest money making products/services.

The greatest money making products are those that are:

• Target Market Specific
• Content Rich
• Current and Relevant to the times
• Packed Full of Benefits for the customer
• ALL about the customers needs, wants, and desires
• Make the customer’s life easier, richer, and happier

How did you do? My hope is that your business is one of those “mighty money machines”, if not, then you might want to check out how we might work together to get your business on track and really producing the income you desire.

Blessings to you for the greatest money making products your business can offer,

Jennifer