business

December 16, 2015  by

The Craft of Branding Yourself: 10 Ways to Define Your Business Goals

Yesterday, Lynette shared with you the process of setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals. Today I want to add some suggestions in the aspect of branding because before you even get started in that process, you have to define what you want your brand to communicate. 
If you haven’t done that, know that defining your business’s goals is actually a very helpful way to brand your business.
 
Let’s not forget that when you visualize the ultimate goals of your business, smaller goals become more attainable.
 
Defining your business goals also helps you stay on track, and anyone else who may be managing your business in the future. Your goals and a business plan will help you to stay focused.
Here are ten things to keep in mind when setting your goals:
  1. Be specific: unspecific goals will create the problem of losing track of where your business is going.
  2. Create a business plan: it is a great way to outline goals as well as calculate finances and tools that will help accomplish those goals.
  3. Set both short-term goals and long-term goals: turning dreams into business goals, as we should, is very easy…but shorter, more technical goals can help better track your success.
  4. Stay committed: an obvious point, but think of lifestyle changes that will help you commit to the goals that you have made.
  5. Make goals public: Make your business and goals associated with it as public as possible. If you only share with friends and family, then so be it. This will help motivate you to complete goals — keep your business on track, but it will also hold you accountable.
  6. Be realistic: It’s ok to dream, but set achievable goals for a given time frame.
  7. Set relevant goals: If a goal ends up providing little or nothing to the growth of the business, then why continue to pursue it. A relevant goal would be, for example: outsourcing some of things that may be overwhelming your productivity.
  8. Create an action plan for each goal: “I’d like to own my own store some day”, is not enough. Have a goal-by-goal plan to complete broader goals like this: make the goal actionable.
  9. Keep everything in line when working on a new goal: Reaching goals means business and lifestyle changes, so assess  that your finances and other forms of security are still tightly in place throughout the process.
  10. Take a step back to analyze the progress: Take what you’ve learned onto the next goal. As an example, if you’re trying to market your business better, what marketing strategies have worked? Which haven’t work?
ETTWomen Planner and Productivity Guide

Daily Sheet from Our Planner

Have you defined your business goals for the coming year? Please share below in the comment section.

 
in branding / business / small-business 1 comments
March 23, 2015  by

You’re Invited! Come Celebrate Women, the Launch of Balance Your Life with Judy Banks and Experience Me Thyme with Cherryl Sharp

invitation

ETTWomen, in partnership with Balance Your Life​ and Me Thyme​ presents: A National Women’s Month Celebration!

  • Launch of Balance Your Life with Judy Banks!

Judy Banks is an Integrative Nutrition Coach and Chopra Center Vedic Master. Life in the 21st century can leave us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
At Balance Your Life, Judy offers a unique approach to understanding how our diet and lifestyle affects our energy, focus, weight, and ultimately our lifespan. She speaks, in depth about this type of pill which can change your life, see what she says below.

  • Me Thyme Experience with Cherryl Sharp

Me Thyme is an All Natural line of Bath & Body Products created by Cherryl Sharp, a Registered Nurse.
From Shea Butter Lotions, to Exfoliating Sugar Scrubs, Soy Candles and Soy Tarts, these products offer you the luxury of having a personal spa day in the privacy of your own home.

Light refreshments will be served.

Order tickets via Eventbrite:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-of-balance-your-life-launch-with-judy-banks-and-me-thyme-experience-tickets-14891312316?aff=efbevent

in business 0 comments
March 11, 2015  by

Sucess In A dress “Sales Tip #7”

ETTWomen's 360 2015 Retreat: Lynette Barbieri

I have the privilege of training new associates in my financial sales business. Obviously, because I’ve been in sales for a long time, I have tips I like to share with my new associates that have worked for me over the years.

But duplicating myself is key in the particular business I am in. Therefore, I share with my new associates tried and true sales tips on a weekly and monthly basis. I do this over and over again because they’ve served as the foundation of me being successful in sales.

The other day I had a conversation with several new associates and one of them asked me to give them one sales tip I could share that has helped me the most. I would like to share it with all of you now here:

What you say to your client is not the key to a successful meeting. Of course what you say is important, but the most important part of your sales presentation (I hate the word pitch) is what they heard and how they process the information you shared with them.

You could think you were smooth, you were clear and that they are the luckiest people on the planet for getting to hear you, and then, the unthinkable happens: They want to think about it!

So what happened? You of course think over and over about what you said, what they said, how you answered the question/s they had and you spend the rest of the night replaying the whole scenario in your mind!

Instead of needless stress and worry, what I have found to be the most helpful is listening to yourself as if you were the customer. Simple right? And how do you do that? Tape your presentation, even better… record yourself on video. Then, ask yourself a few questions as you are listening. Did what you say make you excited to learn more? If you were the potential client, would you have understood clearly what you presented? Would you buy from you based on how you sounded, looked, and explained your product?

Sometimes the answer is no and that’s o.k. Don’t beat yourself up about it but practice. Keep practicing until you can answer yes to those questions; inspect and analyze what you expect!

Contact me Lmb0516@live.com or tweet me @lynettebarb

Also, please ‘like’ us on FB.com/ETTWomen

 

in business / coaching / entrepreneurship / personal-development / women 1 comments
March 4, 2015  by

“Success In a dress” Sales Tip #6

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Have you ever heard the expression “Use your God-given talents.” Did you ever really think about that when it was being said to someone or to you? I have actually said to my daughter when we are arguing, “You should be a lawyer someday. God gave you some talent to argue and debate!”

Well, I believe as women almost every one of us can capitalize in sales by using our God given talents -which I believe are empathy & compassion!

When a man sells, they tend to explain things logically: They discuss why they need it, how much it cost and  why it’s the best product or service out there. They are then ready to get to the point and lead to the close.

Believe me, I have been on many training appointments over the years training men, and no matter how many times I would say to open with the question, it usually didn’t happen on it’s own. I basically had to throw it in and interrupt every time.

Are they bad salesmen? Not at all! They just aren’t thinking about “feelings.”  It isn’t generally in their genetic makeup.  Women show empathy and concern by asking a lot of questions that lead to an emotional decision as to why they need that product or service -and this can be done just by using our God given talent! We are natural born sales people! That’s right: You, me and every woman reading this… if you want to be!

The absolute best tip I can give you this week is to use your God given talents and exercise them. Ask questions that lead to emotional decisions such as, “How does the thought of owning that product make you feel?”; “How would you feel if we established a plan that actually will allow you to retire at 62 instead of 65?”; “What would you do differently if you had that product?”; “Where would you travel if you retire when you are that much younger?”

Help your client feel and visualize owning your product or service.

The reason people are in the positions they are in today is because they get wrapped up in the daily grind and forget their child-like enthusiasm. You have to help them feel that again and show them why your product or service can help lead them to that goal -whatever their goal may be.

Any woman who taps into this gift, the gift we were born with, will be a successful natural sales woman!

Contact me Lmb0516@live.com or tweet me @lynettebarb 

Also, please ‘like’ us on FB.com/ETTWomen

in business / coaching / entrepreneurship / mentorship / women 0 comments
February 25, 2014  by

ETTM Think Tank with Marcy Cortez of LAI Financial Group, LLC

After working in corporate accounting for more than 25 years, Marcy Cortez decided it was time to devote her knowledge and talents to her own business. Marcy is a certified Quickbooks specialist with extensive Accounting, Management and Human Resources experience. LAI Financial Group LLC grew out of her need to share her financial and business savvy with the public. A local entrepreneurial business owner can relate to your needs and requirements as a fellow member of the community.
Marcy will be speaking about the advantages of outsourcing services, specifically financial services for the small business entrepreneur and the role outsourcing plays in helping the entrepreneur to reduce their overhead, increase profits and improve cash flow.

Join ETTM & Marcy on March 7th. Please RSVP HERE.

in business / coaching / community / entrepreneurship / money-habits / networking / new-jersey / personal-development / small-business / support 0 comments
May 6, 2013  by

The Big Question: Should I have a Business Plan?

I’d like to discuss a question that over the years, people have frequently asked me, most recently  at our ETTM meeting last week. The question: Do I need   Business plan? What is a business plan? Does everyone need a business plan? What is a business plan?

Well, I find the people that are asking are usually eager to get their business moving, or take it to the next level. They are interested in success and are committed to their business. This is good news, the problem is they don’t know how, right? We have all been there…don’t you agree?  But in order for me to answer those questions short of being a mind reader, I would need their help!

First of all, I do agree we all need a business plan. You need to ask yourself a few questions in order to get started. My interpretation of a business plan is not sitting down and putting together complicated spreadsheets or hard to understand financial projections! So, you need to identify, what exactly is it that I do? What makes me different and what is my niche? Then you can sit down with someone if you need help, a paper and pen and  just get started!

Here’s an example:

I’m in finance. What I do is help people create their financial GPS.

What makes me different? I pride myself on educating my clients on the basic and fundamental concepts of “how money works”.

Whats my niche, my specialty? Educating and working with women.

How do I do that? Women and financial wisdom workshops.

Get the drift?

A business plan takes some time and thought and of course some motivation but it can and it needs to get done!

Do you have a business plan? Have you started one and feel stuck?

ETTM has got your back 🙂 Our workshop for creating a business plan is coming soon.

Please join the conversation for more information HERE.

in business / personal-development / small-business 0 comments
May 3, 2013  by

The # 1 Marketing Tactic

I recently read a survey where out of 44 marketing tactic options to choose from, Search Engine Optimization won. Facebook and LinkedIn came in second, blogging third, and email marketing fourth.

What’s even more interesting, video marketing came in seventh despite the fact that YouTube is the third largest search platform – after second-place Google and first-place Facebook.

Here are a few ideas you can take away from these results:

1. It makes total sense that SEO is the most important tactic in attracting visitors to your website.

Any time someone gets online and looks for something, what they’re doing is searching. Making Search Engine Optimization key – to everything!

Leaders in business have noticed this and are planning to devote major attention, energy and yes, money into improving theirs.

You should be doing the same thing.

If you don’t know much about SEO and can’t afford to hire an expert, learn as much as you can on your own – there are lots of things you can do to improve SEO without having to become a super tecchie expert in the field.
2. Facebook, blogging, and email campaigns are simply a given in business. Make sure you have a strategy in place to engage in all three regularly. If you’re not a great writer, designer, or copy writer, consider outsourcing, or at least get an expert to evaluate what you’re doing, give you some training if needed, and guide you on how to best use your time in these activities.
3. Jump on the opportunity that business leaders are still lagging in their plans to use video. This is awesome news for you! Take advantage of their relative inactivity, and get your content out where your competition is not as active as it should be.

Invest in an inexpensive camera, create vlogs out of your existing blogs, and put those videos up on your website and on YouTube. You’ll be a step ahead of many of your competitors and your SEO will improve dramatically.

 

What are you doing to improve your SEO? Do you have any questions? I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment below.

in blogging / business / coaching / entrepreneurship / small-business / Uncategorized 0 comments
April 23, 2013  by

REAL RELATIONSHIPS AND APPRECIATION FOR VALUE

Although numbers are important to show growth or stature, should the focus of a business be on the quantity or the quality of their customers?
The quality and AWESOME service a business strives to offer should be their presentation letter and establishing REAL relationships should be their goal.

So, when receiving a message like this one, we continue to focus on making your experience with us, valuable:

“WOW! I did it – a whole week of blogging completed and I actually am enjoying it. Who would have thought that this technically challenged woman would be able to accomplish such a thing.

I just wanted to share a few thoughts:

  • Blogging is not as hard as it seemed if you talk about what you know. Thank you Vanessa Coppes and Entrepreneurial Think Tank for Moms, LLC for helping me to see that.
  • Be yourself!
  • People actually read what I write. I know this sounds crazy because why else would you blog, right? I didn’t think I had anything to say – SURPRISE! I love sharing about things that mean something to me. Who knows somewhere along the way, it might actually help someone else that is struggling.
  • Along with this goes the fact that if people read it, you may be asked to step out of the realm of cyber space and actually share in person about what you have written about in your blog. Welcome to “stepping out of your comfort zone”!
  • Lastly, the easiest way for me to keep up with the blogging (since Vanessa said do it for 30 days – EVERY DAY) is to make a list of things as I think of them. Then in the morning I can look at the list if I can’t think of anything to write about, and I have a list of topics or ideas to get me going.

I will share more of my life’s journey – the good, the bad and the not so pretty – as time goes on. ” HOPE WISSEL

in blogging / branding / business / coaching / community / entrepreneurship 0 comments
April 4, 2013  by

Do you have Squirrel syndrome?

Just like our dogs are, we an be easily distracted by squirrels. We refer to those properly as distractions.

Most successful business women have A type personalities. That is great news because we are go getters, always on the move and we can take on a lot of tasks.

The bad news is we are easily distracted by things that happen around us in our business, at home, and with our families.

Did you ever find yourself sitting with a colleague and the most pressing topic you were on when you began your conversation, was 4 topics ago?… and the discussion you started, was still not resolved? Then yes… you are afflicted with squirrel syndrome!

Now that we identified your affliction what do you do?

When you sit down and list your goals at the beginning of the month, and then the end of the month rolls around… are you often not accomplishing them? Do you miss them by a landslide or nose? I bet if you thought about it, it would be in direct proportion with the things you let distract you.

So now that we have a diagnosis, and we know what it is causing, what is the antidote?

Simple: it’s change.

Sounds easy enough right? Actually, no…change is not easy and it does not come easily to many of us. But,  if you become aware that your distractions are in direct proportion to the goals you miss, wouldn’t you want to change?

All it takes to change is to refuel the passion you have for what you do. Become aware of wanting to accomplish your goals; your commitment and practice will help this change be a natural part of your daily routine. And then your success will be in direct proportion to the amount of energy you put into your comittment to change!

Our deepest desire is to succeed isnt it? Then change will be worth it!

Do you suffer from Squirrel syndrome? What do you do to treat it? Please let me know in the comment section below!

in business / coaching / entrepreneurship / personal-development / support 0 comments
April 4, 2013  by

Life…Simplified?

We have all been there…a 60 hour work week, a jam packed schedule, busy, busy, busy…

We are working, parenting, living our lives…and needing {wanting} just a few more hours in the day to get everything done. 

Reality check: It is impossible to do it all on your own (but I’m sure you already knew that).
 
So how can you simplify your life? {Ahem…no magic tricks here}
 
She created this business for people like us, because she was like us.
We have action-packed lives and mile long to do list. But we value our free time and believe that an extra set of hands, can go a long way.
 
I have several businesses, 2 kids, a husband and a home to take care of.
Her commitment to supporting me in my everyday whirlwind has given me the ability to focus on the things that really need my attention. Asking for help has dramatically improved my well being: my stress levels are down, I’ve increased my productivity and freed up time to do more of the things I enjoy therefore… I’ve simplified my life.
 
Hand over your tasks – go off and enjoy your day. It’s that easy!
 
Life, simplified? Now that’s possible!
Meet Shakima and learn more about her services at our Family Wellness & Beauty Day.
Join us HERE!
in business / health / life / personal-development / small-business / support / wellness 0 comments
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