Greetings!
Ah spring!
I recently read a wonderful essay on spring on one of my favorite email groups, the fly lady learn more about fly lady.
It's so easy to get all wrapped up in how your business isn't exactly where you want to be that sometimes a little perspective helps.
The essence of it was this:
If you had to pay for spring - could you afford it? How much would all those beautiful flowers cost? How much would you have to pay to import the songbirds. What would the heating bill be for Spring. But the miracle is that spring in all its splendor is free!
You don't have to pay for the leaves on the trees, or the flowers blooming, it's all there for you to enjoy at no cost.
Take a moment this week to enjoy whatever spring has to offer in your neighborhood. Spend a moment admiring a flower or listening to bird song. If the weather is still cold and dreary where you are, find something that's unique to this time of year and just enjoy it for the miracle it is.
Ah spring!
--Miss Karen
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| Who's in Your Niche? |
Have you chosen a niche yet? Or is fear and doubt keeping you from being specific?
Most of us take way to long to decide on a niche. (a niche is an extremely small group of clients such as holistic practicers in Marin County, women between 45 and 50 or men who golf at Oakmont Golf Club)
Why?
Because we are afraid that by being specific we'll miss out on all of the bazillion people who might be our clients. This strategy nearly always backfires.
I know all of you have a broad range of services and can help "anybody, somebody, people who, or small businesses". However by being willing and able to work with "anyone" you'll soon find two things happening.
One, you'll get clients you really don't like working with (and whom you'll have to keep working with forever because of:
Two. your new clients and referrals will begin to dwindle because no one knows who or how to refer you.
By making your list as broad as possible you are attracting whatever falls in your lap, rather than targeting clients who would be dream clients for you. Wouldn't a long client list of people you love to work with be ideal?
So how do you decide on your niche? Decide who you like working with the most and look for them.
First, release the need to help everyone. Think about it...what if you actually DID get everyone who could potentially be your client in the whole world. Would that be great? Or would it be a total nightmare because that's way too many people and a lot of them are just difficult for you to work with for whatever reason.
Second, figure out which clients you like working with the most and who your dream client is. What do they have in common with one another - besides you. Here's one thing to keep in mind. It isn't people who appreciate you, it isn't people who are kind and it isn't people who are enlightened. Those things may be true of your clients, however if you start looking for referrals and describing them like that, you'll get nowhere.
Try to figure out what Else they have in common. Do they have a certain level of income? Do they live in a certain community? How about lifestyle?.
You might find that your favorite client who you would think of as an enlighted woman who is really nice and values your work ALSO can be classified as a married woman who is a stay at home mother with school age children and a household income of six figures who lives in Berkeley, CA. (for those not in the SF Bay area Berkeley has a reputation for having a very high population of people who are into holistic health and it costs alot to own property there).
The reason I say that is this: wouldn't it be easier to search for clients if you could figure out where else these people hang out and spend their money? Using the example above you could then start marketing yourself in a networking group that meets in that city, or you could seek out mother's clubs or parent groups. By being targeted, your results will be much better AND you will also find that people who don't' fit that demographic will also be asking about your services.
So remember: "Your Niche Will Make You Rich!". When you release your fears around narrowing your market you will make more money that you ever have before.
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| The Number One Mistake Most Business Owners Make and How to Avoid it - Teleclass coming up! |
On April 8, 2008 at 11:00 I'll be Joan Silva's guest on thsi hour long teleclass.
Our link to register isn't live yet, but here is the information about the class in case you want to save the date.
- Have you ever felt like there aren't enough hours in the
day?
- Do you feel frustrated that your business isn't supporting
the lifestyle you've always dreamed of?
- Are you worried about being able to retire?
You are not alone!
Did you know that as a result of a single strategic mistake,
most solo entrepreneurs trade their 9 - 5 day job for a business that runs them
(rather than the other way around)?
Please join Joan Silva and Karen Frank for a free teleclass:
"The Number One Mistake Most Business Owners Make and How to Avoid It."
You will learn:
- How to
speak more effectively about your business
- How to
use the 80/20 rule to your advantage
- The
importance of an email or in print newsletter
- Why
being an expert in your field is the key to creating the business you really want
and how to do that.
This one hour class will help you bust though your income
ceiling. When you're done you will understand how to escape the time for
dollars trap we all fall into and you'll understand how use knowledge you
already have to position yourself as an expert.
Can't wait to register? Just email karen@misskarensproductions.com and I'll make sure you get registered.
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| Did You Miss Our Expert Business Symposium?
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Good news! If you missed all or any part of the event, you can pre-order a copy of the video before we offer them at the regular price of $197! Reserve your copy now for just $79 or see more information about what's on film by clicking here
This link includes a listing of all of the workshops that took place and a secure place to order.
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Upcoming Calendar |
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Upcoming
Workshops and Events:
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April 8. 2008
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Teleclass - The Number One Mistake Most Business Owners Make and How to Avoid it
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11:00
am - 12:00 pm
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April 10, 2008,
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Facilitator, Mt. Diablo Business Women's Networking Meeting
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5:45 pm
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Lafayette Park Hotel, Lafayette, CA
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April 18 and 19, 2008
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Effective Networking Made Easy - the Two Day Intensive
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10:00
am - 5:00 pm
Both
days
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Walnut
Creek
area click here for more info or to register
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April 25 and 26, 2008
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You Are an Expert Two Day Boot Camp - How to position yourself as an expert by creating an info product or workshop |
9:00 am - 5:30 pm both days | Walnut Creek area
click here for more info or to register
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May 4 and 5, 2008
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You Are an Expert Two Day Boot Camp - How to position yourself as an expert by creating an info product or workshop |
9:00 am - 5:30 pm both days
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New!! - Philadelphia Location! click here for more info or to register
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Karen Frank founded Miss Karen's Productions
over four years ago. What began as a one-person operation providing content for
websites and elevator speeches has blossomed into a multifaceted company
specializing in spoken word communications. From workshops that teach business
owners what to say and how to say it - to effective scripting for fundraising
videos, Miss Karen's Productions is becoming an industry leader in verbal
communications information and training.
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Networking
Tip of the Month
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Tag Team Networking
Have you ever gone networking with an associate?
Often times when we find something uncomfortable we don't do it at all. April is a great month to go networking with a friend or associate.
Here are a few tips to make the most of your time "tag team networking."
1. Remember the three things you SHOULD say when networking: Who you are, the problem you solve and who you are looking for. Except in this case you will be focusing on who your associate is, the problem he or she solves and who he or she is looking for. Remember, your associate will be doing the same for you.
2. Stay focused on promoting each other
and resist the temptation to talk about yourself. If you want to meet with someone who wants to know more about you, make an appointment to do that later.
3. Dress professionally. Don's show up in jeans and a holy T-shirt - even if that's what you normally work in anyway.
4. Be specific. Just as you would when talking about yourself, be very very specific. What I mean is - you are looking for one person - not a group of people. For example, do ask for and introduction to the HR director of XYZ company. Don't ask for HR directors in general (or worse "a company with 25 employees or less).
By being focused and specific, your tag team networking may be the most effective networking you have ever done! Try it and let me know how it goes! |
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Does your group need a speaker?
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Every business needs to promote itself to grow and be successful, and yet many struggle with what to say and how to say it.
If your group is looking for a fun interactive presentation, Miss Karen will fill the bill!
She will entertain and educate audiences of any size on topics such as "How to Network" and creating an effective elevator speech. Call 925-279-1004 to schedule Miss Karen for your next event.
Want something just for your group? Miss Karen is happy to customise materials or come up with something just for you! Please call for rates and more information.
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