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| A Note From Wendy
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Greetings!,
Welcome to another edition of On the Edge!
There is some serious "business strategy" energy floating in the air right now. I am thrilled to have had the pleasure of hosting a focus group last week with Tracey Ehman of Kwik Focus. We had 10 fabulous business owners come out and support, strategize, and offer great insights to each other.
Tracey Ehman of Kwik Focus and Me The beauty of working in a short, direct "brainstorming" manner, like we did, is that a lot of great content gets generated quickly. The take-away "aha's" can then be expanded and implemented easier as there are few doubts about the viability of the ideas! I can not stress enough the importance for small business owners to schedule time in their month or through out their year to work on their business as a whole. Even if it's just twice a year, you check-in and review your objectives and plans; it is important for your growth and business vision. In saying that, I am really excited to share I will be heading down to San Francisco on November 10th for four days of business strategizing, also. I am going to attend the Love and Money Business Summit hosted by one of my marketing mentors, Katrina Sawa. This four day experience will allow me to really generate some great planning in my business for 2010 and bring back ideas for all my clients and readers. I have made it my mission to keep all of you on the cutting edge of what this new "lifestyle business" landscape can look like. Better yet, helping you to build in leverage and growth strategies to transition your business into this structure. I can't wait to come back and share what I have learned. However, my trip doesn't stop there. Once I am done with Katrina's event I am heading over to Pennsylvania for 9 days. I am visiting my sister's family and am going to watch my 4 year old niece for a week while my sister and her husband go out of town. I am just as excited about this, as well. As many of you know, I have two boys, so the opportunity to go hang out in "little princess la-la land" as I call it, will be a great shift in experiences for me. Not to worry, I am sure I will adapt and will probably teach her a few things, too, like hockey!! While I am away I will still be working with my clients and writing my ezine so look for some great content for sure. Even more, I will post information about Katrina's event on my blog-so check in there too. In this week's edition of On the Edge I am sharing some great marketing tips in the article called Tradeshow Marketing Secrets Made Simple. I have met many of my new readers of recent, who are crafters, artisans, or whose small businesses are based on product sales. With all the fall and holiday tradeshows out there you may be involved in, these tips will help you stay in contact with all the people you meet. Welcome to all my new readers! Until next time I wish you radiant success! |
Radiantly Yours,
Wendy Burge
P.S. I would love to hear your feedback, questions, or current business challenges. Feel free to contact me by clicking here.
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| October 29, 2009 |
Vol 1, Issue 24 |
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| Where Is Wendy?
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November 5 - Attending Valley Women's Network - White Rock chapter meeting.
November 11-14 - Katrina Sawa's Love and Money Business Summit. San Fransico, California.
November 15-24 - Pennsylvania, USA. Visiting family.
December 3 - Attending Valley Women's Network - White Rock chapter meeting.
December 8 - Guest speaker at the Valley Women's Network - Evening chapter meeting.
-Speaking on Twitter and Social Network Marketing. |
| Featured Article
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 Tradeshow Marketing Secrets Made Simple
by Wendy Burge
Take advantage of these under-utilized marketing strategies this fall when you are exhibiting your business at local business, craft, and holiday shows. While selling your work is obviously the main point of being in a show, it also is a great way to capitalize on making reoccurring sales and introducing people to your work through out the remainder of the year. The idea is to capture "leads" for future sales by building a following--no matter how long you have been in business. Try these easy to use steps to create a simple marketing system that will allow easy follow up for future exhibitions, specialty sales, and exclusive showcasing of your services and products.
1. Have some sort of a sign up sheet for people to receive more information regarding your business. It may be to let them know where your next event is or when you offer exclusive private sales. Make sure you get the basic information like their name and email address. Email is the most cost effective format to market and stay in contact with people.
Preferably, if you can garnish their mailing address this is great for sending out specialty invitations and announcements, as well. The mantra is "get them on your list" so that you can follow up through out the year with people who have already expressed interested in your services or products.
2. Create a unique take-away item people will want to keep that has your name, phone number, and website address. This may be as simple as a pen or postcard with a great photo of one of your specialty items or as elaborate as a calendar with images of your business or local community for people to view the rest of the year. The point is to offer something that holds value, hosts your contact points, and offers something different that people will want to keep. Being remarkable is one the best strategies to generate sales interest.
3. For each sale you generate at the show make sure you capture the buyers name, address, and email address. Again follow up is key. Sending each person that buys your product or service a handwritten thank you card or a postcard creates a unique way to be remembered. Making exclusive offers to previous buyers of your products or services also adds that extra special flare that people appreciate as being part of your special VIP client list. If they valued your business already, they will definitely be repeat customers.
4. Sell more than just your services and products. Your expertise is highly valued and can be offered as another revenue stream. If you enjoy teaching what you do, then offer another way people can buy from you by selling a course, instructional booklet about your programs, and or a workshop DVDs that leverage your expertise.
5. Don't let people just pass by your booth and not speak to them. The more energy you put into meeting people that stop by to look at your booth, there is a better chance you will make a sale. There is no one that can talk about your business better than you. Connect with people by giving them the ability to speak to the expert as part of their sales experience with you. People buy from people not from looking at your business display by itself. © 2009 Wendy Burge - Radiant Edge Consulting. WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Radiant Business & Marketing Coach Wendy Burge publishes the On the Edge! bi-weekly ezine--Where business, marketing, and lifestyle meet. If you're ready to have radiant marketing, make more money, and have more freedom in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.RadiantEdgeConsulting.com |
| Marketing Quick Tip
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Tap into Social Network Sites for Contact Points 
As the popularity of social network sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn grow in business applications, prospects and customers are beginnings to expect to see profile listings about the people they are doing business with.
So, if you are starting to exchange more communications through social sites don't forget to offer your profile pages' URLs at the bottom of your email signature, too, along with your phone number and business address.
By providing your social network profile pages URLs, you are inviting people, by way of a "soft touch", to learn more about you, your business, and new ways to connect with you. It used to be that the idea of having this kind of accessible transparency was not of the normal business protocol; however, times are changing and people are actually becoming curious as to why some one would not have a social network profile.
With more business opportunities happening through social network sites, it's important to know how to use them to your advantage. I can guarantee your prospects and clients are looking for you on them--so let them find you there! |
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Wendy Recommends
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Are You Ready to JUMP? 
Marketing can be an often dreaded part of business especially when you are a solo-entrepreneur or small business owner. The last thing you want to do is figure out HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF, to find one more way to promote your business for another newspaper advertisement, expensive mail piece, and or any other multiple ways businesses typically market in hopes to draw in a few more new clients. Here is what I know...
Most people do not like to SELL THEMSELVES when it comes to their business.
However, people who you were meant to help are spending their money with someone
else who's helping them solve their problem because you haven't gotten clear about your marketing position. That is why it is essential for you to get clear about how to market your business quickly, effectively, and in a way that brings in a better return to your bottom line so you can have a greater impact on this world!
I am here to tell you, it's time to JUMP!
"It's time to take the leap to really DEFINE WHO YOU ARE and
understand HOW TO MARKET YOUR REAL VALUE in your business!"
So stop marketing like everyone else and JUMP WITH ME!
I will teach you how to position your business for those people who need you right now! Learn how I can work with you to develop a marketing blueprint for your business Jump Marketing Strategy Sessions. (click link above) |
| Who Is Wendy Anyway?
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Wendy Burge is a Radiant Small Business Marketing Coach, ezine publisher, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. She helps solo-professionals and entrepreneurs like YOU take your businesses to the next level using creative, effective, and affordable Relationship Marketing Systems & Strategies - online and offline! 
Wendy helps you:
- build your database of clients and prospects and
determine the best ways to market your business to your unique target market
- network effectively plus develop follow up systems
to stay on top of mind with contacts at all times
- create marketing and advertising plans and campaigns that get results
- design and help you write your website copy in order to bring you leads
- delegate and automate your business to give you more free time to do what you love and to live your dream lifestyle
- find creative ways to get in front of your clients which all lead to more customers and increased sales
- develop information products, membership programs, and other residual forms of income to leverage your expertise and resources
- add elements to your business model such as speaking, writing a book, holding live events
- gets you where you want to go in your business
Not sure where to start?
"Give me 47 minutes of your time and I will help you...
Clarify where you need the most help,
establish a starting point for best results,
and offer resources, tools, and programs to help you take
the best action for your business all for $47."
Test-drive my services. For less than the cost of a tank of gas I will help you discover the best place to invest your time, dollars, and energy in your business and marketing.
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| Biz Building Resources
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I have selected some really valuable business building tools every small business needs to know about!
There are many great web-based software programs on line to help assist businesses these days. These are a few I often share with clients and use my self. 
1. Mozy.com - This is the best online data backup system! (It's a MUST to have a web-based backup system because you KNOW you won't do it manually yourself often enough! Plus best of all your information is always accessible at anytime online - just in case!)
2. 1ShoppingCart.com - The most used resource for online ecommerce, auto-responders, affiliate program, email marketing and more if you want to sell items for your business online--all of my colleagues and mentors use it--and me too soon!
3. ConstantContact.com - This is the email marketing program I use and you're reading right now. I recommend it if you don't have an email marketing system or shopping cart system that does this for you. It offers some great features like email archiving, survey options, and auto-responder options.
4. AudioGenerator.com - This is the easiest way to add audio to websites and emails! Set up your account, call in to activate the reording, and receive the audio formatted in html code for your website plus it gives you play buttons, etc. to put on your site.
5. PracticePaySolutions.com - This is a merchant services payment processing company most recommended by my colleagues; it works well with 1shoppingcart.
6. GoSolo.com - This is a great, inexpensive 800 phone system. I use this for my business and love that I can access my messages online. It sends me an email when someone leaves me a message. I then can log into my account to listen to it. Can't get any easier! It also offers fax, email, and web conference services as options to their packages.
7. Ning.com - This site allows you to create your own F*R*E*E social network! Do you have a select group of client programs, services, or a special interest you want to share about your business? You can create your own personal group for it and your members can talk to each other and share ideas.
8. InstantConference.com - This is a F*R*E*E conference line solution for teleclasses or recording calls of any sort. I use it and love that I can record my calls on my own private number with access code as well. Within three hours of the end of my call they email me links to my recording in an MP3 format!
11. Vistaprint.com - This is a digital web-based printing company. It offers tons of template options for business cards, brochures, postcards and more. They have SUPER promos - so make sure you get signed up on their email list. Make sure you click on your country's flag to get accurate pricing although.
12. Cafepress.com - This site is another digital printing site that allows you to set up your own online retail store. I use this site to create my own promotional items that I can purchase from myself at a great deal and or sell; like T-shirts, mugs, and tote bags all emblazoned with my logo.
Resource Disclaimer:
Radiant Edge Consulting and Wendy Burge do not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the third-party recommendations above or the quality of any products, information, or other materials displayed, purchased, or obtained by you as a result of an offer in connection with any company listed. Please do your own due diligence before purchasing any product. | |
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