When I started doing life and career coaching, I was really inspired to start a business. I really wanted to work with people. I wanted to support people, help people, and I had no clue how to start a business. I researched and tried to find models and different examples, but I didn't have a clue how to put it all together.
One challenge for me was that marketing felt gross. A lot of the stuff I was reading felt very "salesy" and the systems and individuals that I was getting some of the material from just didn't feel authentic to me. That became a challenge. I knew it had to feel authentic and heart-centered and client-based, so I set out to do it differently.
I have to admit, there were moments when I was panicked and worried. I thought, "What have I gotten myself into? How will I ever get clients? I know nothing about building a business."
Step One - Identify an authentic approach
I understand the panic and frustration that can come with starting a new business. When I set my sites on starting a new business, I centered myself and said, "I need a clear plan. It's got to be authentic for me and not salesy. It's got to be easy and understandable. It's got to be client and heart-centered."
When I began to put that authentic piece together, within 9 months, I had 35 clients. I began to see that the more authentic I was, the more I attracted ideal clients and opportunities.
Step Two - Develop a clear plan of implementation
You need a systematic approach with no assumptions that your clients know how to implement some of these methods. I don't assume that the clients I work with know how to implement. That's why I take things step-by-step and point to each path and point to every important spot along the journey.
Step Three - Marketing for helping professionals
When talking to helping professionals about marketing, some of the most common responses are "sales", "yuck", "discounts", "recruiting", "cold calling", "closing deals", and "hard work". I recognize that a lot of helping professionals struggle with building their business because that's their understanding of marketing. That's their experience of marketing.
My definition of marketing is - "A way to authentically share my experience and gift with those who can use it to shape their lives, empower their work, and shorten their path to success". It's never about selling for me. It's always about sharing.
In fact, marketing is really a moral obligation. There's a Chinese proverb that I love that says, "When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others."
The way you share and the way you do that is through authentic marketing.
1. The most important thing you can do is be involved in a market where there is a demand for your product. We cannot overstate how important this is.
If you want to fail pick a business opportunity to promote that is in a market where no one is spending money. The flip side of that is to choose a very active market. Examples of markets were people spend money every day include golf, hobbies, work at home, home improvements, and so on.
You can very easily target a niche to be in by just looking at what is going on around you. You can also visit websites such as Google Trends and see what people are researching on the Internet today.
2. Another definite way to fail with any moneymaking business opportunity is to waste time doing nonproductive things. Many people get up and play like they're an Internet marketer, and actually feel they are being productive
An example of wasting time is playing around with your website and doing things such as adding new graphics, changing the background color and so on. In reality you should get your website set up the way you want it and then concentrate on things that will actually make you money.
3. A final way we want to talk about failing is to not master Internet marketing skills. The most important of these is learning how to get traffic to your website.
In reality you should master one form of traffic generation before adding another one. For example if you enjoy discussion forums, you should work extremely hard at becoming an expert at that until you add another method of traffic generation.
Other Internet marketing skills that you will need to learn how to do include sending email, building web pages, blogging, social networking, and other things. One advantage the Internet offers is you can always outsource things that you do not like to do, or do not want to learn how, and pay someone to do those for you.
In summary if you want to fail on your next money making business opportunity ignore these three important things. It is a proven fact that the most successful Internet marketers are in markets where the product are in demand, and they are productive in their business every day utilizing Internet marketing skills.
Both Suzanne Evans & Gen Wright are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Suzanne Evans has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Celebrities and Internet Marketing. Suzanne Evans is best known as the 'action expert' and has coached hundreds of solopreneurs to model her multiple six figure business. Learn how you can help more people, make more money and have more fun doing what you love by signing up for your free co. Suzanne Evans's top article generates over 590 views. to your Favourites.
Gen Wright has sinced written about articles on various topics from Terrier Dogs, Acne Treatment and Lose Weight. Sign up for our FREE Internet Business Training Program and learn more about a. Gen Wright's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.