Twitter Tips: 5 Things to do Before You Start to Tweet

February 26, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Everything in social media takes time to learn. Decoding the information and learning to make the network work for you and your business is a trick. It can be mastered with preparation and practice. Twitter is a great place to connect with people, including clients and prospects along with presenting yourself as an expert in your market.

Here are a few things to do before you get started:

1. Know what you want to promote on Twitter. You only have 140 characters to get your message across so if you are going to direct followers to a squeeze page, website or blog be prepared to deliver a concise message that includes a tiny link.

2. Be prepared to spend time engaging in conversation. Twitter, like other social media is worth the effort because of the ‘social’ part of the media. You can engage clients, prospects, experts in conversation. That means you need to respond to questions, thoughts and ideas that make sense to your business. Promoting on Twitter requires back and forth engagement not just one way communication. Social media etiquette rules rule. Be sure to thank for retweets and follows.

3. Add value. You do not need to be selling all the time. You are developing your brand and promoting your expertise by directing followers to good articles, great websites, and interesting blog posts. You can become a trusted source for information and build trust with your followers, enhancing your brand.

4. Be authentic; reflect your brand – always. This includes being sure that those you follow or who follow you also reflect your brand. The easiest way to do this is check out their profile information and make sure you are aligned. Visit their website or blog to ensure they reflect your values.

5. Be consistent. Once you are gathering followers, they will want to hear from you – this is especially true when your content is amazing!

Marketing strategy is 80% preparation, 20% implementation. A social media marketing strategy requires the same commitment. Know what you want to do and the results you are looking for before you get started. It will save you time and potentially your reputation in the future.

If you are working hard to promote your business on Twitter and you are finding that you are not getting the followers or customer contact that you expected, Join us for a free webinar Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 2pm EST to learn how to put Twitter to work for YOU!

You’ll also discover:

* How to develop a Twitter marketing strategy

* What to say on Twitter

* How to make your Twitter profile stand out from everyone else

* And much, much more!

Register now at: http://www.jessilicious.com/twitterwebinar/

About the Author: With over 20 years of business and leadership experience, Lora Crestan offers coaching online through http://www.solsticegroupcoaching.com. Visit today and find your best you!

Filed Under Featured Posts, Marketing

List Attraction in Action: 20+ Tips to Leap Your List!

February 22, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

If you’ve been an online entrepreneur for any length of time you’ve probably heard someone say… “the money is in the list”. But what does that really mean?

It means, as a woman in business online, YOUR LIST is your greatest asset. But not just ANY list. It’s not just about accumulating the biggest list you can.

There’s strategy to consider…

=> Why are you building your list?

=> Who should be on your list?

=> How do you get these people on your list?

=> How do you keep them on your list?

=> How do you grow your list faster?

=> How do you make money from this list?

And I’m saying “list” for simplicity. For you the word might be community, network or tribe. Whatever the word, effective list attraction, retention and monetization skills are ESSENTIAL for long-term success.

Grow your list size and quality and you grow your PROFIT POTENTIAL and this is one aspect of growing your business that you can influence immediately.

If that sounds like something you want to experience in your business, read below to discover what’s working, right now, in the real world, for women in business online:

P.S. We’ll be delivering more crowd sourced tips just like this on other business boosting topics every single month. Some are shared publicly like today’s post – others are reserved just for “insiders”. Click the “Hope Chest” box on the right side of the page and sign up to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

P.P.S. A super-huge THANK YOU to all the awesome women who contributed a tip to this post xo

Would you like FREE PR like this too? We’re currently collecting tips on the topic of: How to get more traffic to your blog or website. You can submit your tip at http://iawbo.com/blogtraffic AND, we’ll notify you when the post goes live so you can let your community know :)

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Teleclass Replay… A Brand Called Me

February 11, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Happy Friday Women in Business Online!

Did you get a chance to attend this week’s tele-class? In case you missed it here’s the replay. The topic: How to go from Brand Blah to Brand Bold. Love that!

During this teleseminar guest expert Stephanie Pollock shared:

* What a personal brand is and why it’s your most valuable asset
* What you need to leverage (that you already have) to build a strong business foundation
* How to uncover what makes you most unique, essentially getting rid of any competition
* The 7-step system I use with my clients to master Brand YOU!
* The top 5 mistakes women make and why it’s costing them big time!

Whether you’re just starting out in business, or know that your brand needs a healthy dose of remarkable, this free teleseminar will give you the knowledge, tips and tools you need to build your personal brand foundation.

Click here to listen to the replay now and be sure to click on the comments link above to post any a’has and insights okay.

~ Gina xo

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Finally! World’s First (And Only) Organization for Part-Time Entrepreneurs

February 9, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

I love to discover organizations that are fresh and new. What’s even more exciting is when it fills an obvious need.

Well I found one and I was invited to be part of it ;)

Finally! World’s First (And Only) Organization for Part-Time Entrepreneurs

I was thrilled to be invited to join the mission to advocate for the success of part-time entrepreneurs as an Expert Advisor. I’ll be sharing surprisingly simple ways to achieve fun, fame and good fortune online – in record time along with 16 other experts in happiness and business matters.

So now I have a question for you.

Are you a part-time entrepreneur (PTE)? If you are passionately trying to grow a business “on the side” of your full-time life … with another job or taking care of your family for example.. then likely you are!

Why does this matter? PTEs have to be super motivated to step beyond a few unique challenges:

1) Comparing their speed of success with that of same-industry full-time entrepreneurs;

2) Reacting out of fear to these comparisons by signing up for costly training programs and taking marketing advice that is not RIGHT and not affordable for their differently paced businesses.

If PTEs are passionate about their business, but not finding practical, proven and easy to implement tips, tools and information to turn that passion into monetized success too… it wreaks havoc on relationships, finances and self-esteem.

But no longer! No more defining part-time success on full-time terms, no more expensive advice when affordable solutions fit your needs much better. PTE businesses are unique, and who you take advice from and your business actions much reflect your reality, nobody else’s.

Say hello to International Alliance of Motivated Part-Time Entrepreneurs (IAMPTE)

IAMPTE is the world’s only organization for PTEs, men and women of any age, trying to make money with a business or concept “on the side” of an already full life.

Not only am I honoured to be an expert, but I’m really looking forward to being a member too!

Join & celebrate with me today! Every new annual member gets $800 in FREE gifts!

Visit the website now at [insert your unique affiliate link here] to see all $800 in free gifts – including the Cash Flow Creator, The Nuts & Bolts of Building a List and much more including How to Set Goals with Confidence contributed by me!

$199 IAMPTE Membership Is Your Best Investment For 2011 –
Even Without the Free Gifts!

The online community, including a content-rich website and weekly mini “How To” e-zines (plus much more) is ONLY $199 for a full year of connecting and learning! IAMPTE is designed to give you EXACTLY the information you need from some of the most trusted experts in small business… 100% committed to save you money and time while accelerating your success, however you define it. 52 weeks of articles, audios, classes, bonuses and much more.

Founder Kim Page Gluckie has pulled together a really exceptional team of experts and everyone truly cares about the success and happiness of those who are motivated to succeed, without making real life an excuse. Real life is the REASON you are a PTE right? So let’s work with your reality, not someone else’s.

Don’t forget! Your $800 in gifts are only for annual memberships & disappear by February 25th.

But get started now. Your weekly “How To” mini ezines begin the day after you join! And your free gifts are waiting for you now.

Find all the information you need here for membership benefits: http://iampte.com/?ap_id=gina_bell

And you can also get a flavor of what IAMPTE is all about by browsing the public website, which has some fabulous sample articles about money, marketing and making yourself happy in PTE business life, including (insert your article title if you contributed or edit this sentence– not link or you won’t get your affiliate commission). Or you can pop over to find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/iampte) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/iampte) and join the excitement.

No fluff from us! Just the good information PTEs need to help avoid wasting time and money, so they can get on with growing that amazing business! Let me know if you have any questions. See you at IAMPTE or spread the word!

~ Gina xo

p.s. You can also support IAMPTE with or without being a PTE by getting an affiliate link and earn 5% on every annual membership YOU refer by placing a really great badge on your website that says I Am a PTE or I Am a PTE Supporter! All the information is on the IAMPTE website. Let me know if you need help.

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How Does She Do It Interview with Zahra Efan, Abundance Business Coach

February 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Name: Zahra Efan
Company Name: Zahra Efan Coaching Services

Website URL: http://www.zahraefan.com
Twitter URL: http://twitter.com/ZahraEfan
Facebook URL: http://www.facebook.com/ZahraEfan

How long have you been in business online? # of years: 6

1. Provide a brief description of your business a) who do you love to work with?

a) I am an Abundance Business Coach who supports creative heart centered spiritually oriented female entrepreneurs such as coaches, authors, designers, film-makers and others to share their gifts and claim the value of their passionate work in their creative business.

b) what is the #1 greatest benefit they get from working with you? Gift of their unique/individual style of marketing by first receiving the gift of themselves during the inner work we do along with the outer shining their light strategies.

2. What does being a woman in business online mean to you and what is your favorite thing about it?

It means that I can connect with women globally, use technology to make a difference world wide.

My favourite thing is that I have flexibility. I can serve larger audiences. It saves me a lot of time. When I used to do more public events, it would include travelling time, etc. Having a 7 months old baby, it really helps to connect through technology to reach more women and save travelling time.

3. Who or has been your greatest mentor and how have they impacted your success?

I have had several different coaches over the years, they have all inspired me in different ways. I have been Laura West’s platinum client recently, and also belonged to one of her high end mastermind groups. Currently, I am following Gina Ratcliffe and Kendall Summerhawk closely.

4. What is the one achievement are you most proud of so far and why?

My Gratitude Interview on TV. I loved the process of how it came about. I had set a clear intention that I wanted to do an interview locally teaching principles of ‘Law of Attraction,’ during the hours my son is at school, with a host who is warm and wants her audiences to get a true value by helping her interviewee’s shine, and I attracted exactly what I had asked for.

5. What does “authentic in business” mean to you and why is it important?

‘Authentic in Business’ means not being perfect. For example, when I teach abundance principles to my tribe, I always share that the reason I am able to teach abundance is because I have also experienced lack. As I wouldn’t know the steps from ‘A’ to ‘Z’ if I hadn’t also experienced lack. I also teach them that feeling abundant doesn’t mean you will feel that way all the time. It is about managing your emotions that don’t feel like abundance along the way. It is also about stepping back into light to claim the abundance of all kind in the life you are living. Abundance of all kind includes abundance of time, money, connection, fun, etc.

6. What is your favorite & most effective marketing strategy that you use to grow your business?

My focus lately has been teleclasses and blog talk radios. Interestingly enough, as soon as I had set an intention to use these models of marketing, and set up the systems in place, I started getting offers. The recent one being from the Global Teleclass that had a really good feedback.

7. How do you stay off (or minimize the extremes) of the proverbial “cash flow rollercoaster”?

Flexibility around money needs. And great money management systems.

8. How do you achieve work-life balance?

I stick to the hours I choose to work. When I am with my children, I am with my children. When I am working at my business, I am working at my business. My business line is never turned on during non-office hours, okay except just a little email, blackberry checking fever,

9. What is your favorite technology that supports your online business and why?

Email. I love creating beautiful newsletters, announcing my programs, sharing teleclass information to my audiences. These people are special people who have decided to sign-up for my newsletters and are really interested in hearing what I have to share.

I also like social media, tele classes, and blog writing.

10. What is your best productivity tip? What is the #1 contributor to getting the right things done quickly and with fewer struggles?

Support systems. I have three wonderful women who keep my business running so I don’t have to spend time on tasks they are good at, and I don’t need to be doing.

Also knowing your priorities, knowing what the right things are and then have an energy of ease, fun and excitement around them.

11. What has been your biggest breakthrough, mindset shift or top lesson learned so far?

Trusting my intuition and knowing that I am enough. Usually ‘not enough’ energy puts one in state of over compensating by ‘do more’ approach. Not looking at what others are doing, off course, admiring and getting inspired by others is good, but comparing isn’t productive at all. When I go into any of these thoughts, ‘not enough,’ or ‘comparing’ to bring myself back to center so that mind stays focused on myself and the importance of what I have to offer!

12. What is one way that other women in business online can help you to be more successful in business?

Collaborate, Create Community, Connect!

Filed Under Featured Posts, How Does She Do It

FreedomRICH Business Basics (Part II): Is Your Niche Attracting Freebie Seekers or Prospects Who Are Ready to Buy?

February 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

A profitable niche has two important components:

1. It is “hot,” meaning there is interest in the topic.

And…

2. It attracts people who are ready to buy.

Most of us are investing our time marketing online to earn a living, not because there isn’t anything good on TV. And profitability begins with selecting a topic or a niche that’s got enough natural interest and traffic that you don’t have to spend tons of time (and money) to attract visitors and convert them into buyers.

Here’s now to find a profitable niche:

Step #1: Find a Popular Topic

Your first goal is to select a niche or market that is large enough to be profitable. It doesn’t have to be huge, but if there are only a handful of people interested in what you have to offer at any given time, your niche is most likely too small to support a business.

The funniest example of a niche that could be profitable but just isn’t popular enough is underwater basket weaving.

I can’t tell you for sure how many people spend their time submerged in the pool, creating baskets from reeds and willows. I’m pretty sure I could sell them an ebook on getting started, hawk some supplies (including scuba gear), and maybe even create a membership site where they could swap tales and weaving techniques. But since this is a pretty obscure topic, it just isn’t worth my time.

Okay, it’s a silly example so let’s look at a more realistic one. What about college-aged adopted children of multimillionaires from France. While this market “exists,” there wouldn’t be enough people in that situation at any given moment to make it worth the effort of addressing them. It would be much smarter to broaden the market slightly to adopted children of multimillionaires, or college-aged children of French multimillionaires.

Step #2 Attract Buyers Ready to Make a Purchase

After you’ve identified a niche with a decent amount of interest, the next step is to figure out if your target market includes people who are sitting at their computer with their wallets in their hands, ready to buy.

I have a colleague whose very first website was focused on crafts for kids. It included a ton of free craft projects that parents just loved. Traffic was good when the owner was actively promoting the site, BUT it was almost impossible to sell anything. She had traffic but wasn’t making any money.

The answer was simple: Moms and preschool teachers were heading to the site to grab free ideas for keeping their kids entertained for 15 or 20 minutes. But they weren’t coming to the site to buy. Anyone searching Google for a free butterfly craft for kids just isn’t in the mindset to buy a parenting book – or even a craft kit!

Instead, I advised my friend to reformat the site to attract buyers who are ready to make a purchase. For example, that same mom who last week was looking for a way to keep her kids busy for ten minutes before dinner may want more information about educational toys or arts and crafts kits for her kids. Same person, different Google search, different motivation, different likelihood of buying.

To figure out if your chosen niche is make up of buyers or freebie seekers, you really need to get in their head. Think about what people would be looking for in the niche you’ve chosen and how they would land on your website. What frame of mind are they in: desperation? relaxation? curiosity? Are they looking for information or are they ready to buy?

Something to think about isn’t it ;)

In the next post we’ll discuss whether you have to be in love with your niche – in other words, can you “marry” your niche for profits, not passion? Your thoughts?

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FreedomRICH Business Basics: How to Identify a Hot Profitable Niche Part I

February 3, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

A common question I get asked from women in the beginning phase of their online business (and veteran women in business online wanting to expand their income potential) is how to identify a profitable niche.

Choosing the right niche can seem really elusive and difficult to pin down, but it’s actually a teachable (and learn-able!) skill, just like playing tennis or baking bread. This post is the first in a series that will reveal the specific steps I go through (and guide my clients through), so you too can confidently identify a niche that will be profitable for you.

Here’s just some of what we’ll cover:

  • What is a niche anyway?
  • What is a target market (nope, it’s not your niche!)
  • What makes a niche profitable?
  • How to TEST the profit potential of a niche
  • and a lot more…

After this series you can expect to know more about niche marketing than most of your competitors and how to use that knowledge to boost your bottom line. So let’s get started!

What is A Niche?

Here’s Wikipedia’s definition of a Niche Market:

A niche market is the subset of the market on which a specific product is focusing; therefore the market niche defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact.

And here’s how they describe an Online Niche Market

An often used technique for affiliate marketers is Internet-based niche marketing. By appealing to smaller segments of larger markets, referred to as niches, a website can be developed and promoted quickly to uniquely serve a targeted and usually loyal customer base, giving the affiliate a small but regular income stream. This technique is then repeated across several other niche websites until a desired income level is achieved. A bigger niche is harder to market to as the expense of online advertisements increases according to the popularity of the keywords used (on Adwords, for example).

In other words, a “niche” is a smaller segment of a larger market. Let’s look at some examples of larger markets as well as niches.

Health and Wellness is a large market, weight loss is a subset of that market. We can then “niche” it down even further by choosing weight loss for new moms as our niche.

Finance is another large market, debt reduction is a subset and paying off credit card debt is a niche within that market.

Think of a bookstore: the large market is the broad area of the store, like “Self-Help,” “Spirituality,” “Cooking,” “Fitness,” “Finances.” The shelf labels identify the subset of the market (“relationships,” “vegetarianism,” “weight training,” “Buddhism.”). Then a niche is a group of a few titles within that subcategory (“getting along with your in-laws,” “vegetarian cooking for kids,” “weight training for bone density,” “converting to Buddhism.”).

If you can’t tell if your topic is a large market, subset, or niche, imagine where you’d find your category in a bookstore: On a big sign hanging from the ceiling, on a shelf label, or on the title of a book?

Your goal is to identify a niche within which you can sell a specific set of products to a well defined group of people, otherwise known as your target market.

What is YOUR Target Market?

Once you’ve figured out your niche, your target market is your ideal audience or customers within that niche. For instance, if you want to sell weight loss products to new moms, you’re naturally targeting women age 20 to 40 who have recently given birth and are wanting to lose their “baby weight.”

You may be wondering why there’s such a focus on defining your niche and target market. Simply put, the more closely you can define your niche and your target market, the more easily you can create products and marketing materials to draw the attention of the exact subset of the population that will be most interested in your product. Not only will this make your efforts easier, it will also make them much more effective – and that means much more profitable!

In the next post we’ll talk more about why choosing an “hot niche” is an important first step to your online success!

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