A “Special Secret” for Building Your Business

Do you know the “Special Secret” for building your business?

In the past 24 hours, were you made to feel special in any way? Did someone send you a handwritten “thank you” note? Did you receive a gift basket? Maybe someone called to invite you to lunch as their guest. My guess is that your answer is “no.” Now think back to the last time you were on the receiving end of ANY of these gestures. I’ll bet it’s been a WHILE … hasn’t it? And I’ll guarantee that your clients would say it’s been some time since anyone made THEM feel special, either.

My friend, Phil, a marketing consultant, went out of his way earlier this week to introduce two professionals who work in the same industry, believing that they could take mutually benefit from a business relationship. He took the time to send an e-mail to the two people, stating what each of them did and how they might be able to build their business as a result of working with one another. That was a few days ago, and he still hasn’t heard from either one. Phil’s act of kindness was not even acknowledged!

 Are you doing all you can when it comes to building your business, including following up on leads?

 How about thanking people for making introductions that could ultimately put money in your pocket? Taking the time to make other people feel special is one of the best, most fulfilling ways to build your business. Whenever someone connects with you on Linked In or Facebook, do you just accept or confirm? It only takes a minute to respond with a cheerful, “Thanks for connecting; please let me know how I can help you.” You’ll be surprised at the results you’ll achieve. In fact, I recently accepted a friend request on Facebook from a woman near the city where I grew up. I asked her if we went to school together. Her reply? “No, but you went to school with my sister.” That was just a few months ago. Today, that woman is a client of mine; she’s hired me as her mentor AND she is going to appear in a personal development movie I am producing. I benefitted and have ALL THIS as the result of responding PERSONALLY to a Facebook friend request! Talk about building your business!

Professional decency seems all but lost, lately.  And with today’s technology, it has never been easier to reach out to someone or send a quick “thank you” note. You don’t even have to buy a card and put a stamp on it. A quick acknowledgement or “thank you” with an e-mail is all you need to do to make someone feel important and appreciated. If you know any personal facts about the people you are working with, be sure to inquire about those, such as the status of their family, children, dog, new home, or even a new hair style.

When building your business, make notes on any information your clients share.

I would always do this. Then, weeks later, when I would ask, “How is your son doing in school, now that you’ve hired a tutor?” my clients would respond enthusiastically. I could tell they were impressed that I remembered our conversation and what they were dealing with at the time. I made them feel special!

When it comes to building your business, there is nothing you can do that will net bigger results for you than making the people you work with feel special.

Go out of your way to put others first and see what you can do for THEM, and they will want to do for you, too.  In fact, I call it the “special secret for sales success.” It’s just the act of making others feel special.

Do you know how long you have to return a phone call or e-mail? It is 24 hours. We are all guilty of not meeting that deadline on rare occasions, but if you consistently fail to return calls or emails, you run the risk of offending people. Even if you would take a moment to dash off a quick note to let someone know you are at deadline, you are overwhelmed at the time, or whatever the reason is that you can’t give a proper reply, people will appreciate it. Otherwise, those people will likely feel neglected or ignored. 

Yesterday, I shared a tremendous source for leads with a colleague. She immediately e-mailed me some information I can use. When you do favors for others – out of the goodness of your heart – others will want to return the favor to you. And if they don’t? You’ll still feel good about doing all you can to grow your business! For more on the “Special Secret for Sales Success,” or to share any stories from your own experience that stand out, please visit my site at www.RobinJay.com or send a quick email to me at Robin@RobinJay.com. Following these tips will have you building your business beyond your wildest dreams!

Social Media Marketing Success In 4 Easy Steps… Part 2

Are you ready for Part 2 of Social Media Marketing success in just 4 easy steps???

Well I hope you are because, ready or not, here I go!!

Ok in case you missed it, you can read Social Media Marketing Success In 4 Easy Steps Part 1 by clicking here.

If you haven’t read that post you should do it now because the real way to excel in social media marketing is to have these four parts working together.

You don’t want to skip a part and then come and blame me if it doesn’t work out!

The Social Media Marketing Formula That Works:

So in my last article, I told you what the social media marketing formula was… It’s something I developed called CSCP… And in the last article I described the first part of the formula which is Comment I also shared with you some techniques on exactly how that’s done.

The next part of the social media marketing formula is the “S” which stands for:

SHARE

So many people have forget about the number one thing in social media marketing… and that’s the “SOCIAL” part!!! … And what is more basic to the human social experience than sharing??

I’m sure you know all about “it’s better to give than to receive” and all that good stuff, so… why do people mysteriously forget that when it comes to social media and social media marketing??

Most of the stuff that I see out there, even from the Social Media Marketing “guru’s” is full of self-serving, good for one person only (themselves) type crap.

So what can you do?

3 Easy Steps To Take Your Social Media Marketing Efforts To The Next Level…

First of all, you have to know who your target is.  If you have a Facebook account full of just random people because you wanted to grow a large list of people as quickly as possible, no amount of “work” will improve your social media marketing efforts.

Sorry to say that, but it’s the truth.  So the first thing you have to do is have a TARGETED list of friends on your Facebook and other social media sites.

Why?

Because how else can you provide strong, solid content they want when you don’t know WHO they are?  The answer is simple: you can’t!

So here’s what you need to do:

• #1:  Have a targeted list of friends that are interested in and want what you have to offer.
• #2: Take a few minutes each day and research some new stuff your friends would be interested in. Anything. Articles, pictures, videos that relate to the niche or the market that you’re in.
• #3: SHARE IT! Use the Facebook “Share” functionality whenever possible, and if not, just post it directly to your wall.

See, that’s all there is to it.  “But Fernando, if I share other people’s stuff, won’t my list see the authors of the stuff I share as the expert and not me??”

That’s a fair question.  And when it comes to social media marketing, perception is everything.  But here’s the reality: People DON’T CARE!! That’s right… they don’t care because to them YOU are the source of all this great stuff.  YOU are the one exposing them to it. YOU are the one looking out for them.

Do you want to have your own content? Of course you do… but even if you don’t have your own content, and even if you do have your own content, you can’t possibly know everything about your topic or niche.  That’s just not possible.

Remember social media marketing is about being real, about making a connection, about talking one on one.  And the truth is, they will NOT hold it against you that you shared stuff that was not originally yours… in fact, the opposite is true.

Most times they won’t remember the author, but they will remember you as being the source.

But that will only happen if they become USED to you providing valuable information.  If you only do this once in a while, they will not equate you with value.

So there you’ve got it… the second part of my Social Media Marketing Success In 4 Easy Steps…

In my next article I will get into the third part of the formula… so stay tuned…

Now, if you’ve enjoyed this article, do me a favor and comment on it below, share it with those you know, and finally tell me you liked it!! I’ve got serious self-esteem issues so would love to hear your thoughts!!! =)

Talk soon,

Fernando Cruz
Friend me up on Facebook here:

http://www.Facebook.com/FernandoCruz
http://www.CruzAlexander.com

P.S. Last week I promised to share with you, the “equivalent” of the PS in your social media marketing efforts.  You may or may not know that the “PS” is one of the most highly read portions of a direct response sales letter… Well you can have the same effect on your posts… Here’s how: If you’re struggling to get lots of comments and responses to your posts, you may want to do the following.  After a status update or a post, save a little something of what you want to say and instead of making it a part of the post, COMMENT on your post and add the additional information you wanted to share. What this does is a few things.  First, it’s almost like an “after-thought” kind of like the PS and people will read it. The second thing it does is, it will place your posts into a more visible part of your friends’ newsfeeds.  Why?  Because Facebook rewards your posts with more friend views if it’s got a comment on it!! Get in the habit of using this technique and watch as your posts start getting more and more comments… =)

P.S. #2 Liked this tip?? Wait till I reveal my next tip in Part 3 of Social Media Marketing Success In 4 Easy Steps…

Michael Phelps Marketing

Michael Phelps might be the greatest swimmer af all

Michael Phelps and Dick Van Patton have something in common? The answer is Eight Is Enough. One refers to raising children and the other to raising your standards in excellence to reach team and individual goals.

Michael’s Phelps story has inspired us all to succeed.  I was inspired while watching the Olympics and seeing Michael Phelps win 8 Gold Medals in 8 events. Mr. Phelps was incredible and it was a blessing to see how he handled himself before, during and after each race.   

After witnessing greatness I was encouraged to give you a formula through each letter in his name so that you can PHELPS Your Way To The Top.   

The P is for Practice.  Everyone wants to play the game but the differences in winning or losing can be determined in the way you practice. How you practice the game is how you play the game. A team may practice in one week three hours a day for five days just to play one sixty minute game. 

The H is for Habits.  Developing great habits while you practice is what can take you from the bottom to the top.  What habits in your life can you work on to make your performance better?  Are you the one that comes in early and leaves late? Do you help your teammates or co-workers to become better? These questions are here to give you answers to what can move you toward your dream.   

The E is for Education. When you know you begin to grow. Class is in session to end your recession. Learn from others and take courses so that you can have what you need to apply.  Don’t wait on the classroom to get your lesson. Learn from each person and situation that you come across in life. These opportunities will show you what to do or not do. 

The L is for Love. I wrote an article called Thin Line between Love and Great. because you are that close to living your dream and fulfilling your destiny. When you love what you do you will never quit and keep going even when the rough gets tough.  Look in the mirror and find a reason to love yourself. The mirror is on the wall and it says “You are the greatest of them all.” 

The P is for Performance. No matter how much you practice or study there comes a time when you have show what you know.  The meet or competition gives us all a platform to measure our success against others. Take what you learn during each event so that you can apply it to make you better.

The S is for Sportsmanship. In victory or even in defeat keep your head high and shake hands with your opponent in winning and losing.  I have never met you before. I do know that you are a winner. You gave me a chance today to inspire and encourage you. You read every word that I was empowered to give.  Thanks for being a good sport.

Whether you swim, run, dive, work, or dream now is the time in your life that you should strive to PHELPS Your Way To The Top.

Families in Crisis

Families in Crisis – How to deal with Family Conflict

Solutions for Family Conflict

Family conflict is not unusual.  Families deal with conflict everyday.  While family relationships can bring support, care and nurture, it can also bring pain and heartache, especially when conflicts go on without resolution.  Some families deal with minor issues like arguing about household chores or unpaid bills. Others deal with major issues like having a child strung out on drugs, alcoholism, teen pregnancy or molestation.  These issues are so serious that some families never recover from the fallout.

How should we deal with conflict in the family? Some seek professional help, others rely on their faith in God and some give up and refuse to deal with the issues at hand.  The following steps are suggested ideas to help families resolve conflict more effectively:

*State the situation.  Be able to articulate what is really happening.  Resolving family conflict begins with truth. Don’t gloss over the situation.  A child that is molested by a parent may experience guilt and shame and as a result find it difficult to state what has happened to him.  Unfortunately, the need to voice what has happened will manifest itself in other ways.  Being able to communicate effectively is one way families can deal with conflict and resolve issues.

*Evaluate the situation.  Why is this problem occurring?  Know how the family conflict started.  This will require family members to trace the problem back to the root cause.  It is always better to go to the source of the problem.    

*Identify possible solutions to the problem.  The desired outcome should be to bring healing to the family and resolve the conflict. In some cases, a possible solution may be for a family member to apologize for the offense.  Pride is one of the major reason issues in families go unresolved. Refusing to offer an apology can cause tension and bitterness.  Someone has to be the first to admit that they are wrong. 

*Decide on the best solution.  Settle on a plan and follow through to resolve the conflict. This is very difficult for many families because it may be hard to get all of the parties involved to agree on the plan of action.  The offender may not confess to the wrong-doing; which could prolong the tension.

*Forgive.  Our willingness to forgive does not cancel out the actions of those who have hurt us, but it can liberate us from the torment of it.  Forgiving the offender can alleviate family conflict and put you on a path to wholeness.

Don’t forget, you have to deal with family conflict in order to solve it.

5 Must Haves For Radiate Personal Wellness

Trying to live a balanced life, one in which we feel our personal wellness radiates from our mind, body and spirit  - this too often feels elusive for many busy professionals.

But it doesn’t have to be. It really is a conscious choice – to carry wellness or not. Yet many people feel achieving radiate personal well-being is out of their control.

Hello again everyone, jeff noel, The Blog Whisperer, from Orlando here. The past two weeks I’ve  shared blogging tips. Today, we take a look at 5 big, but simple categories for living in radiate personal wellness.

Great leaders know that every decision comes with a consequence. One of life’s great truths. Why we pretend this isn’t so seems childish. The big five…..Mind, Body, Spirit, Money, HQ.

1. MIND: Our capacity to think, deduct, reason. Each of us has a mental responsibility to focus our personal wellness on what we read, watch, say, the people we hang out with.

Yes, we can call this a positive mental attitude. Sure, it sounds cliche or old fashioned. But at the end of the day, garbage in equals garbage out. And, we become what we repeatedly do. Excellence, a positive attitude, is a habit.

2. BODY: The human vessel. Our body is our temple. The wellness basics are timeless principles. Period.

Regular exercise. Balanced nutrition. Adequate rest. Blood pressure. Cholesterol. The wellness fundamentals.

3. SPIRIT: Love. The heart of the matter. Our emotional wellness or spiritual core.

Meditation. Prayer. Volunteering. Putting others before ourselves. If you are a parent, you know this.

4. MONEY: Our contribution to society. Our career. Our J.O.B.

Every ant in the ant colony, every bee in the bee hive – all have a contribution. Same with humans. In our society, we are paid money in exchange for our contribution. You can work the fryer and go home at the end of your shirt. You can manage the Restaurant and have to stay, maybe until midnight, until a problem is fixed. You can own the franchise, get sued and lose it all. More isn’t necessarily better. You can use your money to help others.

5. HQ: Headquarters. You are the CEO of You, Inc. This is the paperwork of life.

All the wellness stuff that doesn’t fit into Mind, Body, Spirit, or Money. Life is hard. It’s even harder the less organized you are. It’s about learning structure and process, in order to prioritize your what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.

Bottom line, life-work balance is not, contrary to popular stereotype, about balancing these two. It’s about an holistic approach to balancing Life’s 5 Big Choices. Excellence must rise in all five or a radiate personal wellness will always belong to someone else.

Drinking and Driving

How risky and dangerous is drinking and driving?

25,000 die each year because of drinking and driving

Each year 708,000 people are injured in drinking and driving accidents

Drunk driving is widely understood to be risky and dangerous, not only to the driver and passengers but also to other people on the road, including drivers and pedestrians. Four out of every ten fatal car accidents in the United States are alcohol-related. Each year, 25,000 people die and 708,000 are injured in alcohol-related collisions. Alcohol-related crashes result in the death of 500 people per week, or more than 70 every day. Statistically, half of all Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related car accident in their lifetime. Despite these alarming statistics, it happens all around us every day. Far too often, who have been drinking fail to heed the potential consequences, and get behind the wheel of a car.

In addition to lives lost and injuries sustained, there are other far-reaching consequences of car accidents caused bydrinking and driving. These consequences are financial as well as physical. Drinking and driving costs American taxpayers between 21 and 24 billion dollars each year, according to a recent study. More generally, according to National Geographic, alcohol abuse costs $136 billion each year in the United States alone.

If you are injured by someone drinking and driving, you may be entitled to compensation. Settlements stemming from a drunk driving accident typically include coverage for medical treatment, lost wages, and emotional distress. Cases against the drunk driver often include punitive damages, which are meant to punish reckless drivers and discourage such conduct in the future. If you have been involved in a car accident with someone driving drunk, contact a car accident lawyer who can help you hold the driver legally and financially responsible for your injuries and other damages. If a loved one has been killed by an accident involving a drunk driver, contact a wrongful death lawyer. Although money can’t bring your family member back, it may prevent the person responsible from driving drunk in the future. Don’t let drunk drivers get away with endangering the lives of other; get the compensation you deserve by holding the driver accountable for driving while drunk.

Drunk driving has profound affects not only on those injured in the accident, but also on the driver. Causing an accident while driving drunk can result in serious, long-lasting legal consequences. In addition to settlement claims by injured parties, a drunk driver who causes an accident faces a number of legal charges, depending on the severity of the accident. At the very least, these include an arrest for DUI, which can come with fines, license suspension, and a range of other penalties. Other charges could include wrongful death, reckless driving, and an array of other criminal charges stemming from driving drunk and the resulting accident, all of which will require the help of a DUI lawyer or criminal defense attorney. In addition to legal consequences, the driver will also have to live with more personal effects, such as the guilt of recklessly destroying the lives of other people. Protect yourself and others from drunk driving accidents by never drinking and driving.