As Kinesis continue to pick up steam, I simply haven’t had time to write in both places. Feel free to puruse my posts here - there are over 300 for your enjoyment. The archives is probably the best place to find what you want you’ll see the link to the archives in the righthand side bar.

And then, head on over to my blogging digs at the Kinesis Blog. I look forward to continuing our dialogue there.

Happy marketing!

Wendy

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Some people choose to sell a low-priced single ebook with just a clever sales page. But they are only going to make a little bit of money by doing this. And once the customer makes a purchase, they are gone forever.

When it comes to building a profitable and sustainable business online, it’s all about creating relationships. To build a loyal list of responsive customers, it’s about making connections. Just like every other kind of marketing.

People want to buy from who you are before they want to buy what you sell.

Think about this concept for a moment.

And then consider the blogs that you visit, the people you communicate with on Facebook, and the the ezines you read. Why do you keep returning?

When you made your last purchase on the Internet, was it from a person or company that you trusted and liked?

For me the answer is “Yes.” I am participating in a cool program run by Laura Roeder. I saw her on Twitter. Then I went to her website. Then I signed up for her video blog and ezine. I listened to what she had to say. And I thought to myself, “Wow, this woman has some great ideas.” Then she offered a program and I slapped down $600 because I felt that I knew her and I like her.

Now I’m in her program and learning quite a lot. That’s the power of the Internet for your business.

If you are like most buyers, you are selective in your buying. You know there are many variation in the same types of services and products.

So you want to be sure that you making the absolute best decision. Especially when it’s a big-ticket item.

And the same thing is true for your customers. They want to make sure that you are the real deal. Once they trust you, they’ll not only make one purchase, but many.

That’s why social media is so incredible - it strips away the facades and quickly connects two people. It starts a dialogue. And ultimately, it builds a tribe of like-minded people.

But you have to have systems in place so that when people come to your website to visit, you can keep the relationship going. Give them something valuable - and keep giving it to them.

Join me on my f.r.e.e call on Tuesday, May 18th and I’ll tell you exactly how you can build exceptional connections with your online community. You’ll learn the right steps to take to reach and engage your target audience to sell more (much more) of your services and products.

Learn more about the call and sign up at: http://budurl.com/k2n5

Best, Wendy

P.S. You don’t want to miss these tips. Even if you can’t make the call live, sign up to get the recording: http://budurl.com/k2n5

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© Wendy Maynard for Kinetic Ideas: Marketing Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments

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This tiny spoon of ice cream is a brilliant strategy that ensures you purchase a cone or cup at that moment. It’s also a way to get you to try something new, like their flavor of the day. A lot of times, it also entices you to buy a pint or two of ice cream flavors to take home.

In marketing your business, this same “tiny-spoon” approach is very attractive. It’s a technique you can use both online and in traditional types of marketing. This is an opportunity for you to tap into a strategy of abundance. By generously giving away free tastes of your remarkability, you entice prospects to do more business with you. They are impressed with your willingness to give them something of value at no charge.

In traditional offline marketing, you can use the tiny-spoon marketing approach by offering an initial consultation at no cost to your prospects. You can also create a CD or a Tips Sheet that you can give to people when they call you for more information or when you meet them at a networking event. In this way you give people a “taste” of your expertise and differentiate your company from your competitors.

If you are trying to attract customers online, create a place on your website to capture the names of your visitors. In exchange for their contact information and e-mail, give ‘em a taste of your services via an e-course, report, or audio. This begins the relationship building process. And, it helps them to understand more about your method of doing business.

If you are doing this on your website, you’ll need an autoresponder program to immediately send out an e-mail thanking the person for entering their information. The same service can also send out your ezine, e-course, or special report. I use Professional Cart Services to send out my autoresponders and digital products.

Wondering what YOU can offer as your “tiny spoon” marketing offer? Here are some fantastic ideas for you:

• You can create a 5-day e-course that gives valuable tips and tactics to help your prospect (online).

• Bundle articles or blog posts that you have written and give this out as a special report (online and offline).

• Create a quick-start guide that helps your target audience get started in the area of expertise you specialize in (online and offline).

• A musician or public speaker can provide a song clip, a speaking segment, or video(online and offline).

• Give away a free audio interview with you. Audioacrobat is an easy-to-use program that allows you to make recordings and upload them to your website or e-mail them. You can also mail them a CD (online and offline).

• Offer a free initial consultation or intro session (in person or on the phone).

• Host a free teleseminar where your prospects can call in and grill you about your area of expertise (online and offline).

• Offer the first few chapters of a book you have written. Allow customers to download and read them or give them a printed copy (online and offline).

• Give away one of your e-books or programs free (online and offline). That’s a technique that Seth Godin has used successfully over and over again. You can download Seth’s book Unleashing the Idea Virus.

The bottom line is the more you give away, the more money you make. When you focus on giving, amazing things start to happen in your business. Your mind shifts into a state of creativity and expansiveness. You start to develop new solutions and focus on what is possible instead of limitations. Giving your prospects a “tiny spoon” sample of what you offer to them will get them hungry for more. Make sure to nurture and delight your prospects and they will give you the attention and response you desire.

MAVEN ACTION ITEM: Start thinking about what you can offer your prospects as a taste of your offerings. Look at the list above and decide which items would be effective “tiny spoon” marketing options for your company. Make sure your taste is of high value and then continue to keep in touch with your prospects regularly.

Hugs and success,

Wendy Maynard
Your friendly marketing maven

If you are looking for more ways to attract an abundance of clients to your business, then I recommend the Maven Marketing Home Study System! It’s a step-by-step program that teaches you exactly what you need to know to attract your DREAM customers. You’ll learn how to describe what makes your business remarkable, how to get new customers calling YOU, and lots of other valuable strategies to help you fill your sales pipeline quickly. It’s chock full of worksheets, action items, and guidelines to get your marketing ramped up quickly. You can order it at: Maven Marketing Home Study System

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To use these Alt Code Characters, here’s what you do. When you are in your Twitter window,

1. Switch on the Number Lock on your keyboard.
2. Press and hold the ALT key.
3. Type the number of which alt code you want to get.

(For a list of more obscure alt codes and how to use them, visit VirtualAssist.net

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Here are some tips to help you begin to write your blog:

1. Your blog is about the reader. Always remember this: It’s not about you. Always ask yourself – “How does this add value to my reader?”
   
   Remember, it’s all about them - you’re building relationships with them.Use the word YOU often and liberally in your posts. If you get too involved talking about your company and how great it is or how great your products are, you’re going to lose your readers.

   Instead, emphasize how your products and services help people.

2. Don’t be scared to rock the boat. Don’t be afraid to be you with all of your glorious quirk, opinions, and unique personality eccentricities.

   Take a stand. A lot of bloggers are scared to go against the crowd.

   Write about something that you read in the news. Talk about someone who is an expert in your industry and say, “I don’t agree with him/her and this is why…” or, “I think so and so is right, but they’re wrong on this point.”

   What you are doing is starting a conversation with your readers (i.e. your prospects and customers).

   You are letting them know how you feel about things and you are taking a stand.It will help them understand you and build your credibility.

   So have an opinion - a big one! Because that’s what keeps your blog fresh and interesting.

3. Stay on topic, but be creative. It’s easy to get rangy on your subjects. So, make sure that your blog stays focused on your area of expertise.

   This doesn’t mean you can’t be creative. Just be sure to bring it on back home.

   Here is an example. Last year, I wrote an article about Sarah Palin. Now obviously this isn’t a blog about politics.

   But in my post, I wrote about Palin’s personal brand, so it still related to my core topic of marketing strategies, branding, and business success.If you keep asking, “What is of value to my customers?  What is of value to my reader?” you shouldn’t have much of a problem with this.

4. Be patient. Some new bloggers make the mistake of expecting to have a successful blog within…oh…about three weeks.

   Don’t forget - there are millions of blogs out there.What are you doing to stand out among those millions of blogs? How are your getting links back to your blog? Keep driving traffic to your blog (commenting on other blogs in your industry is a GREAT way to do this) and continue to think of lots of different ways to do that.

5. Post frequently and consistently. It’s best to adhere to a schedule. Posting once one week, five times the next week, and then skipping three weeks is not a good way to establish consistency with your readership.
   
   Ideally you want to post two or three times a week. If you find that three times a week works for your readership, then try to get on a schedule of posting Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday - whatever works for you. (You can use Google Analytics to track your blog stats).

6. Develop a blog personality. Every blog has its own persona and voice. This is something that is developed by you.

   Everything on your blog from its look, the colors, the tone in which you write your posts – it all comes together to give your blog its own personality.It lets your readers know who you are and what you’re about.
   
   The exciting thing about this is that you can really get into character once you’ve determined your personality.

   Whether you decide to be the snarky “I’ll tell you what you need to do” guy or the well-dressed, ultra fashionable “It’s like this daaahling…” gal, it’s all possible! And every personality will attract an audience.

   It’s your blog and you can do what you want!

   So have fun with it.  After all, if you’re going to be contributing posts to it week after week, you’ve got to have a blog personality that you will really enjoy (and it doesn’t have to be like you are in person).

Best of success and happy blogging!!!

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And I hope you’ll join me.

I’m one of the 18 experts giving information on how to maximize your time and energy with easy-to-implement online marketing strategies. Discover the very best tactics for growing your business on the Internet quickly and inexpensively.

My talk is called “Business Blogging for Business: Basic & Advanced Tips.”

I will tell you all about:

• The steps to create a blog for the first time quickly and without spending any money
• How to monetize your blog to generate more customers for your products
• How to drive traffic to your blog
• How to create a blog with a purpose and tie in with your message as an entrepreneur

This is a virtual event that takes place on May 1st and 2nd. And the best part is that it’s free!

Take a look at the incredible line-up of speakers and watch a great video by MetroMom Founder, Kim DeYoung.

I look forward to having you join us!

Best, Wendy

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Unfortunately, some of us have what I call a “scarcity mentality.” This is an underlying belief system that is undermining our success.

By starting to examine our thought patterns about success and financial freedom, we can begin to shift them into a more abundant mindset.

Here are some examples of scarcity beliefs:

• I am scared of not having enough business or income.
• I think people might take advantage of me.
• I can’t charge very much because I won’t get business.
• I don’t have enough customers.
• Marketing my business too much is “bad” or “pushy.”
• I have to struggle because I work for myself.
• There isn’t enough business to go around for my competitors and me.
• Money doesn’t grow on trees (meaning it’s hard to come by).
• I have to work really, really hard to be successful.
• I’ll never be successful in growing my business.

Do any of these statements sound familiar?

Every time we have a thought like the ones above, there is a feeling that goes with it that affects our brain, body, and actions. The feeling might be depression, fear, stress, or anxiety. These feelings that go with the thought can bring up even more thoughts, which in turn lead to more feelings until we feel hopeless and overwhelmed.

It is a downward spiral that is based on fear - not reality. And yet, it is so easy for many of us to work ourselves into this negative thought frenzy.

When we are in a constricted, oppressed state like this, it works against our creative, expansive, attractive energy that allows business and money to flow effortlessly. Every time we have thoughts of scarcity, we stop attracting the very things we want - success, ease, and joy in business and life.

When we are mired in a scarcity mentality, we cannot see opportunities and we radiate an energy of despair that our prospects can sense. People are attracted to success and they are repelled by scarcity. Our belief system makes itself apparent in the things we say, the choices we make, and the way we interact with people.

Our mindset is deeply rooted by familial conditioning. We learn these thought patterns from our parents, grandparents, peers, and other family members. It’s passed down from one generation to the next.

Think about conversations you remember hearing about money while you were growing up. Think about the beliefs you have now. Do you remember the very same thoughts in your head being said by your parents or other family members when you were young?

The good news is we have the power to change our habits, thought patterns, and actions. We can shift our scarcity mentality to one of ongoing abundance.

A successful and thriving company leader lives by the following statements:

“I am a remarkable leader of a powerful business.”

“I am in charge of my success.”

“I choose the customers I work with.”

“I deserve to get paid for my value.”

“I enjoy limitless opportunities flowing my way.”

Even a brand new business with a staff of one can begin to think this way…

One easy way to accelerate success and quickly move our thoughts and feelings into the abundance state is to acknowledge the customers, sales, and opportunities we are enjoying right now.

The more gratitude we express, the less room there is for scarcity thinking. It shifts our mindset into one of ongoing attraction.

Another powerful way to shift our mindset is to cultivate an attitude of abundant giving. There are many opportunities in our business to give things away to our prospects and clients. This can include no-cost teleseminars, articles, white papers, and reports.

This is very attractive to other people because it SHOWS people the value of our services. We leave people wanting more of us. It differentiates us from our competition and makes us more memorable.

We can get at the root of our mindset and money beliefs with a simple exercise.

Take out two pieces of paper. On the first, answer the following questions (don’t think too much, just write as many answers as you can to each question):

• What are the beliefs that I have about money and success?
• Which beliefs are sabotaging my business?
  
• How do these beliefs make me feel?
  
• How do scarcity beliefs show up in my business and life?
• How are these beliefs holding me back in my business and my life?

Now, take the second piece of paper and answer these questions (again, don’t think too hard about them - just write as many answers as you can):

• What are the beliefs I would like to have about money and success?
• How would I like to feel about my money and success?
• If I had my ideal business, I would be _______________ (list as many things as you can - it can be feelings, actions, and qualities. Don’t think, just write).

One you have completed the second sheet, put it away for a day or two. Then, take it back out and review everything you wrote down. Take everything that jumps out at you and turn it into a statement that starts out: “I am so happy I am ___________:” or “I am so grateful I am __________:” or simply “I am ____________.”

Review this new list every day. You can even write the statements on an index cards and carry it with you or post it near your computer.

Over time, we’ll find our thought patterns begin to shift. And as our thought patterns shift, our feelings and actions will follow. Our new mindset easily attracts most clients, success, and revenue.

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The Internet is abuzz with Susan Boyle.

When Susan Boyle allowed the world to see her inner beauty, she set an example for us all.

I have watched the video several times. Because when I watch Susan Boyle, I see a part of me. It’s a part of me that has a dream.

I dream of being bigger…playing bigger…living bigger…teaching bigger…reaching bigger…loving bigger.

It is the part of me that is taking a risk to step more fully into my brilliance. Susan Boyle had a dream. I have a dream. You have a dream.

What are you dreaming?

Will you step out onto that stage?

Will you take that big leap to live it?

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I am recovering from a bad case “perfection-itis.” You may know this disease - perhaps you have it too. If so, we’re not alone. This is an affliction that thousands of entrepreneurs suffer from on a daily basis.

Symptoms include the following:

1) An itching need to get everything right before you send out an ezine, launch a new program, post an entry on your blog, and so on.

2) A burning desire to learn everything there is to know before you try something new such as Twitter, podcasting, direct mail marketing, etc.

3) A feeling of guilt and inadequacy if anyone lets you know you have a typo or they unsubscribe from your ezine or stops working with you as a client.

4) Depression and self blame when your new program or marketing campaign doesn’t go the way it was intended.

And - ugh! - it’s no wonder that before long, the perfectionist in us leads to procrastination and non-action. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. And if you are a perfectionist, you’re not going to like it. Believe me - I am still getting used to the idea.

Here it is: as an entrepreneur, action is more important than perfection.

In fact, perfectionism will great limit your success and, most likely, it will keep you poor. I know this is a bitter pill to swallow. For those of us who hate to make mistakes and are scared to let anything out of our sight that isn’t 100% error free, this feels like a defeat.

Perfectionists spend so much time on each project that there is no time left over for anything else. In business, good-enough is actually better than perfect. The reason is that success thrives on speed. And, it requires ongoing action.

But if we get stuck proofreading our document for the hundredth time or editing our latest teleseminar for every single “um” and “ah,” then all of a sudden our efforts take us hours and hours. It actually begins costing us money.

Perfectionism is also a way to procrastinate.

We use our obsessing over typos to keep us from being bigger in the world. Inaction is safe because you don’t have to face possible criticism. However, the longer you procrastinate, the more difficult it becomes to create the kind of success you really want for yourself.

Don’t let your need to be perfect hold you back any longer.

If you are engaged in an activity and start to obsess, ask yourself this: “Instead of revising this one more time, can I generate more income if I were to spend the next hour on something else?” Then, move into action and send out that ezine or release your new service to the world.

Taking action is what will allow you to reach the success you desire.

Leave a comment and let me know how perfectionism has gotten you stuck and how you are successful in the fight against ‘perfection-itis…’

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