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  • Added for You - 5 Critical Mistakes Most Consultants and Coaches Make

    6/10 Londoners are not of English Origin compared to 1/30 London Advertising Agency Employees - Hmmm
    Ethnic marketing- There I just said it. It is not a dirty word anymore. So why is black guy Howard from the Halifax still 'entertaining' the white majority audience?The issue of marketing to diverse and multi-cultural societies in an optimum manner is something that I think is continuously carried out ineffectively with little consideration.Living in London is like living in a real life United Nations. The diversity of the market is extreme and most advertising and communications miss these audiences altogether or alienate them by misinformed ‘tailoring’. The ‘minorities’ in London make up nearly a third of
    s I had to fire!) Bottom line is you can never have enough communication.

    Solution: Have the client fill out a detailed questionnaire to open up lines of communication or have a long phone interview (which you record). Get a feel for his or her expectations. Add an extra cushion to your deadline. If possible, get a gatekeeper (assistant) to set up schedule so you can focus on what you do best – writing.

    Mistake #3: Poor time management

    Eager to please, I often di

    The Importance of Performing Background Checks
    A middle-class family in suburban Atlanta recently woke to discover thieves had ransacked their home and taken nearly everything.Who were the culprits?Two men that were employed with a cleaning company who had been in the house less than a week prior. It was later determined that these men, who worked for a prestigious and reputable cleaning company had colorful criminal backgrounds of robbery and theft. The two men were on assignment at the home and while one of them did the cleaning, the other cased the house – taking note of valuables and even ways to get around the security system. It was eventually deter
    Think you have what it takes to be an consultant or a coach? I wasn’t so sure I knew when I first started in 1999. All I knew was I desperately wanted to work from home to raise my two sons after my divorce. It took a lot of trial and error to get to the stabile and profitable business I am running now in 2006. There are some things I learned along the way I wish I knew much earlier in the game.

    One thing I learned is that writing is a very small part of being a successful entrepreneur. Don’t get me wrong. You DO need to know how to write. But your success depends largely on your savvy as a businessperson. How do I know? Because I’ve played it from both sides of the street. And I didn’t begin to enjoy success until I started doing some very distinct things in my business.

    Please let me share with you some of the mistakes I made starting out so you can avoid those pitfalls yourself…and catapult to success much faster than it took me.

    Mistake #1: Don’t attract new clients

    When I first started out in 1999 I had exactly one client. He kept me very busy…for awhile. Then, without warning, he suddenly shifted his business to 100% offline and began using a copywriter with more experience in that area. I floundered for 10 months before I got back on my feet again from that blow.

    Solution: NEVER stop marketing yourself. Even if you have a full practice, don’t stop getting the word out. Write articles and press releases. Do interviews whenever possible. Start an ezine and/or a blog so your name is always out there. Don’t get caught flat-footed.

    Mistake #2: Don’t effectively manage your clients

    At first I was so grateful to have any clients I let them call all the shots – regardless of what was in my best interest. It took me a long time to realize every client is not a match for me. Sometimes they were unreasonable in deadlines. Other times they would call me at all hours…including 6 a.m. and even on the weekends. (Until I learned to communicate better there were even a few clients I had to fire!) Bottom line is you can never have enough communication.

    Solution: Have the client fill out a detailed questionnaire to open up lines of communication or have a long phone interview (which you record). Get a feel for his or her expectations. Add an extra cushion to your deadline. If possible, get a gatekeeper (assistant) to set up schedule so you can focus on what you do best – writing.

    Mistake #3: Poor time management

    Eager to please, I often di

    Top 7 Reasons New Hires Resign
    You spent time combing through hundreds of resumes. You selected the three best candidates and had a team of people interview them. After collecting their opinions and performing background checks and references, the employee started. One month later they quit.Unfortunately this scenarios happens far too often, costing organizations anywhere from $25,000 to an amount equal to the annual salary plus benefits of the position now vacated. Instead of working on employee development, the HR Department must shift to the task of finding a replacement.In 2004, there were 7 predominant reasons for this quick turna
    now how to write. But your success depends largely on your savvy as a businessperson. How do I know? Because I’ve played it from both sides of the street. And I didn’t begin to enjoy success until I started doing some very distinct things in my business.

    Please let me share with you some of the mistakes I made starting out so you can avoid those pitfalls yourself…and catapult to success much faster than it took me.

    Mistake #1: Don’t attract new clients

    When I first started out in 1999 I had exactly one client. He kept me very busy…for awhile. Then, without warning, he suddenly shifted his business to 100% offline and began using a copywriter with more experience in that area. I floundered for 10 months before I got back on my feet again from that blow.

    Solution: NEVER stop marketing yourself. Even if you have a full practice, don’t stop getting the word out. Write articles and press releases. Do interviews whenever possible. Start an ezine and/or a blog so your name is always out there. Don’t get caught flat-footed.

    Mistake #2: Don’t effectively manage your clients

    At first I was so grateful to have any clients I let them call all the shots – regardless of what was in my best interest. It took me a long time to realize every client is not a match for me. Sometimes they were unreasonable in deadlines. Other times they would call me at all hours…including 6 a.m. and even on the weekends. (Until I learned to communicate better there were even a few clients I had to fire!) Bottom line is you can never have enough communication.

    Solution: Have the client fill out a detailed questionnaire to open up lines of communication or have a long phone interview (which you record). Get a feel for his or her expectations. Add an extra cushion to your deadline. If possible, get a gatekeeper (assistant) to set up schedule so you can focus on what you do best – writing.

    Mistake #3: Poor time management

    Eager to please, I often di

    Buy A Business And Run It Smoothly -- Even If You Have No Idea What You're Doing
    One of the most important components of buying and smoothly running a business -- big or small -- is something most people (for some reason) tend to shy away from, get cheap about, and thus practically invite trouble and chaos into their lives.And that is hiring good, solid professionals.The amount of money that you spend for the professionals in the business whether you’re buying it or putting up a business transaction is worth it.Every cent is worth it.Why?Because a business transaction is complex.I don’t care how smart you are or how bright you are, you’re going to find that y
    hen I first started out in 1999 I had exactly one client. He kept me very busy…for awhile. Then, without warning, he suddenly shifted his business to 100% offline and began using a copywriter with more experience in that area. I floundered for 10 months before I got back on my feet again from that blow.

    Solution: NEVER stop marketing yourself. Even if you have a full practice, don’t stop getting the word out. Write articles and press releases. Do interviews whenever possible. Start an ezine and/or a blog so your name is always out there. Don’t get caught flat-footed.

    Mistake #2: Don’t effectively manage your clients

    At first I was so grateful to have any clients I let them call all the shots – regardless of what was in my best interest. It took me a long time to realize every client is not a match for me. Sometimes they were unreasonable in deadlines. Other times they would call me at all hours…including 6 a.m. and even on the weekends. (Until I learned to communicate better there were even a few clients I had to fire!) Bottom line is you can never have enough communication.

    Solution: Have the client fill out a detailed questionnaire to open up lines of communication or have a long phone interview (which you record). Get a feel for his or her expectations. Add an extra cushion to your deadline. If possible, get a gatekeeper (assistant) to set up schedule so you can focus on what you do best – writing.

    Mistake #3: Poor time management

    Eager to please, I often di

    Marketing Your Professional Services is NOT Optional
    I frequently hear professionals say, “I don’t market my services; I rely on word-of-mouth to get business.” They don’t seem to realize these two statements are contradictory -— if they are getting plenty of referral business, they have marketed their services quite well! The issue is not a decision of whether or not to market your services, but is instead a decision of whether to assume responsibility for it and become more effective at it.Actions you might not realize are marketing decisions:• What you name your business• What information you print on your business card• How you let people know
    always out there. Don’t get caught flat-footed.

    Mistake #2: Don’t effectively manage your clients

    At first I was so grateful to have any clients I let them call all the shots – regardless of what was in my best interest. It took me a long time to realize every client is not a match for me. Sometimes they were unreasonable in deadlines. Other times they would call me at all hours…including 6 a.m. and even on the weekends. (Until I learned to communicate better there were even a few clients I had to fire!) Bottom line is you can never have enough communication.

    Solution: Have the client fill out a detailed questionnaire to open up lines of communication or have a long phone interview (which you record). Get a feel for his or her expectations. Add an extra cushion to your deadline. If possible, get a gatekeeper (assistant) to set up schedule so you can focus on what you do best – writing.

    Mistake #3: Poor time management

    Eager to please, I often di

    Basic Considerations Before You Build Your Businesses Web Site
    Today the Internet has come to play a major role in almost everyone’s personal and business life. But most small businesses aren’t sure how to effectively develop, market, and grow their company through the Internet. In these times, with well over 80 million users logging on either through Internet access accounts or online services, creating a presence on the Web becomes a critical decision for all businesses. Small businesses are moving online with web sites at a steady rate. In this article we will take a look at web site development and the basics you need to think about.There are three prevalent ways that any b
    s I had to fire!) Bottom line is you can never have enough communication.

    Solution: Have the client fill out a detailed questionnaire to open up lines of communication or have a long phone interview (which you record). Get a feel for his or her expectations. Add an extra cushion to your deadline. If possible, get a gatekeeper (assistant) to set up schedule so you can focus on what you do best – writing.

    Mistake #3: Poor time management

    Eager to please, I often did not give myself enough lead time for an assignment. I’d say, “I’ll do it!” before I looked at the reality of my schedule. So I’d have to pull all nighters or miss important family events. I was incredibly stressed and not a lot of fun to be around.

    Solution: Schedule your daily schedule BEFORE you go to bed at night. Turn off email until you’ve made some headway with your copy. And use a kitchen timer to work in increments of 35 minutes (studies show after that frame your mind craves distraction). When the ding goes off, get up, stretch and clear your head.

    Mistake #4: Not getting paid enough

    Face it…in your business you do a lot more work than most people realize. You have to do deep research in your industry, around your competition, and with your own target market. You have to attract leads. Then you have to write powerful copy that crawls inside the head of the prospect and leads them to a specific action. You should get paid what you are really worth – no exceptions.

    Solution: Value yourself enough to get paid what you’re worth.

    Mistake #5: Don’t invest in yourself

    I have read the classic “Think and Grow Rich” 16 times. Every time I read it, I learn something new. I have watched the motivational movie "The Secret" 6 times to date. I go to seminars (even when I’ve heard the speakers before). Because I learn something new every time. I have a huge marketing library of books, binders, home study courses, CDs, DVDs, MP3s and I listen to them over and over. Again, every time I take in material, whether it’s new or old, I learn something new.

    Successful people in all walks of life invest in themselves. It’s one of the keys that separates them from the less successful. (Trust me, at times it hurt to part with the massive amounts of cash I’ve laid out for this education. But the payoff happens every time. Just do it.)

    Solution: If you’re looking to attract more money into your business, start by investing in yourself.

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