The news that Microsoft is making its first mass layoffs in its 34-year history (according to the The Associated Press) is big news here in the Seattle-area as all of us are directly or indirectly impacted by the job cuts.  Microsoft is one of the Northwest’s largest employers and everyone in Seattle either works for Microsoft or has a family member, friend or neighbor working at Microsoft.  Whether or not someone we know loses their job, we know how difficult it can be working for a company undergoing an unprecedented internal transition. Champion Assistants is headquarted in Kirkland, just a 15-minute drive from Microsoft’s Redmond campus and we greatly value the impact the company has had in our region – providing jobs to so many and boosting the level of technological-savvy and development in the region.  Champion Assistants is a registered partner with Microsoft and we’re always keeping an eye out for what Microsoft is innovating.

In addition to Microsoft, the Puget Sound region is also known as being a region where entrepreneurs flourish – especially for minority-owned businesses according to Prosperity Partnership.org.  According to Washington State, women are considered minorities in business and therefore 51% majority women-owned businesses qualify for special loan rates as well as business counseling services from organizations such as the Community Capital Development Washington Business Center.  There are a number of free resources available to small business owners and entrepreneurs both nationally through the SBA and in Washington State.  I always recommend starting with free resources and exhausting them before paying for advice.

With layoffs being announced across various industries and company sizes, I think this economy will present innovators with an excellent opportunity to develop their ideas and go into business for themselves.  Being layed off can be discouraging, but realizing creative talent and ambition while working from home is tremendously rewarding.  I strongly believe that home offices will become micro-power centers of innovation over the next couple years.  Good talent rarely sits idle.

With the convenience of the home office and low barrier to entry for online sales, there is tremendous opportunity for small business to capture niche market share and sell online with extremely low overhead costs.  It isn’t all doom and gloom with layoffs.  Now is the time to fulfill dreams and stay productive at what we all do best and are passionate about.  Carpe diem!  If you are one of the many being affected by restructuring and layoffs, now is the time to develop your ideas and sell online.

Best,

Heather

I’ve seen a number of clients invest in CRM tools that are far more powerful than their businesses require – and more expensive than they can currently afford – because their business advisers have told them that they should invest in technologies now that will support their future business plans.  These business advisers instill the fear  in their clients that their company won’t be prepared in the future when their prospects and clients outweigh the capability for the company to manage them.  I have never witnessed a case where this was the reality.  In reality, the sudden onslaught of clients never comes, and even if it were to, most CRM systems are built so that all current data can be easily migrated with a learning curve for using the technology.

The biggest example I have seen in unfortunate CRM purchases is InfusionSoft.  I have seen InfusionSoft touted by so-called industry experts and gurus (think Dan Kennedy, Bill Glazer, Ali Brown) who advise info-marketers to invest in this CRM solution now in preparation for future business.  InfusionSoft has a number of drawbacks like not being able to paste text in various modules and difficulties pasting links to name a couple quick irritants.  The biggest thing about InfusionSoft is that it is NOT for info-marketers.  InfusionSoft is for businesses with actual sales teams.  To use InfusionSoft effectively the business needs to be sales-oriented, equipped with a multi-person sales force, have a database with hundreds of thousands of contacts AND have the budget to effectively implement this technology.  The time to migrate data, implement the tool and train a salesforce how to use it – and continue to update it – is extremely time intensive.  This is not the responsibility of a business owner either.  This is the responsiblity of an IT Leader.  While Champion Assistants provides the service of IT Team Lead, we are very careful to only work with clients who have a business that is both financially and mentally prepared for a company-wide CRM rollout.

Sadly, I have seen a number of solo-preneurs buy InfusionSoft on the recommendation of their marketing or sales advisor and start implementing the software only to find that it’s extremely cumbersome to use and their business only requires a fraction of the power of the tool.  InfusionSoft is not for contact management.  It is in fact a full-scale CRM tool.  Also, I have seen that the people referring this software get a handsome referral bonus, and I know there are ulterior motives at play as well.  For instance the Dan Kennedy – Bill Glazer Inner Circle has made huge amounts of money through their referrals to InfusionSoft.  They make so much money they actually hold presentations on buying InfusionSoft at their SuperConference and InfoSummit conferences!  It’s great business for them, but not necessarily the right decision for all of those people trying to follow the Dan Kennedy – Bill Glazer methods.

I advise against purchasing any technologies that require your business to grow into.  It’s difficult to predict if the tool will be outdated by the time you need it or if there would have been a better solution based on what your business actually needs at the time. Save yourself time and aggravation and focus on strategic growth instead.

Best,

Heather

 Autoresponders can be a very effective tool, but if they are not written well, they can give a potential customer a cold feeling. If someone sends you an e-mail, your autoresponder needs to do one thing very well; keep them interested. Hardly anyone will make a transaction on their first trip to your website, so this is important. This message doesn’t need to immediately make the sale, it just needs to make them want to come back and visit you again. Autoresponders need a compelling headline to grab the readers and make them want to keep reading. This will also cause the autoresponder message to stand out, increasing the likelihood that the potential customer will call back or visit your website again. Another tactic to improving your Autoresponders effectiveness is to use personal names. There are autoresponders that allow personal names to be used automatically. Obviously some information is needed for this to be possible and you will likely need to have already had some contact with the individual . Instead of the message of dear valued customer, it would read Dear John Smith. This has a strong psychological effect that can mean the difference between a repeat and a lost customer. This doesn’t need to be limited to just their names either. There are ways to note specific information like past services or sales that will really impress the potential customer. This will make them feel like they aren’t just being contacted by a machine. Giving your potential customers some comparison between your services and some other company’s services is another great way to make your autoresponder message stand out. If your company does something better than other companies, let people know about it. If you sell a product that is less expensive or better than another product, have that information right in the autoresponder message. Let them see a comparison between your company and your competition. This can be a powerful tool in gaining new customers.

Champion Assistant Virtual Business Team

An affiliate program is one website paying another website to send traffic their way. The referring website will make a commission of the sale, click or lead. Depending on how the company structures their commission will depend how the referrer is paid. Some are structured so that they pay based on a percentage or dollar amount of the sale. Others are paid based on how many people use that affiliate link or are actual leads from that link. It is a way of rewarding that person for referring business to them. This is also considered online marketing.

You are probably wondering how this all works. It is quite simple really. Once someone chooses to be an affiliate, they simply contact the company, get their affiliate button and/or site link to place on their website, and wait for the button to start being used. Of course the more traffic to your website, the more people that might click on that affiliate button.

The best way to find an affiliate program that you might be interested in adding to your website is to either look at websites that you have a genuine interest in or you can look at directories of affiliate programs. One great affiliate directory is Commission Junction. This affiliate directory allows you to link up to many different affiliate programs and Commission Junction does all the work. This way you can be an affiliate of many websites without putting a lot of time and effort into it or clutter up your website with a lot of links and buttons.

Here are some important questions you need to ask yourself when considering adding an online shopping cart to your website:

· Do I have products that I am currently selling to my customers or do I want to be selling products online to my customers? If so, what are you using currently for your customers to purchase that product?

· How streamlined is my process for ordering my products online? Do your customers have to wait till you go in and send a follow up e-mail? Does the customer have to jump through hoops to order the product?

· Do I want to spend less time on the ordering process and more time on my business? Do you have the extra time to be spending on the ordering process or could you be spending it on more important tasks and projects?

These are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself. An online shopping cart can help you to streamline the order process and your customer will be more inclined to purchase from you. A shopping cart will also allow you to set an auto responder with any message you want your customers to have. This could be a thank you after a purchase, a note about an upcoming sale, information about the product or how to download a virtual product.

It is also important to remember that we are all very busy in our businesses and any tool that we can use to streamline processes, we should take advantage of. An online shopping cart will help you to be more productive and your customers will be much happier with their buying experience.

Nothing is more frustrating than a site you can’t navigate for a product you need or want. If you want to keep the customers you draw in you need to make sure it’s easy for them to understand you. Whether your intended audience is down the street or across an ocean it is imperative to speak the language. Keep in mind that language is more than just words, but also how those words are used. There are three principals to keep in mind when localizing your website, and all of them will help your target audience identify with your website message.

Translate: Take the initiative and translate your site into the language of the area you wish to do business in. Don’t forget that translating is more than just word for word. The use of local phrases and concepts will set the tone for your translated site and give a boost to your credibility.

Organize: If you know your target audience, chances are you also know your competition. How a website is organized says a lot about a company. There are generally accepted formats for websites which differ from region to region and country to country. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to organize your website properly. Dramatic effects are great for artists, but can and will hurt a websites credibility. Sites with too many or disruptive effects will make a sight feel gimmicky.

Adapt: You expect the store down the street to speak your language and sell the products you like, so why wouldn’t an e-store be the same? Different cultures expect different things from a website. By learning and adapting to those differences you will set yourself apart. The Chinese, for example, expect as much information as possible on a website, thus the highly trafficked sites in that region look very busy. In the US, the most trafficked websites are clean and simple. Put aside the notion that the way you have been doing things is best. It’s time to go with the flow!

Localizing your website to each individual culture will draw more people who will be more likely to buy. If you want to be taken seriously you need to do your research. Know the culture, the expectations, and your target market, and remember that no two cultures are identical.

Please contact us if you have any questions or would like help localizing your website.

Best,

Kristi

Champion Assistant Virtual Business Team

The risks of international business are inherent, but the potential gains are boundless.  Doing business internationally has never been easier due to increased use of internet  and virtual offices. Businesses don’t even need a physical presence in order to be successful.

In today’s global economy, international companies are looking for strategic support to enable them to conduct business in the US. While it isn’t always practical to set up physical offices in the US, it is still possible to have an effective presence in the US through virtual offices. Champion Assistants is one of the pioneers helping international business seamlessly conduct business in the US through localizing websites, adapting sales and marketing materials, and even acting as a headquarters for the company. We act on behalf of our clients, as their virtual staff and as points of contacts for their customers.

A key part of what we do is consulting with our clients and making recommendations regarding how they can better penetrate the US market. Our focus has always been on implementing sales and marketing strategies, while providing general office support, but we’ve really enjoyed increased interest from our international clients.

More and more, companies are understanding that their customers are not limited to local markets. Through increased use of internet and online sales tactics, the possibilities are nearly limitless. Knowing how to approach a foreign market takes the expertise of professionals in that country, which is why we offer our support.  Localizing products, services, websites and any other materials used to communicate with prospects and clients is essential to building solid relationships.  The extra attention placed on localizing is extremely effective at increasing competitive advantage and demonstrating commitment to that demographic.  While the barriers to international business are low, the key to succeed is localization.

Everyone wants their book to be a success, but not everyone takes the time to ensure that success. If you’re going to put forth the effort to write a good book, take that same care in presenting it. Be active in marketing your work, and stay active. A book that gathers dust doesn’t sell.

Tip #1: Your book will be judged by its cover! If your book isn’t visually appealing, it won’t pull itself off the shelf. Make sure to use a good graphic designer and choose the right binding. No one wants to see a spiral bound book in a bookstore. The same goes for flimsy book covers that won’t hold up to repeated readings. Take your time in choosing the right cover, graphics, etc. for your market.

Tip #2: Dots you’re I’s and cross your T’s. Especially if you’re self publishing you need to make sure you have everything in order to make marketing a success. Do you have all the numbers for your book? Have you registered for a copyright? Have you registered your book in the literary world? I can’t tell you how important it is to have all this in order from the start.

Tip #3: Talk!!! Talk about your book. Blog about your book. Tell the world about your book. If you’re excited about the book everyone around you will be excited as well. Excited people talk!

Tip #4: Meet the press. Putting out a press release on your latest title might seem over rated, but let me tell you it’s a golden opportunity. The media can be a doorway into a market you didn’t consider when you were writing your book. Can you think of one person you know that isn’t touched by the media in one way or another every day?! Use that to your advantage.

Tip #5: Keep up the momentum! Just because your book has been out for three days, three months, or three years does not give you the right to stop marketing. When you stop so does the momentum you have built up. Keep talking about the topics in your book(s). There are always new readers and new target groups for your works.

You took the time to sit down and write a book. Congratulations! Now comes the hard part – Marketing! If you published your book through a traditional publisher you are already one step ahead of the game, but don’t think you can leave the marketing to your publisher or even an agent. Readers today want a personal touch from writers, they want that connection. So as a writer, how do you make that connection with as many potential readers as possible?

If you want to find your readers, remember who your target audience is and find them. Blog with them, talk with them, connect with them, and advertise with them. Yes, this can take time. The benefits of doing this and truly connecting with your audience are astronomical. For every one person you connect with, they connect with 7 and so on down the line until your book becomes a best seller. (Of course if you’re a self published author this would be a good time to look for a publishing house to help with your newest fulfillment dilemma.)

So how do you reach your target audience? You ask. That is the hard part and most likely the best place for your assistant to take over. You’ll need to do the obvious, write about your book and its contents on your blog, email your current contacts, talk with your friends, colleagues, etc. After that you will actually have to search for your targets. Find writers associations that match your interests and your writings, find blogs that target your target audience, advertise where your market looks, get the word out and keep at it. Your momentum will drive sales, just as your ideas became the book.

If you think of the old adage “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer” you will see the truth of it. Talking with other authors, even those who have books similar to your own, will give you a glimpse of where they are marketing and how. So they won’t come right out and say xyz blog gives me the highest sales. Neither would you. They will let on about whom their target market is, how they found them, how the stay connected with them.

Another group not to be missed is book clubs. These groups are full of people who read and moreover they love to read. Book clubs are always hungry for new books and the best part…they talk about those books. They talk with each other, they talk with their family, they talk to colleagues and friends, and well everyone they can find.

You can find out more tips on book marketing as well as defined marketing strategies in the 2008 SuperConference Notes. They are an invaluable resource!

Contact Champion Assistants when you decide it’s time to get help building your list and gaining more exposure for your business. Call (425)821-2936 or email info@championassistants.com.

RSS jumped into the market a few years ago, but didn’t really take off until just recently with the release of RSS 2.0 and more recently RSS 2.01. To give you the basics, RSS is a script that is added to many websites, ezines, and other online materials that gives specific information about that material to RSS Readers around the world.

RSS Readers are like newspapers in a sense, as they pool articles and interesting tidbits on many different topics into one location. Basically, an RSS reader will broadcast the information given in the RSS script on any website, article, etc that ranks high on search engine keyword lists. The benefit of using RSS script is that when something of yours does come across a reader, the world sees it.

RSS readers work like free PR in a sense as it doesn’t cost anything to add the RSS script to your online materials. Techie novices beware, RSS script is complex and will likely require a website specialist to add it to your online materials.

Champion Assistants is ready to help you with your RSS project. Please contact us today to find out what we can do for you. Call 425-821-2936 or e-mail info@championassistants.com.

The majority of business owners are constantly on the lookout for new, inexpensive, and effective ways to increase their market presence. It’s a rare thing to have too much business! So for those of you who are wondering how to increase your market presence for free, here is a short list for you to consider.

1. Blogging – Most blog sites are free. You can post articles, letters, pictures or just about anything and people will read it. If you find a blog site that offers tags and keywords for each of your postings you are one up on your competition as this will make each and every post a searchable item in most search engines, thereby increasing your reader base and potential customer base.

2. Newsletters – You already have a customer base, so why not use them to expand? Send out a newsletter that contains not only your company information, but also relevant industry information.

3. RSS Scripting – This code can be added to any online material for free (if you know how to write the code properly) and instantly makes that material available to RSS Readers around the world.

4. Article Submitting – Believe it or not an article is more than the sum of its words. When done properly, onlne articles can increase traffic to your website and in turn increase sales without costing you a dime.

5. Social Networking – By talking with other business owners and entrepeneurs you make your company more visible to the world. Imagine an upside down pyramid for moment. If you are at the bottom and everyone you talk with is right above you than everyone they know is above them and so forth. Before you know it your name is everywhere and business never looked so good!

Take your time and figure out whats going to work best for you. There are a zillion ways to increase market presence – which one will you choose?

Deciding what to charge clients is a complex process based on factors including cost of goods or services, overhead and business expenses. Lately there is a lot of talk about charging a client what you think you’re worth, which seems vague and possibly self-defeating. What you charge should probably take into account your value to them!

In addition to the above factors, the price you charge depends on the following:

• Who you attract. Price according to your target clients. If you market to upscale clientele your prices should reflect that.
• Effective sales process. Define the sales process and make sure it works smoothly every time. Many of us have left a business frustrated by not being able to make a purchase simply because of the inability of the salesperson to take an order, ring it up and deliver. It may seem simple, but make sure your sales process is clear and functional.
• Persuasive sales language. Using persuasive sales language creates images in prospects’ minds of what they can have by choosing you. A positive image will result in them choosing you and willingness to pay more for what they expect.
• Congruency of the movie in their mind. Some prospects have a mental image of what their experience with you will be like before they even meet you. Living up to this expectation underscores your value.
• Be honest about what you can or can’t do. People will pay more for honesty and accurate results.

I would welcome your thoughts and insights on this topic! What factors influence your pricing strategy?

Kind regards,

Heather

Studies have been conducted where chocolate tasters actually preferred ordinary Hershey’s Kisses over elegant Godiva chocolates. Imagine people preferring the taste of chocolates that come wrapped in foil and jumbled in a bag over hand-crafted chocolates carefully placed in a gold box! How can a $4.00 bag of Kisses win over a $40.00 box of Godiva chocolates, and if Kisses taste better, how does Godiva get away with charging more? Perceived value is the difference. How would you feel if someone presented you with a bag of Kisses versus a gold box of Godiva? Regardless of the actual chocolate taste, you would likely feel more special if someone gave you the Godiva box (perhaps you might even feel a bit insulte d by a bag of Kisses!). Hershey’s created chocolates people like to eat and Godiva created chocolates people like to give.

How you present your business has a tremendous impact on how your customers perceive your business. Your perceived value is largely based on how well you present what you do and what you offer. Whether your business is products or services based, if you can’t show your value in physical presentation or experience, you have a steep road ahead of you for attracting and keeping clients. Even more important, you need to come across as a Godiva so that your clients willingly refer you on. You may have the best products and services anywhere around, but if you can’t show this value you’re missing out on bigger opportunities.

If you want to present a stronger image and have your clients perceive a better experience, then it’s time to take a look inside. Evaluate what’s working, what’s not, and where energies are being wasted. If you are confident your products and services are just right for your target market, then it may be time to re-evaluate how you are presenting them and your business. Below are some guidelines for what you need to do to increase the perceived value of your business.

• Differentiate your business from others. Be the uncommon offering!
• Practice intentional congruence. Ensure that everything you do mimes and merges with everything else you do.
• Connect all the dots. Check that your business processes are clearly defined and consistent with your business objectives.
• Learn from others who have businesses you admire!

If you’ve become bogged down with to-do’s, Champion Assistants is here to help you define your business processes and implement methods that will increase your perceived business value. We’re at your service!

I have been advising my clients for months to set up separate accounts for their personal and business online networking, and finally I have taken my own advice and set up my business profile. I look forward to building my existing connections and linking to those I can share information with and make new connections with. Facebook is a great tool for connecting with former colleagues, establishing new business relationships and spreading the word about upcoming events, products and business news. I’ve seen how it’s benefited my clients and I’m excited to be using this tool now, too!

If you would like to join my network, please look me up at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1288339561.

Kind regards,

Heather

Bookkeeping – Is Yours Up-to-Date?

Bookkeeping is a process many business owners are lax to get done – even if this means invoicing clients to receive money they earned!

If you are someone who dreads tax time because of a non-existent bookkeeping system (or one you won’t admit to), or by the end of January are already behind in entering expenses, or you can’t manage to get into a monthly routine, then outsourcing your bookkeeping may be the way to go.

Champion Assistants works mostly with QuickBooks either as company files or online accounts. We can take care of everything from entering and categorizing expenses to invoicing to producing quarterly reports that let you know exactly where your money is and where you are within your budget.

From initial company set-up to ongoing bookkeeping, Champion Assistants is at your service!

How to Get Other Websites Linking to Yours

1. Exchange links with other webmasters in your market.

2. Give testimonials on other sites and make sure they post your URL.

3. Post to online forums and discussion groups with your signature.

4. Set-up content rich sites that link back to you.

5. Submit articles to be republished on other sites.

6. Write press releases for PR web.

Champion Assistants is available to help you!

There are lots of self-proclaimed experts out there advising people to start their own internet business and claiming it’s so easy to get started and make money right away.  In fact, like any business venture there are certain steps that need to be followed to build a business that will become successful (sorry, it isn’t overnight!) and remain successful over time.  Below are 4 critical steps:

1. Perform market research in order to:

a. Find products to sell

b. Validate existing products and ideas

c. Locate your customers

d. Investigate your competition

2. Build a powerful sales website

3. Drive targeted traffic to your website

4. Sell more to existing customers

The how-to’s for all 4 critical steps are covered in our SuperConference notes. Click here to get your insider copy right now.

Once you’ve crafted out the niche market for your business, you need a strong mindset and great vision in order to really make yourself stand out from the competition. Gene Simmons, lead singer of KISS, star of Family Jewels and long-time business investor emphasizes that every business owner needs clarity and vision. Clarity comes from having a multi-year business plan that lays out the strategy for achieving your vision. Traditionally, visionaries are the people who shake things up and make people following status quo feel uncomfortable. If you are a visionary, then having a strong mindset is key to keeping yourself going while others doubt your vision. The best you can do is continually self-promote and maintain a determined work ethic to carry you through to reach your goals and follow your vision.

Gene Simmons immigrated to the US from Israel when he was young and had to learn English and assimilate into the American culture when he arrived. Even at a young age he knew he had to speak like the locals and lose his foreign accent in order to be fully accepted and rise high in American society. He knows that to capture the hearts and minds of people you need to communicate with them at their level. This is particularly true in business where being successful is largely dependent on communicating effectively. In order to perpetuate power and influence in the marketplace you need to be fully in the game and talking the right talk.

Boundless ambition can take you far in your business and with your customers. By not letting yourself be second best, you give it all you’ve got and everyone wins. Your customers will obviously benefit from your stellar service and/or products, and you oust the competition by defining yourself as the rock star of your market!

It’s been forever since I last posted, and I blame it on being crazy busy!  Feeling a tad overwhelmed I started looking for ways to reduce what I felt to be frantic stress, and decided to head to my local library where I usually find a calm oasis (as long as it isn’t during the after-school traffic).  I discovered an amazing book aptly named “CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Coping in a World Gone ADD” by Edward Hallowell. Of course I didn’t have time to sit in the library and read it (what with me being Crazy Busy and all!) but I did put it in my car’s CD player and have made my driving time a whole lot more pleasant and effective.

Hallowell suggests how in today’s fast-paced, take it all on and make it happen now world, many of us are developing ADD-like symptoms such as not being able to follow a thought through, having many thoughts quickly, interrupting, wanting to get right to the point – now!  His opening example is of being on vacation in a cabin with a rotary phone and how exasperated he felt while waiting what seemed like forever for the phone to dial.  Forever was 15 seconds.  So true, though.  I can’t imagine using a rotary phone – how prehistoric!  How did anyone survive using one of those!  He goes on to write about modern day examples with urgent new client work, urgent demands, urgent social situations and how to confront/deal with these kinds of urgent situations effectively.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to bring calm back into their life and have more organized thought patterns that aren’t so easily disturbed by our modern, gotta have it now world.

Enjoy!

Wow! What an amazing conference last week in Nashville! I’m a Gold+ member of the Glazer-Kennedy Inner Circle and attended the Gold+ reception before the conference, which was a wonderful introduction to what was yet to come. At the reception I was able to meet quite a few highly motivated business owners and learn a little about what makes their businesses tick.

There were about 1200 or so people in total attending, and the conference rooms were bursting with energy and excitement. I’ll be writing more about the individual presenters and strategies discussed in additional posts as well as in my next newsletter. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to purchase my detailed conference notes. Lessons and strategies from the greats including Bill Glazer, Dan Kennedy, Nido Qubein, Gene Simmon (yes, the lead singer from Kiss), George Ross (Donald Trump’s chief negotiator, and seen on the Apprentice), and so many others are priceless. Your business definitely needs these in your toolkit!

All the best,

Heather

www.championassistants.com

Assisting Your Success…Virtually!

Last week Ali Brown (eZine Queen) had an insightful phone interview with Robert Skrob about “The 9 Simple Steps to Building a $$$ Million Dollar Info-Marketing Business…Within 12 Months!”.  Robert took some time to explain opportunities to develop home study courses, coaching seminars and teleseminars.  The emphasis was packaging what you know and marketing that to your target audience.  People need to take their individual knowledge and break that into 6 topics such as How to…, Ways to Breakthrough, and How to Systematize. 

The trick is to write down your topics and each of these can be turned into a teleseminar.  The teleseminar can be a 6-week series devoted to those topics.  If you have a potential market, sell the teleseminar, and even if there is a small turnout you can sell CDs of the teleseminar as a product.  A lot of people get nervous wondering if they will get enough people to just sign up for the teleseminar.  By recording it and producing it as CDs, there is an additional opportunity for people to buy your product. 

To get yourself to motivated you need to set a date!  Put yourself on your calendar and prepare to let yourself shine!  Just by having a date you can begin brainstorming and putting everything together in a set format.  Don’t put yourself under pressure with unreasonable expectations.  Know that you are bringing value to your audience with your  knowledge and experience!

Kind regards,

Heather

www.championassistants.com

Your business-savvy virtual assistants!

If one of your ambitions is to create your own website in 2008 and become more adept at using HTML code, I highly recommend checking out http://www.w3.org/. A great tutorial can be found at http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/Guide/. A good Dreamweaver course or two would also be extremely helpful!

Kind regards,

Heather

www.championassistants.com

We’ve helped several clients transition from selling products via PayPal on their website to using a shopping cart. There are a number of shopping carts out there to choose from, such as 1 Shopping Cart or Kick Start Cart.

Shopping carts have monthly fees ranging from $40-$100, or more for sophisticated options. While many shopping carts come standard with a number of features such as order tracking, affiliates, auto-responders, and shipping calculators, it’s important to recognize if you need a shopping cart. If you do a significant portion of sales via the internet and you spend more than an hour a month tracking orders in an Excel sheet, then already it’s probably worth the investment. Shopping carts automate a number of activities that you spend valuable time trying to track. Also, it makes creating affiliates and using coupons so easy!

PayPal does seem to be going out of fashion as shopping carts become the norm. If you decide to use a shopping cart, I highly advise that you offer credit card processing capabilities. Most merchant accounts come with a web option and integrate easily with the shopping cart (although check first before signing up for a shopping cart account).

If you feel it’s time to upgrade to a shopping cart and need help setting it up and integrating it into your site, please let me know and I would be glad to help. We also provide ongoing support as information changes about your products, affiliates, special offers and the like. Certainly the best thing to do is offer potential clients as many easy ways to purchase from you as possible!

Kind regards,

Heather

www.championassistants.com

info@championassistants.com

Your business-savvy virtual assistants!