The Blog Squad

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Today on a teleseminar, Terri Levine, one of my mentors, talked about how she's using video to create closer relationships (and as a result a lot more business) with people she meets: prospects, clients and other people in her life. She's shooting about 100 (!) very short video greetings every week and sending them via email to her contacts. This isn't a revolutionary new idea...it's a reminder that there are many ways of connecting and by far video is the most powerful. When you deliver a video greeting that has no hidden agenda, no sales pitch, just a heart-felt sincere message, then you create a connection that will stick with the recipient. You make someone feel really good! Now that I think about it, I actually did this a few weeks ago. I have a blogging client who actually lives in my neighborhood (very rare for me to have clients in the same town). Fern Burg is an aesthetician and on the spur of the moment I decided I wanted a facial. Fern was able to fit me in her schedule and I had a delightful, relaxing and cleansing experience. She was so gentle and I felt great and my skin looked great. As soon as I got back to my office, I shot a video testimonial for Fern. She didn't ask me but I has on a high and even though I was not wearing makeup and my hair was messy, I shot it anyway and emailed the link right away. Needless to say, Fern was very happy and surprised. Not only did it make her feel good, she now has a testimonial from a happy client she can use on her blog! It's really very simple to do this type of video. I shot it with my Flip Mino HD. The software in the camera gives you the option to email the video directly to a person with a note. No downloading. No uploading. No fancy editing. Shoot and send. Really, anyone can do this. Implement just this one tip and you'll be light years beyond your competition. I guarantee it. Related Post: How to Reach 97 Million Americans - Lou Bortone's Video Tip
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There's no shortage of professional development opportunities. Every day I'm getting emails about this training or that training. Heck, I'm working on developing my own training programs too. This week there are two that stand out for me and that I'll be attending: Marketing Strategies With White Papers - featuring Michael A. Stelzner July 2 at 12 pm PT (3 pm ET) Michael Stelzner (author of the bestseller, "Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged" and the man behind huge summits like Social Media Success Summit) will be leading this free online class. Go here to check it out. In this free class, Michael will reveal: What marketing techniques bring in ongoing leads at no cost? What are the five deadly marketing mistakes most businesses make and how can I avoid them? How can I effortlessly get my information in front of prospects? What are three proven techniques that greatly improve the quality of leads generated? How can I find prospects actively looking for the products or services I sell? 5 Step Formula to Add 6 Figures to Your Business THIS YEAR & Re-Ignite Your Passion While You Do It! July 3, 12 p.m. Eastern Time Dave Dee and Alexis Martin Neely help business owners, like you, who've already figured out how to bring revenue into your core business, leverage your business systems, processes and intellectual property into a 6 figure (or more) sideline profit center within your business by packaging the way you do things in your own business and licensing your way of doing things to non-competitors in your industry. They chose July 3rd to host this teleclass because it's independence weekend in the United States and it could be the start of REAL independence in your life. Dave & Alexis have the step by step, rock solid, PROVEN blueprint for helping you turn your business experience into a six or seven figure a year cash flow stream that will allow you to go part-time or even retire from your core business completely (if you want to) in short order.Personally, I'm intrigued by this system and I'll be there. Click here to register for the free teleseminar.
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As a quick follow up to my previous post about Dave Lakhani's book How to Sell When Nobody's Buying, here's a short video of Dave speaking to the crowd at a booksigning. There were at least 80 people in attendance (really good for a booksigning!) and Dave spoke about how to sell in an "inconvenient economy." Related Post Get Visible...Now Note: I shot this with my Flip Mino HD. I used the Flip software to combine two short clips into a "movie." It was so easy.
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I've been writing about this and teaching this on teleseminars for quite some time: you have to be visible online if you want to have a viable business AND be findable by your ideal clients. My colleague, Dave Lakhani, just published a fantastic book called How to Sell When Nobody's Buying (And How to Sell Even More When They Are). I've been going through the book and I had to laugh when I got to Chapter Two: Get Visible -You Have to Be Seen to Sell. I've heard Dave say that many times and for some reason I always thought he meant you have to be seen in person. I guess because when I hear him say it, it's usually at an offline conference. And while that's true - you need offline face time with people - Dave Lakhani is also referring to being seen online. I think I could have written the chapter for him! Briefly, here are the steps Dave outlines for building your personal brand online, so you can be seen AND sell. 1. Buy your name as a domain name, i.e. yourname.com (like denisewakeman.com). If your name is taken, get therealyourname.com. 2. Set up a simple website. Dave recommends www.weebly.com which I had never heard of. This is a site that enables you to set up a very simple website with no tech skills. I've looked at it and it's basic. You can also set up a blog through weebly.com. I would make a slightly different recommendation, though it may be a little more work. I would say set up your site on a blog platform. TypePad.com is pretty darn simple and you can create an entire site that looks like any other "traditional" website using the Pages feature and include your blog. It's a more professional and feature-rich system than Weebly. 3. Did you notice the part about setting up a blog? Blogging is one of the most powerful ways you can build your online visibility. Dave's advice: for the next 90 days write at least 3 blog posts per week using key words for your industry. I say, don't stop at 90 days. Maintain a consistent, constant schedule of blog posts, a minimum of 2-3 times per week, and you're going to see massive results when people do searches on your name and industry. (For tons of tips on business blogging read Build A Better Blog.) These are your first steps in creating an online presence and establishing your personal brand on the web. Of course there's more. Dave goes on to suggest: Get video testimonials that you put on your blog (don't stop at testimonials, mix up your blog posts with video posts) Be a resource to your industry by teaching teleclasses and webinars Develop your persona - show up as the person your prospect/client expects - pay attention to how you dress (in videos too!) and how you speak. Use video conferencing (skype) to create more intimacy in your meetings Continually demonstrate your expertise by publishing articles, white papers ... and ... blogging about what you know and how you serve. This reflects just one chapter in How to Sell When Nobody's Buying. At about $15 on Amazon, you cannot go wrong with this book. Dave Lakhani is a master sales trainer and whether you are a sales rep or an entrepreneur/business owner, you need to know the ins and outs of selling in today's environment in order to stay ahead of the game. I know I've got a lot to learn. What are your recommendations for establishing visibility online? What does "you've got to be seen to sell" mean to you and your business? Related Posts How to Dominate the Search Results for Your Name Is your Google Profile Up to Date?
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Two free programs from two of my favorite colleagues are coming up in the next couple of weeks. I also have a program planned for June 30, but the registration page isn't finished so that will be announced separately. In the meantime, don't miss these programs... Boost Your Business with Online Video - Featuring: Lou Bortone WHEN: June 23, 2009 - 10am Pacific | 1pm EasternVideo has become an incredibly powerful marketing and branding tool, and it's much easier than you think to get started. Online Video Branding Specialist Lou Bortone shares tips, tricks and tactics on how to add video to your marketing mix quickly, easily and inexpensively. With a little time and creativity, you can be producing videos that will build your brand and boost your business. In this session, you'll learn: A clever way to increase traffic to your website using online videos Ways to expand your online presence with your video Discover a few simple tips and tricks to look great on camera An easy way to add your own personality to your videos Preview of Lou's "Video Traffic Blast" system for maximizing your videos Register here to get the scoop on video from Lou Bortone. Marketing Strategies With White Papers - featuring Michael A. Stelzner July 2 at 12 pm PT (3 pm ET) Michael Stelzner (author of the bestseller, "Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged" and the man behind huge summits like Social Media Success Summit) will be leading this free online class. Go here to check it out. In this free class, Michael will reveal: What marketing techniques bring in ongoing leads at no cost? What are the five deadly marketing mistakes most businesses make and how can I avoid them? How can I effortlessly get my information in front of prospects? What are three proven techniques that greatly improve the quality of leads generated? How can I find prospects actively looking for the products or services I sell? Both these programs will present you with ideas and new ways of thinking about how to marketing your business online in these challenging times. Do yourself a favor and don't miss either one.
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