By Victoria Player - the "Online Marketing Coach"

With 250,000 people joining every day, Facebook is fast becoming the HOTEST ticket in town for online networking. As you may know, attracting and connecting with the RIGHT prospects can be challenging in a crowded marketplace. In this article I share my personal tips and strategies to help you build a successful and lucrative online business network.

Facebook offers an accelerated method for connecting with your target market online. It enables you to network, share ideas, forge joint venture partnerships and also learn from other success minded entrepreneurs from around the globe.

My personal experience of Facebook has been phenomenal.  I have built my network to 500+ business 'friends' in less than 2 weeks. I'm getting over 1,000 hits on my website every single day which mean increased sales and my opt-in rate for my e-zine and audio class has tripled... and all of this without having to step away from my desk! Hands up who wants some of that?

To take your first steps towards enhancing your online visibility you must begin by creating a business -centric Facebook profile page. To help you grow your network swiftly I've devised some simple fast-track tips to get you started with this phenominal trend.

1. Who is Your Target Market?
 
The first point is to consider who your target market is. Are they potential clients? Are they joint venture partners or friends? It's important that you consider how you will 'dress' your profile page. The features that you add should be tailored to the needs and interests of your specific target market.

Consider what photo you will use? Will your profile be more casual or one that is specifically geared toward a business audience? What type of videos will you use? What applications will you add to your profile page to generate your MWR (most wanted response)? All of these elements must reflect your business image and the requirements of your audience.

2. Get The Word Out

Begin by inviting your friends, colleagues and any other business associate to your Facebook page. This can be done simply and quickly by importing your contacts list directly from Outlook or your web based email service. Then send a short personalised message inviting people to join you. This will act as an immediate way to get the word out, grow you 'friend's list and let people know that you're on Facebook.

3. Grow Your Network

The third step is to build a network of people that you have access to at your finger tips. Begin by identifying your 'dream team.' Who do you most want to connect with? These are also the people that will serve as a beneficial Circle of Influence. When you've compiled your list locate each individual using the search box at the top left hand corner of the page.  Then formulate a quick personalised email introducing yourself and how you know of them and request to be added to their friends list. Simple!

For example, I located a number of marketing guru's that I admire and have followed for many years. Making that connection with them has opened up the door to a plethora of new connections from like-minded entrepreneurs around the world who now wish to forge strategic alliances and joint venture partnerships with me.

4. Schedule Your List Growth

The next step is to work on growing your list on a consistent basis. Schedule some time each day to make a connection with new people. You might start with as little as 10 to 15 minutes every day but my recommendation is to allocate at least 45 minutes to this fantastic lead generation strategy. You will be surprised at just how quickly your contacts grow and the reward is increased traffic to your website and elevated opt-in rates. As the word gets out people will begin to contact you!

Remember I grew my list to 500+ in less than two weeks. So isn't it time you gave Facebook a try? Why not come and join me. You can veiw my profile here.
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© 2008 Victoria Player. All rights reserved.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? Go ahead. Please feel free to do so but ensure that you reproduce the article exactly as it appears here and include the following resource box in full:-

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Internet Marketing Entrepreneur, Victoria Player, specialises in teaching coaches, consultants, solo entrepreneurs, service professionals and small business owners to leverage the power of the Internet and e-zine publishing that automates, simplifies, and rapidly increases their bottom line. She's also the author of the FREE weekly publication, Magnetic Marketing Tips. To find out how you can WORK LESS, make MORE M0NEY and enjoy MORE FREEDOM within your business and life go to: www.VictoriaPlayer.com

Have you ever considered using social networking sites to skyrocket your ezine opt-ins and increase traffic to your website? No? Well if you haven’t now is the time!

With 250,000 people joining every day, Facebook is fast becoming the HOTEST ticket in town for online networking. As you may know, attracting and connecting with the RIGHT prospects can be challenging in a crowded marketplace.

My personal experience of Facebook has been phenomenal.  I've built my network to 500+ business 'friends' in less than 2 weeks. I'm getting over 1,000 hits on my website every single day which means increased sales and my opt-in rate for my Magnetic Marketing Tips and audio class has tripled... and all of this without having to step away from my desk! Hands up who wants some of that?

Just as an example. I recently launched my Conscious Marketing Mastermind program. I've also created a CMM group within Facebook. You can see it here. (Do feel free to join and network with the members of my group). As a result I received 800 visitors to my Conscious Marketing Mastermind landing page in just ONE DAY!

If you haven’t already done so I strongly recommend that you start utilising the power of Facebook as a way of growing your business connections and building your subscriber base. If you need some pointers on how to tailor your Facebook page for business take a look at mine here.

Oh and don’t forget to add me as a friend and post your comment to my Facebook Wall. I would love to hear your feedback on how it's working for you.

I am absolutely overjoyed with the response we had for the very first LIVE call in my BRAND NEW Conscious Marketing Mastermind program last night: “Boost Your Biz and Buzz on the Web... Using FREE Podcasting to Generate Publicity and Rack up Sales.”

People where a little slow on the uptake but I can tell you, we had a flood of last-minute sign-ups from as far away as Canada, the US and even Australia!

Thank you so much to all of you who joined me and especially to Sarah Rouke, the “Audio Pod Artist” (www.audiopodartist.com) who revealed a plethora of simple tips to get FREE traffic and FREE publicity from podcasts while simultaneously attracting new customers online. You certainly gave us a lot of valuable information to get our teeth into Sarah, and the inspiration to get podcasting right away!

If you missed this call it’s not too late. You can get hold of the call recordings and transcript along with a whole host of other exciting member benefits by visiting: www.ConsciousMarketingMastermind.com

See you all on the call next month!

Hey Everyone!

I’m really excited. :0) After hours of planning, editing and polishing, the BRAND NEW Conscious Marketing Mastermind is finally READY. Fewww!

Yes, you’ve been waiting for it since last year and it feels as though everything has been thrown in my path to obstruct its course.

Tomorrow is the very first membership call and it’s completely FREE. In fact, when you sign up I am also gifting you 2 entire months FREE membership to the program along with all the featured membership benefits.

Visit the Conscious Marketing Mastermind page (www.ConsciousMarketingMastermind.com), sign up and then come back here and tell me what you think. I’d love to have your feedback. (Post your comments below.)

Happy Masterminding!

Our Very First *SILVER*CONSCIOUS MARKETING MASTERMIND Call is on TUESDAY, 1st April 2008 at 8:00pm GMT, 4pm US Eastern, 3pm US Central, 1pm US Pacific.

TOPIC: "Boost Your Biz and Buzz on the Web... Using FREE Podcasting to Generate Publicity and Rack up Sales" with Victoria Player and special guest Sarah Rouke.

If you're like most solo entrepreneurs, you could be losing thousands of pounds each month on the web! Join Victoria and Sarah Rouke, the "Audio Pod Artist," and former BBC radio journalist and producer as they reveal simple tips to get FREE traffic and FREE publicity from podcasts while simultaneously attracting new customers online.

Just think about it -- wouldn't being interviewed in your own podcast radio show rock your business world? Wouldn't it skyrocket you above your competition? Wouldn't it increase your sales? Wouldn't you be proud to spread the word around and have everybody listen to it?

If you think creating your own podcast isn't for you or you can't afford it, think again. Victoria and Sarah will show you how! You'll learn:

• why it's time you had a first-class podcast to separate you from your competitors
• how to become the podcast celebrity expert in your niche
• how to air your own podcast show for less (or even FREE!)
• powerful ways to use your podcast show to generate business

This call is F*R*E*E for all Mastermind members. Not a member yet? Snag your spot now and be the first to get Victoria's special FREE 2-month "Silver Membership" trail.

This is an exciting time for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners alike. So much is happening in the world of online marketing. Never has there been an easier way to escape the 9-5 trap and begin harnessing simple, low-cost online marketing tools and techniques to enable you to work less, make more money and enjoy more freedom within your business and life.

That's why I wanted to give you all a little gift....

The Innovation Coaching LIVE Online Community. I've created this online forum to help you to interact with one another on topics that many of my clients have expressed an interest in.

My hope is that this forum will give you an outlet or a place to share your stories, tips, tricks and ideas but more importantly, I hope you will allow this meeting place to motivate you, to give you inspiration, to give you encouragement and to give you support in areas that are needed.

This is also an opportunity for you to share your wisdom, your knowledge and your questions with one another and be open to receive some valuable insights.

This is all about your life and your business - I hope you will make it work for you.

Be the first to try out the Innovation Coaching LIVE Online Community here.

To your continued success,

At last we have a result!

BT has finally seen fit to connect my Broadband and happily, I am back in the land of the ‘online’ living. I can tell you, it’s all go from here so do keep an eye out for the launch of my Conscious Marketing Mastermind!

Thank you to all of you who emailed with concerns for my health. I am fine. My last post will explain the situation.

Have you been using Facebook to build your network? No? Well if you’re not then you really must try it out. I’ve been dabbling with this well-known social networking site for some time now and it’s a fabulous tool to use for a bit of online networking. Not only that but if you set it up correctly and get your colleagues locked in too, you’ll see how effective it can be for increasing your sales and building your list.

Why not get started immediately and create your own profile now. Once you’ve done you can search for me and become one of my Facebook friends. It would be great to hear from you all!

 

Once again I am NOT in the land of the (online) living!

I recently moved house and was assured by BT (British Telecommunications, for those of you who are my overseas readers!) that I would not have any interruptions to my Broadband service.

Having placed the order some weeks ago BT have failed to install Broadband time and time again! I am thoroughly unimpressed! Each week they give me an installation date, and incredibly, each week they fail to install it. Not only that but when I call to complain they reveal that the initial order has NOT even been placed yet!

It is clear that BT has a complete disregard for anyone trying to run an online business from home. Despite losing income hand over fist and it tarring my reputation they seem unprepared to compensate anyone who uses a domestic line rather than a business line, which all sounds rather too convenient if you ask me. No matter how many people I speak to, nothing seems to get done.

It is left for me to attempt to try and catch up with emails at local cafes, which is where I’m writing to you from now. As soon as I’m back online my weekly publication of Magnetic Marketing Tips will resume and we’ll be off and away with the launch of my BRAND NEW *Silver* Conscious Marketing Mastermind.

In the meantime, if you need to contact me urgently please email my assistant Patricia at: patricia.waddington@InnovationCoaching.co.uk

If like me you are thoroughly unimpressed and inconvenienced by this untenable situation, please drop me a line telling me so, so that I can add your email address to my imminent compensation claim against BT.

I hope to be online very soon and providing you with the valuable information that you’re used to.



 




PS. Did you know there is a whole website dedicated to other people who are disgruntled with BT - called BTsuck.org!

Well I’m guessing that you must be wondering why you’ve not heard from me for such a long time and why there’s been very little in the way of Innovation Coaching action! I can tell you it’s been a hellish few months!

Most of you will already know that I attended the Online Success Blueprint Workshop in Los Angeles in the early part of November. I became quite ill whilst I was there and my health steadily declined.

Being the stoic Brit that I am I braved it through, knowing full well that there was something quite seriously wrong!
 
By the time I got off my flight back to the UK I was suffering big style and within another two days I’d become so seriously ill that I ended up at the Accident and Emergency department and the hospital is where I stayed for another two long and excruciating weeks.
 
I’m told that I am very lucky to be alive! For ten days I’d been walking around with a perforated, gangrenous appendix and suspected Krohns Disease (I'm yet to get the results for that one!)… just to put the icing on the cake! There's no wonder I felt ill! :0( I’ve since had major surgery and two further stays in hospital for various other complications, but hey, it looks as though I’m out of the woods now!

I’m still receiving daily medical treatment but can finally say that I am fit enough to get back to business. Besides it’s a new year and I’m dying to launch my BRAND NEW Conscious Marketing Mastermind program and to share with you all of the exciting new marketing info I gleaned following my trip to LA last November!
 
Being so desperately ill has made me realise just how much we all take our bodies for granted. Only when our health is snatched away from us do we realise just how blessed we are to have our health. We don’t always get another chance.

I have immense gratitude for everyone who has cared for me, kept my spirits up and so kindly stepped in to stop my life from falling apart at a time when I’ve been little able to do anything for myself… you know who you are. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. x

By Victoria Player, The “Online Marketing Coach”

I’d like you to take a closer look at the range of products and services you’re offering to potential clients. If you’re like many of the small business owners that I meet and work with your offer is plain and simple. It consists of the provision of your one-to-one services. One offer - take it or leave it.

Now consider your offer from your potential client’s prospective. There’s often a distinct reluctance to buy especially if they’ve not experienced you or your service before. You may be a stranger to them and you’re asking them to purchase your service at what may be a relatively high price. It doesn’t sound too enticing does it?

In the client’s mind they have the option of buying or not buying and unfortunately many times they simply choose not to buy. I would argue that some of the time the initial step you are asking them to take is just too big. Therefore you end up with a big step to small sales.

How about having a wider range of offerings so that a prospective client finds it easier to enter a one-to-one relationship with you? How can you make the initial step smaller and easier for the prospective client to take? Once they are on board you can then market to them so that you have a smaller step to bigger sales.

What Else Can You Offer?

Here are a number of different options that you can offer to prospective clients so that the initial step is much easier for them to take:

1. Publish an Ezine (Email Newsletter)

This is a great way for prospective clients to get to know, like and trust you and warm them up to buying your one-to-one services at a later date. It’s very simple for a prospective client to sign-up for your ezine and it doesn’t cost them anything. It also gives people the opportunity to get to know the way you think, your personality and exactly what type of services you offer.

The service I use for sending out my ezine is 1ShoppingCart.com. Go here to sign up for your 30-day trial now. Get your newsletter started today and stop putting it off!

2. Write an eBook or an eCourse

Writing an eBook or eCourse is a great way to offer added value to your target market. It also provides a platform for you to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge and invariably allows you to establish your credibility with your prospects.

3. Offer Teleclasses and Workshops

Giving FREE teleseminars is a fabulous way to promote your business, help your prospects get a sense of who you are, develop your reputation, increase your ezine subscribers, and jack-up sales. I’ve been offering free teleseminar for some time now because it gives people an introduction to what I teach (how to get more business without working harder). These calls have generated tons of new ezine subscribers and subsequently more paying clients.

The real benefit of both teleclasses and workshops is that they leverage your efforts and maximise the use of your time. You can reach multiple people at the same time and if you’re doing a teleseminar the added bonus is you don’t even have to leave your home!

Giving PAID teleseminars promotes your business and generates revenues as well. I do one paid teleseminar at least every two months on a different marketing topic.

There are many other options that you can offer to potential clients to make it easier for them to enter into a business relationship with you. You could also consider offering an "intensive" or "bootcamp" series of multi-week programs. What else can you think of?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Player, The "Online Marketing Coach" is the founder of Innovation Coaching. She is also the author of the FREE weekly publication Magnetic Marketing Tips. If you're a coach, consultant, solo entrepreneur or small business owner who wants to learn inexpensive marketing techniques that GET MASSIVE RESULTS take a look at her free tips now at: www.InnovationCoaching.co.uk

By Victoria Player, The “Online Marketing Coach”

I believe one of the most under utilised marketing weapons for small business owners is the power of niche marketing. Niche marketing is simply marketing to client and customer groups that fit the demographic and psychographic profile of your target market.

I’m sure that you’ve come across the well-known phrase ‘Know Thyself’ which is the famous inscription on the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi in Greece. In authentic marketing terms this phrase is important but there’s an even more vital dictum to be aware of – Know Thy Client!

If there is one pattern I’ve noticed in service professionals and small business owners who are struggling to attract clients it is that they are very unclear about exactly who their target audience is. When asked to define some of the characteristics of their ideal clients they are often a little sketchy at best. At worse some have the widest definition of ‘everybody’ in an attempt to throw out their net far and wide in the hope of catching anybody!

Paradoxically the truth can’t be more different. Believing that you’ll turn away clients and opportunities if you niche is actually completely and utterly invalid. It comes from a “lack” mindset, one based in fear. The adage "when everybody' is your customer, nobody is your customer" is absolutely true and profoundly important. You can’t be all things to all people. When you decide to specialize and narrow your focus something very magical happens.

To attract clients consistently and with little effort, your marketing message must be clear and it must stand out. There’s no way around it. If what you say about your business and what prospects read about it isn’t sounding irresistible and compelling enough to them, they’ll move on to the next offer.

If you can’t describe your target clients in vivid detail and convey a compelling message to them you will simply struggle to find them let alone attract them into your business. How can you hit a target if you can’t clearly see it?

So, your task is to stand out from the crowd and make prospects stand up and listen to what you have to offer. This is why it’s so important to define a niche. So, what’s stopping you?

Here a just a few of the benefits associated to defining your niche:

1. Your Product or Service Becomes More Desirable

You start to create a set of tailored products and services that work very well for your specific niche. People want to buy things that are made just for them, that solve their unique problems. Would you rather buy mass produced suits or would you rather buy a suit that has been made-to-measure?

2. Your Name and Brand Spreads Rapidly

People in groups talk! Solicitors talk to other solicitors, Property agents talk to others within the property arena. Investment bankers talk to investment bankers. If you’re good and you provide products and services for a specific niche, your name will travel fast.

3. It Becomes Easier and Less Expensive to Prospect

If you pick the right niche, it becomes very easy to contact your prospects. Most good niches have a list of people who are either members of a group in your niche or who have purchased things associated with your niche. Instead of spending money on what I call ‘spraying and preying,’ why not spend your money on getting your message to exactly the right people in your niche who actually want to hear your message. 

4. You Become Known as THE Expert

When you focus your attention on one specific niche and tailor everything you do to that niche, it won’t be long until you become know as THE credible authority within your field. Don’t forget that clients seek out experts, not only that but they’re usually more than willing to pay higher fees for the privilege! 

Once you get clear that it’s an absolute MUST to define your marketing niche, your job is to do just that. And that’s usually the daunting part. There are many ways of honing in on a super-profitable niche but many solo entrepreneurs often struggle to know where to start.

You may be having trouble figuring out your own compelling message or identifying your niche. If so, I recommend that you join me on next month’s Marketing Lunch & Learn tele-training: “Niche Marketing: Expand Your Client Base by Narrowing Your Marketing Focus.” I’ll be sharing the critical criteria that will immediately help you find a super-profitable niche that you can exploit with little effort and how to immediately penetrate it for fast profits. Don’t miss this chance to build the essential foundations that could rapidly boost YOUR business growth this year. You can register your place at my Marketing Lunch & Learn page.

by Victoria Player, The “Online Marketing Coach”

If you’re like the majority of clients that I work with you’ll want to know exactly how you can increase sales using your ezine? Of course there are myriad ways to do this but why not start at the beginning, even before your subscriber has received the first issue. Begin by laying the foundations for a valuable relationship with your thank you page.

I would hope that by now you’re sending your ezine out using an autoresponder service. If you are you’ll know that you’re given the option to direct your subscribers to another page within your website once they’ve completed the sign up process.

This is very important for two reasons. You need to let your subscribers know that the sign up process was successful and it also provides your first opportunity to start the relationship building process.

Here are a few ideas to get you started: -

1.    Provide Necessary Information

First you need to let people know what they’ve signed up for, so be sure to specify the name of your publication and give a brief description of it’s content.

Autoresponders often require a double opt-in process too so it’s important that you ask your subscribers to keep an eye on their inbox for a confirmation email.  You will also need to ask them to click on a link or reply to the email in order to complete the full sign-up process.

2. Get Your Readers Involved

Your ezine works as your main relationship-building tool. So get the ball rolling immediately and make them feel like you really do care. Ask them for their input. What topics would they like to have covered? What ideas have they got? Let them know that their comments and feedback are welcome and valued. After all the ezine is for them!

3. Promote Your Products and Services

Your thank you page gives you another platform to introduce and promote other products and services. So present your subscribers with a brief description of your latest teleclass, an e-book or perhaps a special report with a link to take them directly to your sales page. You might also decide to offer an irresistible discount so that you can really crank up those sales!

4. Give it The Personal Touch

Remember earlier I talked about relationship building? Well, people will only buy from those that they know, like and trust so why not throw in a dash of your own flare and personality. Everything about your ezine will become much more appealing when people begin to feel as though they know you. So do inject some personality and you could even decide to use your photo too so that people can put a face to your name.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Player, The "Online Marketing Coach" is the founder of Innovation Coaching. She is also the author of the FREE weekly publication Magnetic Marketing Tips. If you're a coach, consultant, solo entrepreneur or small business owner who wants to learn inexpensive marketing techniques that GET MASSIVE RESULTS take a look at her free tips now at: www.InnovationCoaching.co.uk .

So what did you do for Halloween? I decided to get together with one of my best girlfriends, Michele, for a night out on the town. We sipped cocktails in some cool bars and then went on to a club down by the beach for a bit of a boogie. I can tell you, there were some weird and wonderful Halloween sights on the streets of Brighton last night! Here's just one or two pics of the night.

 Yours Truely showing off some rather fetching wallpaper!

My bestest gal pal Michele

Do watch this space for my birthday celebration pics and to get the low-down on my trip to LA!

Marketing Lunch & Learn

I am really excited to share with you the details of my BRAND NEW "Marketing Lunch & Learn" monthly teletraining series. It's focused virtual training where YOU get quick, easy-to-use information and insight into how to develop your marketing efforts into a smooth-running, streamlined, money-making business. It's Fast-Paced Focused Training -- LIVE! Get ready to be engaged!

Snap up your place on the first in my BRAND NEW Marketing Lunch & Learn teletraining series starting next TUESDAY 16th October 2007 at 12:00pm GMT, 8:00 am EST, 7:00 am Central. (This call will be recorded so if you can’t make it you can listen later on at your own leisure). 

Call #1 -- "Make Thousands of Extra Pounds Each Month by Getting Clients to Come to You - Consistently and Effortlessly"

In this teletraining I’ll walk you through my Conscious Marketing Success Blueprint, outlining your new plan to transform your business this year. Not only will I give you an overview of WHICH marketing strategies to use, but I’ll also share HOW to put it all together into a proven, simple, step-by-step formula that works for you.

If you learn and implement this system you can apply it to any product, service or business that you sell. It's about making your current set of knowledge and expertise work for you. There's no need to change your business, you'll just learn a NEW process that will grow it without you having to work harder.

By implementing this formula you'll learn how to move away from the traditional mindset of working ‘hours-for-pounds’ to setting up systems that will generate leads, create passive income and allow you to immediately find MORE TIME, make MORE MONEY, while WORKING LESS and having MORE FUN!

I teach you all the steps you need to get to where you want to go.

Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll learn...

q       The seven simple components you MUST include in your marketing plan in order to make it realistic and really work

q       What marketing techniques you should use to get your target market's attention every single time

q       The single most important thing you MUST do within all your marketing efforts

q       Simple ways to instantly position yourself as an expert on your topic of choice within your industry (yes even you can do it!)

q       The 6 techniques you can use that will actually become assets to you and your business (and well into the future)

q       Get your own personal downloadable Conscious Marketing Success Blueprint. (I have a copy taped to my wall to help me stay on track with my marketing efforts)

You'll want to jump on this FAST, because I'm only releasing *40 places* for this call. Go here now to find out how YOU can make a change in your business this year!  

Can’t wait to hear you on the call!

P.S - Oh I forgot to mention... this teletraining will be recorded and available for online digital download or MP3 download along with a full written transcript of the call.

P.P.S - If you have difficulty opening the above links go here: http://www.InnovationCoaching.co.uk/page20.htm

You may remember that I travelled back up to my hometown in Leicestershire for my cousins wedding last weekend… yes, the other cousin this time! They seem to be getting married in quick succession. 

We had a great party in a huge marquee with plenty of drinking, eating, dancing and merriment. Here are just a few of the photos I managed to take before the battery on my camera died!

 Here's Angela and Ashley, the bride and groom.

Yours truly with my brother (and VA), Jack.

From left to right: Another cousin.. Stephen, uncle Adrian, my aunt Valerie and my cousin, Sarah.

... And then the battery went flat on my camera.. damn!

Congratulations Angela & Ashley!

I’m really excited to be able to share with you the new cool graphics for my Magnetic Marketing Tips  ezine? Of course my ezine doesn't come looking like a magazine, but I now use this graphic all over my website to encourage more signups.

In this weekly ezine I share simple, FREE and low-cost marketing techniques that you can use right away to GET AMAZING RESULTS for your business. This publication has been valued at £97.00 per year but your subscription is FREE! If you haven’t already done so sign up to Magnetic Marketing Tips  now!

Attention-Getting "COVER" Graphics Get You More Subscribers and Sales

Showing a 3-D graphic of your ezine, ebook, audios, or other digital product is proven to increase sales -- some studies show by as much as 300%! It makes it more "tangible" to the buyer and increases its perceived value.

And there's no one I would recommend more than Vaughan Davidson . His designs are clean, simple, modern, and affordable. (As low as £58.00 each.)

This is NOT a do-it-yourself software program. Vaughan does all the work FOR you! He did this graphic here, and is also in the process of designing a banner for this ezine and for my Conscious Marketing Mastermind program too.

To see a range of cover designs, go here! 

"How to Package Your Services"
By Victoria Player, The "Online Marketing Coach"


What Are You Selling?

Take a look at your services and think about what you're selling. If you're like many small business owners I meet, you may say that you're selling coaching or whatever your service may be. However, take a closer look. Better still; ask a different question altogether...

What Are They Buying?

Are your current clients really buying your service? At a first glance, this may appear to be true... to you at least. However, from the clients' perspective, they're not really buying your service at all. They are in fact buying a benefit, a solution to their current challenge. If this is what they're buying, then isn't this what you should be selling?

For example, if you were a relationship coach and a client has engaged your services to improve their relationship situation, then they're really buying the possibility of improved relationships rather than the process of the coaching or the service you deliver. Some clients wouldn't even bat an eyelid if you used crystals rather than your service to help them improve their situation - as long as they get their RESULTS.

So the question is... What benefits are your clients and customers really buying from you?

If They're Not Buying

If people aren't buying into your services then you need to take a serious look at what you're selling and consider changing it. And I don't mean for a moment that you should give up and change profession completely. I mean change the way that you present your services to your prospective clients and customers. Think about the real benefits that clients get from working with you and create a package around these.

Package to The Rescue!

You are most probably familiar with the idea of packaging used in the context of a product. A package for a product typically gives you an impression of what you're buying and provides more details of what's inside. Use this principle to package your services and make them more tangible.

One of the best investments of your marketing time is to package all of your services so that people are clear about what exactly it is that you offer and how specifically it can benefit them. This makes your services more tangible so that people can see the advantages of working with you.

For example, I've recently developed a service package called the Bronze Conscious Marketing Mastermind program. This package, although free, gives people a taster of the type of marketing and coaching services I deliver. I provide details on what my prospective clients can expect to receive when they enrol. Another example is my Practice Accelerator Program that gives extensive and clearly defined details on how that program will benefit them.

Create Your Package

Here's a simple process you can use to begin to package your services: -

1. Identify a key benefit that you deliver to a specific type of client.

2. Create a name for the package. Ideally, the name you choose will point to the main benefit of the package.

3. Determine the key steps that you go through to help the client to achieve the benefit.

4. Describe your service package in detail and in language that is easily understood by your target audience.


Market The Package, Not Your Service

Now that you have taken the time to package you services, have this at the centre of your marketing efforts. Marketing your package, not your service!

I'm absolutely thrilled to announce the LAUNCH of my brand new *Bronze* Conscious Marketing Mastermind program and would like to invite you all to be a part of this exciting new group gathering together an incredible community of conscious solo-preneurs and small business owners.

This program will give you the ongoing information, motivation and support to gently push you towards achieving all that you can and take you to a whole new level within your business... and life.

Here's what you get as a Charter Member of this Exciting New Program: -

    * Monthly LIVE MEETINGS via Phone With Me PLUS...

    * Regular Guest Spots With Hand-Selected Experts in The Areas of Marketing, Success and Motivation.

BRONZE Membership is completely FREE. Don't miss our first event - Go here now to join and get the low down!

by Victoria Player - The Online Marketing Coach

While there are seemingly endless ways to promote your ezine and attract new subscribers, here's a list of my top 10. So which ones are YOU using?

1. Tell your clients, associates, and friends. Send out one of your best issues (or your first issue) as a sample issue, inviting them to sign up if they like it. (Never sign anyone up without his/her permission.)

2. Put a sign-up form on your home page and every page of your website. No matter what page people land on, this way they'll know about your ezine. Don't let them click away without capturing their contact details otherwise you'll lose them forever!

3. Use a pop-under box on your site. Yes, they're irritating if abused, but I can tell you they work. Studies show pop-ups/unders can increase your ezine sign ups by up to 10 times! Give it a try and test it. 

4. Offer a freebie for new subscribers. We all get so much email these days. It means that you have to work hard to get anyone's email address. Offer new subscribers a valuable free article, report, resource list, e-book, etc.

5. Offer a free sample issue on your website or have one available by email autoresponder. Some people won't sign up for anything until they can see it first.

6. Plug your ezine in your email signature. After your usual contact information at the bottom of all your emails, be sure to include a two or three line plug for your ezine.

7. Get published across the web. There are dozens of web sites that other publishers visit to pick up free content. Why not post YOUR articles there for them to use? You get free exposure and plenty of traffic back to your site.

8. Announce your ezine to all of the professional organizations and associations you're a member of. They usually allow you to make announcements in their newsletters or on their online bulletin boards.

9. Advertise your ezine on the back of your business cards. In the text, be sure to tell people how they can sign up.

10. Become active in a few online forums where your ideal readers hang out. In your posts, position yourself as a resource in your area of expertise, and include a signature file that promotes your ezine!

If you'd like to find out more about building your list of subscribers then do watch this space for my upcoming STEP-BY-STEP list building SPECIAL REPORT.

© 2007 Victoria Player. Innovation Coaching

I'm honestly still in recovery after last weekend's Gay Pride celebrations. It's a huge event held here in Brighton every summer with a distinct carnival atmosphere and festivities of various shapes and descriptions held throughout the city. It's all great fun but pretty manic as thousands upon thousands descend upon our seaside city! Either way, it was great to be out in the sunshine watching the procession and floats, listening to DJ's and spending time with so many of the friends I've not seen in a while.

Here's my kid brother Jack on the left, my friend Hannah on the right and yours truly in the middle having a well earned rest after dancing in the Wild Fruit tent.

Just a sampling of the many drag queens that were out and about that weekend! This year's theme was 'Hair Spray' after the new blockbuster film ... not surprising judging by these wigs!

More drag queens parading along in the procession that starts at the seafront and finishes at Preston Park in the centre of Brighton. 

One of the floats in the procession.

Yours truely in amougst the crowd in the Wild Fruit dance tent.... just testing out my dancing shoes!

There was a live PA along with the Wild Fruit backing dancers.

Two of my friends, Paul and Casper (as in the friendly ghost!) or should I be calling him Mark?

The crowd within the Wild Fruit tent stretched to thousands.