Tag Archives: marketing strategies

Grumpy? NOT

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Grumpy / Negative emotions lead to a decline in lung function according to researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health. Anger is also a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease, and stroke.204ec8c7-f8b4-47c1-8636-f523ee2119b0

Do you find yourself becoming grumpy when your business / life isn’t going the way you intend?

It isn’t good. Negative emotions lead to a decline in lung function according to researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health. Anger is also a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Take deep breaths to improve your lung function. And take a deep breath and jump in to create the business that you love. Create one that doesn’t make you angry or hard on yourself.

There are many studies demonstrating the profound influence of the mind and beliefs on aging. For example, a landmark study by Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer, PhD., showed that the so-called irreversible signs of aging, including deterioration in hearing, vision, manual dexterity, muscle strength, and memory, could be reversed through psychological shifts in awareness and increases in physical and mental activity.

Even though we all have genetic predispositions, our health and aging aren’t predetermined. By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body to decrease our biological age.

This means we don’t have any time to be grumpy.

Create the Business / Life of Your Dreams

Our next step to create the business / life of your dreams (after you write a clear vision for your company) is writing a very succinct mission statement. Yes, you can have a vision and mission statement for your life, too. Your mission statement briefly explains the purpose of your business. Make it two words, two sentences, a paragraph, or even an image. It needs to be as direct and focused as possible. It should clarify what your business is all about. Back yourself into a corner so the only place you can go is forward.

Your mission can guide strategic decision-making by owners, directors, employees, and the public. It needs to be easily memorized. The best example of a mission statement will define a company and its purpose in 30 seconds or less. This is an eloquent, concise paragraph full of meaning and impact. Choose your words wisely – beware of buzz words, empty phrases, or mission statements so general that any old company could use. It’s a challenge, but you want to capture what your company stands for in a brief and memorable way.

Here are two notable examples of clear mission statements:

  • Our vision is to be earth’s most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online. From Amazon
  • To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world. From Nike

Hope this helps your efforts in building a successful business. Either way, I’d like your comments and let me know about your mission statement. Make a mind shift to be positive and  proactive to eliminate negative thoughts.

OH, BTW, while you are here on my blog, please follow it and have a very Sweet ’16.

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The 30 Magic Marketing Words You Should Be Using

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Carol Naff Creative Marketing Coach

Secret Trigger Words to   Elicit Responses

Savvy business owners, copywriters, and designers know how language influences emotions and persuades action. Certain words and phrases are time-tested to boost response and conversion rates  almost across the board. Of course, different motivating words and phrases work better in different situations, and it’s up to you to figure out which work best for your business. It isn’t all that difficult to figure out, though: If your intuition doesn’t tell you, your customers will. Test the following 30 “magic marketing words” in your next email, social media or blog post, on a direct-mail postcard or website to see which yields the best response.

  1. You – Write as though you’re speaking to the customer and about the customer, not about yourself.
  2. Because – Give customers a reason why they need to take action.
  3. Free – “Because” we all like free things, right?
  4. Value – This implies customers are getting something versus losing something (i.e. money when you say “cost” or “price”).
  5. Guaranteed – Give customers a guarantee to minimize risk perception, so they feel they have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
  6. Amazing – Customers will respond to something that is incredible.
  7. Easy – Make it simple for customers to take the next step in the purchasing process, and let them know how much easier life will be with your product or service.
  8. Discover – This implies there is something new and unknown to the customer, something that has supreme benefits and gives them an edge.
  9. Act now – Motivate an immediate response with a limited-time offer.
  10. Everything included/everything you need – This establishes that your product or service is all your customers will have to buy in order to achieve their goal.
  11. Never – Point out a “negative benefit,” such as “never worry again” or “never overpay again.”
  12. New – Your product or service is the cutting edge in your industry.
  13. Save – The most powerful word to showcase monetary savings, or even time savings.
  14. Proven – Remind customers that your product, service or business is tried-and-true.
  15. Safe and effective – “Proven” to minimize risk perception for health and monetary loss.
  16. Powerful – Let customers know that your business, product or service is robust.
  17. Real results/guaranteed results – Your customers want results, after all.
  18. Secret – Not everyone succeeds, and there are secrets to success. Let customers know you can reveal those secrets.
  19. The – This implies your solution is the “end-all-be-all.” Consider the difference: “3 Solutions for Marketing Success”/”The 3 Solutions for Marketing Success.”
  20. Instant –Instant access or downloads are more appealing than waiting.
  21. How to – Start off with a solution so customers read the rest of your copy.
  22. Elite –Your customers are among the best in the world. Invite newbies to join a highly desirable club.
  23. Premium – Premium helps denote high quality.
  24. Caused by – If your marketing literature builds a case for your product, transitional phrases such as “caused by,” “therefore,” and “thus” can help reinforce the logic of a purchase.
  25. More – Do you offer more than your competitors? Let your customers know, because they want the best deal, after all.
  26. Bargain – Because customers want a great deal, remember?
  27. No obligation – Create a win-win situation for your customers.
  28. 100% money-back guarantee – Again, no risk.
  29. Huge – A large discount or outstanding offer is difficult to resist.
  30. Wealth – If you’re selling products and services related to money, wealth is a desirable word for customers.

The key to success is to combine these words into phrases that trigger buying behavior. For example: “Get real results instantly – 100% money-back guarantee – act now!” Keep your copy short and sweet, play on emotional triggers with these words and phrases, and you’ll increase your conversion and response rates. Vertical Response published these ideas.

The Most Expensive Strategy

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strategic partnersThe biggest difference between what you have now and your vision of what you want to have happen is time and the right strategies. Of course, there are some really dumb ideas that don’t manage to take off and become successful. But generally, it is time and a plan that stops you. Think about all those experiences that were lost to time.

Recently, John Assaraf said that the most expensive strategy for building your business is doing it yourself. It will take that much more time to accomplish your goals. You’ll make the same mistakes that have been made by many, many of people. It costs you lost revenue when you don’t work with someone who can guide you to find the right strategies for your business. It all may be lost to time

There’s no shortage of opportunities including a favorable time for dramatic growth. Never blame anything or anyone. Look at what you are doing and think bigger to achieve your vision.

Of course, first you’ll have to find a way to identify those opportunities. Next, you’ll need to develop a strategic plan to exploit them. And then there’s the ongoing task of managing your new program to reach your new goals.

It’s a real challenge. No doubt about it. Imagine being able to shorten that list of things to do and reach your goal more quickly.

According to the SBA, it often takes business owners three years to start up a business and get it to a point where it’s producing income. Imagine taking the short cuts and knowing exactly what tactics will produce those big results. Imagine learning what to eliminate. Those are the wasters of time, money, and energy that produce little or no results.

Strategy: So get motivated for a fresh start, a new beginning, and a wholesale reinvention of your life to change the results. Hire your business/marketing coach who demonstrates great results for her clients. Request your free strategy session to learn what need to be done to be successful. carol.naff@marinerco.com

“Be a Leader. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.” Dale Carnegie

The Top Secrets to get YOU Top Results ~~ Magical Marketing Ideas for Top Marketers

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Carol Naff, Marketing CoachAre you running your business or is it driving you? Get back in control with powerful inbound marketing. What do other successful business owners know (or do) that you don’t?

Businesses today know strong results are tied to having a brand and making it known. It is people who provide the edge to increase notoriety, expand market share, and build your business image. Yet, how can you prepare yourself to deliver cutting-edge news topics for social and traditional media? The Top Secrets Workshop shows you how.

This exciting and informative workshop by Marcia Reece and Carol Naff provides all the secrets of getting exposure. This info-packed seminar will include the essential elements of tried and true marketing strategies. We will reveal how to explain your business in exciting sound bites with marketing plans including examples, ideas, plus a bonus take-away marketing eBook.

“Just wanted to say how great your seminar was today. Truly, this is a genuine comment that I was truly impressed with the terrific amount of great ideas and wisdom I walked away with. You never cease to amaze me!” Chip Brunk, CEO

Top Secrets Workshop, 12 Noon – 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 18th, 2015 May Library, 1471 S. Parker Road Denver, CO 80231 (Florida & Parker). Register here at this link, http://tinyurl.com/topsecrets18. Early registration – $79 until March 16. Regular registration – $99 – limited seating available.

We guarantee you’ll love the results.  It’s easy…

  • Discover real results with the point and shoot method
  • Build a proven, free,  and powerful new online and media presence
  • Together we teach you how to write the most powerful email subject lines increasing your open rate
  • Make your new marketing yield results by discovering our proven tricks, tips and techniques
  • Promote your healthy business with invaluable free tips
  • Discover proven ways to say your important stuff quick and really make it stick
  • Learn new ways to take full advantage of your marketing and generate more business
  • Powerful and persuasive: the 13 money words and how you should use them

You will leave with immediate and easy-to-implement take-away tools, media gathering methods, customized attention-grabbing headlines created for your business, and insider success drivers.  And lots and lots more…

“I absolutely enjoyed everything! I needed a boost in my business and this seminar provided everything I needed. Thank you.” Edna Erosky

Granting of permission by the Arapahoe Library District to use library facilities does not constitute endorsement by the Library District Staff or Board of Trustees

Use content marketing for guaranteed results with proven easy strategies

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Success with Content Marketing

Success with Content Marketing

Thanks! Thank you for your participation in Marcia Reece and my Power of the Media seminar last month. If you were unable to be there, you were missed.

Headline Analyzer – If  you were at the seminar, you now know the top 12 power words to use in your headlines and subject lines. We were able to analyze many of your power statements and improve your ratings. Now, based on what you know, write your top three sentences you would use if you were asked to describe what you do or what your business does. Pretend you are writing a subject line for an email, business social media post, or a headline for a media release. I will analyze them based on empathetic, intellectual, and spiritual marketing value. I will  share the results with you, and brainstorm with you to make them powerful. Contact CarolNaff@comcast.net for a special low-priced package to exponentially improve your headlines.

You will receive:
* Tips on writing copy that sells
* Learn how to write for your niche
* Analysis of your content
* How to obtain more favorable responses
* Website address so you can analyze your copy

As a bonus, visit CarolNaff.me for tips on how to get extra mileage on your media coverage after you receive it. Learn where and how to post links and videos of your media articles.

Remember, let me know if you’d like to send your three sentences to me to receive this valuable package. Contact me at CarolNaff@comcast.net.

Marcia and I had a blast spending our afternoon with many of you at our Power of the Media seminar. Please be sure to let us know of your successes. We are happy to promote your businesses as we can. Thank you so very much for giving us your time.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

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Use the Power of the Media to Build Your Business

Promote yourself for FREE. Build your work into a brand

Carol Naff and Marcia Reece

Media Directory

Why isn’t your business receiving publicity while others seem to always be in the media? What do they know (or do) that you don’t?

Businesses today know strong results are tied to having a brand and making it known. It is people who provide the edge to increase notoriety, expand market share, and build your business image. Yet how can you prepare yourself to deliver cutting-edge news topics for the media? The Power of the Media Workshop shows you how.

This exciting and informative workshop by Marcia Reece and Carol Naff provides all the secrets of getting media interviews. This info-packed seminar will include the essential elements of writing headlines and powerful media releases. We will reveal how to explain your business in exciting sound bites and marketing plans with examples, ideas, plus a bonus take-away workbook.

Power of the Media, Early registration – $79 until November 17. Regular registration – $99 – limited seating available

12 Noon – 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 19th, Arapahoe May Library, 1471 S. Parker Road Denver, CO 80231 (Florida & Parker Road).

Register here with this link

You Will Learn How to:

  1. Use the point and shoot method
  2. Guarantee your work will be on CNN
  3. Build a powerful media release
  4. Use headline analyzers for the most powerful email subject lines
  5. Make the media work for your business with our best tricks, tips and techniques
  6. Get into magazines with these top 40 tips
  7. Gain confidence with the top 10 things to prepare for your radio and TV interviews
  8. Say it quick to make it stick
  9. Give a successful interview
  10. Promote and sell your brand, services, or business with these 10 invaluable tips
  11. Secure second bookings
  12. Strengthen your chances of getting your products featured in holiday gift guides
  13. Build your media kit/webpage with these 21 items
  14. Take advantage of your publicity and generate more business

You will leave with immediate and easy-to-implement take-away tools, media gathering methods, your attention-grabbing headline created for your business, proven scripts, and insider success drivers.

And lots and lots more…

Granting of permission by the Arapahoe Library District to use library facilities does not constitute endorsement by the Library District Staff or Board of Trustees

Use the Power of the Media to Build Your Business

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Online Media Directory

Congratulations! You’ve done it. You just completed your interview in the news programs or your story was told in print. Especially fabulous are the videos and photos driving interest to your website and to your business. But, now what?

That’s right; now what? Just being interviewed on radio or TV or having an article published about your business will often drive new business for you. Today’s newspaper or magazine is tomorrow’s recycling, but that doesn’t mean that the life of your article is over – far from it, as a matter of fact. It is so important to get in front of people who will buy your services. Don’t just assume that everyone saw the media coverage. You need to tell them. Think about what you can do to create more buyers by letting people (buyers) know about the story on TV, radio, online, or in newspapers or magazines.

That piece still has lots of promotional juice left in it if you know how to squeeze it out. According to Marketing Coach Carol Naff, there are many things you can do with your publicity. Obviously, the rest of the world moved on to the next TV or radio story and edition of whatever periodical has published your piece or review. Use this opportunity to drive traffic to your services.

Tell the world about your media coverage by posting your piece on your website. For video, use You Tube to publish it and post a link on your website. For articles, either post a PDF of the article, or a link to the publisher’s website (assuming it is on their website), or you can post the original copy you submitted along with a mention of when and where it was published.

Email signature. Add a link in your email signature to automatically inform everyone about your publicity. Drive traffic to your website.

Frame it. That’s right; make a nice clean copy of your print coverage on archival paper. Lay it out nicely to fit on a single page, and frame it like a photo. Hang it proudly in your office, home, or reception area. Then your visitors who missed your piece when it was published can see what it looked like. They will be just as impressed (if not more so) than the readers who stumbled over your article in the first place.

Copy it. You can use the layout you created to frame your article or the PDF you made for your website to make copies. Include the banner of the paper or magazine, along with the date, so it is obvious when and where your piece originally appeared in print. Be sure to add your contact information as well, because you never know who might end up with a copy (and they might want to contact you). Use both sides of an 8.5×11″ sheet of paper if needed and make it look nice.

Use the copies in your press kit (which is now growing with the addition of your published pieces). Now that a third-party recognizes your expertise, it is proof that your business deserves recognition.

Mail copies of your article to your clients with a short note and a special offer. For example, you might write: Did you see my review in Sunday’s paper? I’m celebrating my fame with a special two-for-one offer (coupon enclosed).

Copies will come in handy for selling more services, too. Include a copy with your proposal for speaking to demonstrate your expertise. Show copies at meetings to indicate your expertise status.

You might also use it to get back in touch with prospects that haven’t committed to buying your services. Just send the copy with a business card and a short note that says something like: Hi Prospect, Did you happen to see this article in the Business section of the Times on Saturday? I know you are interested in [whatever you wrote about], and thought you might like to see this. I’ll be in touch soon! Best regards, Your Name.

Write and submit articles for publication in other media. Yes, absolutely, once your business is noted in one publication, others might be interested in reprinting it. Be sure to mention the publicity when you distribute an article about your services to online article banks, ezines, and information sites for reprinting. Or submit it to the newsletters of your trade associations or networking organizations. Very often, they are looking for content, and since your business has the endorsement of the publication that published it the first time, it might look mighty good to others.

Send it out as a press release. At the very worst, nothing will happen, but other media could pick it up to use as a filler piece. And there is always the possibility that an editor might be looking for an expert with your background and may call you for an interview. Your local newspaper looks for community members to highlight in the news. Be certain to submit photos and news releases to them.

So whatever you do, don’t just let your published article fade away. Use it again and again to get the most from your work. You’ll raise your credibility and visibility in the eyes of your clients, prospects, and the world. And you’ll have something to remind yourself of how good you can be when you put your mind to it. Visit my blog at solobizmarketing.com for more ideas to market your business and yourself in a career search.

An exciting and informative workshop by Marcia Reece and Carol Naff provides all the secrets of getting into the media. Yes, all types of media including radio and TV and print media including newspapers and magazines. This info-packed seminar will include the essential elements of writing headlines and powerful media releases. We will reveal how to explain your business in exciting sound bites and marketing plans with examples, ideas, plus lot more. Wednesday, November 19, 12 Noon – 4:00 p.m. at May Library, 1471 S. Parker Road, Denver. Register here with this link.

Marketing Networking: Be consistent in attendance at your perfect groups to find your future clients

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Carol Naff Marketing Consultant

This is the golden nugget of networking. If you take the advice offered in the other 17 networking tips and don’t heed this one, you will do more than you need to do.

Always remember to consistently attend networking events to reap the benefits of the group. Choose two or three groups where you want to get involved.  Nothing happens if you don’t show up. As a matter of fact, nothing happens if you don’t follow-up.

Choose your niche and find them. What networking events do they attend? Then become involved and active in that special networking event or organization. Choose only a few groups where your peeps are attending. If you don’t have time to follow-up with the people you meet, then you are attending too many events.

And make sure to affect others profoundly. Listen for what’s special or unique about a person and take a moment to point it out. You’ll affect them positively with very little effort on your part. But do remember to be authentic.

New people are at every meeting. Develop those relationships with people who are there regularly and start relationships with the new people. The up side is that getting out there and meeting new people gets easier with each one you attend. It actually becomes quite enjoyable to connect with others and you will start to look forward to each one. It will enrich not only your professional life, but your personal life as well. As my client, Anne Randolph, said, “Networking is now fun and so much more effective when I apply the techniques Carol taught me. I’m getting more clients and I’m not ‘selling’.”  See Anne here

You can learn how to make the most of every networking event if you use these tips. These powerful tips raise your level of success and assure productive use of your time in building business partners through networking.

Strategy: Don’t be afraid to volunteer in helping to organize an event. Get involved and give as much as you can. The experience will give you a lot of insight into how you can help other businesses. It will be a win-win situation. At the same time, build relationships.

So take a deep breath, open your heart, and go out there and start connecting. You’ll be glad you did!  Know your niche and whom you want to meet. Learn more networking strategies at Carolnaff.me. When it comes to networking, choose only a few places to network. Never miss a chance to market your business to each and every person you contact. Then be sure to include your ideas in a quick enewsletter to people you meet to stay in touch. Constant Contact is very reliable and a good resource. In addition, as a Constant Contact Certified Expert, I’ll help you set up your template to get started quickly. Use this link to get started at Constant Contact. Just send an email or call me at 303.337.4394 to take advantage of this offer.

More business building tips at solobizmarketing.com.

 

Marketing Networking: Content marketing works like a charm

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Marketing Coach Carol Naff

Build relationships and stay in touch with everyone

Consistently publish an enewsletter to stay in touch with your network. Writing an enewsletter is an easy way to regularly keep in contact, stay in touch, and build relationships with clients and people you meet at networking events. This is an inexpensive and effective way to become slightly famous. The people on your list will remember you and you will remember their names since you track your opens. You will see their names when you monitor your successes.

This networking strategy is only successful when you inform, entertain, and compel clients to act without actually telling them to take steps. Make sure you are giving valuable information to help your audience. What is your expertise? What do your ideal clients want to know? My newest client met me in 2008 and we consistently stayed in touch through my enewsletter. By sending an enewsletter, she was able to find me after all these years. I am able to give enough business building tips to be recognized as an expert.

Make your enewsletter valuable. Then include a call to action, mention a bargain, offer a discount, or include an invitation to an event.

Constant Contact is an excellent resource offering many benefits. As a certified Constant Contact Business Partner, I’m able to help you set up your account and shorten your learning curve to get your enewsletter out quickly. Register at Constant Contact. As always, your first 60 days are free and it will give you time to actually see positive results in your client response.

Strategy: Help everyone you meet remember you by following up with an enewsletter and creating a relationship. When it comes to business, never miss a chance to market your business to each and every person you contact. Then be sure to include your ideas in a quick enewsletter to people you meet to stay in touch. Constant Contact is very reliable and a good resource. In addition, as a Constant Contact Certified Expert, I’ll help you set up your template to get started quickly. Use this link to get started at Constant Contact. Just send an email or call me at 303.337.4394 to take advantage of this offer.

Marketing networking: Use no-cost Internet marketing strategies to build your brand

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Marketing Coach Carol Naff

It all starts with you. Write to Build Your Brand and Share your Knowledge

Start by writing an article. Choose a topic to communicate your brand with content that is valuable. What are your areas of expertise? How do you want to be known? Let your authentic image show.

It isn’t enough to build your brand if you only write for your blog or your enewsletter. You can optimize your writing and use no-cost marketing strategies to repurpose those articles. Use them to spread the word to enhance your presence in the marketplace. Repurpose everything you write to spread the word far and wide. These are some ideas of where to maximize your writing:

  • post them on your blog
  • post it on websites like ezinearticles.com.
  • send the article to your network in your enewsletter with links to the article and your website
  • post them on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter and again, include links to your website and blog
  • mention your article when networking and offer to send it to them
  • use your article as a handout when speaking or offer to send it to them

Write it once and use it to build your brand. Spread the word to attract an audience and drive traffic to your business.  People need to see your material constantly to keep a memory of you fresh in their minds. You will create high visibility with these written reminders so your audience won’t forget the value of your content and how beneficial it is to them. Articles I wrote for 9News about Career Searches are posted on MarinerCo.com to benefit job seekers.