Tory Johnson's Spark & Hustle National Conference

Want to start or grow your small business? If so, Tory Johnson's three-day Spark & Hustle National Conference in July is something you can't afford to miss.

Tory's company (Women For Hire) was launched 11 years ago as a small, unknown, solo-venture and has grown into a multi-million dollar business with multiple income streams and a national presence.

Her commitment to each attendee is to provide simple (yet, often overlooked), strategic, and easy to implement solutions anyone can use to increase their bottom line right now.

No fluff. No theory. No "experts" trying to sell you something from the back of the room. Just real-world strategies designed to enable everyday business owners—from crafters, coaches and consultants, to publicists, product inventors and proprietors—to make 2010 their best year yet.

Snag your spot in the jam-packed program and receive national editorial coverage of YOUR business. Use code DB2010 for special savings. Click here to learn (& earn) more! 

Rely on Your CPA to Run Your Business

Every article in every business magazine I read tells you to “consult your CPA”, “turn to your CPA for advice, and “your CPA will advise you.” What is wrong with this advice? There are three ideas I hope to convey. First, most CPA’s aren’t very good business people. Second, running your business is your job, not your CPA’s job. Third, you can get great service from your CPA, but you have to know how.  For this post, I'll tackle the first one.

About ten years ago, we hired a young CPA, named Gerry. Gerry’s father ran a small CPA firm. So we were certain he would catch on to our business and procedures pretty quickly. Gerry was a portly young man. All right, I will say it; he was a jolly, fat guy. Everybody liked him, including my business partner, Paul, and me. At the end of his first year, we sat down with him for his annual review and raise. At this point, I should give you a little inside information about our CPA firm. Our overhead per billable staff person was about $40K per year. Gerry’s salary way back then was about $45K. For the experienced business people reading this, you undoubtedly have an important insight. Our breakeven billings for Gerry were $85K per year. For those of you less experienced in costing, this number comes from adding Gerry’s salary of $45K per year to our overhead per employee of $40K. That yields $85K as the amount of billings we needed from Gerry to break even. Gerry billed about $50K that first year. Obviously, we lost some money on him, but the quality of his work was good. We thought with time he had the potential to make some money for us.


During our performance review, we gave him a 5% raise. For the serious math geeks among you, that was an annual raise of $2,250, which brought his salary to $47,250. Gerry seemed satisfied, and we were happy in that we thought we had a chance to break even in his second year.

The next day, Gerry asked to meet with us again, and told us he felt his raise was unfair. Paul is more of a touchy feely people person than I am and had the gentle human insight to ask him why Gerry thought a 5% increase wasn’t enough given his $50K in billings. Gerry responded with the most unique rationale for getting a raise I have ever heard, “My expenses exceed my income. I need at least $50K to live.” Not laughing wasn’t an option. I had to cover my mouth with my hands. Paul had a great follow up question in store. “Gerry, to make $50K how much do you think you should have to bill?”

Jerry replied, “$55K.” Gerry was offering us the privilege of receiving $5K to cover our overhead and provide a profit for the firm. Do you think Gerry was much of a business person? Knowing Gerry’s personal situation gave me a clue as to why he needed the $50K. Gerry was married to a beautiful young lady – not the sort of wife you’d expect a fat guy to have. I figured one of two reasons made her marry him. Either Gerry had some assets not readily apparent when he was fully clothed, or she thought she was marrying a meal ticket when she married a CPA. I think she was sadly mistaken – at least on the meal ticket part.

Marketing VA's: How They Help Entrepreneurs Grow Their Business

by Sydni Craig-Hart

One of the best ways to grow your business and increase your income is to specialize in a specific type of virtual assistance.  One option is to offer marketing support services.  There is an ever growing need for marketing virtual assistants, particularly those who specialize in Internet marketing. 

The two things EVERY business owner wants are 1) to make more mo.ney in their business and 2) to have more time to enjoy being self-employed.  A VA who specializes in marketing and is directly connected to creating more profits and increased productivity will make herself invaluable to her clients.  This type of virtual assistance is not just about supporting the entrepreneur to run their business effectively or waiting for the client to ask for help.  It's about taking initiative and being proactive about completing tasks and projects that create more opportunities for exposure and revenue in the client's business.

Speakers, authors, coaches and consultants are part of the growing group of business owners who are hiring VA's to help them market their business effectively. They've found that they just don't have the time or the expertise to market themselves and their services. To create the desired results, marketing needs to be done in a focused and consistent way. By hiring a VA who specializes in marketing support, business owners can focus on their gifts and developing their business, while the VA executes their marketing plan to attract more clients and customers.

The marketing VA can do so many things for their client such as:

• Blogging - Setup, maintenance and promotion
• Email marketing  - Email blasts, ezines, setting up autoresponders and more
• Research, secure and prepare for speaking engagements
• Email marketing  - Email blasts, ezines, setting up autoresponders and more
• Research, secure and prepare for speaking engagements
• Research and coordinate  joint venture partnerships
• Social media marketing - Research networking opportunities, increase exposure, maintain/update profiles and more
• Create and help to launch information products
• Manage the client's affiliate program and relationships
• and so much more!
  

The skilled small business marketing VA is a powerful business partner for her clients.  As a marketing VA, you can solve your client's two biggest challenges - how to market effectively and consistently increasing their revenue.

 

The skills needed to be a great marketing VA (meaning one who creates results for her clients) are quite varied, depending on what niche you want to serve.  But in general you need great communication and writing skills, analytical and problem solving skills, advanced knowledge of Internet marketing techniques and advanced people and negotiating skills.  By providing marketing services for your client, you can help them increase their revenues and even help them expand their business. Your expertise and knowledge will yield greater results than if the client tried to do it on their own, and you can help them prepare for their business growth.   Keeping up to date with your training and skills by investing in training and coaching will ensure that you are able to help your clients efficiently and effectively.  

 

If you want more information about how to tap into this popular and lucrative market, you can learn more by investing in some professional training courses. The popular and comprehensive courses offered by SharonBroughtonAcademy.com and VAClassroom.com have helped many VA's expand their business and increase their earning potential. Remember, investing in your business development and education is key to a successful VA business - make sure you allocate the resources to stand out from the crowd.   

© 2010 Executive Assistant to Virtual Assistant! All rights reserved.

Sydni Craig-Hart, The VA Success Coach™, is Founder of Executive Assistant to Virtual Assistant!, a company dedicated to providing Administrative Professionals with the support, tools and resources they need to create a highly successful, profitable Virtual Assistant business.  Visit www.VASuccessSecrets.com to listen to Sydni’s FREE audio class “How to Start and Grow A Profitable Virtual Assistant Business ...In Less Than Six Months”.

Five Top Mobile Apps for Business Owners on the Go

Time is money, and with the invention of smartphones, business owners are used to real-time email access and immediate responses. Now with operating systems like the iPhone, Android and RIM (BlackBerry OS system), applications are making things even easier. You can find an app for just about anything these days—even ones that will turn lights out for you. Here are some apps for small business owners and sole proprietors.


Google Mobile App

This app is great if you already use the Google family of products - Gmail, Google Calendar and Docs.. This app allows you to have access to your Gmail contacts and retrieve/review any Google Doc. Android based phones, iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia S60 and Windows Mobile are all compatible with this app. Being able to sync your phone to your Google Calendar helps with time management and syncing your personal life with your business appointments.


Zosh

This eco-friendly app is helpful for those of us sending out a large amount of faxes to clients, partners, etc. The service can be found online and in a mobile version if you have an iPhone. Zosh allows you to sign, date and send a document all within your iPhone. You can purchase this app in the Apple App Store for $2.99

Quickbooks Online

If you use Quickbooks to manage your finances, there is now a mobile version. Rick Jensesn, senior vice president of Intuit’s Small Business Division says that, "a growing number of small businesses are looking to mobile technology to run their business. Our goal with these new mobile services is to give QuickBooks Online users the edge they need to compete and manage their busy lives by keeping tabs on their business even when they are out of the office." The app is now available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Android based smartphones.

Evernote

If you have ever been stuck in a situation where you wish you had a pen and paper, Evernote seems to solve that problem for you. This app which is compatible for iPhone users, BlackBerry, Android, Palm Pre / Palm Pixi and Windows Mobile can be synced to your computer so you never have to forget a great idea again. You can organize pictures, memos and all available to tag and search with keywords.

XpenseTracker

Keeping track of company expenses is easier said than done for some people. A lost receipt could have your heart pumping, while you’re frantically searching your purse. XpesneTracker is a great alternative for anyone who may not have the best track record. It will allow you to take pictures of receipts and record your expenses all in one app. You also will be able to, “export them to your desktop in an Excel friendly format. Photo receipts are also exported to your desktop computer as well.” This app is available for iPhone users only for the moment.

If you company sends out a lot of mailings, postage calculation can become a hassle. Postage machines can help when it comes to printing and calculating postage, but for now only people living in the UK can take advantage of an iPhone app that will calculate postage on the go. Maybe an idea for you entrepreneurs out there—develop a USPS app for calculating postage!

Getting organized and having great apps to help you along the way are key for any business, especially when you are starting out. With technology growing everyday, who knows what great things are ahead of us.

Shannon Suetos is an expert writer on postage scales based in San Diego, California. She writes extensively for an online resource that provides expert advice on purchasing and outsourcing decisions for small business owners and entrepreneurs at Resource Nation.

"Women Entrepreneurs - The Secrets of Success" for Wednesday, May 26th

Dr. Barnsley Brown is a self-proclaimed "steel magnolia" in a long line of strong Southern women. She brings the storytelling skills passed on from her mother and grandmother and the business smarts of her entrepreneurial family (her grandfather was a super-successful entrepreneur) to her work with individuals and groups.

Dr. Barnsley graduated magna cum laude from Wake Forest University and studied in France and England before earning her MSc from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and her PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to launching Spirited Solutions™, she taught at Wake Forest University, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Dr. Barnsley began taking business courses on the side while finishing her PhD and teaching, and made the leap into running her own purpose-filled business on September 11th, 2000.  She hasn't looked back, and wants to share with you the vision, steps, and strategies that enabled her to create a powerful, passionate, and profitable business that integrates all of her passions and talents into a unique mission.  You can do the same, and Dr. Barnsley would like to show you how.

It's not enough to be 50% or 75% satisfied with your life.  Dr. Barnsley decided long ago when she was about 75% happy in her professorial career that this was not enough.  Our vision DEMANDS that we take action and create something as unique as our fingerprints.  Come learn some tips and tools to nourish and nurture your unique vision in this interview with Dr. Barnsley Brown.

12:00 pm EDT
Listen to the live or archived show at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CoachDeb

Starting A New Business In San Diego?

If you are starting a new business, the single most important thing that will determine your long-term success, is a driving commitment to a meaningful cause.

Most people start their business as a “means to an end.” For example, they start their business to make money (the “means”), so they can purchase nice things (the “end”). Or they start their business so they can have more personal independence (the “means”), which in turn gives them the ability to go where they want, when they want (the “end”). But I must say that money, personal independence, or prestige should NOT be the reason for starting a business.

I would even go so far to say that starting a business because you would enjoy doing that type of work, or you want to fill a need in the marketplace, are both not good enough reasons. Those need to be part of the reason, but there’s a more important reason.

One of every four small businesses fail within the first year, and fifty percent of them don’t make it past the fifth year. This failure rate can be attributed to many factors like mismanagement, being under-capitalized, outside influences, etc., but I would argue that behind almost all of the reasons why a business fails, is the hollow philosophy from which it was built on.

If your business’ goals are not a “means to an end,” but are the “end” itself, then your business should persevere through the tough times. Here is why...

The number one reason businesses succeed, is a driving “passion” supported by the belief that the business is an imperative and necessary component to the community it serves.

So if you are in business for the money or any other self-serving purpose, when times get really tough and you’re face down in the mud over and over again, it would easily seem prudent to cut your losses and give up. Why? Because that would make the most financial sense.

However, if your business was to be as a necessary component to the well-being of your community, then it would not be prudent to cut your losses and run. There would be too much at stake and it would be your intense passion for this commitment that would help you get out of the mud.

Can you see the difference? Because no matter what business you’re in, you will be face down in the mud at one point or another. Therefore, before you launch your new business, re-evaluate the true meaning behind your passion. It can be the difference between success and failure. And in this world of competitive business, people prefer to go with companies that really stand for something.

So if you are starting a new business in San Diego, and you would like to discuss setting goals for your business, I will be happy to offer you free advice.

For more assistance on goal-setting, or for any other marketing ideas, please visit http://www.sdmarketingservices.com/

Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies or Fruit Loops? Entrepreneurs, Find Out What the Client Wants on the Menu Before...

By Kim Duke

Last week-end my 5 and 8 year old nieces came to visit.

In the morning, I asked them - "So what do you feel like eating for breakfast today?" "What are you craving?"

Being kids - of course they said "Something sweet."

So I whipped out the Fruit Loops box and said "I recommend Fruit Loops!"

Although in my cupboard I also had All-Bran, Cornflakes and a box of Shredded Wheat. Not exactly fun food that an auntie should deliver!

One of the common errors I see entrepreneurs making is what I call Cereal Syndrome.

They meet with a potential client or an existing client and proceed to tell them ALL the things the customer could purchase from them. WE do this … and WE have that.

You're basically offering Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Fruit Loops!
Offering clients A, B and C packages is not selling.

As an entrepreneur you need to position yourself as an expert. After discussing the client's needs and wants - you make a RECOMMENDATION to them, based upon what you've learned.

You don't need to tell them every single product you sell. They only care about what is relevant to them.

When you provide a list of options and price points you haven't discovered their budget requirements. You are also subconsciously telling the customer you DON'T KNOW the best solution for them. Yikes!

Two things will usually happen. Customers will choose the cheapest package and they will have the expectations of the most expensive package. What you have created is an environment for OBJECTIONS to grow.

So remember - avoid Cereal Syndrome by making a recommendation. Just as your hairstylist should. Otherwise they would be offering you a Mohawk, a bob or blue hair. Would you trust them to cut your hair then?

Copyright 2006 (c) Kim Duke Sales Divas Inc.

Kim Duke, The Sales Diva, provides savvy, sassy sales training for women small biz owners and entrepreneurs. Kim works with clients internationally, showing them The Sales Diva secrets to success! Sign up for her saucy and smart FREE e-zine and receive her FREE Bonus Report "The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make" at www.salesdivas.com

Public Speaking Fears - Your Reason to Stay Small?

by Janet Hilts

If you have a fear of speaking up, you're not alone. Studies show that 85% of people are more afraid of speaking in public than they are of death. Wow! That's a huge fear. So you're a fairly typical person if the thought of speaking makes you anxious.

However, the consequences for you if you're not speaking up are NOT typical. You're a business owner. So you need to be heard. It's critical that you get the word out calmly and clearly about what you do.

Staying Small

A decision to resign yourself to speaking anxiety is a choice to stay small in your business. It's that simple. Because it's socially acceptable to have performance anxiety, so it can be an easy way to hide. I know because I've done it myself. Yes - it's embarrassing, but it's true.

While coaching other people to speak up so they could grow their businesses, I found lots of reasons to avoid doing some things involving speaking because of my own fears. On the surface, they looked like performance fears. But digging a little deeper, I uncovered the truth.

My real fear was about what could happen if I expanded my business. As long as I didn't address my own particular speaking fears, I didn't have to know that, did I? It was a safe way to stay small.

What Are You Missing Out On?

Are you doing the same thing? If you've decided this is just part of your DNA so you're not going to address your anxieties about speaking, here are some of the business opportunities you're turning down:

• doing group coaching
• creating videos
• creating audios
• making radio appearances
• doing your own teleseminars
• presenting workshops
• giving free and paid talks
• networking effectively
• being taken seriously by other professionals
• speaking calmly to those with more authority or visibility

Take A Closer Look

Do yourself a favor and take a peek behind that fear of speaking. Is it just a reason you use to avoid a bigger fear? Maybe some version of fear of success? Fear of being overwhelmed with too much work? Of not being able to maintain a new level of production? Something else?

It's not always pretty, but the truth really will set you free. It gives you have a solid, specific place to start from. There are solutions to all these concerns.

Sometimes, just dealing with your core fear will make your speaking discomfort disappear! It was just an illusion after all - a camouflage for something else. And sometimes you need some outside help with those speaking fears so you can jump on all those business opportunities.

Take whichever path will work for you, but do yourself and your business a favor and eliminate that anxiety.

From the desk of Janet Hilts MPH, EFT-ADV
http://SpeakUpAndShine.com

Copyright © 2010 Janet Hilts, Speak Up & Shine | Clearing Pathways, Inc.

Catherine VanWetter on Women Entrepreneurs Radio™

Catherine VanWetter

Inner Resolution Facilitator of peace, compassion, forgiveness and love, Catherine VanWetter invites individuals to be gentle, compassionate, and courageous as they put down their weapon of choice and step into a field of Grace.

Catherine holds a Masters degree in Social Work and is trained in a variety of healing techniques that can help individuals come to a place of peace within themselves. Her approach is beyond talk and straight to the heart. 

Catherine's book and mediation CD, The Soul of the Heart, offers inspiration, deep healing and hope.  Catherine is also a contributing author in the bestselling book,  Overcomers, Inc., Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration.

Catherine hosts Inspirations of the Heart Radio, where she interviews national and internationally known heart-centered authors and visionaries.   She also co-hosts a monthly radio show, To The Heart Of The Matter  in Corvallis Oregon. 

Catherine VanWetter is offering a complimentary 45 minute Inner Resolution Facilitation Informative Conversation personally with her.  Details at http://totheheartofthematter.com/conversation

Catherine is an Inner Resolution Facilitator and is a trained in a variety of healing techniques that help people find peace within themselves. Her services are offered individually, within groups and on the phone.

(Archived show originally broadcast in May 2010.)

The Secret to Creating and Living Your Ideal Life

Join me on Tuesday, May 18th at 2:00 pm EDT when I'll be a guest on Grace & Charm radio show with Walethia Aquil. We'll be discussing, "The Secret to Creating & Living Your Ideal Life."

Unsure of what the "right" next steps are? Tired of taking "one step forward, two steps back?" Coach Deb provides mentoring and guidance to help you break through limiting beliefs that are keeping you from having the life you desire and deserve. Whether you want to transition into a better career with more money or a new business you will get the tools you need to achieve success right now. Stop waiting for someday and settling for less!

 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/graceandcharm

7 Steps to Getting Publicity by Using Press Releases

by Kristin Marquet

Are you asking yourself, why hasn’t my company’s name been in ink yet?  Continue reading to find out why many editors and reporters gloss right over your press releases and why they end up in the garbage
Are you violating the cardinal rule of publicity?  If so, it’s because editors and journalists don’t care about you.  They don’t want to read self-serving press materials about who you are, how long you have been in business, or your accomplishments.  Their job is to deliver compelling news and stories to keep their readers interested. 

If you are serious about generating publicity for your brand and business, when drafting your next press release or pitch letter, follow this advice:

·  Editors and reporters don’t care about you or what you’ve done, unless it is going to interest their readers.  You need to find an interesting angle to hook the media.  The media wants to know how their readers can benefit from what you have to offer. 

·  Don’t write about your accomplishments or ideas unless it is needed.  Write about how your brand or service will be able to help their audience, thus research the demographics, and pitch the release accordingly.

·  Check the editorial calendar of the publication and send the release accordingly.  Make sure you address and send the release to the right person too.

·  One of the most common mistakes I see when press releases are written (I was guilty of this too when I first started), “The Iron Company proudly announces the release of…” or “XYZ Corporation is proud to announce a 50% increase in revenue last quarter…”  Yes, this is nice and good, but how is it going to benefit the end user, honestly?  The end user wants to know how you are going to better or improve his or her life. 

The headline of a press release needs to engage:

Ladies: Ultra Thin Fashion Models on the Runways of New York and LA, Set Unrealistic Weight Standards for General Public

Guys: Why does John, the Average Looking Guy, Get Smoking Hot Girls?  Finally, Learn the Real Secrets of how average guys like John Attracts Victoria’s Secret and Playboy Hot Girls

·  When writing a press release, discuss how your service or product will help the reporter and the audience.  Discuss the benefits.  If you are launching a new line of dog food, discuss how it will make the dog act nicer around strangers, run faster, feel better, behave better, or anything else that will get the attention of the audience.  You need to show how you are going to be the answer to their problems.  Once you demonstrate that you can solve their problems, the publicity process will pretty much become easy; the media will find you and publish your story. 

·  It can take up to 6 contacts to get a response from editors and journalists.  However, don’t pester editors and journalists by calling and following up every day.  Find out the editor or journalist’s preferred means of communication and use it.  When following up, keep your pitch to 30 seconds.  Editors and journalists don’t have a lot of time. 

Essentially, the more you can help the media make their stories interesting, the more publicity you will get.  Publicity could be an extremely valuable tool if it used properly.  If you need help organizing a press release or finding an angle, contact Kristin at km@marquet-communications.com.

Kristin Marquet is a regular contributor to the Secrets of Success blog.

Why Social Media Can Help Women Entrepreneurs

Being an entrepreneur is hard enough.  You have your entire business riding on your back, and regardless if you have built up an empire, a small business or have a one woman show you need to know how to do many things.

Social media, or new media – whatever you want to call it – doesn’t seem to be losing too much steam.  Many businesses have figured out how to use this medium to their benefit and help gain more leads, brand awareness and even use it as a networking tool.

However you decide to use social media, you should be aware that women are leading the game.  A study conducted by BlogHer and iVillage states that, “nearly three-quarters (73%) of online women are now active social media users, engaging weekly or more often with popular social media platforms.”

Having a great networking circle is a must for entrepreneurs. Knowing where to go to find like-minded women can keep you up to date on your industry as well as having a great circle of entrepreneurs to run ideas off of.

WomenForbes.com reports that “women often use online social networking tools to make connections.”  Jodi Kahn, the head of iVillage, goes on to say in the article that, “We're women--we like to talk about things. Women use social media as a way to connect."

For women, the networking sites most used are: Twitter, MySpace, Bebo, Facebook and Flickr.  This doesn’t mean you need to stick solely to these sites, but it just means you will run into more women engaging on these sites.

Although social media is a great tool, remember you need to offset social media with a great website.  After all, where are you going to send your Twitter followers if you don’t have a website?  If you want to keep the conversation going, have a blog on your site as well.

Having a blog can give your site more traffic, allows you to set yourself as an expert in your field and also allows your visitors to communicate through comments.  Being able to stay connected to your clients in more than just one medium is key.

What types of social media tactics do you find helpful?

Shannon Suetos is a writer based in San Diego, California.  She writes extensively for an online resource that provides expert advice on purchasing and outsourcing decisions for small business owners and entrepreneurs such as phone systems & VoIP service at Resource Nation.

Gevalia Bean Chat on Twitter

Date: May 13, 2010
Time: 10:00 am EDT
Location: Twitter

Join me on Twitter for "Bean Chat" sponsored by Gevalia Coffee. We'll be talking about making career changes and how to successfully transition from corporate to entrepreneurship.

Click here to find out how to join the chat on Twitter: http://bit.ly/JoinBeanChat.

Become a fan of Gevalia on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GevaliaCoffee

"Women Entrepreneurs - The Secrets of Success" for Wednesday, May 12th

Mary McManus  

Mary has always loved creating original poetry for special occasions. Everyone who heard her creations told her she should work for Hallmark. But Mary was a dedicated social worker helping patients to heal their lives and never imagined that her career path would take her to being an entrepreneur, a poet ,an inspirational speaker and a 2009 Boston Marathon finisher. When Mary was diagnosed with post polio syndrome in December 2006, she felt her life was crumbling around her. The first thing doctors told Mary was that she needed to quit her award winning job as a social worker at the VA and receive social security disability. With only three years until Mary 'could retire' she asked her team of therapists and doctors to help her remain at work, but, in May 2007, Mary took a leap of faith and left her full time career to follow her passion as a poet. She created New World Greeting Cards, original poetry for every occasion. She delights her customers with original creations that weave into a poem the words they want to say. She also discovered the gift of writing inspirational poetry, and is the author of “New World Greetings.”  Her 2nd book, “Set Sail for a New World” is due out this year.

12:00 pm EDT
Listen to the live or archived show at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CoachDeb

Defining Your "Unique Selling Proposition"

Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is a statement that defines your uniqueness—it sets you apart from all of your competitors. It is a distinguishing statement that only you can lay claim to, and expresses the benefits of doing business with you over your competitors. It should be the nucleus around which you build all communications, and should be integrated throughout all of your promotional, marketing and advertising operations. It tells your customers what really makes your company different, better and special.

Make your unique selling proposition one sentence long if possible. We take this approach because we feel that these days you have 15 seconds or less to impress people or they lose interest. You must be able to use your USP as a headline or sub-headline in your marketing materials.

It should be one of the first things customers see on your website. It should be used as a quick line for your on-hold phone recordings. And most importantly, it should be the sentence your customers use to refer their friends to you.

So here is the structure we use to create a unique selling proposition:

(Business Name) is the only  (Business Type) in  (Your Market Area) that (Your Unique Quality).

Here is an example we created for a client:

Cabrillo Pet Hospital is the only Pet Hospital in Point Loma that is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association.

This is an impressive sentence that the customers and prospects of Cabrillo will remember. And it sets them apart from their competitors in Point Loma. It certainly is not an easy task to create a USP, but with careful research and wording, it can be powerful.

For more assistance on creating a USP, or for any other marketing ideas, please visit http://www.sdmarketingservices.com/

New Course: 50 Reasons Why You Haven't Made Your First Million

Presented by Ali Brown and Anne McKevitt

"50 Reasons Why You Haven't Made Your First Million...Yet:
Life-changing advice to redirect your financial destiny"
8-Week Telecourse with Anne McKevitt
May 11 - June 29, 2010
Get all the details here now:
http://www.millionaireprotegeclub.com/50-reasons-why-telecourse

=========================

Here's a sampling of what you'll gain from this eight-part telecourse...

*The 50 REAL reasons that consistently obligate people to a lifetime of missed opportunities -- and the easy, conscious solutions you can use to overcome these "unconscious" barriers with brilliant results

*Specific tools and simple steps to creating "neural" pathways' that redirect your financial destiny -- and what you need to STOP doing right now that's getting in your own way

*How your vision AND your habits shape your future -- and step-by-step strategies for creating the right habits to fast-forward your business and personal success


*BONUS: You get specially-designed worksheets, forms, a
"mindmap," and daily log to keep you on track, PLUS transcripts
and MP3 recordings of every call!

=========================

Every day you wait is another day that those unconscious barriers
stop you from breaking through to your first million. If you move
quickly, you can learn personally from Anne and discover the barriers
that are keeping you from reaching your first million dollars. But
here's the BIG reason for acting now... this astonishing course, which
will redirect your entire financial future, is only being offered
once... and it starts on Tuesday, May 11.

Check out everything that comes with this course that gives you direct
access to Anne's brilliant, billion-dollar mind, and register NOW
for this powerful, life-altering telecourse:
http://www.millionaireprotegeclub.com/50-reasons-why-telecourse

P.S. Ali has promised that this telecourse will NOT be repackaged
into a product or made available in any way after this 8-week
telecourse is over. This is your only chance to learn to redirect
your financial destiny from a billion-dollar business mentor. The
first class starts Tuesday, May 11 -- take advantage of this
unprecedented opportunity and reserve YOUR spot now:
http://www.millionaireprotegeclub.com/50-reasons-why-telecourse

It's Always a Day for Moms

Happy Mother's Day ...whether you're a biological mom, an adoptive mom, a mentor mom, a pet's mom, a godmother, a mom in spirit...have a wonderful day!

Maria Shriver: First Lady, Advocate, Mom & Entrepreneur

by Deborah A Bailey

Award-winning journalist, First Lady of California, mother of four and entrepreneur, Maria Shriver continues to make her mark on the world while contributing her time and energy to social programs. Continuing in the footsteps of her mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver who started the Special Olympics over 40 years ago, Maria is one of the founders of Lovin' Scoopful ice cream company which donates 25% of its profits to the Special Olympics and other causes.

A busy mom, Maria is firm about sitting down to dinner with her children five nights a week, and Sunday nights the family eats dinner together. Maria's advice for women who are trying to find that elusive balance between family, business and life in general?

"I think it's just to be more patient with yourself. Very often your kids are proud of you. There's no reason to beat yourself up about it," Maria says. Everybody's trying to do the best they can. Everyone's trying to make it look effortless. But I don't think anyone in their honest moments will say it's easy."

These days entrepreneurship is quickly becoming a norm for women who want to take control of their working lives. They also want more control over their income while having more time to oversee family obligations and making a difference in their communities. Maria's reason for founding an ice cream company is really no different.

"My brother talked to me about starting a company that would support Special Olympics. To reach beyond the community and be involved with fun and play and bringing families together," Maria says. "It's been a great experience, a fun experience. I buy things that will do good. I always go for the product that has a social conscience to it. It not only tastes good but does good as well."

As Creative Director of Lovin' Scoopful, Maria is heavily involved in product development including designing the packaging and concept in addition to creating flavors such as, "Out Of This World Chocolate," "Cozy Vanilla," "So Good Cookies & Cream," "Caramel Chocolate Heaven," "Yummy Cake & Cookie Dough" and "What The Fudge."

"I've loved having a hand in all aspects of the company, from creating the sumptuous flavors and coming up with the product names and logo, to ensuring that the quality of our ice cream is the best our customers have ever experienced," she says.

True to her values and concern for creating a healthy product, Maria is quick to emphasize that Lovin' Scoopful has 1/2 the fat and less calories than other premium ice creams and comes from the milk and cream of cows not treated with the cow growth hormone, rBST.

According to Maria, "This is the little ice cream company that could. It has a purpose about doing good in the world. If people start asking for it and supporting it, that's really our hope."

In addition to her role as First Lady and her duties with Lovin' Spoonful, Maria is producer of The Women's Conference which under her guidance has grown into the preeminent women's conference in the world. She's established programs across the United States to help women so that they can become economically empowered in order to make a difference within their families and communities.

For Maria, being an advocate of powerful social change is not just something she does because she's in the media spotlight. She's committed to being a voice for the working poor, disabled and disenfranchised by giving them tools to be empowered.

She advises other women who want to make a difference to: "Just do it. Look at programs we're supporting (through The Women's Conference) and just join in. There is much that is exciting, but much to be concerned about. As everyone focuses around the world, there are a lot of women in this country that need help."

She encourages other women who are considering entrepreneurship to learn so that they can be better equipped for the business world.

"The more we get comfortable about money the better," Maria says.

Leading by example is how Maria Shriver fills her varied roles as First Lady, entrepreneur, advocate of social awareness and change, wife and mother. What inspires her to keep going and helping to create powerful changes in the world?

"My children. My mother's voice. Helping people to be inspired," she says. "It's how you conduct your life."

http://www.lovinscoopful.com/

Become a fan of Lovin' Scoopful: http://www.facebook.com/lovinscoopful

and check out Lovin' Scoopful's NEW What' Flavor of Ice Cream Are You? app: http://apps.facebook.com/lovinscoopful-flavor/quiz

Deborah A. Bailey is author of two non-fiction books including, “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life.” She's also the creator and host of Women Entrepreneurs Radio, a weekly internet talk show. Her fiction work includes a short story collection and a novel, available on Amazon.com. 

For more information, visit http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com.

"Women Entrepreneurs - The Secrets of Success" for Wednesday, May 5th

Cindy W Morrison

Emmy award winning TV Broadcaster Cindy W Morrison successfully reinvented herself after corporate downsizing. Leaving a 20 year news career, Cindy wrote a book, hit the speaking circuit and created her own consulting business. She now teaches people how to reboot, upgrade and reinvent through networking, social media and branding so they can make more money and live a better life.

Cindy has a new book called "Girlfriends 2.0? which empowers women to not only survive but thrive our changing times. Cindy also speaks across the country about "Reinvention 2.0? and how anyone can network strategically to be more successful. She hosts national shows for The WIN Online (Women's Information Network) and the Diva Toolbox and she's a contributor to Startup Princess which has been named one of the top women's websites by Forbes and Entrepreneur. As a consultant, Cindy's clients range from TV stations to major universities to heavy hitting corporations.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Cindy spent a dozen years as the nightly news anchor and lead investigative reporter in Tulsa, OK. Prior to that, Cindy spent nearly a decade as an anchor and reporter in Oklahoma City. The veteran journalist won an Emmy, Peabody and Gracie Allen Award for her ground breaking investigation and has covered such major stories such as the OKC bombing and the 51-day cult standoff in Waco, Texas for stations across the country including Good Morning America. Currently, Cindy is proud to be the national spokesperson for Tulsa based company Clear-tone and a member of the prestigious National Speakers Association. http://www.cindywmorrison.com

12:00 pm EDT
Listen to the live or archived show at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CoachDeb

You Haven’t Heard of My Business – But I Have a Website!

by Julie Barnes

What is marketing? According to the website Wikipedia, marketing is used to create a customer, to keep a customer and to satisfy a customer. Since you will be focusing your marketing activities on your customers, it can be concluded that marketing is one of the premier components of business management. Some new entrepreneurs think just having a website is all the marketing that they have to do. They seem surprised when someone has never heard of their business or never been to their website. Even if all you have is a website, you still have to promote it, or it's just an online brochure.

Before designing your marketing plan, you will need to narrow down your target market. Who is your target market? Let's do some brainstorming by doing a mind map of your target market.

Identifying your target market will allow you to efficiently plan your marketing strategies which will give you a greater return on investment. So you have narrowed down your target market, now it’s time to brainstorm marketing strategies for your business by doing a marketing mind map. You should also research the cost of each marketing activity and the time that will need to be invested. Most small business owners keep an eye on the budget, but fail to plan for the time involved in a marketing activity.

Marketing Mind Map

By looking at the mind map you can get an idea of ways that you could market your business. You could use this example and map out further with your ideas. When deciding on your marketing – do what you feel is best for your business. Don’t always follow the “in” crowd. What they do for their business may not be right for yours.

Julie Barnes is a Freelance Writer focusing on her passions of entrepreneurship, women’s issues, and holistic health and wellness. Julie published “So You Want to Start a Business…Now What?” in December 2009. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron and lovable dog Hank. You can visit her site at http://www.onewhowrites.com.
Copyright © 2010 Julie Barnes and One Who Writes

Julie Barnes is a regular contributor to the Secrets of Success blog.