marketing plan


Want More Clients? Are Random Acts of Marketing Holding You Back? 1

In today’s guest post Joan Bell shares some of her expertise and knowledge as she asks:

Want More Clients? Are Random Acts of Marketing Holding You Back?

by Joan Bell

"Want More Clients? Are Random Acts of Marketing Holding You Back?" by Joan Bell

Say NO to random acts of marketing! (RAOM)

What’s falling through the cracks in your marketing?

It’s so easy to get bogged down with all the bright shiny objects out there that we often end up confused, overwhelmed and simply frustrated with what we should be doing to get more clients.

In fact it has become such an issue for many independent professionals that they are seriously thinking of going back to old jobs or beginning something else that doesn’t require the effort and intensity that seems to be needed to be successful as an entrepreneur.

I worked with one client recently who said she had done “everything” to get more clients and nothing had worked so I was her last chance before she just ‘gave up’ and did what others had been telling her to do for months… “get a proper job”

Uggghhhhhhhhhh! That really got my heckles up! (It’s like saying women belong in the kitchen!)

Through coaching and asking her some very simple but powerful questions my client came to realize what her idea of “everything” had consisted of; this is what her idea of marketing was:

  • A few random Facebook comments
  • Random invitations to her programmes or classes,
  • A monthly newsletter that went out spasmodically
  • Random conversations with anyone who would listen
  • Writing an occasional special report or random content

I asked about her marketing plan? She didn’t have one. She didn’t have a content calendar or any specific marketing strategies or daily actions that she did consistently. In fact 80% of her marketing efforts were totally random based on how she was feeling on the day and what she was currently interested in or that she heard was the latest and greatest marketing fad.

Actually, it was luck rather than judgement that she had clients at all. Things had to change or this fabulous woman would be doing a disservice to those people she was meant to serve and she would be joining the queue of entrepreneurs who have given up on their dream.

The term RAOM (Random Acts of Marketing) came to mind, not sure if I had heard it before or whether I came up with it but whatever the case, this had been her way of marketing and she wondered why it wasn’t working.

The first thing I asked of her was to acknowledge where she was and realize that what she was doing wasn’t working. Only then could she breathe a sigh of relief knowing that there was nothing ‘wrong’ with her and it was simply a matter of learning, knowing and instigating a more structured plan of action to help her attract and sign up more clients.

The best part was I could offer her exactly what she needed to get the results she wanted and we could move very quickly to give her an understanding of how it all ‘works’ and how simple it actually is when you understand a few basic steps or keys of marketing.

They are:

  1. Know what you are offering – specifically and passionately
  2. Know who you are, what you stand for and what you can deliver
  3. Have a way or ways of delivering this that makes sense for your clients
  4. Have a solid, tangible result that they can expect from working with you
  5. Create a no excuses, reliable marketing plan that is easy to implement
  6. Take monthly, weekly, daily actions that work and give results
  7. Take a birds-eye view to see what’s working and what isn’t
  8. Make any adjustments that are needed
  9. Take it to the bank! Ching ching!

Rinse and repeat for your next stage.

Yes, it takes effort and the time to learn but surely that has to be better than flailing aimlessly through a marketing mine-field of the latest, greatest strategies that have yet to be proven.

This is one time when the tried and true actually works, you can jazz it up, colour it, add music to it or dance with it but when it comes down to it, it’s the strategies and planning, the passion and purpose and the daily actions done with love and enthusiasm that work best every time.

You know how I know this? Yep, you guessed it, I’ve tried all the rest myself and it took me a long time to get on track and when I did, life, business, marketing and my bank balance became so much more expansive.

Don’t waste another day on Random Acts of Marketing, take the time to learn how to do it in a way that works, a way that aligns with your passion and a way that can give you the results you deserve. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

About Joan Bell

Joan Bell is a Solo Biz & Marketing Coach and Certified NLP Practitioner.

Joan is also a facilitator of the GET CLIENTS NOW! 28 day marketing programme and loves to work with Coaches and Service Professionals who want more clients, more cash and more fun in their biz and their life. This programme can be done with a small group or on a 1 to 1 basis..

She’s a no-nonsense, ‘tell it like it is’ coach with a sense of fun and likes nothing better than sharing her wit and wisdom in ways that puts her clients at ease and provides them the space they need to confidently showcase their brilliance in a judgement free playground.

As a result of working with Joan clients create marketing plans that work, signature systems they can take to the bank and lifestyles they’ve only dreamed of. If you’d like to find out more, pop on over to http://www.bizcoach101.com or http://tiny.cc/gcn where you can read an article, get a Free report and check out Joan’s Services.

 

 

Article Source: Want More Clients? Are Random Acts of Marketing Holding You Back?


Coaches Need Coaches Too

In this week’s guest post Angus MacLennan shares his expertise and thoughts about what a coach should have if they want to succeed.

Angus is also offering a special offer to readers of Coaching Confidence, the coaching blog. You’ll find the details at the bottom of this page for you to read after this post.

Coaches Need Coaches Too

By Angus MacLennan

Every coach should have a coach if they want to succeed! I have a coach and I have coached many coaches over the last few years. Coaches who were great at helping their clients get the results they need but not so good at making a living from coaching. The reasons tend to be the same – they need help with what I call the Business Essentials.

Some of the basics that need to be covered in any coaching business are:

  • Clear Message – have a clear and concise message.

Many coaches try to be all things to everyone they meet. You need to have a good answer when someone asks you what you do and you need to get it across quickly. I recommend you have a niche and know how to pitch to them – across social media and face to face. If you can’t explain your offering and how to buy it in four points then you are overly complicating it. Keep it simple and interesting and people will want to know more.

  • Business Plan – without a plan you are guaranteed to struggle.

Keep it simple. A one page plan is a good place to start. Make sure you answer all the questions you need to in that one page and you will know where your business is going and what you need to do to get there.

  • Marketing Plan – you need a marketing plan to succeed.

Coaches who want to be successful need to create a plan and work it consistently. Something simple is what I recommend. If it is longer than one A4 page then you are going into too much detail. It should cover online media, networking, referrals, direct marketing, newsletters and advertising. Focus on where your target market “hangs out”. Remember that action gets results and massive action gets massive results.

  • Financials – always be on top of your incomings and outgoings.

Have a simple schedule to invoice and a procedure to follow up with anyone who pays late. I personally ask all my clients to set up their retainer payments by Standing Order payable at the beginning of the month. Charge fees that reflect the actual cost of doing business. The money you charge for one hour actually pays for the many hours you put into the client including your preparation time and follow up time.

  • Time Management – manage your time or it will manage you.

If you are not getting the results you want then go back to basics. Have a prioritised To Do List, SMART 90 day goals and make sure you manage your interruptions. I recommend the Spinning Plates Process. It’s a great process to get your business and life under your control. Create a weekly schedule that includes all the key results areas in your business and then stick to the plan until you start seeing the results.

Running a successful coaching business is not easy but it can be simple. Focus on the Business Essentials and make sure you have someone to hold you to account and you will get the results you deserve. Get yourself a coach!

For an introductory Coaching Session follow the short link http://bit.ly/bLrhrM

Have a great day.

Angus MacLennan

About the Author/Further Resources

My name is Angus MacLennan and I am a Business Coach who gets results with motivated Entrepreneurs and SME Business Owners by providing practical no-nonsense support.

I enjoy writing articles about Business Growth and Development and I am lucky enough to be published in the UK, USA and Australia and to have my work incorporated into multiple training and support programmes.

My mission is to deliver a quality service to help every client develop their business and enable them to have the work/life balance they want.

Over the past 7 years I have had hundreds of hours experience coaching business owners across three continents.

I am a Master Practitioner of NLP, a Master Results Coach and have a Degree in Industrial/Organisational Psychology and a Post Grad Dip in Personnel Management.

Special Offer

Angus is happily setting aside time for anyone who comes via here for an Introductory Coaching Session. He will also give 3 readers 1/3 off his 3 month program if they sign up before the 8th July.